Here's an obscure but vexing problem. I have an e-ticket for an itinerary which begins on an Amtrak codeshare train in Philly and then connects to CO in EWR. I've subsequently realized that CO "put me on the wrong train," in that I have a 3 hour layover in EWR. There's another train that I could take that would give me a more reasonable hour and 20 minute connection, but -- of course -- CO says "there's no seats on that train."

From what little I know about Amtrak, however, that assertion is ridiculous. These EWR-bound trains are all "unreserved" which, from what I can gather, means Amtrak doesn't sell train-specific reservations on them. It's kind of like a commuter rail ticket -- your ticket is good for any train on the route.

This "argument," however, hasn't gotten me anywhere with CO res, who (perhaps not surprisingly) don't understand the silliness of not being able to change the train number on my reservation.

So my questions are these: 1) does anybody know anyone at CO who is a "guru" on this train codeshare stuff and who could fix my reservation; and 2) even if nobody "fixes" my reservation, does it matter -- can't I just take whatever unreserved train I want to that day?

Thanks in advance for any expertise out there.

Use your ticket to get on the later train. An Amtrak unreserved ticket is only one-step up from a subway. The ticket is good for 6 months.

If it's sold out you can stand, or sit in the restaurant car.

Nice work getting the ticket through CO. That way you'll get CO prefered miles for riding a train.