This could be you hopping on a trip to New Orleans or New York. Photo via Amtrak on Facebook

All aboard, Birmingham! From now until January 12, you can buy one Amtrak ticket and bring a friend along for free. Read on to learn more.

All Aboard the Crescent

The route of the Crescent train. Photo via Wikipedia

Although Birmingham’s Amtrak station only services one train route, it can take you all across the East Coast.

The Crescent route connects New York to New Orleans, with a ton of fascinating stops along the way. End to end, a trip along the Crescent takes about 30 hours.

In addition to Birmingham, the Crescent passes through:

Philadelphia, PA

Baltimore, MD

Washington, D.C.

Richmond, VA

Raleigh, NC

Atlanta, GA

Why Should I Travel by Train?

Amtrak runs a service out of Birmingham. Photo via Amtrak on Facebook

Okay, I get it. Trains aren’t exactly the fastest mode of transport. However, that is actually a good thing. Since trains aren’t as popular as they once were, odds are you’ll end up in a car that is not quite full. As someone who always ends up stuck in the middle seat on the plane, I’d jump at the opportunity to spread out in a train car.

In addition, rail transport is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel. Compared to cars, trains put out 80% less emissions!

What Does it Cost?

Amtrak trains harken back to an era when trains were the main way to travel across the country. Photo via Amtrak on Facebook

Let’s say you want to take a trip to New Orleans. You could buy a plane ticket for several hundred dollars, or spend 6 hours in your cramped vehicle. Or, you could try one of the low-cost options from Amtrak.

One Coach seat Saver Ticket | $39

One Coach seat Value Ticket | $49

One Viewliner Roomette Ticket |$197

These prices seem amazing, right? For $40, you and a friend can take a trip to NOLA. How amazing is that?

Here Are the Details

This could be you relaxing on an Amtrak route. Photo via Amtrak on Facebook

From now until January 12, you can score two Coach or Sleeping tickets on Amtrak for the price of one.

This offer is valid from January 7–January 12, 2020

Travel dates are from February 1–June 12, 2020 *These dates exclude April 10, April 13, and May 22-25



Learn more about Amtrak’s BOGO deal.

Who will you bring along on your next trip on Amtrak? Tag us @bhamnow in your photos from the trip!

Nathan Watson Tennessee native who fell in love with Birmingham during college. Graduated from Birmingham-Southern College in 2019. Passionate about Birmingham and its continued growth.