Amtrak Institutes New Tickets, Fees

Amtrak is instituting nonrefundable tickets on most of its reserved, long-distance, overnight trains but will permit passengers to make changes in those tickets for a fee. The changes took effect Tuesday.

Three fare categories have been made nonrefundable: most round-trip excursion fares, usually the least expensive tickets available; Auto Train discount fares, and “All Aboard America” fares, which allow travel between zones. All require reservations. Travelers who have purchased tickets and want to change trains, travel dates or city pairs will be charged $20; the fee for travelers under 16 is $10.

The changes are being implemented to save money and cut costs, said spokeswoman Mary Anne Reynolds. “On many of our long-distance trains, 25% of the tickets are exchanged or changed, which represents an enormous cost,” she said. “So Amtrak is doing what the airlines have done and instituting the change fees.”

The following tickets remain refundable and will not be subject to change fees: Pacific Northwest Corridor trains (Eugene-Portland-Seattle-Vancouver, B.C.); Northeast Corridor trains, including Metroliners, Empire Service and Northeast Direct; Michigan Corridor trains, and unreserved trains and regular one-way tickets.