What is it?
While not as popular as it once was, people still use the train as a means of public transport. Most trains take people from the suburbs into large cities and metropolitan areas, but there are still cross-country trains available. The Amtrak, for example, is one of the biggest intercity passenger train services in the country. It operates more than 300 trains a day and connects to more than 500 destinations in 46 states, and even three Canadian provinces. In order to catch the correct Amtrak train however, you need to find a mass schedule, which is easy to find online.
How to
The easiest way to find an Amtrak train schedule is to go their website. On the left-hand side is a box that has four different tabs: Tickets, Status, Schedules, and Modify. On the tickets tab, you can select either a one-way or round-trip, and insert your starting point and destination. There is also a “Find a Station” link to help you find the closest station. Then, select the departure date and time, as well as how many passengers there will be. The schedule tab allows you to type in a starting point and destination, as well as the date of your trip, and sends you to a page that tells you what time the train leaves and what time it arrives. The main page also has a timetable tab. It organizes the trains by route, major cities served, and region of the country. There are three different ways to purchase an Amtrak ticket: use the online website, go to the station and meet with an agent, or by calling them directly.
Why do it?
With rising gas prices and the increasing cost of air travel, taking the train can be a quick way to save some money (if you are willing to take a little extra time to get to your destination). The Amtrak website is a great way to see the schedules for all Amtrak trains in the United States. You can look up specific trains, stations, or regions of the country. You can also search to see all the various times a certain train leaves. Knowing the schedule beforehand, and purchasing a ticket online, saves you time at the station and allows you to know exactly when to arrive to catch your train. There may be lines at the ticket area at the station, causing you to possibly miss the train, or you may arrive very early and have to spend unnecessary time waiting at the station.
Risks
Looking up a train schedule online is a great way to know the departure and arrival times of the train you need to take, but there are a few drawbacks. For starters, booking your ticket online usually locks you in to that time.
If something comes up on the day you are scheduled to leave, you may not be able to get your money back or change the time. If you wait till you arrive at the station to buy your ticket, you can be sure you are able to leave at the time the train leaves. The online schedule may not update for train delays either, so you may arrive at the wrong time.
