On Monday, I was scheduled to travel WAS-PHL on the 9:20AM regional. The engine had mechanical problems and was delayed 45 minutes. I asked in the Club if I could be put on the 10AM Acela and was told I would have to pay the fare difference (I understand why Amtrak would have this policy, though it does not seem right to not re-accommodate a customer for free - even on your premium service - due to an Amtrak-caused delay).

The delay was then announced to be 1.5 hours or more, so I went back to get put on the 10:20AM regional. Again, I was told that I would need to pay the fare difference - now this I cannot understand at all. With the Acela, I could see Amtrak trying to protect their premium product - but when a delay is caused by Amtrak's own equipment, why would they not reaccomodate a passenger at no charge on a comparable service?

I called Amtrak from the station and the telephone agent also told me that there would be a fare difference to change trains despite the fact that my original train would be departing 90+ minutes late.

I've spent many, many miles on Amtrak but have encountered relatively few delays so I wasn't familiar with this policy. I found this so hard to believe that I contacted Amtrak Customer Service - they called me back today and told me that, yes, their policy is to charge the fare difference in the event of a delay. The only time when a passenger will be reaccomodated with no charge is in the event of a cancellation. So a train could be several hours late and the passenger could essentially be stuck waiting on it while plenty of other good trains pass by.

I cannot imagine an airline trying to collect a fare difference to change flights due to a delay, especially if that delay was under the airline's control (maintenance). Is this really Amtrak's policy?