The Nationwide Railroad Passenger Company, broadly generally known as Amtrak, is effectively generally known as a simple and handy solution to journey throughout the U.S. Amtrak serves the continental states except for Wyoming, South Dakota, and the island state of Hawaii. Nevertheless, what just isn’t as well-known is that there is a secret perk that almost all prepare vacationers typically overlook when driving Amtrak — a hidden service that even seasoned vacationers would possibly typically fail to spot amidst the chaos of the crowds of Amtrak’s busiest stations.
Whereas Amtrak takes you to essentially the most superb corners of America and components of Canada, the Red Cap Service transforms chaotic journey into a relaxed and reassuring expertise. Amtrak companies greater than 500 stations, and a number of the busiest ones have the Purple Cap Service, or the Purple Cap Baggage Help, serving to you whisk away your baggage and greeting you on the platform, making your journey really feel much less like a scramble and extra like a VIP.
For those who see these uniformed guardians in purple, they are going to steer you previous the push of crowds and can take you to your seat — all with out the burden of carrying your baggage by your self. Here is what to find out about Amtrak’s hidden amenity that can change your prepare journey into a simple journey.
Uncover Amtrak’s Hidden Perk For Simpler Prepare Journey
In Amtrak’s busiest stations, you will discover the Purple Cap Service, keen to help you along with your baggage to and out of your prepare with easy courtesy. The Purple Cap makes use of motorized autos to hold your baggage and even gives common help in case you want something within the station. There are self-service handcarts on the Amtrak stations, however if you happen to want an additional hand (or two), the Purple Caps are discovered proper on the entrance of the station or within the Purple Cap space in the primary station concourse, ready to help you. These Purple Cap brokers put on uniformed purple shirts and caps, so you possibly can spot them simply on the station. Your baggage dealt with by brokers can also be secure and guarded by a declare examine.
However the Purple Cap would not simply deal with luggage or show you how to with instructions; the brokers of the service also can assist with making certain wheelchair lifts are in place for many who want them, in addition to another accessibility wants. What makes it much more superb is that the Purple Cap Service is free to all Amtrak ticket holders. Pay attention to these Amtrak stations under, the place the Purple Cap Service is obtainable. These are a number of the main stations or the busiest Amtrak stations in america.
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Boston, Massachusetts (South Station)
- Chicago, Illinois
- Los Angeles, California
- New Haven, Connecticut
- New York, New York
- Newark, New Jersey
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Oregon
- Seattle, Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- Wilmington, Delaware
Many of those stations are America’s most beautiful Amtrak stations (in 2025), and provide you with extra motive to discover these stations and use the Purple Cap Service.
How Amtrak’s Purple Cap Service Works
As a traveler, it is vital to look at over your belongings, which might typically show to be tough, particularly in case you have greater than two luggage to cope with. However if you happen to’re touring by Amtrak by way of one of many busiest stations, the place the Purple Cap Service is obtainable, comfort is its utmost precedence. The brokers will deal with your baggage, full with a declare examine for security functions, and can take you to your chosen seat on the prepare. However that is just one situation.
Momentary Bag Storage
Exploring with a lot of baggage is usually a battle. Nevertheless, those that are vacationing by Amtrak can benefit from the Purple Cap Service. The service gives free help with storing your baggage on the stations’ non permanent bag storage. The Parcel Verify service, when accessible, can quickly retailer your baggage for a minimum of 24 hours for $10 if you happen to’re an Amtrak ticket holder. Non-ticket holders are charged $20 for twenty-four hours.
Simpler Boarding
Navigating, disembarking, or boarding is loads of work when touring, however with Amtrak’s Purple Cap Service, it may be lots much less hectic. Purple Caps will often know which platform your prepare will arrive at forward of time, so you possibly can beat the push earlier than the platform is introduced, supplying you with one of the best likelihood at grabbing nice seats. A Purple Cap agent may even take you to the platform, taking away the stress of navigating a few of Amtrak’s craziest stations.
Whereas ticket holders for sleeper vehicles sometimes get precedence boarding help, as sleeper automobile tickets have this provide as a complimentary profit, Purple Caps can assist another Amtrak passenger utilizing the service to board early, serving to you get settled into your seat rapidly and prepared for the journey forward.
Particular Help
Not solely does the Purple Cap Service provide free baggage dealing with, but it surely additionally gives particular help to seniors, giant teams, and passengers with disabilities. These brokers are journey superheroes — pushing a wheelchair, serving to with baggage, and navigating the station to assist passengers get to their trains, lounge areas, ready rooms, and different key areas on the station.
Vital Issues To Keep in mind When Utilizing The Purple Cap Service
Lugging luggage by way of the station, navigating by way of the crush of the crowds, and hoping to snag a pleasant seat, the place you possibly can see all of the gorgeous views alongside the way in which, will be tiresome. However Amtrak’s Purple Cap Service will scoop up your baggage and assist relieve the same old journey stress of weaving by way of crowds and lengthy strains. There are, nevertheless, vital issues to recollect earlier than utilizing the Purple Cap Service.
- Arrive early. The Purple Cap brokers additionally serve different passengers, which might take a while. But when you will get to the station earlier, you may benefit from the full advantages of the Purple Cap Service with out elbowing your manner by way of the lengthy strains.
- Ask for help solely from the Purple Cap brokers. For security causes, Amtrak reiterated to ask for assist from the Purple Cap brokers. They’re uniformed in purple, so it is simple to identify them.
- The Purple Caps cannot help passengers within the storage (designated parking heaps). The service often begins on the station’s entrance, designated Purple Cap station, or on the baggage examine space.
- The Purple Cap Service is free. It is freed from cost for all Amtrak passengers, however ideas are customary to precise gratitude to the agent.
- Not all stations have the Purple Cap Service. It is principally accessible in main stations or the busiest ones, and never at each cease.
- The brokers deal with extra than simply baggage. For those who’re touring with mobility wants, you possibly can belief the Purple Caps to assist and show you how to with navigating key areas within the station and boarding, which is one nice perk if you happen to use the service.
Consider the Purple Cap Service brokers as your shortcut when touring by Amtrak, particularly in huge stations, the place everybody scrambles to seek out the areas they should go to. This hidden Amtrak amenity is not nearly comfort, but it surely additionally adjustments the rhythm of your prepare journey on America’s most dominant passenger rail.
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