Explore the National Parks of New York via Amtrak Trains

Starting this month through November, the National Park Service has brought back its interactive Trails and Rails program for Amtrak trains; however, some features will no longer be covered.

Those interested in volunteering for the program can apply through the National Park and National Historic sites. For train riders, they will get the chance to talk to travelers about the landscape and history along the routes in New York and across the country. 

Many lectures will feature artifacts, maps, and colorful visual aids to help tell a story about a particular landmark. 

The program will be set up in the train’s lounge or cafe car, and there will be an initial announcement after boarding.

Once, the Trails and Rails program featured volunteer commentators on longer routes involving overnight stays. However, they are now only daytime round trips due to cutbacks.

Trails and Rails National Director, James E. Miculka, mentioned that this year’s program “is built with a lot of flexibility and adaptability in mind. It may be difficult for many of you to hold to a normal schedule with the spike in COVID cases in many parts of the country. … onboard programs may be conducted when there are Trails and Rails volunteers willing and able to present.”