For the routes I have used (mainly out West), the train always stops (sometimes very briefly) if it is a designated stop. For Amtrak travel with a bike, on many trains it must be a "baggage stop" to be able to load the bike. This is true on the Coast Starlight where a conductor has to receive the bike to hang it in the baggage car. Conversely, on the Pacific Surfliner a bike can be loaded at any stop because the passenger loads it into the bike racks. But... policies differ....At the minimum, I think it would be a good idea to review the train's policies in advance for the route you may have to use.
It truly would be a "perfect storm" of an unmanned baggage stop, no knowledge of the trains policies, and not Internet access - but I could see it happening.
Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
Can anyone comment on whether or not Amtrak trains stop at stations were nobody is getting on or off and there are no staff there to sell tickets at the station? I remember looking out the window at this station thinking that there was only a roof over a concrete slab there. That is the kind of station that I don't know if Amtrak stops at if nobody is getting on or off.
https://www.amtrak.com/stations/wgl
If the stop is not a luggage stop, then there might not be any staff at that stop. And if you are the only person getting on the train at that stop but have not yet bought a ticket, I do not know if the train would stop there or go past at 30 mph while you wave to them. That would be my concern about not getting a ticket in advance if there are no staff at that stop.
If you have no cell service but have a pay phone, I assume you can verbally buy a ticket, I have bought tickets verbally from Amtrak years ago by phone.