Amtrak trains are among the world's great travel experiences and a range of passes makes them amazingly economical. The National pass covers Amtrak's entire rail network, while the Northeast version lets you go from Virginia up as far as Montreal and across to Niagara Falls. The Eastern pass is for routes from the east coast as far west as Chicago and down to New Orleans.

The Far West pass covers trains from the Pacific inland to Denver, Albuquerque and El Paso. The Western pass lets you explore from the Pacific across to Chicago and down to New Orleans. Western and Eastern passes both permit travel on the City of New Orleans train. Coastal passes allow 30 days travel in either the west (from Vancouver down to San Diego) or the east (Montreal to Miami). Peak season is from June to early September and the following $US prices currently apply -

Some trains, such as the International and the Maple Leaf, are operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail. For details of the North America and Northeastern America rail passes, which include Amtrak routes plus those of the VIA Rail in Canada, see VIA Rail passes.

Amtrak ticket agents in the UK include Leisurail, PO Box 5, 12 Coningsby Road, Peterborough PE3 8XP (Tel 0870 7500222; www.leisurail.co.uk; Fax 0870 7500333; E-mail: info@leisurail.co.uk); Trailfinders, 215 Kensington High Street, London W8 6BD (Tel 020 7937 5400); Destination Marketing, Molasses House, Plantation Wharf, London SW11 3TW (Tel 020 7253 9009) and Explorers Tours, 233 Coppermill Road, Wraysbury TW19 5NW (Tel 01753 681 999).

A complete list of international Amtrak agents can be found in USA by Rail.