Stacey Blankenship likes the new Amtrak reservation policy for the Carbondale-to-Chicago train because she had to stand for an hour once when the train became too full to accommodate all its passengers.

There were bags everywhere, Blankenship, a junior in pre-med from Joliet and frequent Amtrak rider, said. It was bad. (The guaranteed seating) is more convenient and more comfortable.

Amtrak announced Oct. 14 that the Illini route from Carbondale to Chicago would become all-reserved seating as of Sunday Oct. 26. The system is to enable Amtrak to have improved ability to guarantee seating and to add capacity as necessary.

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The Illini route previously operated on an unreserved service, so students could purchase tickets up to the last day, and Amtrak could not guarantee proper seating for all passengers.

Marc Magliari, director of media relations for Amtrak, said students can reserve a ticket as many days in advance as they wish, but the student must pay for the ticket within seven days of the reservation. If a student fails to pay for the ticket within the seven days, then the ticket will be canceled.

Passengers on the Amtrak train can still walk up and purchase a ticket the day the train departs, but Magliari warned that prices could be higher because a higher fare bracket seat may be the only seat available.

The way to get the best price is to make the reservation in advance, Magliari said.

Magliari advised students who wish to ride the train, that they should call ahead to the Amtrak office (1-800-872-7245) or look on Amtrak’s web site (www.amtrak.com) to see if seats are available for the Illini route.

Reservations can be made up to the last day the train is to depart.

Amtrak is under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation to have a minimum of 150 seats on each train. The company will look at the amount of reservations to determine if cars need to be added to the train.

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Iseult Quirke, a sophomore in radio and television from Chicago, rides the train, and usually walk up and buys her ticket the day she wants to leave.

I never call ahead, she said. It is a good thing to definitely have a seat, but a lot of people go home at the last minute.

Quirke said now that she knows the reservation policy has been enacted, she will reserve her ticket to ensure herself transportation home.

In the past, Amtrak has used historic data to determine how many cars would be needed on holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Magliari said the new reservation policy will allow Amtrak to better gauge the number of passengers who will ride so that no one is left without transportation.

The reservation policy on other modes of transportation, such as air planes, have a penalty fee for canceling a reservation. Amtrak, however, will have no penalty for changing the day of departure on a purchased ticket.

Blankenship said the new policy could be bad in case of an emergency, but at all other times she doesn’t wait to get a ticket.

I have a car (in case of an emergency), she said. The train is more convenient and easier than putting miles on the car. In the past I have bought my tickets a week before because I know exactly when I am going to go home.