Beware the ad AMTRAK is currently running probably nationwide. IT is a classic bait and switch. Went down to the Sacramento Depot to get four tickets to Reno and Back at the advertised price of "as low as" $34. Was told that category of seat was sold out; that the only seats left were twice that price. Ticket agent, great gal, looked at a few other days in the same month (Feb., a month from now) and could find nothing even close to that $34 price.
She is going to continue to look for me but we are not hopeful. She said most of the Zephyrs are full that month. So why is AMTRAK advertising them? They seem to have money to throw around.
Amtrak ticketing is on a demand market basis...the further in advance you buy certain trains, the better the price...closer to train date and time, the higher the price is likely to be. The advertisement is not really bait and switch in that it does not say when that price ticket is available or how far ahead you have to book...Maybe March or May has 34 buck tickets. It is marketing....and it is in the small print and its is just like airlines do.
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If you look online, it appears the $34 and $42 fares are the bus.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
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