I believe the free rides are available only for people who worked for their railroad before Amtrak was formed in 1971. I hired after that and my pass was good for 50% off the highest price for the trip. Whenever I wanted to use it there was a lower price available to anyone.
Yep. My dad retired from UP and he had a card good for rides on lines that were UP as of the date Amtrak was created.
Even though he passed away 3 years ago I got his 2017 card in the mail last week. I can't pass for 87 yet, so I wouldn't be able to use it fraudulently.
I saw the following blurb on Money Magazine's website. Is this a carryover from pre-Amtrak days? Do any other railroads offer this benefit?
Free train rides: Retirees of freight railway carrier BNSF, as well as their spouses, receive free, unlimited rides on Amtrak as long as they travel on the line they worked for. If they don’t travel on that line, they’re also eligible for unlimited 50% fare discounts on other Amtrak rail lines. Their dependents are also eligible for 12 free trips on the Amtrak line they worked for.
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