Vintage Amtrak TV Commercials

Several old Amtrak television ads from the 70's through the early 90's.

[@mavicdronefootage1555]

The amount of diversity Amtrak includes in these ads is amazing. Amtrak was way ahead of their time.

[@jasonmarkowitz5397]

Railroads were always pretty far ahead for that kind of thing, Pullman porters being a successful and powerful African American union being one of them. A lot of the mentality is "we don't care what you look like, there's a job to do"

[@rjames45_3]

I wish they still made Amtrak commercials like these

[@sreyasdesai4865]

I do too

[@844SteamFan]

All Aboard Amtrak!

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

Same...

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

All aboard America all aboard amtrak all aboard America all boooaaard amtrak

[@westcoast_railfan]

RandallJVlogs that would be so cool!

[@amtraktoemd5885]

Amtrak should remake these commercials for their 50 years celebration.

[@magnumbrown78]

Man.... Hearing that "All aboard America, all aboard Amtrak" jingle takes me back to when I was a kid...

[@sreyasdesai4865]

cool

[@02skinnygar]

I was born in 2007 but I love hearing it

[@Kmaster2007]

Gives me the chills

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

All Aboard America All Aboard Amtrak 2x

[@ct92404]

I think the commercial for the California Zephyr has to be one of the most beautiful, awesome commercials ever made. Amtrak really did have some nice commercials back in the 1980's, and I can faintly remember seeing some of them when I was a little kid. The part at 2:52 has to be the most memorable slogan ever..."All Aboard America...All Aboard Amtrak" with a train speeding away across the countryside. You just can't beat that. That always stuck with me. Who hasn't heard that melody??

[@r.hulsewe8353]

That's the distinguished Richie Havens (1941-2013) singing at 2:52. Too bad the sound in this posting is so wretched. It certainly wasn't like that in the commercial as broadcast. The narration is, I think, by the actress Linda Hunt (b. 1945), a performer whose charm has always eluded me.

[@EliasWatsonCT]

"See what a thrill it is to fly, on a train." Wow, we just got rick-rolled by Amtrak.

[@spiralhillrailfan3768]

Can’t hear it

[@alaineeunicedionisio7600]

@@spiralhillrailfan3768 1:53 next time see what a thirill it is to fly on a tray

[@spiralhillrailfan3768]

@@alaineeunicedionisio7600 Can’t hear it

[@DuduGamerLuis]

@@spiralhillrailfan3768 it says it right after the timestamp of 1:53

[@Core395]

Wdym?

[@GeorgiaKev]

You are right, these are beautiful commercials. And the "All Aboard America" song gives it just the right emotional touch.

[@historyboy08]

Those ads about the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Southwesth Chief needs a comeback. It would be cool to see them make those ads and make one for the Sunset Limited and the Coast Starlight.

[@adrenalinecentral5929]

This makes me really tempted to ride an Amtrak train

[@a.gproductions_official]

I Know Right

[@mellowrexdrift6155]

Yeah that fax

[@kleenexbox974]

Guess the commercial did it’s job

[@DariusTravelChannel]

I love Amtrak been on it many times

[@TheTravinator91]

God, I miss the F40PH. I thought those were the coolest things ever when I was a kid.

[@ParrotGaming123]

You can still see them as NPCUs, but I think most are around the Midwestern-Western regions.

[@hbruins85]

Beginning at 1:36, I recall how the Amtrak CEO at the time really put his heart and soul into selling the American traveler on "flying without leaving the ground" - not to mention defending the company from the ax which Messrs. Reagan, Stockman, et al were anxious to bring down on the company. Thank you, Mr. Claytor.

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

1:36

[@kendufresne]

I love Amtrak, wish we had those prices back lol.

[@Trainlover4472]

Ken Dufresne Agreed

[@sreyasdesai4865]

I like too

[@jackboerner1901]

Yeah, but minimum wage in $3.10 in 1980 for some reference. Interestingly enough, that’s roughly $10.39 today.

[@elijaha773]

@@jackboerner1901 Yep. Inflation works a bit odd like that.

[@tonyktown]

I worked as a train attendant for the summer of '80 and '81 during break from college. Let's just say it was an "interesting" time. What I remember most though, was the food on the long haul trains...OMG that wonderful, glorious, incredible food. :-D

[@elijahgrant7001]

Back then: Amtrak tickets are cheap Today:noooooooooooooooooooooo!!

[@physetermacrocephalus9986]

Especially on the NEC. A trip from Philly to NY and back costs $78 and from NY to DC and back cost $98

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

Metrolink:CHAMGE THEM BACK charge $13 per ride

[@danielwalton9012]

@Carol Ziegler But me not loving the new long distance locomotive and the new amtrak passenger cars either

[@amtrak5062]

Damm inflation

[@Boypogikami132]

Damn you inflation

[@robkrasinski6217]

The new CEO is ruining Amtrak. He banned special excursions including steam excursions that partnered with Amtrak, and he is threatening to get rid of long distance trains (like Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, etc.) in favor of shorter routes between cities.

[@genuineplains4651]

Rob Krasinski then lets hope his stay as ceo doesn't last much longer.

[@J-1410]

Well if Oil comes back up the Empire Builder would be saved...Never seen so many people get on and off a train than I have at the Williston, Stanley, etc stations.

[@dragonsunicornsandtrains9779]

No long distance trains, no Amtrak

[@ae86hatch14]

I don't think that's going to happen anytime ever

[@FernandoZavalaTAT]

2 years later, and he's out

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

2:00 is the soundtrack to my life

[@Kmaster2007]

Turbocharged Rail Videos *ITS MY RINGTONE*

[@844SteamFan]

All Aboard Amtrak!

[@Hololiamong]

Same

[@Cessna-er4je]

𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘼𝙢𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙠!

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

He defend He attack But most importantly ALL ABOARD AMTRAK

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

Hello!

[@timtheursaheavypacific]

Its u!

[@iwontrevealmyrealname]

I agree

[@MistuhKayTrains]

More like He protec He attac But most importantly ALL ABOARD AMTRAK

[@Slv2therhythm]

Those commercials are great.

[@damanyocum149]

At 2:03 my favorite part-ALL ABOARD, ALL ABOARD, ALL ABOARD AMTRAK! YEAH!

[@mryield03]

actually 1:58

[@RageZer0]

Childhood memories there

[@whateveriam12]

1:59

[@damanyocum149]

Oops, yeah it is 1:59, my bad..still love it!

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

Try 2:51

[@DakotaDuncancheerwine01]

Rail is majestic. Only by train can you see the world- the beauty that is America. Gleaming cities and towering mountains coast to coast every day for a low fare. That's a beautiful thing, to me.

[@MrCzechers]

Love Amtrak, and these old ads. They should update them, and get the message out once more!

[@goth1945]

has anyone noticed that the coleen dewhurst commercials here, at the end, have richie Havens singing the "all aboard amtrak" logo. I get goosebumps from those

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

I dont it makes me calm

[@physetermacrocephalus9986]

It makes me nostalgic even though I didn’t grow up with these commercials.

[@michaelprincipe6749]

I always enjoy travel on Amtrak all the time it's the only way to travel

[@AmtrakandAWVRFan]

Those are so classic!

[@stampycatfan01lol]

My favorite is the ad at 1:36

[@joshbrony2204]

Same. This is (or was in) in Engines of Amtrak. F40PH

[@mikeytrains1]

I’m no 70s or 80s kid, I’m an ‘04 kid, but the commercials just give you the chills. Amtrak’s marketing is alright today, and these may be ultimate nostalgia machines, but in my eyes, some of them are a bit cheesy. Nevertheless, the use of “All Aboard America” and “All Aboard Amtrak” is a really awesome marketing plan.

[@PeanutsAndSanrioFan]

2:51 is literally the best slogan ever! Am I the only one who teared up? Makes me wanna ride Amtrak! I wish they made these again!

[@DavidMorris90]

Heyyy I work for Amtrak!

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

:D

[@Seawiz21]

Thank you for your service.

[@garandman114]

Love these commercials, All Aboard Amtrak!!

[@1f5sda]

I love the "ALL ABOARD AMTRAK" tune.

[@ultramanbelial3790]

Oh wow I love these old Amtrak commercials

[@CubsFan2812]

I agree. Friendly service, great food & drink, and beautiful sites to see. I love it.

[@02skinnygar]

2:50 All Aboard America, All Aboard Amtrak, all Aboard America ALL ABOOOOORD Am-trak, that's my favorite one.(besides the southwest chief...)

[@ct92404]

I love Amtrak. We used to ride it a lot when I was a kid, when we lived in Illinois. I don't really remember the commercials, but I distinctly remember the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody, the way it was sung in the Empire Builder and other commercials. All I can remember from tv was seeing a train speed by, and hearing the "All Aboard Amtrak" melody. I thought it was so cool. It stuck with me for years. I sort of remember seeint the last commercial with the model trainset too.

[@R160A]

Best commercials here are between 2:05 and 5:05. "All aboard America. All aboard Amtrak". How I wish these commercials would be brought back and updated to the current times and equipment.

[@lionheart1549]

I never road Amtrack but this song for Amtrack is so beautiful...."All aboard Amtrack....all aboard Amtrack"

[@christopherwilson5158]

It's something about the end of the 3:51 commercial that ending sounds really great i don't know who's singing that part but it sounds great when he says all aboard amtrak

[@Slv2therhythm]

That's Richie Havens who was an America Folk singer and performer at Woodstock.

[@EricEbac22]

In the ads for the California Zephyr, Empire Builder, and Southwest Chief, it sounds like Maya Angelou narrating.

[@Slv2therhythm]

I forgot who narrates these, but it's not Maya Angelou. Sounds close though. I'll check back.

[@assaultislove]

Diego Posada actress Colleen Dewhurst is the narrator in those commercials

[@Slv2therhythm]

assaultislove Yes! Forgot about this post. Thanks for jogging my memory.

[@AMH9217]

"Alllll aaaboard Ammtrak.". lol gives me the goose bumps. Lol

[@BobbyHarveyVideoProductions]

Awesome, I've never seen any of these before ... "All Aboard Amtrak" was their best slogan I think.

[@ryushishiratori2312]

2:59 Love the chime that is in the background of the California Zephyr commercial toward the end. It pairs well with the jingle.

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

Its relaxing

[@EliasWatsonCT]

1:58 Best jingle ever.

[@blizzard242]

These bring back memories of my trip to Seattle, Washington from Detroit, Mi when I was five. I took that root trough the rookies.

[@seankolker]

the Empire Builder commercial was awesome!

[@Pisca-kk5cs]

The 1st commercial really makes me feel like excited to be a passenger!

[@R160A]

WOW. I really liked those commercials. Espiically the ones promoting the Zephyr, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief. They only furtherincrease my desire to take a cross country Amtrak trip. One of my greatest longings.

[@lionheart1549]

I love the song from the 90s.....a very smooth version.....I wished they would of released this on a cd

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

i think p42 units was not built in 1976 back then but all i can say is that back the the GE p30CH and the F40 locomotives were really useable for pullin the amtrak trains back then and the other locomotives as well

[@theanimerailfanthehagersto1280]

A FRICKEN MASTERPIECE

[@TheUnknownAvenger]

I recently took the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle and boy, it was a terrific run. Planes only ruin the fun, go by train!

[@West_Coast_Mainline]

He protecc he attacc Most importantly All aboard amtracc

[@1f5sda]

All Aboard Amtrak is what I may sing while I ride Amtrak sometime.

[@TSquared2001]

All abord America All Aboard Amtrak. That music is 4ever in my head.

[@BobNewbie]

amtrak should advertise like this again, and highlight its best trains/services

[@danbeau9404]

Rode back from Flagstaff, az in 2016. Easy ride, comfortable, slept good and ate good, relaxed. Az to Chicago. Drove Chicago to Tucson, took 3 11 hour days. Stressful. When you figure in the cost of food and 2 nights lodging for 5 people, 3 meals a day, gas and numerous stops, the train was way cheaper. We drove to Flagstaff and left from there. We are going back this summer and am taking the train both ways.

[@ACLTony]

Great! This brings back some wonderful memories! It's a shame that congress has squeezed Amtrak's budget so tight that nationwide commercials are far and few in between. Thank you for posting :)

[@erichume1285]

and the way they changed from then to now

[@mauricelong4678]

These Amtrak commercial is back in 2021

[@christophers.o622]

I travel long distance on Amtrak and when I’m home in the San Diego area I ride on the Pacific Surfliners to & from Los Angeles & Oxnard alternating my visits between the 2 cities, it beats driving on I-5 between the North end of I-805 to Oceanside where it’s becoming a parking lot and is already a parking lot from Oceanside to the 134 freeway in Los Angeles. They are rebuilding it from the 605 parking lot to the Orange County Line. My youngest brother now travels Amtrak between Wilmington, DE & Fredericksburg & Quantico,VA alternating between those 2 towns as the I-95/I-495 around Washington,DC-The Capital Beltway are also parking lots. My niece in law that lives in Quantico takes the commuter train to & from work for Capitalone in Alexandria and just walks to her work from the Alexandria Amtrak/VRE Station.

[@muhammadfadhiil3430]

all aboard all aboard ALL ABOARD AMTRAK!

[@therealbill45]

I agree! I wish everyone could see it that way

[@SignalLightProductions]

The engine ringing the bell and blowing in the horn in the intro sounds just like my Lionel UP Desert Victory SD40-2!

[@scwylder]

I believe Colleen Dewhurst did the narration for the three long-haul ads (California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief).

[@andrewherrera9651]

I'd say that is the voice of Colleen Dewhurst. Such a distinct voice.

[@trainzguy2472]

Amtrak. Where the journey is the destination.

[@Zebraguy626]

i love this! the middle commericals are so inspiring

[@AndrewTrainFilmsProductions]

Man I miss the old Amtrak

[@commandingofficerkanawha7546]

1:38 to 2:05. Best commercial ever!

[@arrowguy173]

Agreed! Beautiful.

[@EricEbac22]

When the train shows up at the departing station and my destination at a decent time, I don't mind riding Amtrak, but when it shows up three hours or more late, then has issues, such as power outages (or brake compression issues), that's what makes me consider other modes of transportation, such as flying.

[@awesomeaustin5704]

I don't trust airplanes period those screaming metal death traps are nothing but trouble something goes wrong tens of thousands of feet in the air and you start plummeting toward the ground you dead gg

[@christophers.o622]

EricEbac22 if you fly, don’t ever fly on The Bullying Skies of United Airlines which is the very worst airline to fly on.

[@CameronHarvey-wt6hd]

Brings me back to April 2020

[@timpriddy349]

I wanna see the painted over Southern Pacific streamliners when they first started with surplus passenger coaches in all colors.......

[@ACLTony]

BTW: There were the other commercials: "America is getting into Training, Training the Amtrak Way!" (early 1980s) and there was also "Take the A Train" (Auto Train).

[@g187]

i love Amtrak

[@Mnrr6131]

Rest In Peace SDP40Fs(1973-1980s), P30CH(1978-1992), F40PH(R)(1975-1990s) and E60s(1972-2002)

[@carnadero]

Hmm, I remember a jingle from an Amtrak commercial that wasn't in this collection: "America is getting into training, training the Amtrak way".

[@rushylvania.northern]

I now realize how good Amtraks commercials were

[@JustClaude13]

I have a plan. It involves buying up underused freight lines and rebuilding them for high speed diesel multiple unit trains. The number of new lines that would need to be built would be minimal, and they could be electrified as enough traffic develops to justify the expense.

[@majormana1]

How those planes coming five years later

[@DC3railroadman]

Boy did these commercials bring back some memories! Thanks so much. Great job!

[@Fullerton_Railfan7706]

Give me the time, the time is right! For taking the train, instead of that flight! Going to places really gettin’ around, so let’s take it home, and never leave it in a crowd! All aboard, all aboard, all aboard Amtrak! All aboard, all aboard, all aboard Amtrak! So much comfort, so much to see! Traveling the way travel should be, Superliners can see what we’ve done making getting there part of the fun! All aboard, all aboard, all aboard Amtrak! Same old flights, same old planes, well have you seen our brand new trains? All aboard, all aboard, all aboard Amtrak!

[@IsabellaBlue]

Colleen Dewhurst has a wonderful voice!

[@BLAKEamtrak]

I LOVE AMTRAK

[@user-px8wk9tc5c]

I have traveled 76 times on Amtrak which is my number 1 choice of travel. It beats the bus, beats flying domestically which flying on a cramped sardine can and also beats driving as well.

[@SouthernPacificLines]

Amtrak = The best way to travel!

[@ACLTony]

Amtrak's budget for tv/video advertising is very small, which is why we don't see as many like we did back in the 1970s-80s. My favorite Amtrak commercial was that the "Take the A Train" jingle in it back in the late 80s/early 90s. See The Country, Travel Amtrak was also very cool. I miss those days. Regarding the locomotives, I miss the SDP40fs and F40s, but the modern GE Genesis locomotives have grown on me a bit. They look really sleek running at 80mph pulling the Silver Star. :)

[@gatewayeast1609]

Long Live Amtrak!

[@edwincintron7883]

2:05 woow that one made me cry 😢

[@TheAbderaman]

why the EMD f40ph were so iconic in amtrak in the 70 and 80s ?

[@MaineCentral114]

+abderaman alzemouri Thats the most common road locomotive Amtrak had then, Pretty much if you saw an Amtrak passenger train there would be like an 80% that it would be an F40PH.

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

They also have gone down in Amtrak history as one of the most popular locomotives owned by Amtrak.

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

F40PHR 281 Exactly, the SDP40F's were prone to derailments, and the P30CH was a mechanical nightmare for Amtrak. The F40PH allowed them to be retired.

[@russellgxy2905]

The F40PHs were the only Amtrak 70s graduates that WEREN'T derailment bait.

[@terrellhoward5231]

abderaman alzemouri, The F40'S saved Amtrak and it was the locomotive that seems to be the most successful in Amtrak's stable.

[@kingbibihabibi]

It is most of the time, especially if you live here. It's a lot worse everywhere else--old tracks and trains. But the train is still always better than flying.

[@christophers.o622]

Amtrak had great commercials in the 1970’s & 1980’s. I travel long distance on Amtrak and I also ride Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliners between San Diego, Los Angeles & Oxnard when I’m home in the San Diego area. I alternate my visits between Los Angeles & Oxnard when I’m home in the San Diego area. I don’t have to deal with the traffic on the I-5, U.S.101 & I-405 Parking lots at all, the same when I travel East to Wilmington,DE when I go through Washington,DC & Baltimore, don’t have to deal with the I-95 & I-395 Parking lots.

[@andrewilson4279]

Awesome Cool commercials

[@GamingwithJay0001]

1:36 is my favorite one

[@BNforever2009]

Wow! Nice to see that SDP-40F locomtive!!!

[@itskevinjustkevin]

Man the 80s was the Golden Age of everything

[@republicoftajikistan4532]

All but F1

[@ilovecarnivalcruisechannel6541]

In a week I will be taking Empire Service to Buffalo, Lake Shore Limited to Chicago and Texas Eagle down to Dallas! All aboard Amtrak!

[@r.ummimodeste9146]

3:11 Still.my favorite means of transport. These old commercials are better than the new ones.

[@realTimCollier]

All Aboard America, All Aboard Amtrak Commercials Were The Best

[@lionheart1549]

By night it will waken your senses......all aboard Amtrack all aboard America

[@GTRailroadVideos]

Ahhh Those Were ThAAAA Dayyyys! Thanks for making me feel old! 5*****

[@justmejie]

i couldnt agree more the one for the zephyr was especially well done sounded like a native american was telling u a story they should bring these ones back

[@ckildegaard]

Not a bad idea, honestly. I'd stand behind you on that one. Good thinking!

[@g187]

i have ridin on amtrak many times the first was with my grandmother then my mother and then my grandfather and now whenever possible i ride to new york and back to dc All Abaord Amtrak