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Amtrak Carolinian train tickets—Search & book deals

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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 27 cities via 572 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:
1 (800) 872-7245

Amtrak Carolinian Amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Toilet
  • Extra legroom
  • Loyalty rewards
  • Power outlets
  • Snacks
  • Wifi

Quickview

Amtrak Carolinian train coverage

Daily Trips
320
stations
28
cities
27
countries
1
  • United States

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.”
    86%

Onboard Experience

  • “The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
    80%
  • “I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
    87%
  • “Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
    93%
  • “The train got there on time.”
    85%
  • “Seats were really comfy and spacious”
    92%
  • “The train was almost suspiciously clean”
    92%

Amtrak Carolinian reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Carolinian Based on 528 reviews

4.7

Ratings (Out of 5)

Comfort
Timeliness
Staff
Value

Amtrak Carolinian passenger reviews

  • JorgeSeptember 18, 2026New York – Greensboro

    Pros Bar Cons Renew the generator, 3 time black out Tips Funny trip

  • IvanAugust 23, 2026Salisbury – Trenton

    Pros I was able to enjoy the trip and was able to use the restroom when needed i am disabled and everyone was very nice and helpful thank you Cons Everything was great Tips None

  • NicholasAugust 19, 2026Durham – Washington

    Pros On time, air conditioning strong, some wireless Internet.

  • IvanAugust 16, 2026Trenton – Salisbury

    Pros I enjoyed sitting back and being able to use the restroom when I needed Cons Some of the information over the speaker was hard to hear at times Tips No

  • JohnJuly 27, 2026Charlotte – Rocky Mount

    Pros Social interaction Cons Stay the course that you are on Tips Enjoy your experience

Amtrak Carolinian Routes & Network

Amtrak Carolinian’s train network features 572 train routes that connect 27 cities serving 28 stations. On average, Amtrak Carolinian performs about 320 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Carolinian offers the highest number of daily train service include Washington, DC and New York.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Carolinian
CityDaily TripsEarliest trainLatest train
Washington, DC236:45 AM4:03 PM
New York206:45 AM7:45 PM
Raleigh196:45 AM6:27 PM
Charlotte177:04 AM10:23 PM
Greensboro146:45 AM8:37 PM
Richmond166:45 AM1:23 PM
Alexandria236:45 AM3:22 PM
Philadelphia196:45 AM6:39 PM
Durham146:45 AM7:28 PM

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 Baggage Policy

Carry-On Baggage

  • One (1) personal item – max. weight: 25 lbs (12 kg), max. dimensions: 14 x 11 x 7 in (35 x 28 x 18 cm)

  • Two (2) carry-on items – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 28 x 22 x 14 in (71 x 56 x 35 cm)

Additional Carry-On Rules:

  • Strollers and car seats do not count toward the carry-on limit.

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

  • 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.

Checked Baggage

  • Two (2) items for free – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 75 in / 191 cm (length + width + height)

  • Up to two (2) additional items: $20 fee per item

  • Oversized baggage (76-100 inches total): $20 fee per item

Not all Amtrak Carolinian routes offer checked baggage service. Check ahead before traveling.

Additional Checked Baggage Rules:

  • Your luggage should be checked at least 45 minutes before the train departs.

  • ID tags are required for all luggage.

  • All luggage must be in containers that are suitable for transport (storage tubs and plastic bags are not allowed).

Special Items

  • Bicycles up to 50 lbs (23 kg) may be checked for $20.

  • Folding bikes (max 34 x 15.5 x 48 inches / 86 x 39 x 122 cm) can be carried on board for free.

  • Skis & snowboards count as checked baggage if under 50 lbs (23 kg) and 75 linear inches (191 cm).

  • Wheelchairs, walkers, and CPAP machines can be brought onboard for free.

For more information, check out Amtrak's Baggage Policy page.

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 bringing a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

On a typical day, Amtrak Carolinian 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 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.

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 via 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.

Yes, Amtrak Carolinian allows minors 13-16 years of age to travel unaccompanied, with restrictions. Children aged 12 and under must travel with another person who is at least 18 years old.

Tickets for unaccompanied minors cannot be booked online and must be booked by calling Amtrak at +1 (800) 872-7245.

Cheap Amtrak Carolinian tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 320 trips per day on Amtrak Carolinian, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter, and Amtrak Carolinian tickets start at just $8. 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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