Amtrak is updating its policy on travel for unaccompanied minors, raising the minimum age for such travelers to 13 years, up from 8 years.
Effective Nov. 1, travelers who are age 12 and under must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older on the same travel itinerary. Unaccompanied minors who are 13, 14 and 15 may travel in accordance with Amtrak's Unaccompanied Minor Policy, which, among other things, restricts such travel to specific time periods, requires that the departure and arrival stations be staffed, and prohibits transfers.
Children 16 and older can travel alone without restrictions.
Previously, Amtrak permitted children 8 through 14 years old to travel as unaccompanied minors, and allowed passengers as young as 15 years old to accompany a child of any age.
Amtrak said the change is not the result of any specific incidents, but was adopted "out of an abundance of concern for the comfort and safety of all our customers."