Amtrak Passes
To be eligible for an Amtrak pass, a Union Pacific Railroad employee must have been hired prior to April 27, 1981.
- Employees hired on or before May 1, 1952, with nineteen (19) or more years continuous service on April 30, 1971, are entitled to unlimited free transportation on their home road, 50% off the rest of the Amtrak system and an unlimited 50% off on sleeping accommodations. The spouse is entitled to the same as the passholder. Dependents may receive the same benefits as the passholder except home road travel is limited to twelve (12) annual free round-trips. Dependents are allowed 50% off the home road after the (12) free trips have been utilized.
- Employees hired between May 1, 1951, and April 30, 1962, with nine (9) or more years continuous service on April 30, 1971, are entitled to unlimited free transportation on their home road and 50% off the rest of the system. They are allowed 50% off on sleeping accommodations. The spouse is eligible for the same benefits as the passholder except home road travel is limited to twelve (12) annual free round-trips and 50% off their home road when the (12) free trips have been utilized.
- Employees hired between May 1, 1962, and April 30, 1971, with less than nine (9) years continuous service on April 30, 1971, are entitled to twelve (12) annual free round trips on their home road and 50% off on the rest of the system and sleeping accommodations. They receive 50% off the home road when the (12) free trips have been utilized. Their spouse is allowed unlimited systemwide half-fare transportation and sleeping accommodations. Dependents receive the same as spouse except ages 2-11 receive 75 percent discount on coach transportation.
- Employees hired on or after May 1, 1971, but before April 27, 1981, are entitled to 25% off on unlimited systemwide transportation. The spouse receives the same as the passholder. Dependents receive the same as the spouse except ages 2-11 receive 37.5 percent discount on transportation.
When utilizing the Amtrak pass, reservations can only be made 24 hours in advance for a one-way ticket.
Employees originally hired by the Chicago & North Western Railroad, Western Pacific Railroad or the Missouri-Kansas &Texas Railroad are not eligible for an Amtrak pass. At the time Amtrak implemented their present pass program, both participating and non-participating Amtrak carriers were given an opportunity to sign an agreement with Amtrak for the provision of pass privilege for their employees. The C&NW, WP and MKT Railroads elected not to accept the Amtrak agreement. Since they did not have travel privileges prior to the merger, they are not eligible for an Amtrak card as a result of the merger.
In the event the employee/former employee is deceased, the employee must have been hired before April 30, 1952, in order for the surviving spouse to be eligible for an Amtrak pass.
Dependents must be the natural or legally adopted child or stepchild of the applicant and qualify as a dependent under the IRS regulations for the current tax year. Dependents of employees are eligible for the Amtrak pass up until their 26th birthday if they are attending college with at least 12 credits. Pass privileges end at the student’s 26th birthday.
To request an Amtrak pass, please call the Amtrak Department at 402-636-7114.