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• The oceanside slope at San Clemente remains a problem, prompting the ongoing closure of the Amtrak-OCTA-Metrolink lines between Los Angeles and San Diego. Your guess is as good as mine as to when this route’s problems will be fixed.

Reopenings, New Services and Sales

• Amtrak will add another daily round-trip Piedmont train between Charlotte and Raleigh on July 10. The route will then operate five daily round trips.
• Honolulu will open the first stage of its light rail system on June 30. The initial link will be of little or no use to visitors: It does not yet reach either the airport or the Waikiki area. In fact, current plans do not call for expansion to near Waikiki at Ala Moana until sometime after 2035—if ever. Still, after years of delay, it is nice to see something actually operating.
• Amtrak quickie: 50 Percent off San Joaquins to/from the Juneteenth Celebration at Allensworth Park, California, Apparently, Amtrak will open a temporary station at the park entrance. Buy tickets through June 10, and travel June 10.

Previous announcements:

• Amtrak still has not announced whether a dome car will be added to the Adirondack this summer.
• Washington’s Metro Yellow line has reopened. It is very important to visitors—one of two lines serving National Airport.
• Amtrak raised speed limits on some sections of its Chicago-St. Louis route from 90 to 110 mph—still not true high speed, but fast by Amtrak standards. For now, however, Amtrak will not adjust schedules, but the new limits will ultimately allow shorter trip times.
• Amtrak still is not publishing full timetables online. If you enjoy using a traditional full-route timetable, the independent Rail Passengers Association shows its own unofficial timetables for most Amtrak trains at railpassengers.org/resources/Amtrak-timetables/.

Temporary Disruptions

• Look for continued minor disruptions as many Amtrak host lines, regional rail systems, and metro systems make up for deferred maintenance and repairs. Be sure to check before you head for the station.

Ongoing Amtrak Deals: General Conditions

Except where noted, all Amtrak promotions apply to coach travel only; discounts apply to full-fare tickets and cannot be combined with other discounts; most deals entail blackout dates; seats are limited; some promotions do not apply to all trains; most promotions make provisions for one or two children accompanying each adult traveler. Companion and most children’s deals require all travelers to travel together. Amtrak also offers other minor deals and promotions. The Amtrak website usually automatically computes and displays eligible discounts for any trip you enter. Check amtrak.com/deals for details and booking.

Standard Ongoing Discounts

Amtrak routinely offers modest discounts to certain travelers. For the most part, these discounts apply only to coach travel and are generally not combinable. Most routine discounts do not apply to weekday Acela Express trains, and many do not apply to some Thruway bus travel. The Amtrak website automatically computes discounted fares when you enter itineraries and personal details. Discounts are subject to capacity control.

• Senior: 10% discount for travelers aged 65 or over except on cross-border travel with VIA Rail, where the minimum age is 60. Senior discount is not valid on business class (except limited Acela options), Auto Train, Saver fares or sleeper accommodations. The senior discount is also not valid for travel on certain Amtrak Thruway connecting services including Capitol Corridor, Pacific Sunliner and San Joaquins. Any-age advance purchase fares may be lower.
• Disability: 10% discount for travelers with disabilities and traveling companions, with appropriate ID. 50% discount on Downeaster
• Children: One child aged 2-12 travels for 50% off with an adult aged 18 or over.
• Military: 10% discount for travelers on active duty and their spouses/dependents, including travel on Auto Train, excluding the Canadian portion of transborder trains.
• NARP: 10% discount for National Association of Railroad Passengers members with a three-day advance purchase.
• “Share Fares:” Average 35% discount for groups of up to six traveling together with a three-day advance purchase. Works best for groups of three or more; ends soon.
• Veterans: The 10% discount for veterans is no longer tagged as “ending soon,” presumably, it is on indefinitely again. The deal applies to all coach seats and business class on Acela. Also, 15 Percent discounts for Veterans on Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquins. Check “Military Veteran” in the booking window. Proof of veteran status can be required.

Advance-Purchase Discounts

• Amtrak routinely offers 15% to 25% Saver Fares discounts on most trains with 14-day advance purchase. These discounts are limited to coach class and to Saturday and select off-peak Acela business-class trips.

Time-Limited Promotions

• Unless noted, Amtrak promotions are limited to coach class, with blackouts, no upgrades and limited availability.
• Promotional fares: Buy 14 days in advance, with no cutoff date specified; not available for travel on Fridays and Sundays. Sample one-way fares include $79 Boston-Washington, $69 New York-Washington, and $59 Boston-New York
• Capitol Corridor. Buy one ticket and take up to five companions on the entire schedule for $5 each. Buy tickets at least one day in advance; travel Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday through Sept. 4.
• Downeaster Buy one, get a companion ticket for 50% off on trains 681, 683, 688, 691, 693 and 698. Buy tickets at least three days in advance; travel through Dec. 31, 2024.
• Empire Service, Ethan Allan, Adirondack and Maple Leaf. Weekday BoGo in New York state: Buy one, get two for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in February on Reserve at least one day in advance.
• Keystone and Pennsylvanian. Discounts up to 50% on travel in the Northeast, with a 14-day advance purchase on trips and 21 days on Northeast Regional. Does not apply Friday and Sunday. Amtrak posts no expiration date.
• Northeast Corridor including Saturday BoGo: Buy one full-fare ticket at least three days before travel and get two for Saturday travel on almost all trains. The couple must travel together. No cutoff date was specified. Also, low “night Owl” fares on some Northeast Regional trains between Washington and New York and intermediate points for trains departing between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Pacific Surfliner. Twenty-five percent discounts for weekend travel. Buy and travel through April 28; refer to discount code V328.
• Short-Term “low fare” promotions: Amtrak regularly selects individual routes and areas to cut normal fares by as much as 50%. Discounts require 7- 14-day advance purchase.

Other US Rail

• South Shore (Chicago-South Bend) trains are still not operating between Dune Park and Carroll Avenue to permit double-track and off-street construction. The reopening date has slipped from “spring” to “midsummer.” Bus replacement is filling in the gaps.
• Brightline still has not announced an official start date other than “late summer” for service in its extension to Orlando, but it is already selling tickets (!).

— Ed Perkins, editor

See our report on rail news outside the U.S.

For more travel tips from Ed Perkins, see our companion site Ed on Travel