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Amtrak Carolinian train tickets - Search & book deals

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Official Amtrak Carolinian partner

Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak Carolinian

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel in North America and Europe. We partner with more than 300 bus & train companies around the world to help you search, compare, and find the best travel deals all in one place.

About Amtrak Carolinian

The Carolinian is an Amtrak passenger train that connects New York City to some of the most charming destinations in North Carolina. The southern leg of the Carolinian's route, from Charlotte to Raleigh is also run by a sister regional train, the Amtrak Piedmont. Both train lines are part of the Amtrak system, which is the largest passenger railroad service in the United States.

Since its first operation in 1990, the Carolinian has offered efficient travel up and down the Eastern Seaboard, currently serving 24 cities via 519 routes. The Carolinian's longest trips, from New York to Charlotte and Charlotte to New York, each depart in the morning and last just over 13 hours, to arrive at the end of the line in the evening of the same day.

Like most Amtrak trains, the Carolinian ensures your comfort on this day-long trip with extra legroom and power outlets at each seat, free WiFi, and snacks available for purchase.

…You can search, compare, and book Amtrak Carolinian tickets directly on Wanderu, thanks to Wanderu's official partnership with Amtrak. You'll feel confident booking the most convenient ticket for your travels at the best price.

Contact Amtrak Carolinian

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

Online support: Amtrak Carolinian website

**2023** #3 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Southeast

2023
#3 Best Ground Travel Provider in the Southeast

Amtrak Carolinian Amenities

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

Quickview

Amtrak Carolinian train coverage

Daily Trips355
stations24
cities24
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Carolinian

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

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 325 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 346 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 392 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 425 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 390 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 434 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 431 reviews

Amtrak Carolinian reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Carolinian

(Based on 495 reviews)

4.3
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.3

Timeliness

4.3

Staff

4.4

Value

3.8

Condition

4.4

Amtrak Carolinian passenger reviews

5.0

Rasha

August 22, 2023- Visiting family

New York to Raleigh

Pros: I purchased the ticket for the following day but I boarded the train and I was able to switch my ticket to that current day. Cons: N/a. Tips: N/a.

4.0

Grace

August 13, 2023- Solo travel

Raleigh to Washington

Pros: No major issues. The seat had a good amount of leg room. Cons: My trip arrived a lot later than expected. Tips: None.

5.0

Timothy

July 31, 2023- Solo travel

Raleigh to Washington

Pros: Effortless. Cons: Better WiFi. Tips: Don't plan to work from the train, the service is really bad and the WiFi doesn't work!

5.0

Lauren

July 8, 2023- Visiting family

New York to Raleigh

Pros: You get to meet new people from all over. Cons: You need to add more schedules way to many people on one train it’s not safe or healthy. Tips: You my not get to sit with the people you come with so be prepared for that.

2.0

David

July 3, 2023- Visiting family

Wilson to Washington

Pros: Train ran smooth. Tips: Communication with the crew.

Amtrak Carolinian Routes & Network

Amtrak Carolinian’s train network features 519 train routes that connect 24 cities serving 24 stations. On average, Amtrak Carolinian performs about 355 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Carolinian offers the highest number of daily train service include Richmond and New York.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Carolinian

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Washington3110:45 am8:11 pm
New York1910:45 am11:35 pm
Charlotte1511:17 am12:23 am
Raleigh1610:45 am8:38 pm
Greensboro1210:45 am10:41 pm
Richmond1710:45 am5:19 pm
Alexandria1610:45 am7:37 pm
Philadelphia2310:45 am10:39 pm
Durham1010:45 am9:51 pm

Most popular Amtrak Carolinian routes

The train from Richmond to New York is Amtrak Carolinian’s most popular route. Trips from Greensboro to Charlotte and Baltimore to Washington are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Carolinian routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Richmond to New York16h 20m$32
Greensboro to Charlotte11h 40m$16
Baltimore to Washington10h 39m$40
Alexandria to New York14h 28m$31
Richmond to Washington12h 20m$13
Philadelphia to Washington11h 50m$127
Richmond to Alexandria11h 49m$13
New York to Washington13h 21m$62
Washington to Raleigh16h 14m$48

Amtrak Carolinian Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian Train Guide & FAQs

Yes, Amtrak Carolinian offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian has 355 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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.

Visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide to view the most up-to-date information about Amtrak Carolinian’s cleaning protocols and adjusted ticket change policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian 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 Carolinian tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 355 Amtrak Carolinian trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Carolinian tickets start at just $3.50. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

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

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

Top Amtrak Carolinian Destinations

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