Save 50 Percent on Amtrak

Amtrak discount promotions for February include some pretty good deals:

• 50 percent off for a companion ticket on the Palmetto service between Fayetteville, SC, and Savannah, and on the Crescent between Atlanta and New Orleans. Both promotions are for daytime trips and include trips between intermediate Amtrak stations. Buy by February 29 for travel June 1 through 30.
• 15 percent off tickets to Seattle (and return) from any point on the routes of the Cascades (Eugene-Seattle), the Coast Starlight (Los Angeles-Seattle), or Empire Builder (Chicago-Seattle). Buy through April 22 for travel February 9 through April 29. This is sort of a joint promotion with the Seattle Art Museum’s Gauguin exhibit, and it does not apply to travel in opposite directions.
• Deals we reported earlier that are still going: $89 weekend round-trips on the Adirondack between New York and Montreal; buy by April 23 for travel through April 26. 20 percent discounts on the Missouri River Runner between Kansas City and St Louis; buy by April 28 for travel through April 30. 20 percent discounts on the five daily trips linking Chicago with Carbondale, Quincy, and St Louis; book through April 29 and travel through April 30. 20 percent discounts on routes linking Chicago with Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Port Huron; buy through April 29 for travel through April 30.

Amtrak’s promotional discounts apply only to coach travel and are subject to the usual limitations. Unless noted, they’re good for any intermediate stations between itinerary endpoints.

In other rail developments, VIA Rail Canada is again promoting a big discount (up to 75 percent) on express deals throughout the system. These are last-minute reductions, typically available no more than a month after announcement.