Amtrak Guest Rewards - Will Amtrak refund a ticket due to a schedule change?

I am taking Amtrak next saturday TOL to CHI and returning monday 8/13. I just got an email that the schedule changed and the train is leaving almost an hour later due to a schedule change (why are they notifying me of a schedule change just 11 days out???).

Seeing I have to work the next morning I really don't want to take Amtrak now and get in at midnight (it was pushing it with the original schedule). Won't be that big of a deal if the train gets in on time, but every time I take amtrak to toledo from Chicago it always an hour or more late arriving home. Delta has DTW/MDW on a fare sale and I would rather just fly it now or just drive to indiana and take south shore in to the city.

What is amtraks policy on a schedule change? Will they issue a refund to my credit card? Does the schedule have to change by a certain amount of time before you can get a refund?

Is it a full fare ticket or did you use a discount code?
Have you picked up the ticket yet?

Is it a full fare ticket or did you use a discount code?
Have you picked up the ticket yet?

It was a AAA rate and I havent picked up the ticket yet (I always just get the ticket when I get to the station at TOL before catching the train at the Kiosk).

I can't find anything on Amtraks site about their policy. The time was delayed by exactly 1 hour (7:10 departure instead of 6:10). I don't understand why the short notice though. I have had airlines change times on me before but always get a lot more notice than a little over a week.

My hotel is near the train station though (Palmer House at monroe and state) and just found out they will give me access to the lounge all day, so I can make a light dinner out of the appetizers they have out and catch up on emails there.

It was a AAA rate and I havent picked up the ticket yet (I always just get the ticket when I get to the station at TOL before catching the train at the Kiosk).

I can't find anything on Amtraks site about their policy. The time was delayed by exactly 1 hour (7:10 departure instead of 6:10). I don't understand why the short notice though. I have had airlines change times on me before but always get a lot more notice than a little over a week.

My hotel is near the train station though (Palmer House at monroe and state) and just found out they will give me access to the lounge all day, so I can make a light dinner out of the appetizers they have out and catch up on emails there.
Under the current policy (until 8/11/2012), your AAA fare is 100% refundable. If you booked it on-line, you can cancel on-line. Open your reservation and process the cancellation. If you booked by phone, you have to cancel by phone.

Under the current policy (until 8/11/2012), your AAA fare is 100% refundable. If you booked it on-line, you can cancel on-line. Open your reservation and process the cancellation. If you booked by phone, you have to cancel by phone.

What he said

Under the current policy (until 8/11/2012), your AAA fare is 100% refundable. If you booked it on-line, you can cancel on-line. Open your reservation and process the cancellation. If you booked by phone, you have to cancel by phone.

cool! thanks:)

While it may not matter at this point, the reason for the short notice is that the host RR is doing some unexpected, but critical track repairs that requires Amtrak to move things forward to get through the area before the work starts so as to minimize delays.

Amtrak didn't want to do this, they had no other choice than a schedule change or cancelling the train for the 3 week project.

While it may not matter at this point, the reason for the short notice is that the host RR is doing some unexpected, but critical track repairs that requires Amtrak to move things forward to get through the area before the work starts so as to minimize delays.

Amtrak didn't want to do this, they had no other choice than a schedule change or cancelling the train for the 3 week project.

Thanks! Make sense for the short notice. I know they don't own the tracks so they don't have control over things like that.

I am just going to stick with taking amtrak this trip even with the delay. I figure I can hang out in Chicago all day and just use the fitness center shower after and use the hotel lounge for appetizers for a light meal and just sleep on the train if I get too tired.

While it may not matter at this point, the reason for the short notice is that the host RR is doing some unexpected, but critical track repairs that requires Amtrak to move things forward to get through the area before the work starts so as to minimize delays.



How would delaying a departure by an hour allow them to "get through the area before the work starts"? They would be passing through later, not earlier.

Perhaps the delay allows the track crew to complete more work before Amtrak comes through?