Amtrak Reviews 

on the Auto Train scheduled for August 17, 2025, from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida.

We boarded the train at 2:30 PM and departed at approximately 3:30 PM, expecting to arrive in Sanford by 9:00 AM the next day. Unfortunately, after just 30 minutes of travel, the train came to a complete stop. We remained stuck on the train for 10 hours, during which time communication from staff was inconsistent and unreliable. It was eventually disclosed that a freight train with 41 derailed cars blocked the route and that we could not continue.

The handling of this situation was disorganized and unacceptable. Over the course of those 10 hours, passengers were provided only a single 8-ounce bottle of water and a snack pack, while receiving conflicting updates about what would happen next. No clear plan was in place, and when unloading did begin, it was chaotic and uncoordinated, adding even more stress to the situation.

We were informed that there would be no Auto Train service to Florida the following day, and the only option offered was to remain on the train overnight after our vehicles were unloaded and we park at them at the station. This was not a viable solution, as my son and I needed to be in Florida by August 18. After waiting 10 hours on the train and an additional 2 hours to retrieve our vehicle, we had no choice but to begin driving to Palmetto, Florida at 2:30 AM.
what a total waste of our time!

A twelve-hour trip, five+ hours delayed -- with agents yelling "stop asking us what happened!" Onboard: brusque staff, godawful food, filthy toilets, broken air conditioning, and on top of that, cars packed to the luggage racks with pissed-off people. A mid-journey mechanical failure necessitated the attachment of a new engine. If you've ever traveled by train in the U.S., you won't be too surprised by Amtrak's continuing decline. If you've ever traveled by rail in Europe or Japan, you will be stupefied. Miserable.

The „new“ Acela train looks like it’s from the 90s. It is highly uncomfortable, loud and really dirty.
For the next time I am going to choose Delta or American and fly the short distance from NYC to Washington and safe 50$ per person.
I’d rather wait 2 hours at the airport before my flight which takes only 30-45 minutes instead of sitting in this train for 4-5 hours with a guaranteed delay.

I was stranded in Montrose Colorado and I need it to catch a train 60 mi away in Grand junction. Being stranded with little money left after buying a train ticket, I was able to get a ride with Uber but it got me there in the evening before my train left. I do not know this town I'm not from around here I'm now totally broke after buying a train ticket. I just want to sit inside and wait for my train the next morning. The same much safer in being kicked out like I was. I understand you don't want vagrancy going on but I am a paying customer I just had no choice but to get there as early as I did. It was the evening before my train left so I didn't see much harm just sitting inside and waiting there. But I was kicked out and told to come back tomorrow.
Sorry for my bad punctuation or lack of.

I was on an Amtrak train from New Rochelle to Boston. An Amtrak agent was traveling across from me taking two seats. When he was leaving I moved to his window seat. He told me he had reserved his two seats for a couple and I had to move back to my seat. I told him there were no reserve seats in coach and that I was filling a complaint. He became very rude and abusive. Disgusting language. Amtrak does not need any employees like this.

✍️ My Amtrak Experience – Train 40 (Rocky Mount to Pittsburgh)

Just sharing my recent experience for anyone considering Amtrak.

I took Train 40 from Rocky Mount, which left over an hour late and arrived in Pittsburgh five hours behind schedule. 😩 Not only did this cause me to miss important obligations, but Amtrak also notified us just hours before departure that they were no longer checking luggage—something many of us had planned on.

I paid $160 for the train ticket, while a flight for the same route was only $145 - and on time! The delay, lack of luggage service, and poor communication made for an unnecessarily stressful journey.

I really hope Amtrak improves reliability and gives customers better notice when services change. I would definitely reconsider before booking again.

I've had more delayed and canceled trips than on time.

We arrived late which things happen.1 day before leaving we received a call stating that we had to leave early. Arriving back in Memphis early with missing a funeral that was planned it was a little tough. Called Amtrak Monday morning and they informed me that i would get a 200 dollar voucher even though I spent 301 for my tickets. This is crazy and so terrible. I would say this is a no go. Terrible people, also i was informed i could email corporate but it would take 3 weeks. So wrong Amtrak all I wanted was a 12 month voucher for what I spent. Nothing more nothing less

if i could give zero i would. the septa feels safer than amtrak and people piss themselves on septa bc there are no bathrooms... whole ass mob got into a fight on my train and there were like 15+ people trying to board coachclass in philly sitting together........ big loud guys yelling at me, everyone generally uncivilized and belligerent. the assistant staff lady had a pride lanyard but she was more wrath than anything. also, apparently toddlers with red bucket hats are exempt from the "no playing videos at full volume" rule. go figure.

We took the "luxury" train from Chicago to Montana. I would NEVER do another overnight trip on Amtrak. The customer service was horrible. Train attendants acted like you were bothering them. Bathrooms were dirty and unkept. If you can get a table in the dining cart, the food is alright. The cafe cart was like a vending machine, offering items to choose from. Not the value for the price.

They sent me a message about overbooking 11pm, and I was supposed to depart by 6:30AM on the next day.

No reinburstment, not sorry, no nothing!

The company shows no interest in helping when you forget something. It's unbelievable — I left my iPad, reported it immediately, and received no assistance. The device had a tracking system, and I was able to see that someone had taken it.

Amtrak are an awful company. They take your money for a journey that they know is overbooked and then tell you to get in a later train. No apologies, no refund or compensation. I will not be using them again and I certainly would not recommend them !!

We took the scenic Zypher train from California to Chicago. We were on the train for 3 days and 2 nights. It was 4 hours delayed to Chicago, so we missed our whole only day in the city. A huge amount of the people on the train were getting on a connecting train, the conductor told us they called Amtrak to have them hold the train for the passengers (would've only been a half hour delay) and they refused to do so. So the conductor himself told us to call Amtrak and complain because they were basically out of luck. So the passangers on the train were stranded in Chicago with no place to stay (a week before the 4th of july) for 3 days until the next train going to that location came. The food was TV tray dinners at best and if you didn't have a room on board, it was $45 a person to eat. There was only two people serving the dining car with over 100 passengers and they were extremely rude, they even yelled and embarrassed our group in front of everyone. We paid $3,000 to go on this train just to be treated like trash and yelled at by the staff.
I would NEVER go on another Amtrak train.

Absolutely Appalling Experience on Amtrak Texas Eagle #22 – July 6, 2025

We booked the bedroom of Texas Eagle from San Antonio to Dallas expecting a scenic, premium rail experience. What we got instead was a complete disaster that left us shocked, mistreated, and wondering how this level of service is even legal in the U.S.

The train was over 3.5 hours late, and passengers were forced to wait on the hot platform from 6:45 AM to past 10:30 AM, with no communication, no access to food or water. People were sitting on the asphalt or curbs in the heat. No Amtrak staff assisted or offered even the most basic care — no bottled water, no apology, no updates.

Once onboard, we were told the 10-hour journey we paid for was cut to just 5 hours, eliminating the scenic route — one of the key reasons we chose rail over flying.

To make matters worse, breakfast was not served at all. After four hours without food or water, we were handed a single packaged snack cake (Sweet Sam’s). When we found a seat in the dining car to quietly eat it, Conductor Sarah Fuentez herself came and told us that we were not allowed to eat “those snacks” there — despite the car being nearly empty and there being no signs or announcements to that effect. This was humiliating, especially after what we had just endured. That a train director would treat passengers like intruders instead of paying customers is beyond comprehension.

Lunch service was rushed and unprofessional. We were seated with a stranger at our table despite the dining car being half empty. When we asked for salad (listed on the menu), the waiter said, “It’s not included.” Only after we pulled up the menu and pointed to it did he offer to bring it “if we really want it.” Several tables were taken up by staff belongings instead of serving customers.

We expected a calm, beautiful rail journey. Instead, we got delay, hunger, heat, disrespect, and dishonesty. This was not a one-time slip — it was systemic failure at every level. Amtrak owes its passengers better. At the very least, a refund and public accountability.

I was charged for something I never bought — still no refund after 5 months

Review:
I live in Uruguay and in January I discovered that a large amount of money (about $570 USD) was taken from my card for a transaction with Amtrak that I never authorized and never made.

I have no reservation, no travel, no account — nothing. I’ve been contacting Amtrak since then through every channel possible: emails, social media, forms, calls. I’ve followed every instruction and waited patiently.

It’s now been more than 5 months, and all I get are generic replies saying my case was “escalated.” I was promised a response within 48 or 72 business hours multiple times. It never happened. I can’t even call from my country because the numbers don’t work from outside the U.S.

I’m on medical leave, it’s winter here, and I’m without proper heating. This money is mine, and I need it urgently.

This is my last resort after months of silence. I ask Amtrak to take this seriously, investigate what happened with this fraudulent charge, and refund my money. I’m not giving up.

Luz Tourné

Complete dog shit.....I would rather fly Frontier Airlines than travel with this service and that says heaps

Today is my first ride on Amtrak (160 from BWI to Boston) in over 20 years and I just had the most humiliating and worst experiences. One of the Train attendants, when I thought I was being helpful to help him understand what the passenger was asking for, yelled 'I'm not talking to you' and began mimicking me. I was so taken aback, I asked him to please stop talking to me that way and to stop mimicking me. I then said that if he were having a bad day he shouldn't take it out on me, he then proceeded to say 'I'm an adult, not a child, I can talk to you however I want." He continued to say, 'I'm 67 years old..." and continued his rant.

This will absolutely be my last ride on Amtrak no one should EVER be treated this way. To raise your voice is one thing but to then mimick and bully, deplorable.

Paid for Red Cap service but they did not show up at Penn Station NY. Had to carry my bags with 3 children. When I finally found a Red Cap service person he told me to drag my bags and 3 kids across the street to check my bag. When I questioned the service I paid for he decided to help. Worst experience ever

This review is for Richmond Amtrak. They go above and beyond. The whole staff, especially Miss Richardson. I think that’s her name.