Freshman year can be tough. So, here's something to help you ace it: Get one free roundtrip Coach ticket on Amtrak Illini, Saluki, Zephyr or Carl Sandburg train routes when you travel from August 24, 2026 to May 15, 2027.

The ticket can be used whether you’re moving into the dorm, heading home to visit family or getting away for the weekend with classmates.  

Onboard, there's plenty of room for books and backpacks. There's free Wi-Fi for texting and gaming. And there are roomy tray tables so you can break out your laptop to study.  

1. In the form field at the top of this page, book a round-trip Coach ticket to or from Carbondale or Macomb, Illinois. The offer is limited to the Illini, Saluki, Zephyr or Carl Sandburg lines. 
2. Use promo code in your email at checkout. Click the 'Add Coupon' drop-down menu and enter the coupon code. 所显示的票价已适用折扣。  
3. Enjoy your journey, courtesy of Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Freshmen Free Ride Program. 

1. 折扣详细信息
   • Free round trip for to/from Carbondale or Macomb IL.
   • Offer valid only for 2026/27 freshmen and limited to one (1) roundtrip per eCoupon.  
2. 车票规则
   • 购票适用改签和取消政策。
3. 旅行有效期
   • 仅限乘坐： 
     • Trips must originate or terminate in Carbondale or Macomb.
       • Limited city pairs: Chicago Union Station (CHI), La Grange (LAG), Naperville (NPV), Plano (PLO), Mendota (MDT), Princeton (PCT), Kewanee (KEE), Galesburg (GBB), or Quincy (QCY) in Illinois going west. Carbondale (CDL), Du Quoin (DQN), Centralia (CEN), Effingham (EFG), Mattoon (MAT), Champaign-Urbana (CHM), Rantoul (RTL), Gilman (GLM), Homewood (HMW), Kankakee (KKI), and Chicago Union Station (CHI) in Illinois.  
   •  Valid Routes: Saluki, Illini, Carl Sandburg and IL Zephyr.  
   • Class Restrictions: Coach only.  
4. 售票日期、旅行日期、不适用日期及提前购票要求
   • Sales Dates: August 21, 2026 to May 13, 2027.  
   • Travel Dates: August 24, 2026 to May 15, 2027.  
   • Blackout Days: September 4, 2026, September 7, 2026, November 24, 206 – November 25, 2026, November 28, 2026 – November 30, 2026, December 19, 2026 – December 23, 2026, December 26, 2026 – December 30, 2026, January 2, 2027 – January 3, 2027, January 15, 2027, January 18, 2027, February 12, 2027, February 15, 2027, March 26, 2027, March 28, 2026 - March 29, 2027.  
   • 提前购票要求：需提前2天购票。  
5. 其他信息 
   • 不可与任何其他优惠同时使用。  
   • 不适用于旅行社购票。  
   • 座位有限，并非所有列车、日期或出发班次随时都有座位。  
   • 票价、路线和日程安排可能随时更改，恕不另行通知。  
   • 受限于所购车票类型的任何限制、不适用日期及退款规则。  
   • 可能有其他限制。  
   • 不适用于使用Amtrak Guest Rewards积分进行的预订。  
   • 不适用于积分加现金预订。  

Join Amtrak Guest Rewards and earn points every time you travel, then cash them in for future trips, upgrades and more. Think of it as getting rewarded just for showing up — no studying required.