Are seat reservations compulsory?
Yes. Seat reservations are compulsory on all Amtrak services. Passes can be open dated but you must have a seat reservation before boarding the train. Reservations can be made before departure in Australia/New Zealand with Rail Plus. If you are already in the USA, you can make a seat reservation at any train station. At the time of booking, a point-to-point ticket will be issued and you will also be allocated a seat reservation.