I have to give some sympathy to the original poster. Amtrak should have instituted e-tickets, tickets and check-in by cell phone and the like years ago (airlines wouldn't have done it unless they saved money, and so surely Amtrak will save money with those things)- but it looks like something's in the works though:

http://www.gatewayticketing.com/pr/r...sReleaseID=121

http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_n...rticleID=33998