BNSF Employee and Retiree Amtrak Pass Privileges Explained

If you are a current or retired BNSF employee hired on or before April 30, 1971, by a BNSF predecessor or legacy railroad, you may be eligible for Amtrak travel privileges.

For the information outlined below:

• Scheduled retirees must be age 60 and have 30 years of continuous service at retirement to qualify for Amtrak Pass Privileges
• Exempt retirees must be age 55 and have 25 years of continuous service at retirement to qualify for Amtrak Pass Privileges

IF YOU ARE A (BELOW)	WITH A CONTINUOUS SERVICE DATE PRIOR TO APRIL 30, 1962	WITH A CONTINUOUS SERVICE DATE FROM MAY 1, 1962 THROUGH APRIL 30, 1971	HIRED AFTER MAY 1, 1971
Current Employee	Unlimited, free transportation on Amtrak, when Amtrak trains are traveling on rail lines owned by your home road* Unlimited, 50 percent fare discounts on any other rail line on which Amtrak travels 50 percent off sleeping accommodations	12 free trips per year 50 percent off sleeping accommodations Once 12 free trips are used, employee gets 50 percent off trips on home rail Trips on rail lines not on employee’s home line are 50 percent off	No Amtrak travel privileges
Spouse of employee	Unlimited, free transportation on Amtrak, when it travels on spouse’s home road of record as of April 30, 1971 Unlimited, 50 percent fare discounts on any other rail line on which Amtrak travels 50 percent off sleeping accommodations	50 percent off the fare 50 percent off sleeping accommodations Trips on rail lines not on the employee’s home line are 50 percent off	No Amtrak travel privileges
Retiree	Unlimited, free transportation on Amtrak, when you travel on your home road of record as of April 30, 1971 Unlimited, 50 percent fare discounts on any other rail line on which Amtrak travels Other accommodations – 50 percent off	12 free round trips per year on home roads 50 percent off sleeping accommodations Once 12 free trips are used, spouse of retiree gets 50 percent off trips on home rail Trips on rail lines not on the retirees home line are 50 percent off	No Amtrak travel privileges
Spouse of retiree	Unlimited, free transportation on Amtrak, when it travels on retired spouse’s home road of record as of April 30, 1971 Unlimited, 50 percent fare discounts on any other rail line on which Amtrak travels 50 percent off sleeping accommodations	12 free round trips per year on home roads 50 percent off sleeping accommodations Once 12 free trips are used, spouse of retiree gets 50 percent off trips on home rail Trips on rail lines not on the retirees home line are 50 percent off	No Amtrak travel privileges
Dependant of employee or retiree (must be younger than 18, or up to the age of 25 if he/she is a full-time student)	12 free trips on Amtrak, when it travels on parent’s home road of record on April 30, 1971 50 percent discounts on any other rail line on which Amtrak travels 50 percent off sleeping accommodations	12 free round trips per year on home roads 50 percent off sleeping accommodations Once 12 free trips are used, dependents of retirees get 50 percent off trips on home rail Trips on rail lines not on the retirees home line are 50 percent off	No Amtrak travel privileges
Surviving Spouse	Surviving spouses of employees hired prior to April 30, 1952, with 19 years of continuous service on April 30, 1971, may be entitled to unlimited free transportation on the home road Surviving spouses’ dependents are not eligible for travel privileges If the surviving spouse remarries, he/she is no longer eligible for Amtrak travel privileges

* The employee’s ‘home road’ is the railroad the employee worked for April 30, 1971, the date Amtrak began its service.

Effective July 1, 2015, Amtrak will no longer provide pass privileges to non-public law freight railroad pass riders (those hired between May 1, 1971 and April 27, 1981). Their pass files in Amtrak’s reservation system will be inactivated on that date.

In almost every case it is more advantageous for these pass holders to travel as a revenue passengers. The fare is lower and there is no 24-hour limitation, nor is there a restriction on the types of services that may be used.

Pass privileges for public law freight railroad pass riders are unaffected, and they will continue to have the same pass privileges they have now.

Do you qualify? Here’s how to get your Amtrak travel card:

• Call 817-352-4983 to request an application by mail.
• Complete the application, and mail it to the address provided.
• Upon approval, Amtrak will send the travel card to the address provided within four to six weeks.
• Other questions? Please call 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245).