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Amtrak Saluki train tickets—Search & book deals

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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 55 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:
1 (800) 872-7245
Online support:
Amtrak Saluki website

Amtrak Saluki Amenities

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

Quickview

Amtrak Saluki train coverage

Daily Trips
22
stations
11
cities
11
countries
1
  • United States

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.”
    95%

Onboard Experience

  • “The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
    67%
  • “I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
    89%
  • “Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
    95%
  • “The train got there on time.”
    89%
  • “Seats were really comfy and spacious”
    95%
  • “The train was almost suspiciously clean”
    95%

Amtrak Saluki reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Saluki Based on 135 reviews

4.8

Ratings (Out of 5)

Comfort
Timeliness
Staff
Value

Amtrak Saluki passenger reviews

  • JacquelineSeptember 26, 2026Effingham – Chicago

    Pros Efficiency, comfort

  • LanceJuly 17, 2026Chicago – Champaign

    Cons To not have any mechanical problems on the train. We had to be bused back to Champaign.

  • LanceJuly 16, 2026Champaign – Chicago

    Pros I had a great time at the Rush concert. Cons Everything was good. Tips A great way to get to Chicago if you don’t want to drive there.

  • JamesNovember 8, 2025Champaign – Carbondale

    Pros Comfortable and stress free!! Cons No improvements needed Tips Trains are running on schedule, so be at the station on time. M

  • MPJMay 12, 2025Kankakee – Champaign

    Pros I enjoyed not having to worry about driving the q30+ miles. Also, the trip by train was one hour quicker than driving. Cons It would be nice if a dtop was added in Decatur, Il. Tips Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Amtrak Saluki Routes & Network

Amtrak Saluki’s train network features 55 train routes that connect 11 cities serving 11 stations. On average, Amtrak Saluki performs about 22 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Saluki offers the highest number of daily train service include Chicago and Champaign.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Saluki
CityDaily TripsEarliest trainLatest train
Chicago77:30 AM1:10 PM
Champaign47:30 AM10:20 AM
Carbondale38:15 AM12:44 PM
Homewood37:30 AM12:31 PM
Kankakee17:30 AM11:38 AM
Mattoon17:30 AM8:56 AM
Effingham18:15 AM10:49 AM
Centralia17:30 AM11:33 AM
Rantoul27:30 AM11:24 AM

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

On a typical day, Amtrak Saluki has 22 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 via 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.

Yes, Amtrak Saluki 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 Saluki tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 22 trips per day on Amtrak Saluki, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter, and Amtrak Saluki tickets start at just SEK 49.55. 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.

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