The Hiawatha between Milwaukee & Chicago is an unreserved train, and I have always been able to use any Hiawatha ticket on any of the trains (in the correct direction, of course). When I bought my latest ticket, I was told that if I did not take the train I had a ticket for, I would have to exchange the ticket. This could be an issue, if arriving in Chicago on the LSL early enough to make the 10 AM run, but Amtrack will not sell you that combination since it is less than an hour from the scheduled arrival of the LSL. So I wonder if that means if the LSL arrives at 9:30 I will have to wait until 1 PM for the next train to Mikwaukee. What a pain in the patoot! If the train is not reserved, why do they suddenly care which one I take?
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
If it is an unreserved train like our Pacific Surfliners are your ticket is good on any train on that route.
Chris
Posted by DeeCT (Member # 3241) on :
It sounds like Amtrak will require that you exchange your ticket in order to take the earlier train. That would make sense. It would be needed in order to assure that a seat is available. Imagine not having a seat available on the earlier train you were ticketed for beause passengers ticketed for a later train arrived early enough to board your train.