Issues with booking Amtrak by phone

I've been trying to use the listed Amrak phone number (800-872-7245) in an attempt to talk with a human. I cannot even get put on hold as the call to this number always results in a busy signal.

Is this to be expected?

Thanks.

No, it's not. I have never run into that. I just tried the number and got through. Presume it was a momentary glitch. Neverthless, if you get past that be prepared to be on hold for a good while, and don't count on a timely callback if you get that option.

PaTrainFan said:

No, it's not. I have never run into that. I just tried the number and got through. Presume it was a momentary glitch. Neverthless, if you get past that be prepared to be on hold for a good while, and don't count on a timely callback if you get that option.

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Thanks.

It may be a problem with your telephone service. When I changed my sevice from POTS to U-verse I was no longer able call all LD services by using the usual 1+ ten numbers to reach some persons. It was eespecially 800 & 877 numbers but not all. All had to do was just dial the ten digit number for all numbers US and Canada wide. Also applies to my cell phone.

For all other international calls have to dial the 011 first and the country code(s) plus the require number.

EDIT: POTS stands for " plain old telephone service " That is when the central office provides both 48 DC volts talk and 105 volt AC for ringing as well as dial tone. New service put power source back to the individual telephone system in this case your house. Many years ago all power came from the house. Then you had the crank phones that alerted the local telephone operators that you neeeded " number please" Then tel companys went to POTS

west point said:

It may be a problem with your telephone service. When I changed my sevice from POTS to U-verse I was no longer able call all LD services by using the usual 1+ ten numbers to reach some persons. It was eespecially 800 & 877 numbers but not all. All had to do was just dial the ten digit number for all numbers US and Canada wide. Also applies to my cell phone.

For all other international calls have to dial the 011 first and the country code(s) plus the require number.

EDIT: POTS stands for " plain old telephone service " That is when the central office provides both 48 DC volts talk and 105 volt AC for ringing as well as dial tone. New service put power source back to the individual telephone system in this case your house. Many years ago all power came from the house. Then you had the crank phones that alerted the local telephone operators that you neeeded " number please" Then tel companys went to POTS

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For whatever reason, I finally got through, set up a call back time, and I just got off the phone with a delightful and very, very helpful agent (though I don't remember her name. Well, I don't remember much of anything these days....).

(At least with our phone supplier, it seems the +1 country code is not necessary in the US.)

Thanks.

We have had only good experiences calling Amtrak for tickets but the wait can sometimes be long. We had to do this on the last two trips as we just could not book online. The agents were helpful, pleasant the tickets came through while I was on the phone and the itinerary was right on the money.

PaTrainFan said:

No, it's not. I have never run into that. I just tried the number and got through. Presume it was a momentary glitch. Neverthless, if you get past that be prepared to be on hold for a good while, and don't count on a timely callback if you get that option.

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No. Waited 15 min on hold but got thru last week

Does Amtrak exist anymore? Can't reach them by phone for a reservation in any way shape or form. They say there is a 30 minute hold [actually 6 hours] but if u agree to give em your info they will call back by 11pm and you must be sitting by the phone waiting to pick up. If not you're out of luck. I do think about a problem enroute and you gotta reach them in which you just go and hope for the best. There is not, at this time, any reservation services. NONE!

Don't get me wrong... Amtrak Executive can reach em right away and I am not appreciating that perk. [Just kidding!]

BTW I live in Oregon which is truly magical except for invisible rail service. But as I said, if you can't reach a person and must rely on digital adeptness on your cellular phone or anything goes. Da ya want to become an Amtrak Exec? Then you get service right away. As in I am out of luck cause there aint res unless u wait until 11pm or whenever. I wonder if I will ride Amtrak ever again. As in reservations are not possible unless u want to book them online with their beyond perfect website.

AMTRAK has convinced me they are out of business.

20th Century Rider said:

Can't reach them by phone for a reservation in any way shape or form. They say there is a 30 minute hold [actually 6 hours] but if u agree to give em your info they will call back by 11pm and you must be sitting by the phone waiting to pick up

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We've called reservations twice recently, using their callback system. The first time they did take a full 30 minutes or more to call back, but this evening their system said that the wait would be ten minutes, and it was actually nine. The person who answered (Tara) was friendly and efficient, and we got the answers we needed. I blow hot and cold re Amtrak, but at least today the experience was good.

Called a couple times within the last month or two, once for a big sleeper trip that I never do online because I am picky about roomette location, and once to modify a reservation. Waited about 10 minutes on one call, 25 minutes for the other. Didn't use the callback option, just waited. Did not consider it excessive for these days.

Whenever we need to make an Amtrak reservation, we ask to speak to an agent. Since speaking to an agent often involves requesting a callback, we call at 6:00 a.m. West Coast Time (which is 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast.) That early in the morning, the callback usually comes through in about 30 minutes or less. If we ask the agent to connect us with Customer Relations, that usually requires another callback and another 30-minute wait.

Despite the fact that callbacks are scheduled via an automated system, we’ve always had good luck in requesting them and then in receiving the callback within the estimated wait time we were told to expect.