Amtrak’s new website has launched, it’s been an annoying couple of days unable to check balances or redeem points. But they’ve brought it back with a new bonus, “Take Ten”. (registration required.)

10 trips = 10,000 bonus points. Plus, double points along the way. Take Ten-the celebration starts on Friday, October 1, 2010. It’s the ten-year anniversary of Amtrak Guest Rewards, and we’re celebrating our members with more ways to better serve you, including an improved program, extended service center hours, a better online experience, mobile site, and the new Take Ten promotion. Earn with Take Ten from 10/1/10 through 12/14/10 – 10,000 bonus points when you Take Ten trips – Double points on all Amtrak® travel – Plus, the points you already earn for Amtrak travel

So we get double points on everything through December 14, and then ten one-way trips (each one minimum $40) earns a 10,000 point bonus.

Not worth doing (10) $40 tickets just for the 10,000 points but worth it to (1) consider taking Amtrak rather than say the DC-New York-Boston shuttle flights, especially if you don’t have status and wouldn’t be earning your 500 mile minimums and elite bonuses, and (2) might be worth an incremental 9th or 10th cheap trip if you’re already close to the bonus.

And if you even might take any Amtrak trips in the next two and a half months, register, at a minimum you earn double points.