Amtrak Ticketing Procedures
Editorial
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: Commentary
- Page 1 of 1
To the Editor;
Increasingly, only a handful of passengers boarding the Amtrak train in Durham have their tickets in hand. And when the train arrives, there are often dozens and dozens of students waiting to board without reservation numbers or tickets. Historically, the conductors have been letting everyone on, but this wrong practice is over. This ticketing procedure is a requirement of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) in accordance with Department of Homeland Security instructions.
Here's the proper procedure for obtaining tickets onboard the Downeaster:
1. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL or www.amtrakdowneaster.com. Provide the following information: date(s) and time(s) of desired travel. You will need a credit card to do this.
2. You will then receive a reservation number.
3. Go to the QUIK-TRAK machine in the Whittemore Center. Insert credit card and follow the prompts on the screen.
4. The QUIK-TRAK machine will print your ticket(s).
5. Get to the station before the train gets there and board the train.
If the QUIK-TRAK machine is not functioning, then proceed to the station with your reservation number and tell the conductor of the problem.
If you do not follow the above procedures, the following will happen:
1. If you do have a reservation number, but neglect to utilize the QUIK-TRAK machine, you will be charged an extra $9.00 penalty for purchasing your ticket on-board the train.
2. If you do not have a reservation number when the train arrives, you will be denied boarding.
Amtrak really appreciates UNH's patronage and we don't want to charge anyone a penalty or leave them on the platform, but we have to start abiding by the rules NOW.
Jim Nawrocki
Amtrak
Increasingly, only a handful of passengers boarding the Amtrak train in Durham have their tickets in hand. And when the train arrives, there are often dozens and dozens of students waiting to board without reservation numbers or tickets. Historically, the conductors have been letting everyone on, but this wrong practice is over. This ticketing procedure is a requirement of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) in accordance with Department of Homeland Security instructions.
Here's the proper procedure for obtaining tickets onboard the Downeaster:
1. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL or www.amtrakdowneaster.com. Provide the following information: date(s) and time(s) of desired travel. You will need a credit card to do this.
2. You will then receive a reservation number.
3. Go to the QUIK-TRAK machine in the Whittemore Center. Insert credit card and follow the prompts on the screen.
4. The QUIK-TRAK machine will print your ticket(s).
5. Get to the station before the train gets there and board the train.
If the QUIK-TRAK machine is not functioning, then proceed to the station with your reservation number and tell the conductor of the problem.
If you do not follow the above procedures, the following will happen:
1. If you do have a reservation number, but neglect to utilize the QUIK-TRAK machine, you will be charged an extra $9.00 penalty for purchasing your ticket on-board the train.
2. If you do not have a reservation number when the train arrives, you will be denied boarding.
Amtrak really appreciates UNH's patronage and we don't want to charge anyone a penalty or leave them on the platform, but we have to start abiding by the rules NOW.
Jim Nawrocki
Amtrak
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
Dave Hamilton
posted 11/19/07 @ 11:12 PM EST
I totally understand and appreciate why you're doing this. My concern is that part of the reason this issue exists because the lone QUIK-TRAK machine is often on the fritz. (Continued…)
Phil Bourne
posted 11/20/07 @ 7:50 AM EST
As usual we have come up with an overly complex system for public transportation. Several times I have gone to board DownEaster only to be turned away as we did not have ticket. (Continued…)
jaj
Joe
posted 11/20/07 @ 6:38 PM EST
I agree with Phil that the procedure is overly complex, directives from Homeland Security notwithstanding. I have to confess I have never taken this particular train, however I guess I assumed you could just get one from the machine, didn't realize you had to get a reservation number first, if I'm reading the article correctly. (Continued…)
Ronald Wallace
posted 11/20/07 @ 7:42 PM EST
Homeland Security is a fauce, they only want to justify there stupid jobs, which harasses millions and found no one. Amtrak trains on the Boston to Portland route should no have advance reservations. (Continued…)
David
posted 11/21/07 @ 11:01 PM EST
The TSA and DHS "requirement" explanation is nonsense! There is no TSA or DHS "requirement! And you can purchase a ticket at a Quik-Trak machine WITHOUT a prior reservation. (Continued…)
Stephen Pesci
posted 11/27/07 @ 10:27 AM EST
From Stephen Pesci, UNH Campus Planning
We are starting renovation of the rail station building in the next week. When completed this mid-winter, the QUik-Trak machine (maybe 2) will finally be where it should be - at the platform. (Continued…)
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