Originally Posted by
AlanB
A hotel doesn't have to wait 2 days for the ticket to reach it's destination, such that it can be processed. They know you're there when you show up. Board a train in Chicago and get off a little over 3 hours later in Wisconsin Dells and your ticket remains on that train until it reaches Seattle two days later.
True, but you've selected a less-than-typical example. The OP was traveling on the Capitol Corridor, which means it's 3 hours tops until the train reaches its destination. Most Amtrak passengers travel on short-haul corridor trains, so the time frame is hours, not days.