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Not all Amtrak stops are created equal....

Tickets can be booked for getting on or off the train at most stations; however, a few stops impose restrictions that limit regional traffic.

These “receive only” and “discharge only” stops help minimize congestion from local passengers, especially where alternative transit options are available, such as in Glenview, IL, on the Empire Builder route.

Want to know how this works and how to plan around it? 👉 Read the full post to learn more!

Do You Need A Real ID For Riding Amtrak?

You may have heard that the TSA now requires a Real ID for air travel. But what about Amtrak?

You do need to carry an ID when traveling with Amtrak, but it doesn't have to be a Real ID. At least not now, Amtrak does not fall under those TSA rules for ID requirements.

In my experience, the most common times I’ve had to show ID on Amtrak were when checking bags or buying tickets in person. But over the years, I have seen and had random ID checks. Here are times you may need to show IDs with Amtrak travel.

Here’s a list of IDs Amtrak accepts for travel:

• State or provincial driver's license or state ID
• Passport
• Official government-issued identification (federal, state, city, or county government, or foreign government)
• Canadian provincial health card ID card with photo
• Military photo ID
• Student identification (university, college, or high school photo ID)
• Job Corps photo ID

If you are taking Amtrak over the Canadian border, all passengers will still need a passport or an appropriate passport card.

Is There An Amtrak Station Near Me?

I recently stumbled across something that I believe more people should know.

On the Amtrak website, you can type in the name of a city or town—even if it doesn’t have a station—and it will show you the closest Amtrak stop nearby. Keep in mind that those are distances as the crow flies.

Pretty cool, right?

If you already knew that, why didn’t you tell me? If not, hey—we just learned something new together!

This little feature has saved me several steps when planning or assisting others with their train travel. It's a quick and easy way to determine where your Amtrak journey can begin (or end).

What has Kev been up to?

The return trip home from Florida went surprisingly smoothly—no delays, no drama. Our flights were either on time or early (I know, I was shocked too). A gate change even worked in our favor for once!

That’s a far cry from last year, when our connection in Atlanta involved a mad dash between terminals. Picture me and others landing just as the next flight started boarding… in another terminal. Good times.

The first half of the trip was all business and went off without a hitch. The second half was all about family—equal parts fun and a little overwhelming.

I adore my two nieces and nephew, but it's both flattering and overwhelming when all three call out “Uncle Kevy” at once—each with their own (sometimes loud!) needs and wants. Still, I have to remind myself that I can’t meet everyone’s expectations at the same time.

But hey, I did get to go to Buc-ee's, which can be fun.

While visiting my sister, we chatted about summer plans for when the kids are in Wisconsin. We will likely get the kids on a few Amtrak and Metra trains, plus maybe a zoo train or two.

Looking at the Markers 🚂

Thank you for reading this newsletter and reaching out—it means a lot! I also want to give a shout-out to everyone who supports my work. Your help keeps everything running and ensures these resources are available when you (and others) need them.

Did you know that you can receive a postcard every month and more? You can! Join the other amazing people on Patreon; I would love to send you a postcard while we help keep this newsletter and Travels with Kev going!

If that is not for you, but you still want to support what I do, please visit my support page and click the green button at the bottom of this newsletter.

Every little bit truly helps, and together, we’re inspiring more people to explore the world—one train trip at a time! 🚆✨

Until Next Week…

Happy planning and safe travels,
Kev Monteith