Originally Posted by
mwilbert
Amtrak is intercity rail, not commuter rail.
Amtrak runs a very limited schedule on most lines, and the trains are often full. The problem is that they lose money on the fares; running more trains means losing more money, so they can't afford to run more trains. Filling trains is economical, but running additional trains isn't. I wish they could--I'd rather take the train to Chicago than fly or drive.
In the northeast corridor, where the trains actually make money, or at least lose less, you can usually get a ticket, except on special occasions like the day before Thanksgiving.