Amtrak has an ad in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel promoting
its "kids ride free" Saturdays and Sundays between Milwaukee and
Chicago when accompanied by an adult, through Aug. 31.

Ad notes it's not valid with other offers, promotions or discounts,
subject to change without notice, and other restrictions apply.
Contact Amtrak for more details.

It also mentions that kids (age 2-15) ride for half-price weekdays
when accompanied by a full fare-paying adult.

Other items included in the ad:

The monthly adult fare pass is listed at $280 and a 10 Ride pass at
$150.00

The 10 Ride pass can be used by one person 10 times, 10 people one
time, etc., which works out to a $15 trip one way between the two
cities.  Something to check out.

Mike McCoy

If you're headed to St. Louis, the area's light rail system,
MetroLink, and the transit system are offering Visitor Day Passes for
$4, providing unlimited rides on the trains and buses during one
calendar day.

Special walking tours of downtown also ahve been added.  Tours look
at historical highlights, architecture and local attractions, and
begin at the visitor center at America's Center, at Seventh and
Washington, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily May through September.

For more details, check out the link to www.explorestlouis.com in the
Bookmarks section here.

Mike McCoy

Update:  I now am being told you have to ASK for the discount when
making reservations.  Amtrak reservations agents will not volunteer
it, and it does not automatically price. A specific pricing entry has
to be made.

Informal word is that Amtrak, which observed its 30th anniversary May
1, will be celebrating that event by offering a 30 per cent discount
off all regular full adult fares for travel between May 22 and Aug.
31.

So far there's nothing posted on the Amtrak Web site
(www.amtrak.com), however.

According to the information received, no additional discounts may be
combined with the anniversary offer, but children may accompany
adults traveling on the discount at the normal half-fare rate.
Reservations are required for all travel at least seven days prior to
departure and fares must be paid within three days of bookings.

Anniversary fares are non-refundable once purchased.  There are a
number of train restrictions and travel blackouts.  Tickets also must
be purchased by June 15.

If you're booking an Amtrak trip in the next few days -- between now
and when Amtrak makes an announcement -- ask Amtrak about its 30%
anniversary discount offer.  Then post a message here to tell us what
you found out.

Here are details, from a May 1, 2001, Amtrak news release:

AMTRAK EXPANDS BIKES-ON-BOARD PROGRAM IN NORTHEAST
Easy Roll-on, Roll-off Transportation for Bikes Now on Four Trains
Philadelphia - Amtrak's Twilight Shoreliner, serving cities between
Boston and Newport News, VA, is now the latest train to offer roll-
on, roll-off capacity for bicycles on the East Coast as part of
Amtrak's Bikes-on-Board program.

Amtrak officials said that the railroad's installation of bike racks
in the Twilight Shoreliner's baggage car means that cyclists can
reserve a spot for their bikes on four of Amtrak's train routes in
the Northeast Corridor. Travelers can roll their bike to the baggage
car, where a member of the train crew will secure the bike in the
rack.

Bikes-on-Board is a product of Amtrak's partnership with the East
Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA), a non-profit organization working to
establish a network of trails from Maine to Florida. "This is just
the first step in a long-range plan to make it easier and more
convenient for travelers to bring their bikes on Amtrak trains," said
Pat King, Chair of the ECGA.

"This service is currently limited to trains with baggage cars," said
Stan Bagley, President of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. "Amtrak will
be keeping a close watch on the popularity of the service, with an
eye towards expansion as the market dictates."

The four routes that have roll-on, roll-off bike storage are the
Twilight Shoreliner, the Vermonter, the Ethan Allen Express and the
Adirondack.

The Twilight Shoreliner is an overnight train with sleeper
accommodations and is an especially convenient and comfortable way to
travel long distances on the corridor. For example, New Englanders
can board the Twilight Shoreliner in the late evening, and wake up in
Washington, ready for a day of touring. Likewise, the Twilight
Shoreliner provides convenient connections for those in the Mid-
Atlantic States who want to arrive in Providence or Boston in the
morning. The Twilight Shoreliner also provides convenient connections
to Williamsburg and Newport News, VA from Washington DC.

The Vermonter departs from Washington DC in the morning, and stops at
every major corridor city north to New Haven, where the train heads
towards Vermont destinations of Montpelier and Burlington-Essex
Junction.

The Ethan Allen Express provides convenient connections from New York
to Rutland, VT and near-by ski areas, hiking and cycling.

The Adirondack travels from New York Penn Station to Saratoga
Springs, Lake Placid and Montreal. The Adirondack was rated by
National Geographic Traveler as one of the most scenic train trips in
the world.

Space for bicycles can be reserved when guests make ticket
reservations. Unlike the airlines, Amtrak charges only a nominal fee
($5 to $10 depending on route and distance traveled) for reserving a
space in the bike rack. Some airlines charge as much as $75 to
transport a bicycle - and the airlines require that the bike is
broken down and boxed.

To make your reservation or for schedules and information, call 1-800-
USA-RAIL and ask the reservation agent about traveling with your bike
on the Twilight Shoreliner, the Vermonter, the Ethan Allen Express,
or the Adirondack.

May 28 is the deadline for enrolling in VeteransAdvantage, a program
that allows veterans a 10 per cent discount on most Amtrak train
travel, as well as discounts and special offers from other partners.

Those include Hertz and Verizon, plus others listed at
www.veteransadvantage.com.

The normal membership fee is $20 for a year; through May 28, it's $10.

Amtrak is promoting the VeteransAdvantage program as a way to qualify
for the 10 per cent discount.  But be aware if you are a senior (62
or older) or member of AAA or the National Association of Railroad
Passengers, for example, you already may qualify for at least a 10
per cent discount.

Go to the VeteransAdvantage Web site for more information or to
enroll.

The Chicago-Seattle/Portland Empire Builder resumed service over its
entire route between St. Paul and Chicago on Friday.

That restores train service to all Wisconsin stations -- La Crosse,
Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, Portage, Columbus, and Milwaukee.

Amtrak has used buses since April 13 on this segment of the route,
all due to flooding on the upper Mississippi River.

Some delay is still possible because of "slow orders" along the river
between St. Paul and La Crosse.  Check progress of your train online
at www.amtrak.com or by calling Amtrak's toll free number, 1-800-USA
RAIL.

Mike McCoy

We've just created a file folder (in the "Files" area at this Web
site) for you to post your report on train trips you've taken.

Please be sure to mention the train # and trip date(s) in the Subject
heading (and the carrier if other than Amtrak), so it's easy for
visitors to find reports of most interest to them.

Please include your name with each report and, if you're willing to
answer questions from report readers about your trip, a way for them
to contact you.

If you have any tips about hotels, rental car companies, etc., that
you used on your trip, or outstanding tourist attractions you visited
that others ought to know about, please mention those, as well.

If you have any negative comments to make about your trip, you're
welcome to do so, just as we hope you'll mention the positives.

The file folder is empty at the moment.  Why not be the first to post
a report?

Mike McCoy

The new Amtrak national timetable says (on pages 42 and 46) that
National Park Service Rangers and volunteers will conduct Lewis and
Clark educational programs on board the Empire Builder (Trains 7 and
8), the Kansas City Mule (Train 301) and the Ann Rutledge (Train 304)
this summer.

On the Mule (runs St.Louis-Kansas City) and the Ann Rutledge (runs
Chicago-Kansas City), you cover the first leg of the epic journey of
the Corps of Discovery, along the historic Missouri River Valley.
You get to learn about what has -- and hasn't -- changed since 1804.

On the Empire Builder (which runs from Chicago to Seattle/Portland),
you follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the historic
route of the former Great Northern Railway as you travel through
North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.

Bring along any of several current books on Lewis and Clark, and let
the entire family share in the experience.

Mike McCoy

Amtrak has released the spring-summer 2001 edition of its timetables,
effective April 29.

To get your copy, visit your travel agency or call the toll-free
Amtrak phone number at 1-800-USA-RAIL, or you can go to the Amtrak
Web site at www.amtrak.com and order the publication mailed to you
that way.

Be sure to specify that you want the National Timetable.  If you also
want detailed listings for the NE Corridor trains, that is contained
in a separate NE Corridor timetable, which you need to request.

Mike McCoy

According to the May 6, 2001, Friends of Amtrak e-mail news digest,
the latest fully updated edition of the popular travel guide "USA by
Rail" is about to be published, revealing in entertaining fashion the
unique pleasures of North American train travel.

Author and Friends of Amtrak supporter John Pitt has travelled almost
70,000 miles in the US and Canada. This latest edition of his book
contains comprehensive route guides as well as all the practical
information needed to make reservations, buy tickets and find your
way around train stations.

Details of Amtrak's latest high-speed Acela trains are included, as
well as lots of great advice on local transport, sightseeing and
accommodations en route.

For more information see the "USA By Rail" website at:

http://www.USA-by-Rail.com/

Outside of North America: USA by Rail by John Pitt (ISBN 1 84162 032
7) is available in book stores or by mail order from Bradt
Publications, 19 High Street, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 9QE, UK.
Tel: 01753 893444.  Fax: 01753 892333.  E-mail:
enquiries@...

In North America, USA by Rail is distributed by the Globe Pequot
Press, 246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437,
USA.  Tel: (888) 249-7586 or (203) 458-4500.  Fax: (800) 820-2329.
E-mail: service@...

The company is also sponsoring a "prize draw" which includes a pair
of  Amtrak passes. These two national 30-day rail passes, worth
$1,100, give unlimited travel over the whole Amtrak network, from the
Canadian border down to Mexico and from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Pacific.

All you have to do is answer both the following questions:

1) What is the name of Amtrak's new high-speed train?
2) In which chapter of USA by Rail is Marilyn Monroe the "artichoke
queen"?

See the website for more info.

Mike McCoy

Amtrak has announced it has cut 15 minutes off the travel time
between Detroit and Chicago starting April 29 and expects to further
reduce travel times when it raises speeds to 90 mph this summer as it
works with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to
introduce high-speed rail to the Midwest.

All Michigan Service trains operating on the Detroit-Chicago corridor
(Lake Cities, Wolverine and Twilight Limited) will have 15 minutes
removed from the schedule as Amtrak replaces older Dash 8 locomotives
with new, faster accelerating P-42 locomotives. The schedule changes,
which will reduce the travel time between Detroit and Chicago to 5
hours and 32 minutes, will take effect on April 29th with the release
of Amtrak's spring/summer 2001 timetable.

(The above information provided by Friends of Amtrak in its e-mail
news digest of May 6, 2001.)

Mike McCoy

Here's one rail traveler's account of his recent experiences on via
railways in Britain, for whatever information it provides to you.

This report originally appeared in the Friends of Amtrak news digest
of May 6, 2001.

Mike McCoy

RON GOODENOW SAMPLES BRITAIN'S RAIL PRIVATIZATION:

Ron Goodenow, who provides all of the pics for the Friends of Amtrak
Photo Gallery <http://trainweb.com/crocon/goodenow/index.html>,
recently traveled to Great Britain.  Here's snippets of his report on
his experiences aboard the British privatized rail system:

"I'm just back from using a first-class rail pass for a week in
Britain.

"I encountered utter chaos on the railways. Every intercity train I
scheduled was either significantly late, broke down, out of food, or
dirty -- or all of the above. Web sites are very inaccurate and many
ticket agents really don't want to help with connections on lines
their stations do not serve because of the generally inaccuracy of
information nationally.

Stations have confusing signage. When things go wrong the
information provided on what to do next is awful. If you have a
disability beware that many stations are extremely difficult to use,
with lifts broken, no way to get to rest rooms, or very poor
departure-arrival information. There has been no basic investment in
many stations as far as I can see -- I've been using British Rail for
30 years somewhat regularly.

"If you do travel, Virgin Rail seems to provide good on-board services
(Branson has hired bright young people and trained them in customer
service), Great Western is horrific -- customer be damned as far as I
can tell.

The best bet is relatively local trains. If you go second
class on intercity runs be sure to check well in advance to see if
space is available. If you do not use a rail pass, do not dream of
walking up and buying an intercity ticket for the day of travel.

Prices are outrageous (it would be cheaper to buy a trans-Atlantic
airline ticket between New York and London than a same day second
class rail ticket between Liverpool and London). Be sure to call as
far in advance as possible and ALWAYS ask for deals, even on day of
departure. Oh, and Burger King charges $2.50 for a lousy cup of
coffee in stations.

"Much of this is the result of the privatization of the national
network, and significant breakdowns in basic track infrastructure,
signalling, etc. by Railtrack, the national company that runs the
tracks and stations.

Finger pointing between Railtrack and the franchised companies (many
of which don't seem to know a train from a hot dog stand) engage in
endless finger pointing and the Labour government seems to be as
helpless fixing up this mess as they are with foot and mouth
disease.

Efforts are being made to improve all this, but one should be
warned about the near-term at least, and if one is not familiar with
the system, or spoiled by Amtrak or the Western European networks, be
prepared for chaos and disappointment -- yes, Amtrak looks far, far
better after a trip like this.

If you buy a rail pass you are not protected by the same passenger
charter that applies to in-country citizens. The information provided
with a US-purchased rail pass is highly inaccurate and incomplete in
terms of how to use the system.

"If anyone has a personal question please feel free to drop me a note.
It's odd, but a privatized system is driving away business people in
droves and so until there is a quantum improvement rent a car and risk
driving on the wrong side -- or check out very inexpensive internal
air fares."

Ron Goodenow <rkgood@...>

Something you may want to consider is taking Amtrak to -- say,
Flagstaff, Ariz. -- and renting a car so you can drive the remaining
sections of Route 66 through Arizona and into California, or any
portions thereof you'd like.

I took that trip about a year and a half ago, beginning my trip in
Flagstaff and driving to Kingman -- about 75-80 miles, much of it on
Route 66 -- before turning north to Boulder Dam and Las Vegas.

The Amtrak station at the time (and I assume today) is served by four
rental car companies, and you can arrange for pickups and dropoffs to
the station.

You also can pull off a few miles west of Flagstaff, on an Interstate
leg, to ride the Grand Canyon Railroad.

Here's one Route 66 link that may be of help to you in beginning to
plan your trip: www.national66.com.

Mike McCoy

May 12 is the deadline for purchasing tickets under Amtrak's 1-2-FREE
special discount program.

Here's an earlier announcement from Amtrak with details.

Mike McCoy

FROM AMTRAK CUSTOMER SERVICE:

This spring, family and friends can get away for a weekend trip or a
nice vacation with the Amtrak® 1-2-Free special offer. The first
person pays full price, the second person pays half price and the
third goes for free. Even if just two people are traveling, it's
still a great offer and a great way to rediscover how much fun taking
the train can be. Best of all, your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Amtrak® spring 1-2-Free fare must be reserved by May 12 for travel
March 11 - June 15, 2001, so act now!

For reservations, call your travel agent, contact Amtrak at 1-800-USA-
RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com today.

Here's information from Amtrak announcing and explaining their new
booking system.

Mike McCoy

FROM AMTRAK CUSTOMER SERVICE:

In a hurry? Want to save time? Help test drive our new booking
system. It's faster and easier to use than ever before. Just go to
http://reservations.amtrak.com today and click on the "Book Your
Trip" button to reserve your Amtrak tickets online.

Please check out the new  system. We've worked hard to make the
online booking process better for you and would like to know what you
think!

We've made it faster.

Now, far fewer clicks are required to make your business and vacation
travel plans - and you can easily check fares, schedules and train
arrival or departure status.

No user ID or password is required. Instead, we encourage you to
create a secure travel profile that contains your travel preferences
and the information that is requested every time you make a
reservation. Then, when you book, all you have to do is select the
desired trains and enter your credit card information to make a
secure online payment. We'll confirm your reservation immediately
online and by email.

We've made it easier.

New, easy-to-read icons help you to distinguish between reserved and
unreserved trains. They also help you to identify what trains are
available and what accommodations are available - including First
Class, Business Class, Coach, sleeping accommodations.

You can even save time at the station simply by picking up your
ticket at any available Quik-Trak machine. Your credit card activates
the machine and your ticket is printed in just seconds.

So give it a try - go to http://reservations.amtrak.com and start
saving valuable time today!

Your comments about the new booking system are welcome. Click on
"Contact Us" at the bottom of any page to submit an email message.

For tickets: http://reservations.amtrak.com
For general information: www.amtrak.com

If you're thinking about riding Amtrak's Pere Marquette (Trains #370
and 371) between Grand Rapids, Mich., and Chicago, you might want to
check out this web site, which offers information about the route
beyond what Amtrak provides.  That includes a route guide.

http://www.geocities.com/muskegonrr/amtrak.html

Mike McCoy

Amtrak and FEC Railway Sign Operating Agreement; First Step in
Expanding Amtrak Service for Florida's East Coast
May 3, 2001

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.

Amtrak today announced that it will double its passenger rail service
in Florida, add a new coastline route from Jacksonville to West Palm
Beach and Miami, and serve eight new communities under an agreement
with FEC Railway (FEC).

According to the agreement, Amtrak will add two daily round-trip
services on FEC's track between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach with
new stops in eight communities: St. Augustine, Daytona Beach,
Titusville, Cocoa/Port Canaveral, Melbourne, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce
and Stuart, and continuing on to Miami.

"Our new partnership  with FEC will provide benefits to our guests
and - importantly - to the communities and tourist destinations of
Florida," said Amtrak President and CEO George D. Warrington.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to serve Florida's most popular
destinations and also provide an attractive alternative to ever-more
crowded highways. Our expanded service in Florida will be one more
reason for guests to experience the comfort, ease and enjoyment of
going by rail."

"We are pleased with the agreement. We took the time necessary to
ensure that the operating plan addresses safety issues first and
foremost, that on-time service will be possible for both carriers and
that the business terms are fair to both parties," said John D.
McPherson, president of FEC Railway.

Amtrak and FEC are dedicated to high-quality on-time service for
passenger and freight customers. The two companies worked diligently
to identify necessary capacity improvements allowing FEC to continue
providing the high level of service its customers deserve and expect
while providing Amtrak with the reliability and running times
necessary for a successful passenger operation.

Before the new agreement can be implemented, the parties need to
secure funding for station construction and infrastructure
improvements including signal work, and track and siding
installation. The companies are working with the Florida Department
of Transportation and the communities along the route to identify
funding sources needed to accommodate passenger operations.

Once a commitment for funding is secure, the first phase of capital
improvements can begin. Phase I would take approximately 10 months to
complete, after which the first train would begin operation. Should
the first phase begin this July, service would begin approximately
one year from now. Additional improvements and a second coastline
service between Jacksonville and West Palm Beach would be phased in
over a three-year period.

The Jacksonville - West Palm Beach expansion is part of a larger
Amtrak plan to restructure and increase service in Florida. When
facility improvements have been completed, Amtrak will offer six daily
north-south roundtrips within Florida, doubling the current three.

Under Amtrak's plan, two roundtrips will operate between Jacksonville
and Miami along the coastline route, two will serve Jacksonville -
Orlando - Tampa, one will operate Jacksonville - Tampa through Ocala
and Dade City, and one will serve Jacksonville - Miami through
Orlando, Winter Haven and Sebring. Service on the Sunset Limited will
be unaffected in the restructuring.

In addition to the new coastline service, this restructuring triples
the roundtrip service between Tampa and Jacksonville, and continuing
on to New York.

Future plans call for one of these roundtrips to be extended
north to Boston. Amtrak currently operates over two inland routes,
providing three roundtrips per day between Miami, Jacksonville and New
York on the Silver Meteor, Silver Palm and Silver Star. The
restructuring will maintain these service names.

Amtrak guests enjoy satisfaction-guaranteed service in more than 500
communities in 45 states throughout a 22,000-mile route system. In
just the past year, Amtrak introduced high-speed rail service in the
northeast, initiated a nationwide unconditional guest Satisfaction
Guarantee, set all-time records for passenger ridership and overall
revenue, and unveiled a bold new brand identity. For more information,
including schedules, fares and reservations, visit Amtrak's Web site
at www.amtrak.com.

(end)

We've just added in the "Bookmarks" section links to state tourism
agencies in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota,
and Iowa, and the city of Chicago.

You'll also find links there, under the "Tour Feature" section in the
Bookmarks directory, links to two Chicago Tribune travel features
that may be of interest -- new places to go in Washington, D.C., and
at least one major event this year being planned in each U.S. state.
These might suggest some trips to take, by Amtrak we hope.

Mike McCoy

Railroad festivals are popular at this time of year and throughout
the summer.  Since only some of them can be reached by train, these
train displays become a destination in themselves.

Here's a list of them, as contained in a Sunday Chicago Tribute
Travel section feature on April 22.  Follow this link (which also
will be found in the Bookmarks section at this e-group site):

http://cgi.chicago.tribune.com/travel/destinations/generic/0,3087,0104
210046,00.html

Mike McCoy

For years, ProRail's most popular publication has been its "Tips for
Amtrak Travelers," offering advice from ProRail members to other
Amtrak travelers.  Although focused on travel to and from Wisconsin,
most of the advice is valid for any Amtrak travel in the U.S.

That publication also served as the basis for a similar brochure
produced by the National Association of Railroad Passengers for use
nationwide.

That publication now is posted on this e-group site.  Go the "Files"
section (you'll find it in the column to the left).

And let us hear from you if you have suggestions for improvement in
the information posted there.

Thanks.

Mike McCoy
ProRail Vice President

One taxi option for those arriving or departing from the Amtrak
station at Wisconsin Dells is the Sureway Taxi Service, which
announces it serves Adams, Columbia, Juneau and Sauk counties.  The
taxi number to call is 608/963-9218.  The office number is 608/253-
2129.

If anyone has used this service and has any comments to offer pro or
con, please post them at this site.

Thanks.

Mike McCoy

Here's a recent story appearing in the Travel section of the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the Tequila Express that may suggest
another train trip to take.

***

Tequila Express Train serves strong shot of fun

By JANINE S. POULIOT
Special to the Journal Sentinel

March 8, 2001

If you love a good wedding, you'll love the Tequila Train Express
that departs from Guadalajara, Mexico. It has all the elements of a
great party: fabulous food (and plenty of it), can't-sit-still music,
companionable guests and an open bar comprised of (you guessed it)
tequila.

The Tequila Express Train leaves from the privately owned Ferrocarril
Mexicano station in Guadalajara, the second-largest city after Mexico
City, every Saturday. It's a local tradition and a well-kept secret…

*****
For the rest of the article, go to:
http://www.jsonline.com/dd/destnat/mar01/tequila11030801.asp

This link also is provided in the Bookmarks section at this e-group
site.

Mike McCoy

Here's information about upcoming departure schedule changes for
selected trains out of Chicago, effective April 29, as posted on
another Web site that monitors Amtrak.

Be sure to get your new timetable to reconfirm, or check with
Amtrak's Web site, etc.

"To combat the potential problems of having multiple departure times
at once when the Texas Eagle departs Chicago at 3:30 PM instead of
5:05 PM, Amtrak has changed the schedules of several other Long
Distance trains effective with the April 29th schedule train.

Texas Eagle:
Current Depart Chicago: 5:05 PM
NEW Depart Chicago: 3:30 PM

Southwest Chief:
Current Depart Chicago: 3:20 PM
NEW Depart Chicago: 3:15 PM

California Zephyr:
Current Depart Chicago: 3:35 PM
NEW Depart Chicago: 2:45 PM

MORE GOOD NEWS:

The Kentucky Cardinal will arrive in Jeffersonville/Louisville, IN at
7:20 AM, 45 minutes quicker than its currently scheduled time of 8:05
AM.  Departure times remain the same, and the Northbound trip remains
the same."

Mike McCoy

I can't find anything about it posted online at Amtrak's Web site,
but the latest NARP newsletter (National Association of Railroad
Passengers), dated April 2001 and delivered to me today, notes that
Amtrak has announced a 25% discount on rail fares through June 15.

NARP says it is for individual passengers, unlike most "companion"
discounts.  It is not combinable with most other discounts, but can
be used with Explore America fares.  It is nonrefundable and blacked
out around Memorial Day.

You might ask for a 25% discount fare and cite the NARP newsletter as
your source, if required.  You also may wish to ask when booking your
trip for the Explore America fare, which is not promoted in the
timetables or on the Web site anymore, that I can find.

Two other special promotions you should be aware of, as posted on the
Amtrak Web site:

"This Spring, family or friends can get away for a quick weekend or a
nice long vacation with the Amtrak (r) 1-2-FREE special offer. The
first person pays full fare, the second pays half-price and the third
goes FREE! Even if just two people are traveling, it's still a great
deal, and a great way to discover just how much fun taking the train
can be! Best of all, your satisfaction is guaranteed. Amtrak Spring 1-
2-FREE fare must be reserved by May 12 for travel March 11-June 15,
2001. So act now! To make reservations, call 1-800-USA-RAIL."

You also can reserve online on the Amtrak Web site.

There's also a new discount for veterans.  Again, quoting Amtrak:

"We're proud to offer all U.S. Veterans a 10% discount on Amtrak
travel with the VeteransAdvantage Membership Card(tm).
VeteransAdvantage gives you a full range of other benefits, too, from
car rental to telecommunications. And with over 500 destinations to
choose from, Amtrak can take you all over America to visit friends or
family. To attend a Veteran's reunion. Or to get a close-up look at
the country you served. And the riding is easy. Relaxed. Comfortable.
Plus, your VeteransAdvantage Membership Card(tm) is 50% off when you
order now.

For links with additional information, and other discounts, go to:
http://www.amtrak.com/promotions/index.html.

If and as you become aware of additional information about these
promotions, or other promotions which you think those in the ProRail
Travel e-group should know about, please post a message here.

Mike McCoy

It's Monday, the day of the week that Amtrak posts its current list
of "Rail Sales."  Check it out by following the link provided under
our "Bookmarks" option in the column to the left, or go to
www.amtrak.com.

Mike McCoy

Amtrak is offering an air/rail roundtrip between Chicago and the West
Coast for $399 through May 15, for travel through June 15.  It's an
Amtrak-United Airlines partnership.  Subject to availability.
Advance reservations required for a minimum of four days prior to
travel.  Valid for sleeping car travel upon payment of applicable
accommodation charges.  For flights departing from Canadian airports,
applicable taxes and surcharges apply.  United Express fees may apply
for certain itineraries.  Other restrictions may apply.

for more information or to book, contact Amtrak Vacations (see the
link provided under our "Bookmarks" option to your left) or call them
at 800/437-3519.

The above information appears in a Chicago Tribune ad Sunday, April
15, on page 3 of the Travel section.

Mike McCoy

Check out the Web Links list, located at "Bookmarks" (see column to
your left), which now includes a lot of links to help you plan your
train trips.  That includes not only Amtrak links, but those from
Via, travel agents, U.S. customs, tip guidelines, etc.  If you know
of others, please add them anytime.

Mike McCoy

Check the ProRail Travel calendar at this site for information about the
next general membership meeting of ProRail.

Mike McCoy


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

The main purpose of ProRail Travel is to assist ProRail members and
other train travelers in keeping abreast of train travel deals and
features, and in planning their train trips in the U.S., Canada, and
beyond.  We also wish to encourage people to travel by train whenever
possible.

For example, you may wish to post a message here where you ask a
question about a particular train, route, or destination city, and
look for a reply from another member of the group who has the
information you are seeking.

You also have the ability to communicate directly with the person via
e-mail if you don't think others in the group would be interested in
the additional information being shared, or if you simply want to
thank the person for his or her help.

You don't have to be a member of ProRail to be a member of this
group, but we'd love to have you join us nonetheless.  Let us know if
you wish membership information.

We hope to list additional benefits of being a member of this group
in future messages at this location.  Be sure to check back often.

Mike McCoy
ProRail Vice President