do amtrak employees get to ride amtrak for free?
Sort of.
The policy is called 'Red, White & Blue' and it kind of goes like this: employees can show their ID (nicknamed a "flash pass") to board any unreserved (or Regional, or Empire Svc, or a few other short/medium distance routes) train anytime they want for free, on a standby basis. If your seat is needed for a ticketed passenger, you must give it up. Reserved trains are all drawn up on calendars with some days "red", some "white" and most "blue," according to anticipated demand for space on those days. On blue days, employees can ride coach for free. White, they pay 80% of the public fare, but if by the end of the trip it is not sold out, they apply for a refund. Red, they pay 80%. Note that red/white/blue tickets are reserved and even if the train is sold out, you get to keep your seat or accommodation - not standby.