Over 65? 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking Amtrak

Two days before our trip to Montreal, Maggie asked where my passport was. I'd ridden trains my whole life, and it had expired three years earlier. That's one of ten things I wish I'd known when I started traveling by train after 65. None of them are about sleeping cars or seats. These are the ones nobody mentions. I'm Stanley Pike, a lifelong Amtrak rider from Omaha (not an Amtrak employee). In this video: - why a short daytime train (and Business Class legroom) is the best first step - the bus hiding in some Amtrak tickets - taking a small dog or cat, and the rules - what you need for the trains to Canada - bringing a grandchild along - the rules for your own food and wine - keeping a medicine cool on board - reaching a real person at any hour - what to do when you leave something behind - the two things I never travel without now CHAPTERS [00:00] The passport at the kitchen table [00:41] Who I am, and what I won't repeat [01:12] It happens before the train [01:33] 1. The short trips count [02:54] 2. Not every ticket is a train [04:04] 3. A small dog can come along [05:26] 4. Canada needs more than a license [06:44] 5. Bringing a grandchild [07:53] A quick word about my guide [08:22] 6. Your own food and drink [09:44] 7. Keeping medicine cool [11:06] 8. A real person, any hour [12:20] 9. When you leave something behind [13:46] 10. Look out the window [15:05] All ten in one minute [15:52] The honest part [16:27] Your job this week Amtrak: 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245), agents 24/7; text the same number 7 am to 11 pm ET; TTY/relay 711. Not affiliated with Amtrak. Facts from Amtrak.com (Business Class, Amtrak Connection accessibility, pet policy, US-Canada border crossing, children's and senior discounts, personal food, beverages and medication, reporting lost items), checked October 2026. Rules, fees and services change and vary by train, so check Amtrak.com or call Amtrak before you travel. Border rules are set by the US and Canadian governments. For medicines that need special care, ask your pharmacist or doctor. My guide to pricing a trip so it costs less, How I Saved $5,000 on Amtrak After 65: https://stanleypike.com #amtrak #seniortravel #traintravel