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Amtrak Capitol Limited train tickets - Search & book deals

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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About Amtrak Capitol Limited

The Capitol Limited is a passenger train service part of Amtrak's nationwide rail network. Spanning 750 miles across the eastern United States, the Capitol Limited connects Washington D.C. and Chicago via Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Amtrak's Capitol Limited travels along the historic B&O Railroad line, chartered in 1827 as the nation's first common carrier railroad.

The Capitol Limited offers 14 stops between D.C. and Chicago, including Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Sandusky. The route passes through an impressive seven states on its 17.5-hour journey. Due to the route's length, the Capitol Limited runs just one train in each direction per day.

What sets Amtrak Capitol Limited service apart from most other train routes is the Observation Car. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and swivel or table seats, the observation car lets passengers engage with the tremendous views along the route. You can drink in the Potomac Valley's scenery, peek at the historic town of Harpers Ferry in the Shenandoah Valley, and marvel at the Allegheny Mountains.

As the Amtrak Capitol Limited service is over 17 hours long, passengers can expect to find all the amenities required for overnight trips. Each train offers various sleeping options, including sleeper cars or regular coach and business class seats. Passengers who book sleeper cars have access to an exclusive dining lounge for breakfast or dinner, and all passengers are welcome to purchase food in the cafe car. Because the route passes through rural countryside and the Allegheny mountains, WiFi is unavailable on this train due to weak signal.

Amtrak Capitol Limited partnered with Wanderu in 2015, so you can be sure to find the best deal on train tickets on Wanderu at no additional cost. Don't forget to enter your Amtrak Guest Rewards number at checkout to earn valuable points on your purchase.

Contact Amtrak Capitol Limited

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

Online support: Amtrak Capitol Limited website

Amtrak Capitol Limited Amenities

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

Quickview

Amtrak Capitol Limited train coverage

Daily Trips23
stations11
cities11
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Capitol Limited

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

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 73 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 43 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 120 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 136 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 109 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 130 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 135 reviews

Amtrak Capitol Limited reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Capitol Limited

(Based on 168 reviews)

4.1
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.3

Timeliness

3.9

Staff

4.2

Value

3.9

Condition

4.3

Amtrak Capitol Limited passenger reviews

5.0

Nazrin

7 September 2024- Visiting friends

Chicago to Washington

Pros: no major delays. Cons: why is the train so slow. this distance could be done in much lesser time. any why are there no arm rests between seats. Tips: better than a bus.

4.0

Mydeen

6 September 2024- Solo travel

Washington to Chicago

Pros: It’s over. Cons: It could be improved. Tips: Stay home.

4.0

Kelly

21 July 2024- Visiting family

Washington to Pittsburgh

Pros: Relieved anxiety of having to drive, and my attendant Perry was very helpful and nice. Cons: Wi-Fi would be nice, but understand it's out of your hands, otherwise enjoyed the trip and time to myself. Tips: Make sure you have Wi-Fi or other means to occupy your time, me myself will be investing in another portable DVD players, and yes as you can guess I'm older, but still have plenty DVD's,.

5.0

Melbourne

14 June 2024- Visiting family

Washington to Cumberland

Pros: The ease of traveling but Amtrack is awesome! We were on time eachbway. The staff was friendly and the seat was comfortable. The Cafe open after break 15 minutes late and I wish they would revise the menu. Otherwise, I'll be traveling on Amtrack by wanderu again soon. Cons: Wifi and mobile connection. Tips: None.

5.0

Scott

16 March 2024- Solo travel

Washington to Cumberland

Pros: First trip on train didn't know it was available to get back from Baltimore Washington airport live in Pennsylvania across the line from Cumberland 100% better than driving down in the car cheaper too took a nap on the way home will probably do it again thanks great job I need to acquire a map of Amtrak's routes so I can schedule other connections as such. Cons: Overall great experience good way to get to Baltimore Washington area will probably use again thanks for the ride. Tips: Sit back relax enjoy the ride or you could nap as I did new experience !!

Amtrak Capitol Limited Routes & Network

Amtrak Capitol Limited’s train network features 23 train routes that connect 11 cities serving 11 stations. On average, Amtrak Capitol Limited performs about 23 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Capitol Limited offers the highest number of daily train service include Pittsburgh and Toledo.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Capitol Limited

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago97:59 am4:59 am
Pittsburgh412:24 am2:47 am
South Bend87:59 am12:29 pm
Toledo106:39 am4:59 am
Waterloo44:59 am4:59 am

Most popular Amtrak Capitol Limited routes

The train from Pittsburgh to Toledo is Amtrak Capitol Limited’s most popular route. Trips from Cumberland to Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh to Cleveland are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Capitol Limited routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Pittsburgh to Toledo15h 9m€101
Cumberland to Pittsburgh14h 24m€33
Pittsburgh to Cleveland12h 54m€31
Elkhart to Chicago12h 16m€29
Toledo to Chicago14h 23m€56
Waterloo to Chicago13h 9m€42
South Bend to Chicago11h 54m€26
Cleveland to Chicago16h 46m€76
Pittsburgh to Chicago19h 46m€154

Amtrak Capitol Limited Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited Train Guide & FAQs

No, unfortunately Amtrak Capitol Limited does not offer WiFi aboard its trains at this time. However, we find that a good book makes the time fly by and streaming services like Netflix allow you download TV shows and movies that you can then watch during your trip. Plan ahead and you will stay entertained during the entire train ride.

Yes, there are power outlets onboard Amtrak Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited has 23 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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 Capitol Limited 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.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Capitol Limited tickets?

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

Top Amtrak Capitol Limited Destinations

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