Baggage Information & Services

Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags.

A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each carry-on and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger. Fees will be collected at the station or onboard the train if the station is unstaffed. If checked baggage is available, you can check two bags through to your final destination free of charge.

Overweight bags must be repacked so they are under 50 lbs. Boxes may be purchased at staffed stations to aid in repacking.

Passengers traveling with infants under the age of two may bring an additional infant item onboard (strollers, diaper bags), which does not count towards the carry-on baggage or personal item limit.

Carry-on and personal items must be kept with you, stored in overhead racks, under seats or designated baggage areas. Do not store your items in empty seats, aisles, vestibules or other areas where they may cause annoyance to other passengers or present a safety hazard.

Checked baggage service is available at a number of our stations and on many trains and Thruway Services. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage. 

Make sure you have a tag with your name and address on the outside of all your bags. Free ID tags are available at all of our stations.

Luggage must be checked at least 45 minutes prior to your train's scheduled train departure. If you will be transferring between stations en-route, plan for at least two hours of scheduled layover time to ensure your luggage is transferred to your new train.

If checked baggage is not offered on a train/bus in your itinerary, it may be accepted on another train/bus bound for the same destination (excluding firearms). Advance check-in is recommended.

Self-serve trainside checked baggage service is available to and from the following stations only:

When departing from a station with trainside checked baggage service, you'll need to tag your luggage with a baggage tag for your destination city and walk your luggage to the baggage car. At the baggage car, hand your luggage to the Amtrak crew member and you'll receive a claim check to retrieve your luggage at the destination station.

When arriving at a station with trainside checked baggage service, the train crew will let you know where you can claim your luggage. When retrieving your luggage, hand the claim check to the Amtrak crew member to receive your luggage.

For more detailed information about allowances and requirements traveling with special items in baggage, see Special Items in Baggage. In some cases an oversized item fee will apply.

The following prohibited items list is not exhaustive. Any item that is similar to the prohibited items below, even if not specifically mentioned, is also prohibited. Amtrak personnel may determine if an item not mentioned in this list is prohibited.

Animals including comfort animals

Carry-on baggage: Yes*
Checked baggage: No

*Service animals are allowed onboard with restrictions. Pets are allowed onboard select trains with the purchase of a ticket.

Archery equipment

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: Yes*

*Bows, arrows and other archery supplies are allowed in checked baggage when transported in a suitable hard case container.

Batteries with acid that can spill or leak

Carry-on baggage: No*
Checked baggage: No*

*Batteries used in motorized wheel chairs or similar devices for the mobility-impaired are allowed.

Canisters, tanks or other devices containing propellants

Carry-on baggage: No*
Checked baggage: No

*Oxygen equipment for medical reasons is allowed onboard with restrictions.

Corrosive or dangerous chemicals or materials

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to liquid bleach, tear gas, radioactive and harmful bacteriological materials.

Firearms or ammunition

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: Yes*

*Firearms are accepted on many trains with restrictions. Black powder, percussion caps or any ammunition used with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion-cap ignition system or similar type are never permitted; this includes self-loaded, gunpowder-based modern ammunition.

Fragile and/or valuable items

Carry-on baggage: Yes*
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to credit cards, electronic equipment, jewelry, identification, and money.
*Amtrak accepts no liability for theft or damage for any items brought onboard.

Gas-powered motorized vehicles

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to bikes and scooters.

Household and automotive items

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to antiques, appliances, artwork, furniture, machinery and car parts, powered tools, silverware, tires, and tow bars.

Hoverboards

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Prohibited in stations and on platforms. Also not permitted in vehicles on the Auto Train.

Incendiaries

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to flammable gases, liquids, fuels, fireworks and other explosive devices.

Martial-arts and self-defense items

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to billy clubs, nightsticks, and nunchuks.

Onewheel skateboards

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Prohibited in stations and on platforms. Also not permitted in vehicles on the Auto Train.

Overweight items

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Perishables

Carry-on baggage: No*
Checked baggage: No

*Small amounts of food or drink is allowed onboard for the passengers trip.

Self-balancing scooters

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Prohibited in stations and on platforms. Also not permitted in vehicles on the Auto Train.

Sharp objects

Carry-on baggage: No*
Checked baggage: No**

Including but not limited to axes, ice picks, knives, spears, and swords.
*Scissors, nail clippers, corkscrews, and razors are allowed in carry-on baggage.
**Sheathed equipment, to include fencing equipment, are allowed in checked baggage.

Standard-size bicycles

Carry-on baggage: No*
Checked baggage: Yes

Bicycles that can fit into one bicycle box no larger than 70” length x 41” height x 8.5” width with handle bars and pedals removed.
*Bicycles are allowed onboard certain trains with restrictions.

Household and automotive items

Carry-on baggage: No
Checked baggage: No

Including but not limited to antiques, appliances, artwork, furniture, machinery and car parts, powered tools, silverware, tires, and tow bars.

Free Red Cap Baggage Handling Service

In addition to self-service handcarts in a number of Amtrak stations, you can count on uniformed Red Caps to provide free baggage-handling assistance at many major stations. We recommend that you accept assistance from only uniformed Red Cap agents. All baggage handled by Red Cap is protected by a claim check.

Free Red Cap assistance service is offered at these major stations:

Temporary Bag Storage

Customers holding tickets for travel may store their items in Parcel Check service when available (fees vary by station). This service is equivalent to what is called "left luggage" in Europe.

Self-service lockers are also available at select stations for passengers to store their bags (fees vary by station).

Boxes for Checked Baggage Items

Bicycle boxes, shipping boxes and ski bags are available for purchase at select stations to help transport some of the items you wish to take with you checked baggage. The number of boxes is limited, so boxes may not always be available. 

All items should contain an ID tag available for free tags are at our stations.

Containers and luggage must be able to withstand necessary handling and weather elements. Unsuitable containers like trash bags, containers that let sharp/pointed items protrude, or containers that cannot securely hold their contents or prevent exposure to weather will not be accepted.

Items being transported for business or resident relocation are not allowed. Contents must be necessary for wear, use, comfort, or convenience of the passenger for the purpose of the trip.

Sleeping Car Accommodations

If you will be traveling in one of our sleeping cars, we recommend you follow these baggage limits to get the most out of your experience and avoid storage issues:

• Roomette: Two overnight bags
• Family Bedroom: Two to three suitcases
• Bedroom: Two suitcases
• Accessible Bedroom: Two suitcases and a wheelchair

Carry-On Baggage

Amtrak disclaims all liability for carry-on baggage, including special items, even if Amtrak personnel have handled or assisted in loading or unloading the baggage.

Checked Baggage

Amtrak disclaims all liability for:

• Missing or stolen items inside unlocked or unsecured baggage.
• Minor damages to baggage considered normal wear and tear (despite reasonable care when handling).
• Baggage that was transported without travel of the owner of the items via Amtrak or payment of the applicable storage charges.
• Loss or damage to prohibited baggage items, items packed with prohibited items and baggage containing prohibited items.

Liability Amount

• For any checked baggage handled in Red Cap service, Amtrak's liability is limited to $50.00 per bag (or bag equivalent) for any loss or damage.
• For any checked baggage stored in Parcel Check service, Amtrak's liability is limited to $100.00 per bag (or bag equivalent) for any loss or damage. Additional valuation cannot be declared.
• For checked baggage, Amtrak's liability is limited to a maximum of $500 per ticketed passenger. Passengers may declare additional valuation, up to $2,500, upon payment of the applicable charge.
• For special items, including bicycles, Amtrak disclaims liability for any special items carried onboard or any bicycles accepted in the baggage area not packed within a bicycle box.