What defines a "segment"

[KauaiJohn]

I'm looking at the various rail passes. They each come with a specified number of "segments" I'm not sure what defines a segment. Do you have to get off the train?

On an Empire Builder run from Portland to Chicago, is that one segment? Or does the run from Portland to Spokane constitute a segment even if you remain on the train to Chicago?

 

[Philly Amtrak Fan]

I'm looking at the various rail passes. They each come with a specified number of "segments" I'm not sure what defines a segment. Do you have to get off the train?

On an Empire Builder run from Portland to Chicago, is that one segment? Or does the run from Portland to Spokane constitute a segment even if you remain on the train to Chicago?

Any transfer requires an additional segment. This includes Thruway Buses. So if you do PHL-WAS-CHI it counts as 2 segments. I believe in the case of through trains that join/split like the EB you still count as one segment although I am not sure. I believe they counted my NYP-CHI LSL as one segment.

 

[niemi24s]

FWIW, here's Amtraks definition of a segment: http://blog.amtrak.com/2014/07/usarailpass/ " A travel segment is anytime a rider gets on then off of the train." There are also these examples: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Satellite?SnippetName=IBLegacy&pagename=am/AM_Snippet_C/SnippetWrapper&ibsref=USARailPassTravelSegments

 

[KauaiJohn]

Wow I guess those smokers use up a hell of a lot of segments!