Amtrak Prepared For Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

Extra trains and more seats in Northeast, Midwest and West Coast

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Nov 05, 2015, 04:03 ET

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In anticipation of the busiest travel week of the year, America's Railroad® is prepared to accommodate the surge of holiday travelers with extra trains and additional capacity on several routes in the Northeast, the Midwest, and the West Coast. Amtrak will also operate every available passenger rail car in its fleet. Tickets sell out quickly so passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and book tickets early for best availability and pricing.

In the Northeast, in addition to numerous extra trains and additional capacity, Amtrak will lease equipment from our commuter partners to operate "Holiday Extra" trains between New York and Washington on Sunday, Nov. 29. Additionally, the regularly unreserved New York-Philadelphia-Harrisburg Keystone Service will require reservations Tuesday, Nov. 24 through Monday, Nov. 30.

In the Midwest, Amtrak is adding extra trains to several of the Chicago hub corridors to downstate Illinois and to Michigan.

In the West, Amtrak is adding capacity to several services including Auburn-San Jose Capitol Corridor, Oakland/Sacramento – Bakersfield-Southern California San Joaquin, as well as additional seating on Los Angeles-San Diego Pacific Surfliner service with one additional round trip operating between Los Angeles-San Diego during the busiest travel days. In the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak is adding one additional round trip between Seattle and Portland on Amtrak Cascades service. During the holiday, Pacific Surfliner service will require reservations.

Last year, Amtrak carried a record 772,211 passengers during the Thanksgiving travel period, the most ever for the holiday. Similar passenger counts are anticipated this year.

Amtrak is working hard to provide a hassle-free travel experience while connecting passengers with friends and family. Visit blog.amtrak.com for travel tips for stress-free Thanksgiving travel.

SOURCE Amtrak