By Railfan & Railroad Staff
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is introducing more than 200 new ticket kiosks at over 150 stations across the country. The railroad says the new kiosks will replace its current “Quik-Trak” models that have been in service for nearly two decades.
Amtrak’s new kiosks will feature an updated user interface consistent with other Amtrak products that allow for a minimum touch experience for the most common in-station transactions. The Amtrak kiosks will begin with a Northeast rollout, starting in Washington Union Station, the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station in Wilmington, Del., and Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, and continue through the Midwest and into California throughout Autumn 2021.
“As we continue to modernize our trains and stations, we are concurrently providing modern amenities to our customers, and we are accomplishing that goal with the new Amtrak kiosk,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Roger Harris. “Our customers can trust that they will have an easy, convenient and fast experience when using these new kiosks to book or print a ticket for their next trip.”
The new Amtrak kiosk can be activated by touch, card swipe, barcode scan, or inserting a headset. Customers can now choose a departure from any station and have the ability to select a seat on trains offering reserved seating. Future enhancements will include the ability to accept contactless payment and send tickets to a customer’s e-mail address. The kiosks are fully ADA compliant with available audio instruction for users with limited visibility and a 48-inch height to be accessible for someone in a wheelchair.