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Amtrak Downeaster train tickets - Search & book deals

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

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About Amtrak Downeaster

The Amtrak Downeaster is a popular regional Amtrak train serving passengers in New England. With terminal stations in Boston, Massachusetts and Brunswick, Maine, the Downeaster train route encompasses 145 miles along the northeastern seaboard. The train also passes through multiple cities in New Hampshire, including Dover, Durham, and Exeter. Favored by passengers in the northern suburbs of Boston, the Downeaster is perfect for weekend trips and commuting to and from Beantown.

In 2019, the Downeaster was used by over 500,000 passengers, with the summer months being an especially popular time to ride the train. According to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), passengers reported a 91% on-time arrival rate and Amtrak Downeaster scored higher on customer satisfaction than the Amtrak national average. Currently, the train stops in 24 cities in total, making 4483 individual trips per month. Most tickets cost between $6.95 and $173.69, making the Downeaster one of the most affordable trains in the U.S.

Contact Amtrak Downeaster

Phone number: US: 1 (800) 872-7245

Online support: Amtrak Downeaster website

**2023**   
 #3 Best Ground Travel Provider in New England   
 #5 Best Train Line in the United States   
 **2022**   
 #3 Best Ground Travel Provider in New England

2023
#3 Best Ground Travel Provider in New England
#5 Best Train Line in the United States
2022
#3 Best Ground Travel Provider in New England

Amtrak Downeaster Amenities

Air conditioningAir conditioning
RestroomRestroom
Extra legroomExtra legroom
Loyalty rewardsLoyalty rewards
Power outletPower outlet
SnacksSnacks
WiFiWiFi

Quickview

Amtrak Downeaster train coverage

Daily Trips320
stations24
cities24
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Downeaster

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with Amtrak Downeaster had to say about their travel experience.

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 164 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 165 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 199 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 216 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 206 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 215 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 211 reviews

Amtrak Downeaster reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Downeaster

(Based on 228 reviews)

4.7
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.6

Timeliness

4.7

Staff

4.6

Value

4.3

Condition

4.7

Amtrak Downeaster passenger reviews

5.0

Joanne

October 17, 2024- Visiting family

Boston to Portland

Pros: The views & other passengers. Cons: The space.

5.0

Mary E.

September 8, 2024- Visiting family

Wells to Boston

Pros: The staff directed me to one of the seats on the left. I need a cane for stability while walking. Cons: Well I would suggest that the staff on Sunday & give an inservice to the staff on Saturday afternoon. Sunday staff were great!

5.0

Marlene

September 7, 2024- Visiting family

Portland to Boston

Pros: No noise comfortable and nice. Cons: The price was a bit high but over all was very good 👍. Tips: You can travel in comfort and safety no worries.

5.0

Steven

August 2, 2024- Couples trip

Portland to Boston

It was very peaceful for us to be there and friendly

5.0

Felicia

July 11, 2024- Vacation

Portland to Boston

Pros: Great way to get from Portland to Boston. Tips: Train arrives at North Station in Boston and it is easy to get on the Tram to get into town.

Amtrak Downeaster Routes & Network

Amtrak Downeaster’s train network features 183 train routes that connect 24 cities serving 24 stations. On average, Amtrak Downeaster performs about 320 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Downeaster offers the highest number of daily train service include Boston and Portland.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Downeaster

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Boston159:30 am1:15 am
Portland125:18 am4:59 am
Brunswick125:18 am4:59 am
Durham109:30 am4:39 am
Exeter99:30 am4:18 am
Saco129:30 am4:59 am
Wells139:30 am4:59 am
Dover89:30 am4:52 am

Most popular Amtrak Downeaster routes

The train from Boston to Portland is Amtrak Downeaster’s most popular route. Trips from Freeport to Boston and Brunswick to Portland are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Downeaster routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Boston to Portland52h 30m$47
Freeport to Boston53h 7m$38
Brunswick to Portland50h 43m$7
Boston to Dover51h 29m$35
Wells to Boston41h 51m$25
Boston to Exeter51h 9m$29
Saco to Boston52h 10m$29
Durham to Boston51h 25m$24
Boston to Brunswick53h 19m$49

Amtrak Downeaster Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Downeaster tickets can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 24 hours after purchase. If more than 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change fee structure for Amtrak bookings depend on the type of fare you purchased:

Saver Fare tickets: A 25% fee applies for any changes. If you cancel the trip, you will receive an eVoucher worth 75% of the original ticket price.

Value Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable up to 15 or more days before departure. If cancelled less than 14 days before departure, a 25% cancellation fee applies.

Flexible, Business and Premium Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable if cancelled or changed before departure.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the train has departed, so be sure to make your updates as soon as possible if your travel plans change.

If your Amtrak Downeaster ticket is eligible for change or cancellation, you can do that by calling Amtrak’s customer service phone number at 1 (800) 872-7245. To cancel or change your booking online, simply go to www.amtrak.com and click on the “Modify Trip” tab in the upper right corner.

Wanderu also offers an affordable trip protection option by Allianz Global Assistance that you can purchase when booking your tickets. In addition to 24-hour assistance during your trip and coverage for lost or damaged baggage, trip protection can help you get your money back in case you need to cancel or change your trip. You can file a claim to have any Amtrak change or cancellation fees reimbursed if you cannot travel due to covered reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or required work shifts.

Amtrak Downeaster Train Guide & FAQs

Yes, Amtrak Downeaster offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Downeaster will have WiFi as advertised, some trains might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a movie just to play it safe. Amtrak Downeaster WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge watch your favorite show.

Yes, there are power outlets onboard Amtrak Downeaster trains. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power outlets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since Amtrak Downeaster might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend to bring a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

On a typical day, Amtrak Downeaster has 320 scheduled train trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

No, Amtrak Downeaster does not offer will call tickets. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station.

Yes, Amtrak Downeaster requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Downeaster trains. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.

Amtrak Downeaster provides snacks to satisfy your hunger during your travels. Be sure to pack a credit card and some cash in case you get hungry.

Amtrak Downeaster does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Amtrak Downeaster goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers.

Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Well you’re in luck as Amtrak Downeaster offers extra legroom seating. Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good.

Cheap Amtrak Downeaster tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 320 Amtrak Downeaster trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Downeaster tickets start at just $6.95. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Downeaster tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Downeaster tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Downeaster prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travelers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by traveling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best bus and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best deals out there.