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Amtrak Saluki train tickets - Search & book deals

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Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak Saluki

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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About Amtrak Saluki

Since its inception in 2006, Amtrak Saluki has provided intercity rail services across Illinois. The Amtrak line was named after the mascot of Southern Illinois University, which serves as the location of the line's southern terminus in Carbondale. The Amtrak Saluki line operates in conjunction with the Illini train. While the Saluki operates the morning commuter route, the Illini runs in the evening.

Amtrak Saluki operates along a 500-kilometer route between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. The trains depart Chicago daily at 8:15 am and from Carbondale at 7:30 am, primarily providing transport to commuters, stopping at various small midwest towns such as Effingham, Mattoon, and Kankakee.

Each train on this route is perfectly equipped to offer a relaxing morning commute. With onboard WiFi as well as a cafe car, you're able to go through your morning emails while enjoying a fresh breakfast. Individual power outlets, as well as extra legroom seats, ensure that your trip is as comfortable as possible. The Amtrak Saluki also offers business class seating for additional comfort.

The Amtrak Saluki line is mainly known for being a commuter train due to the time that it operates. Because of this, passengers can expect a quiet trip where individuals can sit back and relax before work or take the opportunity to get a head start on their work projects for the day. In addition, the Amtrak Saluki meets the highest federal environmental standards with a 90% reduction in emissions. That means that your commute will not only be quiet but environmentally friendly as well.

Amtrak Saluki and Wanderu have been official partners since 2015, allowing travelers to book tickets for all of its 73 individual routes and find the best deals for their journeys. You can even earn Amtrak Guest Rewards points when you enter your unique number during checkout.

Contact Amtrak Saluki

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

Online support: Amtrak Saluki website

**2023** #3 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Midwest #4 Best Train Line in the United States **2022** #2 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Midwest #4 Best Train Line in the United States

2023
#3 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Midwest
#4 Best Train Line in the United States
2022
#2 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Midwest
#4 Best Train Line in the United States

Amtrak Saluki Amenities

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

Quickview

Amtrak Saluki train coverage

Daily Trips27
stations11
cities11
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Saluki

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

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 80 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 80 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 116 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 125 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 114 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 126 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 125 reviews

Amtrak Saluki reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Saluki

(Based on 143 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.5

Timeliness

4.3

Staff

4.4

Value

4.1

Condition

4.5

Amtrak Saluki passenger reviews

5.0

Sandra

October 2, 2024- Visiting family

Carbondale to Homewood

Pros: Very nice ride. Cons: Less expensive.

5.0

Lela

August 29, 2024- Visiting friends

Carbondale to Chicago

It was so wonderful had so much room, I felt safe and that was huge to me. And they was great telling us where stuf was and when we was stopping. Just a wonderful trip so far we come home on Monday morning from our trip.

5.0

Melanie

July 26, 2024- Vacation

Carbondale to Chicago

Pros: Would recommend business class. Pleasant experience. Did feel the seats and backs could have been cleaner. Tips: Choose business class. More room and less people.

2.0

Mary

June 27, 2024- Business

Champaign to Chicago

Pros: Comfortable seating. Clean. Cons: Better communication between the rail managers and their conductors. A freight train derailed ahead of us and our conductors had no ip to date information on the status of our delay, nor a suitable means to communicate information to the travelers.

2.0

Suzanne

June 27, 2024- Visiting friends

Champaign to Chicago

Pros: The seats were very comfortable for someone with back issues. Cons: The stairway to the upstairs is so narrow. Tips: Plan on the train being late.

Amtrak Saluki Routes & Network

Amtrak Saluki’s train network features 73 train routes that connect 11 cities serving 11 stations. On average, Amtrak Saluki performs about 27 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Saluki offers the highest number of daily train service include Centralia and Chicago.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Saluki

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago161:30 pm6:10 pm
Champaign91:30 pm4:20 pm
Carbondale122:15 pm5:57 pm
Homewood51:30 pm4:38 pm
Kankakee111:30 pm4:38 pm
Mattoon91:30 pm4:49 pm
Effingham161:30 pm5:33 pm
Centralia182:15 pm5:33 pm
Du Quoin11:30 pm5:57 pm

Most popular Amtrak Saluki routes

The train from Centralia to Chicago is Amtrak Saluki’s most popular route. Trips from Rantoul to Chicago and Carbondale to Champaign are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Saluki routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Centralia to Chicago14h 37m$45
Rantoul to Chicago12h 22m$25
Carbondale to Champaign12h 54m$18
Kankakee to Chicago11h 29m$10
Champaign to Homewood11h 46m$21
Effingham to Chicago13h 51m$34
Mattoon to Chicago13h 27m$27
Carbondale to Chicago15h 30m$49
Champaign to Chicago12h 36m$21

Amtrak Saluki Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki Train Guide & FAQs

Yes, Amtrak Saluki offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki has 27 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki 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 Saluki tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 27 Amtrak Saluki trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Saluki tickets start at just $4.21. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

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

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Saluki tickets with the lowest available fares every day. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Saluki 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.

More transportation options

Top Amtrak Saluki Routes

Top Amtrak Saluki Destinations

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How to Read Your Amtrak TicketRead more

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