Lifehack on Amtrak routes: free luggage assistance that few people know about

Amtrak, the largest railroad company in the U.S., has been helping passengers reach their destinations for over 50 years. In total, Amtrak serves 500 communities across 46 states (including Washington, D.C.) and even extends into Canadian provinces.

However, few passengers are aware of the assistance that Amtrak offers for free. It turns out that Amtrak has a little-known program called the "Red Cap Baggage Handling Service," which assists passengers with their luggage, as reported by TravelAndLeisure.

With routes spanning approximately 21,400 miles, each passenger traveling from point A to point B can benefit from an extra pair of hands during their journey, according to Amtrak representatives.

The service is available nationwide, including on the Northeast Corridor route through Boston (available only at South Station), New Haven, Connecticut, New York, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. It can also be found at stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle.

To locate someone who provides the service, passengers simply need to ask the red-hatted staff at the station.

"They assist passengers with disabilities, seniors, and large groups of people in navigating the station, operating motorized vehicles (for carrying 50-pound bags), wheelchair lifts, ramps, and offering general assistance to station visitors," states the carrier's website.

Additionally, the company clarified that passengers should only accept assistance from official Red Cap agents, and while the service is complimentary, passengers may choose to tip their assistant if they deem it appropriate.