# Amtrak

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amtrak/9147>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 25, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amtrak/9147 "2000-03-25T17:42:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amtrak/9147/1 "2000-03-25T17:42:00Z")

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## Dear Cecil: I’m interested in the North American Rail Pass offered by Amtrak & VIA (Canada). Planning a trip is difficult as Amtrak provides little or no help in planning. One must map out the entire trip, book hotels at stop-overs, figure out if sleeping facilities are needed, etc. Should one miss a connection, the remainder of the trip may be jeopardized. I used the Eurailpass where one just boards almost any train at any time. Do you know of any help one can get to make the planning easier? Retired, it seems like a great way to see the country!

Thanks, Carl

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**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amtrak/9147/2 "2000-03-25T17:43:00Z")

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Plan the journeys so that you take overnight trains and hence have no need of hotels on those days.

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**Author:** ![Carl\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@Carl\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Berry)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amtrak/9147/3 "2000-03-25T17:50:00Z")

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That’s what I did in Europe, Andy. a good idea unless one would like a longer stay somewhere!