How the US fare comparison works
Through cost = (through fare + fee per ticket) x journeys. Separate cost = (first segment fare + second segment fare + two fees) x journeys. The saving is the through cost minus the separate cost, so a positive figure means two tickets are cheaper for the travel you entered.
The fee is charged once per ticket, so buying two tickets pays it twice. Enter zero when your seller charges no fee. Amounts are calculated in whole cents from quotes with at most two decimal places.
Worked example
A through fare is 35.00 and the two segments are quoted at 18.00 and 15.00, with no fee. For 8 single journeys the through tickets total 280.00 and the separate tickets total 264.00. The saving is 16.00, or 2.00 per journey, which is 5.7% of the through cost.
These amounts are illustrative. Use the quotes you are offered for your own dates and trains.
Separate tickets on one journey
Two tickets for one trip are only usable when each one covers the segment you actually travel and the conditions match. A saver or value fare tied to a specific train cannot be used on a different departure, and a missed connection can leave one ticket unused.
Check the change and refund rules for each ticket before relying on the saving. This page compares prices you supply and does not verify route validity, train-specific restrictions, seat reservations or baggage allowances.
Fees, refunds and changes
Some sellers charge a fee per transaction, others per ticket, and some charge none for certain fares. Enter the fee that applies to your purchase rather than an advertised average. A fee charged once per transaction should be entered once and compared with a single through purchase.
Refund and change charges are not modelled. A non-refundable pair of tickets can cost more than a flexible through fare if your plans change, so compare the conditions as well as the price.
Limits of this comparison
The calculator assumes both options cover exactly the same travel and are bought at the same time. It does not apply loyalty discounts, group rates, rail passes or cashback, and it compares only two separate tickets.
For a pass covering repeated commuting, use the commuter pass calculator. For a driving comparison in dollars, use the US mileage calculator.
For repeated travel on one route, compare a pass quote with the US commuter pass calculator.
For pound fares and UK ticket conditions, use the UK train fare calculator.
Inputs for the US train fare calculator
Single journeys compared
Count each one-way trip once. A round trip is two single journeys, so enter 2 for one round trip.
Through fare per journey
Enter the quoted price of one ticket covering the whole trip from origin to destination.
First separate ticket price
Enter the quote for the first segment bought as its own ticket.
Second separate ticket price
Enter the quote for the remaining segment, bought separately for the same date.
Booking fee per ticket
Enter the fee charged for each ticket issued. Use zero when no fee applies.
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
US train fare calculator questions
Does this find cheaper train fares?
No. It compares the prices you enter. You need a through quote and two segment quotes for the same trip, date and fare conditions.
Why does a per-ticket fee change the answer?
Two tickets attract the fee twice. A saving on the fare can disappear once both fees are added.
Can I compare more than two tickets?
This page compares one through ticket with exactly two separate tickets. More splits need a separate comparison.
Are the dollar amounts live Amtrak prices?
No. Every amount comes from what you type. The defaults and the worked example are illustrative.