On your next journey across the United States, don’t overlook the rails. Even if you’ve got a little extra luggage.
For more than 50 years, Amtrak has helped people get across the nation. As the company shared in its 2021 report, it stops in 500 destinations in 46 states (including Washington, D.C.) and even travels through three Canadian provinces, traversing more than 21,400 miles of routes. And while you may think getting you from point A to point B is enough, it turns out Amtrak has a little-known program called the Red Cap Baggage Handling Service, to assist passengers get on and off the trains with ease. And it’s completely free.
“Whether navigating the station for the first time or more familiar with your route, everyone could use an extra pair of hands on their trips,” an Amtrak spokesperson told Travel + Leisure. “With a goal of providing the best experience for customers, we offer Red Cap service to assist customers to and from their trains free of charge so customers have one less thing to worry about on their train trip.”
Amtrak explained on its website that, beyond self-service handcarts that customers can use for free at various stations, there are uniformed Red Cap service providers at major stops to assist with bags.
The free service is available across the nation, including up and down the Northeast Corridor route in Boston (available only at South Station); New Haven, Connecticut; New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Wilmington, Delaware; Baltimore; and Washington, D.C. It’s also available at stations in Chicago; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle.
And, as Amtrak added, Red Cap service team members don’t just help with bags. “They help passengers with disabilities, senior citizens, and large groups navigate the station. They operate motorized vehicles (to carry your 50lbs bags), wheelchair lifts, and ramps, and provide general assistance to visitors of the station. (After all, sometimes those bathrooms are hard to find.)”
Find the helpful Red Cap assistance in front of the station at designated Red Cap areas. Amtrak noted you should only accept assistance from official Red Cap agents, and while the service is free, you can always tip your assistant if you find them particularly helpful.
Learn more about the service at amtrak.com.