At-station baggage assistance
If you need help with your baggage or somewhere to store it while you explore your stops, Amtrak offers baggage assistance and temporary bag storage at many stations.
Upgrade to a private sleeper onboard Amtrak and enjoy a relaxing and comfortable lounge area at select Amtrak stations. Included with access are complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, and free WiFi. Attendants are available to assist with reservations, ticketing, and local information. Features and amenities may vary by location.
Separate, unstaffed waiting rooms are available in New Orleans, St. Louis, St. Paul/Minneapolis and Wilmington stations. Sleeping car passengers and Amtrak Guest Rewards Select Plus and Select Executive members are welcome at all Private Waiting Room locations lounges. Business Class passengers may also use the lounge in St. Louis.
Each passenger may bring one personal item (which needs to fit under your seat), up to 25lbs (12kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches and 2 free carry-on bags, up to 50 lbs (23 kg) and 28” x 22” x 14” each (Pacific Surfliner®, Capitol Corridor®, San Joaquin®: 28” x 22” x 11”). Carry-on bags need to fit in the overhead rack or luggage tower.* You must be able to safely lift personal and carry-on items over your head onto the luggage shelf.
Personal items permitted include:
*Due to limited space onboard trains, we ask that passengers please follow the Amtrak® Carry-On Baggage policy. Bags must fit in the sizer at the station. If they do not fit, speak with an agent or visit Amtrak.com to determine if your train offers checked baggage service. Baggage that goes over the restrictions may not be accepted onboard.
Infant Items
Passengers with infants under the age of two may bring an additional infant item onboard (stroller, diaper bag, etc.), which does not count toward the carry-on baggage or personal item limit.
Stowage
Items must be kept in the passenger’s custody, stored in overhead racks, under seats, or in designated baggage areas while onboard: items may not be stored in empty seats, aisles, vestibules, or other areas where they may cause annoyance to other passengers or present a safety hazard.
Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage. Before you travel, make sure to check and see if your train and origin and destination stations accept checked baggage. Call Amtrak® at 1-800-USA-RAIL for details of service availability. If the station isn’t manned, you will need to bring your checked bags onboard and store them in the luggage area in your train car.
If you have checked baggage, you can collect it at your arrival station once you get off the train. You will need to collect your checked baggage after each segment of your train journey.
A maximum of four checked items is allowed per passenger. Please note that you will not have access to your checked bags while onboard the train, so please pack all essentials in your carry-on luggage. Storage tubs and plastic bags are prohibited.
Be sure to look for signs and kiosks that give instructions for what to expect and where to board at unstaffed stations. Check the train status on the Amtrak app before arriving at your station. Train crews will direct you to the appropriate car and will help with your luggage.
Unless you're taking the Auto Train, plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you need assistance with baggage and/or ticketing, we recommend you arrive 60 minutes early. There are special boarding procedures and check-in times for Auto Train, so passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure.
The boarding process is very easy, but does vary from station to station. Here are some tips to help on your journey, beginning with what you need to know about boarding your train.
Boarding gates are usually posted 15 minutes prior to a train's departure. Many stations have monitors and signs that display the boarding gate locations for each train. At many stations, Amtrak customer service representatives will make announcements about boarding times and gate locations.
Get automatic boarding gate notifications in the Amtrak App
You'll automatically receive gate and track notifications right on your phone if you're departing from select stations. Just download the Amtrak app and make sure "Trip Updates & Status" is enabled in the settings.
If you are traveling in a Roomette or Bedroom, your train car attendant will take your meal reservations once onboard.
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