Amtrak is adding extra trains and carriages for Thanksgiving, warning travellers to book early as the railroad expects another record holiday — its busiest travel period of the year.
Between November 20 and 30, Amtrak will add extra railcars to selected Northeast Regional trains, lengthening them from seven cars to eight or nine. Two additional Northeast Regional round trips will run between Washington Union Station and New York Penn Station, with stops in between, on November 24–25 and November 28–29 — the peak days directly before and after Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26.
Thanksgiving 2025 broke Amtrak’s ridership record, with more than 1.2 million customer trips, up nearly 6% on 2024. Amtrak says it expects another year of record demand this holiday season, and warns that even with the extra capacity, seats will fill quickly.
More new trains in service
Passengers will also see more of Amtrak’s new trains. Fifteen NextGen Acela trainsets are now in service on the Northeast Corridor — more than ever before — and in the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak Cascades is running its new Airo trains on four daily trips.
“During Thanksgiving week, Amtrak is expanding capacity by adding cars to select Northeast Regional trains from Nov. 20–30,” the railroad said in its November 3 announcement. Interim president Byl Herrmann urged passengers to book as soon as possible to secure the best fares and guarantee a seat.
Book early — and expect crowds
Amtrak tickets, unlike most flights, require confirmed reservations, so there is no turning up and hoping for a seat. Tickets are available on Amtrak.com, in the Amtrak app, at station kiosks and staffed offices, and by phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL.
The rail expansion comes as holiday airfares hit a ten-year high — Thanksgiving flights average $402 round-trip, up 31% on last year — and as petrol prices fall, with the national average at $4.04. For travellers on the Northeast Corridor, the train is the cheaper and calmer option this year — if they book before the extra seats go. The two extra round trips run between Washington Union Station and New York Penn Station, calling at Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station and Newark along the way. The extra cars cover an 11-day window, November 20 to 30, against six days last year — and Amtrak says 15 NextGen Acela trainsets are now in service, more than ever before, with the new Airo trains running four daily Cascades trips in the Pacific Northwest.
