If you’re planning to travel cross country on a comfortable and affordable Amtrak train, your supplemental oxygen doesn’t have to hold you back. With the right portable oxygen concentrator (POC) and a little planning, you’ll travel with ease on Amtrak. POCs make travel easy and keep you safe. Like airplanes and cruise ships, Amtrak allows you to bring your POC as long as you meet their requirements.
Planning earlier than later will help you avoid any last-minute issues with your trip, so try to prepare as soon as possible.
Here is what you need to know about traveling with your POC on an Amtrak train.
Make Reservations in Advance
Amtrak doesn’t allow you to make reservations with your POC on their website, so you’ll need to call beforehand to let them know you’re bringing your unit.
Call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) ahead of time to let Amtrak know you’re bringing your POC. For TTY service, call 1-800-523-6590. You can speak to an Amtrak agent seven days a week at any time.
Bring Enough Batteries
To travel on Amtrak, you must bring enough battery power for at least four hours. Although they provide power sources on board, you’ll need battery power in case of a power disruption on the train or other delays in your trip.
Many of our POCs packages include internal and external batteries that provide much longer than four hours of battery power. But we also make it easy for you to order extra batteries if you need them.
Portable Oxygen Concentrator Requirements
Amtrak doesn’t provide stipulations for which POCs can bring aboard. However, they must be Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM) listed to ensure the units meet safety standards.
In addition to meeting these safety standards, your POC must also weigh under 120 pounds. However, this should be fine; our POCs weigh, at most, 20 pounds.
At the Oxygen Concentrator Store, our POCs all meet these requirements.
Bring Proof That Your POC is Medically Necessary
Whether traveling by cruise ship, airplane, or Amtrak, always bring proof that you need your POC for medical reasons. Amtrak will not let you bring your POC on the train unless medically necessary.
Bring a copy of your oxygen prescription or a statement from your doctor that proves you need your POC for medical reasons. Carry your proof in an easily accessible location to show it when you board the train.
Related Information
- Top-Rated Portable Concentrator for Travel
- Tips For Taking A Portable Oxygen Concentrator on a Cruise Ship
- The Top 5 Tips for Using Your POC in a Car
- Tips for Traveling on Greyhound Bus with a POC
- Traveling to the National Parks with Oxygen
Updated: July 7, 2023
Published: May 28, 2014
Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.
Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.
thank you for the excellent information. I know it will make me feel much easier about traveling distances.
If something happens t concentrator is there an emergency backup?
If an oxygen concentrator fails, it is dependent on who provided it on how to get it replaced. We work closely with our customers on any issues they may have with their oxygen concentrators. Please give us a call at: 1-877-644-4581 to discuss further.