Amtrak raises age for unaccompanied minors

As of Nov. 1, Amtrak passengers between the age of 8 and 12 are now not allowed to ride the national passenger railroad without being accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. Amtrak had allowed passengers as young as 8 years to ride unaccompanied.

Amtrak’s web site urges those making reservations for unaccompanied minors to call 1-800-USA-RAIL. “You may not book reservations for unaccompanied minors on this web site,” Amtrak warns.

In addition, Amtrak says children ages 13 through 15 “must travel in accordance with the Amtrak Unaccompanied Minor Policy,” which includes several conditions limiting travelers’ flexibility. For example, young teenagers may travel on Amtrak trains, but are “not permitted on Thruway motorcoach service, or on any other other connecting services.”

Also, Amtrak says, “Both boarding and arrival stations must be staffed. (Please note that even certain staffed stations do not allow for unaccompanied minors.)” As well, “The adult must remain at the station until the train has departed.”

Lenore Skenazy, host of the blog “Free-Range Kids,” objects strongly to the change. Amtrak is institutionalizing the “idea that ‘safe enough’ is not safe enough. Now it must be almost 100% safe, which nothing is,” she said in response to a request for comment by Railway Age.

“I’m surprised at how much this issue is totally getting under my skin; I guess it’s a combination of the fact that I love trains, and that Amtrak itself admits there is no basis to it,” she said.