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Amtrak Lincoln Service train tickets - Search & book deals

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Wanderu is an official partner of Amtrak Lincoln Service

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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About Amtrak Lincoln Service

The Lincoln Service is a train line part of Amtrak's Illinois Service. The Lincoln Service is a rebranding of the former State House route, which had operated between Chicago and St. Louis since 1973. The Lincoln Service is an intercity higher-speed rail, meaning that it runs at a higher speed than conventional rail routes.

The Lincoln Service follows a 284-mile route that takes around 5 hours and 20 minutes to travel from Chicago to St. Louis, with stops in nine Illinois destinations along the way including Pontiac, Normal, Springfield, and Alton.

Amtrak's Lincoln Service trains are equipped with WiFi and a cafe car, ensuring easy access to entertainment or food. Most trains also offer power outlets for charging devices and toilet facilities in every car. Business-class tickets are available, to treat yourself to upgraded seats and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Amtrak Lincoln Service offers early-morning services at 4:30 am and 6:40 am from St. Louis, perfect for a day trip into Chicago. The earliest departure from Chicago going the opposite direction leaves at 7:15 am and arrives in St. Louis midday.

Amtrak Lincoln Service has been an official partner of Wanderu since 2015, creating a one-stop destination for customers to search routes, tickets, and prices with ease. Don't forget to enter your Amtrak Guest Rewards number at checkout to earn valuable points on your purchase.

Contact Amtrak Lincoln Service

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

Online support: Amtrak Lincoln Service website

Amtrak Lincoln Service Amenities

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

Quickview

Amtrak Lincoln Service train coverage

Daily Trips99
stations11
cities11
countries1

What travelers are saying about Amtrak Lincoln Service

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

Traveling During COVID-19

“They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
based on 169 reviews

Onboard Experience

“The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
based on 208 reviews
“I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
based on 259 reviews
“Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
based on 290 reviews
“The train got there on time.”
based on 287 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 269 reviews
“The train was almost suspiciously clean”
based on 281 reviews

Amtrak Lincoln Service reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Lincoln Service

(Based on 323 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.2

Timeliness

4.6

Staff

4.4

Value

4.1

Condition

4.5

Amtrak Lincoln Service passenger reviews

5.0

Andrew

September 29, 2025- Solo travel

St Louis to Chicago

Pros: I had been looking forward to seeing the Caillebotte Exhibit for many months. The train trip was my first on this route. The ride was efficient and comfortable. And the ability to do it in just one day was great. Cons: The train car was truly chilly. The seats don’t recline. The signs at Union Station to get to the Acela waiting are are not easily followed. Tips: Wear comfortable clothes to keep warm.

5.0

Karl

July 20, 2025- Visiting friends

Chicago to St Louis

Pros: On time. Cons: Better seats. Tips: Bring a jacket ,but I love the air.

5.0

Rosalind

July 14, 2025- Solo travel

St Louis to Chicago

Pros: Enjoyed the bus ride. Cons: There was some delay on first trip. Tips: Protect your personal belongings and be aware of your surroundings.

5.0

Chanika

July 8, 2025- Solo travel

Chicago to St Louis

Pros: Spacious and clean, smooth ride. Cons: Nothing. Tips: Bring snacks.

5.0

Jasmine

July 5, 2025- Visiting friends

Chicago to St Louis

Pros: The speed of travel by train compared to driving. Cons: Seats would be more comfortable if they could recline, even a little bit.

Amtrak Lincoln Service Routes & Network

Amtrak Lincoln Service’s train network features 92 train routes that connect 11 cities serving 11 stations. On average, Amtrak Lincoln Service performs about 99 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Lincoln Service offers the highest number of daily train service include Chicago and Joliet.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Lincoln Service

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago910:30 am3:35 am
St Louis101:15 pm5:22 am
Normal1010:30 am2:38 am
Springfield1010:30 am3:47 am
Joliet910:30 am2:46 am
Alton1010:30 am4:19 am
Summit510:30 am3:35 am
Lincoln910:30 am2:00 am
Pontiac710:30 am2:17 am

Most popular Amtrak Lincoln Service routes

The train from Chicago to Joliet is Amtrak Lincoln Service’s most popular route. Trips from St Louis to Normal and Normal to Joliet are also highly popular.

Top Amtrak Lincoln Service routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Chicago to Joliet30h 52m$7
St Louis to Normal32h 35m$16
Normal to Joliet31h 19m$13
Chicago to St Louis34h 56m$27
Chicago to Springfield33h 2m$20
Joliet to St Louis34h 3m$27
Chicago to Normal32h 2m$13
St Louis to Springfield31h 41m$14
Alton to Chicago34h 16m$24

Amtrak Lincoln Service Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service Baggage Policy

Amtrak Lincoln Service Train Guide & FAQs

Yes, Amtrak Lincoln Service offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service has 99 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service 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 Lincoln Service tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 99 Amtrak Lincoln Service trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Lincoln Service tickets start at just $5.00. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Lincoln Service tickets?

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

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Top Amtrak Lincoln Service Routes

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