Children's Policy

Children Ages 2 - 12 Save 50%

Children aged 2 - 12 are eligible to receive a 50% discount off the adult fare with at least one adult (18+) traveling in the same reservation.

Infants Under Age 2 Ride Free

  • One infant under the age of two may ride free with each passsenger paying an adult fare. Infants ride on the lap of the adult.
  • Additional infants per adult travel at the child fare.
  • Infants occupying a separate coach seat pay the child fare.
  • Infants must be accompanied by at least one adult (18+) in the same reservation.
  • An infant traveling free may occupy a vacant seat only if the seat is not needed for a paying passenger. Conductors may ask that infants occupying a seat without paying a fare be removed to provide seating to a fare-paying passenger.

Discount Limitations

  • Children and intants must be accompanied by at least one adult (18+) in the same reservation.
  • Children 2-12 years of age may not travel unaccompanied.*
  • All persons 13 years of age or older, and all unaccompanied minors, pay adult fares.
  • Children's ages are determined by actual date of birth.
  • The age of the child at the start of the trip determines the fare that applies for the entire itinerary.
  • Amtrak reserves the right to require proof of age at any time.
  • The children's discount is not valid on weekday Acela trains.
  • Does not apply to non-Acela Business class, First class or sleeping accommodation charges. These upgrades are permitted upon payment of the full accommodation charges.
  • Not valid for travel on certain Amtrak Thruway connecting services.
  • Additional restrictions may apply.

Traveling with Car Seats

Child car seats cannot be secured to any seats onboard Amtrak trains or buses. Passengers traveling with an infant/small child in a child car seat may place the seat in a vacant seat only if it is not needed for a paying passenger; children under 2 years of age may be required to ride on the passenger’s lap and the child car seat stored in an appropriate baggage area.

Unaccompanied Minors

  • Children under 13 cannot, under any circumstances, travel "unaccompanied." They must travel with another person who is at least 18 years old.*
  • Children under 16 years of age may travel on Amtrak trains provided the child is at least 13 years of age, receives authorization to travel "unaccompanied" per procedures in unaccompanied children rules.
  • Reservations for unaccompanied minors cannot be made on Amtrak.com.
  • Additional rules and restrictions apply.

*Exception: A minor who is 16 or 17, who is a parent to children of any age, may bring those children without restriction. The 16- or 17-year-old must bring proof that he or she is the parent of the children.