Submitted by Michael Hansen on and last modified on 4 October, 2017
Category:
Description of App:
Discover the convenience of traveling with Amtrak. With the Amtrak app you can you can get simple and intuitive access to all the travel information you need, whenever you need it.
• Book one-way and roundtrip tickets
• Check train status
• Search for station information
• Show your eTicket while onboard
• Save trip information to your phone calendar
• Load your eTicket into Passbook™
• And so much more
All this, without the hassle of your laptop, making calls or printing your ticket.
For help or feedback on the Amtrak app, go to amtrak.com/contact-us
Apple Watch Support:
Not Known
Version:
2.0
Free or Paid:
Free
Device(s) App Was Tested On:
iPhone
Accessibility Comments:
The Amtrak app has some accessibility issues, particularly in terms of unlabeled buttons in the reservation booking area of the app. Parts of the app, including the train status feature, are very usable however.
VoiceOver Performance:
VoiceOver reads all page elements.
Button Labeling:
Few buttons are clearly labeled.
Usability:
There are some accessibility issues with this app, but it can still be used if you are willing to tolerate these issues and learn how to work around them.
Other Comments:
This app is very useful for checking train status. However, for booking trips, I would still recommend using the main Amtrak website or calling a reservations agent.
App Store Link:
Developer's Website:
Developer's Twitter Username:
@Amtrak
19 Comments
#1 Agree with initial findings
Submitted by Chris Foster on
#2 More on contact with Amtrak
Submitted by Chris Foster on
#3 2/15/2012: Updated app entry
Submitted by Michael Hansen on
#4 Amtrak's iPhone App's continued lack of accessability
Submitted by Chris Foster on
#5 Amtrak App 1.0.6 released on July 12. Still inaccessible.
Submitted by Bryan Jones on
#6 Thanks for the Update
Submitted by Michael Hansen on
#7 Significant accessibility improvements in v1.2
Submitted by Bryan Jones on
#8 Result!
Submitted by David Goodwin on
#9 Version 1.3
Submitted by AnonyMouse on
It now offers PassBook! What's New in Version 1.3
Passbook support!
From the integrated eTicket screen you select the action button to add it to Passbook. Passbook eTickets can be shown and scanned by conductors onboard Amtrak trains nationwide.
#10 Minor Issue with Booking Tickets
Submitted by Michael Hansen on
#11 Version 1.4
Submitted by Ernie Segura on
#12 Amtrak App
Submitted by thom3of5 on
#13 Purchasing Tickets Appears Inaccessible...
Submitted by Michael Hansen on
#14 Version 2.0
Submitted by Michael Hansen on
#15 Has anyone been in contact with Amtrak?
Submitted by Jim on
Has anyone had any issues booking tickets with the latest update? Have we been in contact with @Amtrak to fix issues? Just wondering because I haven't seen anything on here lately.
#16 Issues in version 2.0.3
Submitted by Bryan Jones on
It's been a few years since I've felt the need to contact Amtrak about their App, as I had some success using the App after they finally made the date picker accessible a couple of years back; however, this evening I spent a few hours attempting to book some round-trip tickets for an upcoming trip and eventually gave up because of accessibility issues. I'll be contacting Amtrak again to let them know what I've found, some of which is listed below.
1. Labeling of buttons and other elements is messy, inconsistent and confusing throughout the App. Every page of the process includes at least one unlabeled button, but most pages include multiple unlabeled and porrly labeled buttons and other elements.
2. On the payment page, it was not possible to determine if I was about to pay for the complete round trip or for a single leg. Only one leg appeared to be listed on this page, but the price was higher than the originally quoted price for that one leg, and there was no obvious way to verify any of this before entering credit card information. This is where I called it a night and quit the App without completing my purchase.
Other notes:
1. While the date and time pickers in version 2.0.3 are still accessible, the calendar used for date selection is less than ideal as it is not smooth to navigate and does not announce the day of the week in conjunction with the date.
2. The process of browsing and searching for stations seems fully VO-accessible in this version.
3. After entering desired locations and times, the resulting list of trains seems fully VO-accessible in this version. The list included the train name, departure and arrival times, and ticket price. Double-tapping a selected train to move to the next step in the process seems to be working again.
4. I cannot overstate just how messy the labeling is in this version of the App. While some VoiceOver Users are able to decipher poorly-labeled buttons and other elements, I think it is a stretch to assume that the average VoiceOver User will have the time, inclination or skill to figure out the difference between buttons labeled "InfoBlue" and "InfoWhite," or the meaning of items labeled, "CheckboxIcoActive, Button, On," "CheckboxIcoActive, Button, Off," "PlusButtonActive, Button" and "MinusButtonActive, Button." Or how 'bout the following list found in the details page for many stations: "WheelchairDimmed, Button, WheelchairDimmed, Button, WheelchairDimmed, Button, WheelchairDimmed, Button, WheelchairDimmed, Button, WheelchairDimmed, Button."
===
Tested on iPhone 5S, IOS 7.1.1, Amtrak App version 2.0.3
#17 just a heads up
Submitted by Vash Rein on
For those that don't know, Amtrack does provide a 15% discount for disabled amtrack customers. This includes people with visual impairments. I usually call and request the discount and have gotten it for the past 3 years.
#18 I contacted them via twitter
Submitted by KE7ZUM on
I contacted them via twitter and they said they are goign to fi some of the issues in a future update. No time line as to when yet though.
#19 adding a ticket to passbook
Submitted by Siobhan on
I can't find the actions button to add my ticket to apple wallet. Can someone help? It's the latest version of amtrak, not sure what that is now. Thanks. Never taken them, first time.