WASHINGTON -- To mark its 30th anniversary Amtrak is marketing a
promotion that provides agents with a special fare to sample the
service on its trains. It also is providing fare discounts for
their clients.
To celebrate, Amtrak is offering travel agents a $30 discount
fare for traveling in coach on select train routes.
"We want to celebrate our birthday with those who've supported
Amtrak throughout the years," said Barbara Richardson, Amtrak's
executive vice president.
"We have really worked hard during the last year and a half to
improve our relationship with travel agents. And the $30 [fare] is
a gesture on our part to ask agents to give us another look and get
a good look at what Amtrak is today," Richardson added.
The $30 promotional fare is good on Amtrak's Auto Train, Silver
Service, Sunset Limited, Crescent, Carolinian, Piedmont and East
Coast trains to Chicago with the exception of the Lake Shore
Limited.
Also part of the promotion are the City of New Orleans, Texas
Eagle, Kentucky Cardinal, Heartland Flyer, Coast Starlight, the
Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquins and the Capitols in California and
Midwest Corridor services.
"We really want and need the support of travel agents [in
selling] our long-distance services because they require
explanation and that's what agents do and that's so important to
us," Richardson said. "They sit down [with clients] and explain the
process."
Fares must be booked prior to June 15. Along with the travel
agent discount, Amtrak is offering travelers a 30% discount off its
regular fares, with some restrictions.
Amtrak is advertising the promotion in several major newspapers
including USA Today, the Washington Post and the New York Times, as
well as in travel trade publications.
"The 30% off is really a great kick-off point for the summer,"
Richardson said. "We know people are traveling a lot during summer,
and we want them to get on board to see a lot of the improvements
that have taken place at Amtrak."
Reservations must be made by June 15 for travel before Aug. 31.
Amtrak noted that the offer cannot be reserved through the
Internet, self-serve ticket machines or purchased on board
trains.