rail travel in the us

The Man in Seat 61

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You'll see nothing of America at 35,000 feet, come down to Earth and see world class scenery from an Amtrak train across the United States.  You can travel cross-country from as little as $236 (£188 or €220) if you book well in advance, one of the world's great travel bargains.  The USA has an excellent rail network for visitors, it may only be a skeleton network by European standards but it'll take you to almost all the towns & cities a visitor wants to see, in comfort at affordable prices.  It'll take you to many of the U.S. national parks, too.  Long-distance trains in the USA are operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, www.amtrak.com .  This page explains what you need to know to plan and book a memorable cross-country trip by train.

Train service in the USA, at a glance    See detailed map

This route map shows where Amtrak trains run.  Each of the very long-distance transcontinental routes shown in blue has one daily train, except for New York to Florida with 2 trains a day and the Sunset Limited (New Orleans-San Antonio-Los Angeles) which runs 3 times a week.  Important short distance routes (for example, Washington-New York-Boston or Los Angeles-San Diego) have regular intercity services and are shown in red.  It's easy to check Amtrak train times at www.amtrak.com , just use their online booking system.  Click here for the official large-scale Amtrak route map .

Useful country information

Cross-country by train.

The 3,000 mile journey across the United States by train is one of the world's greatest travel experiences.  It's easy, comfortable, safe, and an affordable alternative to flying.  Free route guides are available on board each train, telling you what to look out for from the window, and the scenery on many routes is world class. 

In a nutshell

The 3,000 mile coast-to-coast train ride takes 3 nights, without stopovers.

Choose from 4 or 5 different cross-country routes, each with their own character.  I explain the most scenic routes below with train times & description.  You can stop off on the way, but remember that a separate ticket/reservation is needed for each stage.

It takes one night from New York, Boston or Washington DC to Chicago where you change trains, then two nights from Chicago to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle on a superb double-deck Superliner train .  You can also travel coast to coast via New Orleans , this takes an extra night as you need to spend a night in New Orleans.  Most of the trains run daily all year round, although the New Orleans-LA train only operates three times a week.

Check out the cross-country train packages at www.amtrakvacations.com , they can sort packages with tickets, private sleeping accommodations on the train, stopovers & hotels included.

If you book regular tickets online at www.amtrak.com , cross-country fares from New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle start at just $236 in a spacious reclining seat, surely one of the world's greatest travel bargains.  A private sleeper for 1 or 2 people can be added to your booking, the extra cost is often quite hefty but the sleeper room charge includes all meals as well as tea, coffee & fruit juice throughout the trip. Amtrak's spacious trains also have cafe & lounge cars, open to both seat and sleeper passengers.  See descriptions of the trains here .

On-time performance .  Bear in mind that these trains run for over 2,000 miles, although they often arrive on time or perhaps half an hour late, they can sometimes arrive an hour or two late or more, so don't book any tight connections.  You can see how your chosen trains have performed the last few weeks using www.amtrak.com/historical-on-time-performance and you can also see real-time train positions & performance at www.asm.transitdocs.com .

Which is the best cross-country train route?

I've crossed the United States multiple times by train, using every major cross-country train except the Texas Eagle.  Each transcontinental route has its own distinctive character even if the trains themselves are the same, but one stands out as the most spectacular for both scenery & historical significance:  I recommend the California Zephyr between Chicago and San Francisco, which you can take in connection with the Lake Shore Limited between New York or Boston and Chicago, or the Capitol Limited between Washington DC and Chicago.

The California Zephyr is one of world's greatest train journeys, in around 48 hours you will leave Chicago, roll over the vast farmlands of Nebraska, cross the Mississippi, scale the Rockies out of Denver over breakfast in the diner, snake through lovely Colorado canyons, and pass through the Sierra Nevada mountains to reach Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area.  The route covers much of the very first historic trans-continental railroad route, and there's a commentary for the most significant section.  To give you an idea of what a cross-country train ride is like on this route, see the California Zephyr page . 

However, all Amtrak's cross-country train routes are scenic, and the Southwest Chief is another favourite.  It'll take you from Chicago to Los Angeles over the Santa Fe railroad (which used to operate the famous Super Chief) , alongside the equally famous Route 66, through Navajo Indian country.  This is another amazing trip, with a chance to stop off at the Grand Canyon .

Cross-country westbound 2024

* The California Zephyr terminates in Emeryville and an Amtrak Thruway bus transfers passengers across the Bay Bridge to the Temporary Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco.  Tickets can be booked through to (and luggage checked through to) San Francisco Transbay Terminal as if it was a rail station.

** The Chicago-Los Angles portion only runs 3 times a week, departing Chicago on Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays. Daily Chicago-San Antonio.

Use these times as a guide, always check current times & fares at www.amtrak.com as they change from time to time.

Cross-country eastbound 2024

* The California Zephyr starts in Emeryville.  An Amtrak Thruway bus links the Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco with Emeryville across the Bay Bridge.  Tickets can be booked through from (and luggage checked in at) the Amtrak station at San Francisco Transbay Terminal as if it was a rail station.

*** The Los Angles to Chicago portion only runs 3 times a week, leaving LA on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays.  Daily San Antonio-Chicago.

Facilities on each train

What are the trains like.

Click here to see what the trains are actually like inside & out, and to understand the sleeping-car, lounge & dining facilities.

How much does it cost?

3,000 miles coast-to-coast overland for as little at $236 has to be one of the world's greatest travel bargains!  Railpass options .

Amtrak fares are dynamic, so you'll see various prices on various dates, book ahead for the cheapest prices - these are the cheapest examples I have found.

Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.  Children 2-12 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare, children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per adult).

There's a 10% discount for seniors over 65 on some fares.  The discount applies to the base fare but not to saver fares, flexible fares, roomette/bedroom charges.

If you choose to travel in a sleeper, the premium fare column on the Amtrak website will show the total cost for all passengers travelling in a roomette or bedroom.  This is calculated as a basic fare for each passenger plus one charge covering the whole roomette or bedroom.  The roomette or bedroom cost is the same whether it's occupied by one person or two.  So a sleeper is a lot better value if there are two of you!  The two people price in the table above is the total you pay for two people sharing a roomette or bedroom.

Tip :  You can save 10% on the basic travel fare (but not on accommodation supplements) by becoming a member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, which at the time of writing costs $35 for an individual or $50 for a family.  It can pay for itself on one coast to coast trip.  See www.narprail.org for full details and online sign-up.

Can I stop off on the way?

Yes of course, but if you want to stop off you'll need to buy separate tickets for each leg.  To book a cross-country trip with stopovers at any cities you want, simply look for the 'Multi-City' link at top right of the booking form on www.amtrak.com .  This allows you to book a trip with up to 4 segments, and of course you can book additional segments as separate bookings.  However, if you buy a through ticket at the cheapest price between an East Coast city such as New York and a West Coast city such as Los Angeles, then no, you cannot stop off, you must travel direct on your assigned trains.  Although the several hours between trains in Chicago is often time enough to climb the Sears Tower (now owned by the Willis corporation, see theskydeck.com ) and get great views over the city, it's only 5 minutes walk from Chicago Union Station!  As you can see from the fares table above, separate tickets New York to Chicago and Chicago-Los Angeles (so you can stop off in Chicago) work out about $35 more expensive than a New York to Los Angeles through ticket.

Want to stop off at the Grand Canyon?  See the Grand Canyon section

All the trains shown here offer checked baggage.  All passengers (both coach & sleeper) are entitled to check in up to 2 large items of luggage free of charge, plus an additional 2 large items for $20 each.  Maximum 50lbs (23Kg) per item, maximum total linear dimension (length + height + width) = 75".  Oversize bags (up to a total linear dimension of 100") $20 per bag.  A name and address label must be attached to each item.  Hand luggage is limited to two items per passenger, maximum 50lbs (23Kg) per item, dimensions 28" x 22" x 14".  See www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy .

You can check bags through to your final destination, so for example if you have a New York to San Francisco ticket you can check your bags in at New York all the way to San Francisco Transbay Terminal.  They will be transferred for you from train to train in Chicago and from train to bus at Emeryville, leaving you free of it until you arrive.

How to buy tickets

Option 1, buy at www.amtrak.com

Anyone from any country can buy tickets at Amtrak's own website www.amtrak.com , which sells all types of accommodation, seat & sleeper.

Booking opens 11 months in advance.  An e-ticket will be emailed to you, you can print it out or show it on your phone.

Or call Amtrak 24 hours a day on 1-800-USA RAIL.  From outside of the USA, Amtrak's international desk is + 1-215-856-7952.  Open Mon-Fri 08:30-16:00 Eastern Time.

Option 2, buy at Omio.com

Omio.com sells tickets for Amtrak seated accommodation quickly & simply, in multiple languages & currencies.  However, it can't sell sleeper accommodation.  You print out your ticket or can show it on your phone.

Let Amtrak Vacations arrange your trip

Amtrak Vacations is Amtrak's official partner for vacations, tours & packages.

Amtrak Vacations can put a package together from anywhere to anywhere to your specification, with private sleeping accommodations on the train, stopovers at cities or national parks, hotels & transfers.

They'll also do ticket-only bookings for cross-country Amtrak journeys, and you may get more help and advice if you book through them as they specialise in Amtrak's long-haul routes.  

Click here for Amtrak Vacations' cross-country packages

Lines are open 09:00-22:00 Monday-Friday & 09:00-17:30 Saturday, Eastern Time (5 hours behind the UK).

Let Railbookers arrange your trip

Railbookers are train travel specialists with offices in the UK, Australia & United States.  They can arrange coast to coast tours by train to your own specification, with trains, stopovers, hotels, transfers and (if necessary) flights all sorted.

Escorted tours with Great Rail Journeys

Using a usa railpass.

A USA Railpass is available covering the whole Amtrak network or just parts of it, see advice on USA Railpasses here .

See it in pictures: Cross-country by train

See an illustrated journey from New York to San Francisco on Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited and California Zephyr.

Back to top

Cross-country via New Orleans

This is the Southern cross-country route, a whole different flavour from the routes via Chicago.  Coast to coast via New Orleans takes 4 nights, making it slower than the more usual transcontinental route via Chicago, as you need to spend a night in New Orleans - but a stopover down south is hardly a burden!  For a taste of the deep south, this is the way to go.

Amtrak fares vary dynamically, so you'll see various fares on various dates, book ahead for the cheapest prices - these are just typical examples, assuming you book ahead.

Luggage arrangements .  Railpass options .   Can I stop off?

New York to Florida

Introducing Amtrak's Silver Service from New York & Washington DC to Orlando, Tampa & Miami.

Facilities on board

Silver Meteor:   Amfleet reclining seats ,  Viewliner sleeping-car , Amfleet cafe car .

Silver Star:   Amfleet reclining seats ,  Viewliner sleeping-car , Amfleet cafe car.

Luggage arrangements .

Anyone from any country can buy tickets at Amtrak's own website www.amtrak.com .  This sells all types of accommodation, seat & sleeper.

Omio.com sells tickets for Amtrak seated accommodation quickly & simply, in multiple languages & currencies.  However, it can't sell sleeper accommodation.  You just print out your ticket or show it on your phone.

Boston - New York - Washington

A fast and frequent inter-city service links Boston, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.  There are two types of train: Acela Express 150mph high-speed trains with 1st class & business class (premium fares apply) and regular trains with coach class and (in most cases) business class.  There are also services from Boston to Portland (Maine) and from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. See www.amtrak.com for times, fares and online booking, or try Omio.com .

How long does it take?

New York to Washington takes as little as 2h48 by Acela Express.

New York to Boston takes 3h30 by Acela Express.

Fares vary like air fares, with cheaper prices available the further ahead you book.  Round trip fares are twice the one-way fare.  Children 2-12 (inclusive) travel at reduced fare (except on Acela Express where there is no discount for children on weekdays), children under 2 travel free (limit one child under 2 per adult).

Luggage on Washington-New York-Boston trains:   These trains don't have checked baggage, you simply take your luggage with you onto the train and put it on the racks just as you would on any European train.  You can take 2 items up to 23Kg each, plus two smaller personal bags each up to 11Kg - pretty generous, see www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy .

Omio.com sells Amtrak tickets quickly & simply, in multiple languages & currencies.  You just print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Acela Express

Acela Express is Amtrak's very own high-speed train, reaching 150 mph on certain sections of upgraded line.  It has first class & business class, there's no economy coach class.  Premium fares apply, with no discounts for children on weekdays.

Northeast Regional trains

Cheaper but slower than Acela Express, with coach class & business class between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington DC.

Other Amtrak routes

New york - niagara falls.

Three daily trains link New York via Albany with Niagara Falls.  Journey time is a leisurely 8 hours 30 minutes, a relaxing journey along the Hudson River Valley out of New York, past Storm King Mountain and West Point Military Academy, a very scenic route, highly recommended.  See either Omio.com or www.amtrak.com for times, fares and online booking.

New York - Toronto, Montreal (Canada)

A daily train called the Maple Leaf links New York with Toronto via Niagara Falls, and another daily train called the Adirondack links New York with Montreal via the scenic Adirondack mountains.  Both trains travel along the Hudson River Valley out of New York, past Storm King Mountain and West Point Military Academy, a very scenic route, highly recommended.  See the Train travel in Canada page for train times .

Chicago - Memphis - New Orleans

Amtrak's daily City of New Orleans links these cities, with Superliner seats, sleeping-cars, sightseer lounge and dining-car .  For times, fares and online booking, see www.amtrak.com .

Intercity trains in California

Regular trains link Los Angeles, Anaheim (for Disneyland), and San Diego.  Regular trains link San Francisco (Oakland) with Sacramento, Bakersfield and San Jose.  A daily train links Los Angeles with San Francisco (Oakland).  See either Omio.com , www.amtrak.com or www.amtrakcalifornia.com for times, fares and online booking.

Seattle - Portland - Oakland (San Francisco) - Los Angeles

Amtrak's daily Coast Starlight links these cities, with Superliner seats, sleeping-cars, sightseer lounge and dining-car .  For times, fares and online booking, see www.amtrak.com .

Portland - Seattle - Vancouver

Amtrak runs an inter-city service between these cities, see www.amtrakcascades.com - Some of these services use European-design Talgo trains.

Luggage on trains without checked baggage:   Some of these trains don't have checked baggage, you simply take your luggage with you onto the train and put it on the racks just as you would on any European train.  Generous limits apply - 2 items each up to 23Kg, plus two smaller personal bags each up to 11Kg, see www.amtrak.com/baggage-policy .

What are Amtrak trains like ?

Short distance trains come in various types, all with comfortable air-conditioned seating and often with a café car.  On the Boston-New York-Washington DC route, there is now the premium fare, 150mph Acela Express high speed train, based on French TGV technology, but running on conventional tracks.

(1)  Long distance trains in the east

Long-distance trains east of Chicago (such as the New York-Chicago Lake Shore Limited , the New York to Florida Silver Star & Silver Meteor or the New York to New Orleans Crescent , but not the Washington to Chicago Capitol Limited ) have Viewliner sleeping-cars , Amfleet reclining seat cars and an Amfleet cafe/lounge car serving snacks and drinks.  If you have paid for a sleeper, meals are included in the fare.

Amfleet reclining seats

These distinctive stainless-steel coaches have comfortable reclining seats with loads of legroom, drop-down tables & 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles.  Drinking water is available in each coach.  Unlike in Europe, your reservation does not secure a specific seat in a specific coach, you can sit where you like once on board.  An attendant looks after each seats car, and will place a 'seat ticket' above your seat to indicate that the seat is taken.

Dining cars, cafe cars & flexible dining

Most long-distance trains have a cafe/lounge car serving hot & cold drinks and snacks, with an area with seats & tables for socialising.  The cafe/lounge car can be used by both sleeper and seats passengers.

Traditional dining-cars on all the 1-night long-distance trains east of Chicago were discontinued in 2018-2019.

Amtrak now offers sleeper passengers what it calls Flexible Dining on these trains.  Sleeper passengers are served pre-packed reheated or microwaved meals delivered to their sleeper compartments, or meals can be served in the table area of the cafe/lounge car.   The New York-Florida Silver Star and Silver Meteor retain dining-cars of the new Viewliner II type with an impressive double row of windows, but only to serve the pre-packaged Flexible Dining meals to sleeper passengers.

Latest update:   In March 2023 full dining has been reinstated on the Silver Star between New York and Florida.

Viewliner sleeping-cars

Long-distance trains in the East have Viewliner sleeping cars.  The distinctive double row of windows on these cars makes them light & airy during the day, and gives both upper & lower berths a window for star-gazing at night.  Travelling by Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.  All sleeper passengers get complimentary meals in the dining car,  and a 'coffee station' provides complimentary tea/coffee & fruit juice in the morning.  You return from dinner in the diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper attendant.  A hot shower is available at the end of the corridor if you're travelling in a roomette, or en suite if you are travelling in a bedroom.  All necessary bedding, soap and towels are provided.  However, sleeper travel isn't cheap.  In Europe you can pay a small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper compartment.  In the US, you have to pay for the whole room whether there are two of you or just one.  To give you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in the fares section above.   Viewliner sleeping-cars have:

(2)  Long distance trains in the west

Long-distance trains between Chicago & Los Angeles/San Francisco/Seattle/Portland, also the New Orleans-Los Angeles Sunset Limited , Seattle-Los Angeles Coast Starlight and Washington DC-Chicago Capitol Limited use impressive double-deck Superliner cars.  Superliner trains have coach class reclining seats , sleeping-cars , a dining car & an observation-lounge car .  A route guide is available free on these trains, telling you want to look out for along the way.  Watch a video guide to Amtrak Superliner trains .

Superliner reclining seats

Coach class reclining seats are spacious with lots of legroom, comparable with business class on an airliner.  Don't worry if you can't afford a sleeper, these seats recline to about 40 degrees, and are quite easy to sleep in, in fact if there is any train in the world where I wouldn't much mind not having a sleeper, Amtrak trains are the ones I'd choose.  There are 120v power sockets for laptops & mobiles at each seat, and drinking water is available in each coach.  Unlike in Europe, your reservation does not secure a specific seat in a specific coach, you can sit where you like once on board.  An attendant looks after each seats car, and will place a 'seat ticket' above your seat to indicate that the seat is taken.  You can either bring a blanket or buy an Amtrak blanket from the lounge car.  Panorama photo of Superliner coach class .

Superliner Sightseer Lounge car

On the upper deck is an observation lounge with armchairs & tables and huge windows for sightseeing.  On the lower deck is a cafe selling drinks & snacks.  All passengers can use the lounge car, whether they are travelling in coach class or in the sleepers.  You end up spending most of your day here, watching America unfold in front of you!   Seats are available on a first-come, first served basis, but it's not usually too difficult to find a seat or two free.  However, they do fill up for the most scenic sections of the journey!  See panorama of a Superliner lounge car .

Superliner dining car

Trains west of Chicago retain a proper dining-car with freshly-cooked food.  During the pandemic, the dining-car was only open to sleeper passengers, but in 2023 coach seat passengers were allowed to use the diner again on most routes.  The dining-car serves breakfast, lunch & dinner.  All the tables in a Superliner dining-car are on the top deck for great views while you eat - the kitchens are downstairs.

Meals are included in the fare if you have a sleeper, although drinks are extra.  In the sleepers, the dining-car manager comes down the train asking each passenger which sitting for lunch or dinner they'd like, and issuing table reservations.  An announcement is made at the start of each sitting. 

Note that couples and singles don't get a whole 4-seater restaurant table to themselves, you'll normally be seated with other passengers. This is a great chance to meet people, even if you're travelling solo.  Panorama photo of Superliner dining-car .

What's the food like?   The food is surprisingly good:  The Angus Steak Burger is great for lunch, for dinner the herb-roast chicken & rice is good and the garlic butter marinated New York Strip Steak is excellent.  A beer costs around $6, a half bottle of very good Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot costs around $15.  For breakfast next morning a freshly-cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon & potatoes hits the spot.  There is also a children's menu.  Credit cards are accepted.  You can find sample menus on the Amtrak website www.amtrak.com , click 'plan' then look for 'meal & dining options'.

Since 2018, sleeper passengers on the Lake Shore Limited  (NYC-Chicago) & Capitol Limited (Washington-Chicago) get a pre-packed meal either served in their compartment or eaten in a lounge area.

Superliner sleeping-car s

Travelling by Amtrak sleeper is a real treat.  All sleeper passengers get complimentary breakfast, lunch & dinner in the dining car,  and each sleeping-car has a 'coffee station' with complimentary tea/coffee and fruit juice available in the morning.  You return from dinner in the diner to find you bed made up for the night by the sleeper attendant.  All necessary bedding, soap and towels are provided.  Superliner sleeping-cars are double-deck, with 10 very compact 2-berth roomettes and 4 larger 2-berth bedrooms on the upper deck, whilst the lower deck has another 4 roomettes, 1 family bedroom & 1 special accessible bedroom.  The bedrooms have a private shower & toilet, for roomette passengers there are toilets on both upper and lower decks, and a hot shower on the lower deck.  The gangways to the adjacent cars are on the upper deck.  However, sleeper travel isn't cheap.  In Europe you can pay a small supplement for a berth in a shared couchette or sleeper compartment.  In the US, you have to pay for the whole room whether there are two of you or just one.  To give you a rough idea, some sample sleeper supplements are shown in the fares section above.   Superliner sleeping-cars offer:

Video guide: Riding a Superliner train

The grand canyon connection.

There are two main ways to reach the Grand Canyon as part of a cross-country train trip, after you get off Amtrak's Chief at Flagstaff Arizona.  The first is to use a bus between Flagstaff and the South Rim of the Canyon, journey time 1 hour 45 minutes each way.  The other is to take a connecting Amtrak Thruway bus to the nearby town of Williams and use the historic Grand Canyon Railway to the Canyon, journey time 2 hours Williams to the South Rim.

Option 1, Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon by bus

Scheduled buses link Flagstaff's Amtrak station (which also incorporates the excellent local Visitor Centre) with the Grand Canyon's South Rim, with an 8am bus departure from Flagstaff conveniently connecting out of Amtrak's Chief from Los Angeles arriving at the Grand canyon around 1 hour 45 minutes later.  A bus returns from the Grand Canyon at 6.15pm (also at 4.15pm from March to October), arriving back in Flagstaff 1 hour 45 minutes or so later.  It can easily be done as a day trip, returning to Flagstaff in time for the evening Chief to Los Angeles, although you can of course choose to stay overnight at the hotels at the Grand Canyon.  For bus times see groometransportation.com/grand-canyon .  The bus fare is around $34 each way.

Grand Canyon Tours from Flagstaff:   Alternatively, take a tour.  A company called The Grand Canyon Store http://grandcanyoncustomtours.com   offers 1-day tours from both Flagstaff & Williams to the Grand Canyon, including a tour to the Grand Canyon Village & South Rim, and the more extensive Inner Canyon Tour that actually takes you to the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon, not merely to the South Rim as with other tours and the scheduled bus - not surprisingly the Inner Canyon Tour is their most popular!  They also do a tour from Flagstaff to the South Rim using the Grand Canyon Railway, see the section below.

www.amtrakvacations.com can put together an Amtrak coast-to-coast package for you with a stopover at the Grand Canyon, or a tour from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon and back, customised you your specification.  See Grand Canyon packages .

Option 2, Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway

The more interesting way to reach the Canyon is on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the Canyon's South Rim.  This is the original Santa Fe railroad branch line, Williams Junction just outside Williams town is where the line diverges from the Chicago-LA main line.  However, Amtrak's Southwest Chief no longer calls at Williams Junction (it called there at uncivilised times in any case), you now use Flagstaff as the stop for the Grand Canyon with Amtrak bus connection to Williams.

To reach the Grand Canyon by train, get off the Amtrak's Chief at Flagstaff and take the connecting Amtrak Thruway bus to Williams.  The buses are timed to connect with train's arrival & departure to and from both Chicago and Los Angeles.  Williams is a pleasant town with plenty of motels, shops & diners.  The Grand Canyon Railway runs a daily morning train some 65 miles over the Santa Fe's historic railway from Williams station to Grand Canyon South Rim station in the Grand Canyon Village, right on the edge of the Canyon's South Rim.  The train returns in the afternoon, arriving in time to have dinner then catch the shuttle bus to Flagstaff for Amtrak's Chief onwards to Los Angeles.

The Amtrak reservation system at www.amtrak.com will actually let you buy through tickets between Los Angeles and Grand Canyon in either direction, although if you want to book through tickets between New York or Chicago and Grand Canyon this involves an overnight stay in Williams so you'll need to use the multi-city booking feature.  But you can book your Amtrak trains at www.amtrak.com then book the Grand Canyon train at the GCR official website, www.thetrain.com .

You can also book Chicago-LA packages with Amtrak travel and a trip to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway at www.amtrakvacations.com , Amtrak's official partner for tours and packages involving Amtrak travel.  See Grand Canyon packages .

The fare includes entry to the Wild West show at Williams station in the hour before departure, and some Wild West entertainment on board!

USA rail passes

One of the best ways to see America is with an Amtrak USA rail pass, but be aware of its limitations before you invest in one.

A 30-day 10-segment rail pass costs around $499.

That's 10 train rides, enough to travel coast to coast 5 times, at €49.90 per train ride!  Children aged 2-12 get passes for half price, under 2's travel free.

Segments:   Sadly, since 2008 Amtrak's USA railpass no longer gives unlimited travel, it only covers a maximum of 10 'segments'.  This is the maximum number of individual train rides you can take during your 30 day pass duration.

A segment is one train ride on one train:  So a 2-day 2,200-mile trip from Chicago to Los Angeles on the Southwest Chief counts as one segment, and a 30-minute ride on a Northeast Regional train is also one segment.  Go figure!  A journey involving a change of train (for example, New York to Chicago on the Lake Shore Limited then Chicago to San Francisco on the California Zephyr ) counts as two segments.

Will a railpass save you money?   Very probably, if you intend making 8, 9 or 10 long-distance train rides.  10 rides for $499 is €49.90 per train ride, if (say) you only used 7 segments it'd work out at $71 per train ride.  Now use the journey planner at www.amtrak.com to see what normal fares would be, to compare.  But read the bit about passholder quotas below!

Reservations, upgrades & quotas

Railpasses are valid for any Amtrak train in the USA except Acela Express high-speed services and the Auto-Train car-carrying service.

Reservations are required!   The railpass is not a ticket, you must make a (free) reservation before boarding any train.  You can make reservations online at www.amtrak.com after buying your pass.  Alternatively, you can make them at stations as you travel around or by calling Amtrak's 24 hour freephone number, 1-800-USA RAIL (from outside the States call Amtrak on (001) 215-856-7953, not free).

Upgrading to a sleeper is no longer possible:   It used to be possible to upgrade to a private sleeper when using a pass, simply by paying the appropriate room charge.  For an idea of sleeper room charges, see the fares section above .  However, in 2021 this has changed, though it's not clear if this is permanent or temporary.  At present you cannot upgrade to a sleeper (or to business class) with a pass.  So only buy a pass if you're happy using a seat, even overnight.

Warning about passholder quotas:   After buying your pass, you can make reservations online, or at stations as you go, or by calling Amtrak.  However, with a pass you can only book trains on which a Value or Saver fare is available.  If only the most expensive Flexible fare is showing, you cannot use your pass on that train, even if there are seats still available for customers paying cash.  Many trains have Value or Saver fares available even on the day before departure, and sometimes even on the day of travel itself, but not always.  Trains get busy in summer, Value and Saver fares have limited-availability and often sell out.  When they sell out, you can't use your pass on that train.  So don't buy a pass only to find you can't travel on the trains you need.  Before buying the pass, use the journey planner at www.amtrak.com to get a feel for how fares work, and to see if your chosen trains have Value or Saver fares left.

How to buy an Amtrak Railpass

Check prices in pounds & buy a USA railpass (UK-based company, but passes sent to addresses worldwide)

Check prices in Australian dollars & buy a USA railpass (Australia & NZ residents)

Tours by train across America

Amtrak vacations, www.amtrakvacations.com.

Amtrak Vacations is Amtrak's official partner.  They can put a package together to your own specification, from anywhere to anywhere, with private sleeping accommodations on the train, stopovers at cities or national parks, hotels & transfers.  They'll also do ticket-only bookings for cross-country Amtrak journeys, and you may get more help and advice if you book through them as they specialise in Amtrak's long-haul routes.

Railbookers

Train travel specialist Railbookers have offices in the UK, USA & Australia.  They can arrange a tour by train across the United States on Amtrak, starting any date you like, to your own specification with hotels and train reservations all made for you, hassle-free.  They know what they're doing, and take good care of their clients, and I have no hesitation in recommending them.

Escorted coast-to-coast tour with www.greatrail.com , 01904 527 120

G uidebooks, click the images to buy at amazon.co.uk or amazon.com.

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Hotels in the USA

New York:  The Algonquin is New York's oldest operating hotel, opened in 1902, and a designated New York City Historic Landmark.  Perfectly located in mid-town Manhattan, a block or two from Times Square one way and Grand Central the other, with a lovely wood-panelled lobby and even its own hotel cat, which you may find wandering the corridors or sitting on the reception desk.  To check prices & book, click here .  For the Algonquin's history see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin_Hotel .

Washington DC:   Phoenix Park Hotel .  A great choice, directly across the road from Union Station so handy for arrivals and departures by train, with an excellent Irish Pub doing great food & Irish beer on the premises, and just 2 minutes walk from the capitol.  From around $154 for a double.

Los Angeles:   Hotel Queen Mary (closed for refurbishment in mid-2022, but reopened in April 2023).  This has got to be of the most fascinating places to stay, anywhere.  If you go to Los Angeles, consider making the Hotel Queen Mary your base to explore the Los Angeles - Hollywood - Disneyland area.  The original Queen Mary of 1936 has been permanently moored at Long Beach in California since the late 1960s, some 25 miles from Los Angeles Union Station (about a $90 taxi ride), and it's undoubtedly the most wonderful place to stay in LA.  The hotel consists of most of the original first class cabins on board the Queen Mary, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars available on board, too.  Hotel guests can more or less wander the ship at will, and even sign up for ghost hunts at night on board (and yes, from my own experience there is something going on aboard that beautiful ship!).  Wood panelled art deco interiors have been preserved, although a few modern items have been installed such as televisions, and (as we worked out from a historic deck plan) in some cases two of the Queen Mary's original cabins have been knocked into one hotel suite by turning one of the en suite bathrooms into a connecting corridor.  She is one of the most atmospheric places I have ever stayed.

Backpacker hostels in the USA: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in many places across the States at rock-bottom prices.

Flights to the USA

1)  check flight prices at opodo, www.opodo.com, 2)  use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines....

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think, see www.loungepass.com .  I have found that having lounge access with complimentary tea, coffee, food and wine makes all the difference to an economy flight.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

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A practical guide to riding the rails in the US, from train passes to delays

There are dozens of epic train routes crisscrossing America — here’s everything you need to know about booking a slow Stateside odyssey.

For travellers with time on their side and a thirst for adventure, America’s old-school train network offers a charming way to see the country. Brought together under the banner of Amtrak services in 1970, rail tracks wind between almost every state. Travellers can chug through the Rockies, cross the Great Plains or skirt the Pacific Ocean in California, watching the US’s diverse landscapes unfurl from the comfort of a cabin. To get the best value, helpful booking tips and find out what facilities are on board, try this handy guide.

How do I book train tickets?

The US has just one train operator, Amtrak , a government-funded but for-profit company. Book tickets on Amtrak’s website or mobile app. The company also has a tour agency called Amtrak Vacations that offers package deals, including train travel, hotel stays, activities and a personal travel adviser to help you sort your trip. Another option is to use a third-party agency, such as Vacations By Rail , owned by UK-based Great Rail Journeys, which runs group train trips with a wide variety of itineraries.      

How far in advance should I book train tickets?

Book Amtrak tickets as soon as you decide the trip you want to take, ideally at least a few months ahead of time — especially if you’re reserving a room in a sleeper car. Like airlines, Amtrak uses dynamic pricing, so the cheapest tickets sell out first. But don’t panic if you’ve made a last-minute decision to ride the rails — tickets will likely still be available. If you’re not ready to book yet, you can still keep an eye on how quickly the route is selling. The Amtrak website has real-time seat availability to show you how full each train is.

Are there any train passes to help keep costs down?

For an Interrail-style adventure, buy a USA Rail Pass, which lets you take 10 journeys in 30 days for $499 (£410). These passes occasionally go on sale for $299 (£246), which means you could cross the entire country multiple times for under $30 (£25) a ride. There are caveats, though — for example, the pass covers coach seating only, no sleepers. It’s also worth checking Amtrak’s deals page , which often offers savings on group travel and discounts on specific routes at certain times, such as seeing autumn leaves in the north east. In March, Amtrak started offering $5 (£4.10) Night Owl fares on select East Coast routes, such as between Baltimore and Philadelphia, between 7pm and 5am.

What facilities are available on the trains?

Amenities vary widely by train route. Most trains have a cafe service, and anyone who books sleeper rooms receives complimentary three-course dinners with an alcoholic drink included, taken in the dining car with white linen tablecloths. Passengers are also permitted to bring their own food and drinks (no alcohol) on board. Some short- and medium-distance routes have wi-fi, but long-distance overnight routes don’t. The wi-fi is free to use but basic and doesn’t support downloading large files or streaming video or music.

What about train delays?

Amtrak trains are notorious for delays, most of which are attributed to freight train interference, when dispatchers allow freight trains to go ahead of passenger trains, despite being required by law to give Amtrak trains preference. In 2022, Amtrak trains were delayed by a total of 1.1 million minutes (over two years) by freight trains. Keep your plans flexible at the end of your journey, leaving at least 24 to 48 hours before any flights or other major reservations, in case your train arrival time or day is delayed. Unlike in the UK, there’s no compensation available for delayed trains.  

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Rail travel in the United States

• 1.1 Higher-speed rail in the U.S.
• 2.1 Before 1971: The golden era
• 2.2 1971-1999: Amtrak and its struggles
• 2.3 2000 Onward: Resurgence
• 4 Passenger rail companies
• 5.1 When to travel
• 5.2 Timetables and brochures
• 6 Rail passes
• 7.1 Discounts
• 7.2 Hot Deals
• 8.1 Baggage
• 9.1 Coach class
• 9.2 Business class
• 9.3 Regular first class
• 9.4.1 Superliner coaches
• 9.4.2 Viewliner coaches
• 9.5 Eating and drinking on board
• 9.6 Other amenities
• 9.7 Tipping
• 10 Private rail cars
• 12.1 Thruway buses and other connections
• 12.2 Non-Amtrak Routes
• 13 See also

The United States may be the land of the car, but it is also a fantastic country to explore by passenger train. Private operators offer exclusive and luxurious packages on trains, but it is on board the trains of the state-owned and subsidized Amtrak that most tourists and travelers experience America by rail. The coast-to-coast journey from San Francisco to New York City by train is one of the world's classic rail journeys, and is known for its breathtaking scenery and historical significance.

Understand [ edit ]

Amtrak, the quasi-government-owned passenger rail company, is the only operator of regularly scheduled long distance passenger trains in the contiguous United States. With the exception of the Amtrak-owned-and-maintained Northeast Corridor (between Boston , New York City, Philadelphia , Baltimore , and Washington, D.C.), as well as some services in Pennsylvania , California , and around Chicago , Amtrak services are substantially slower, less reliable, and less frequent than those of virtually every other developed nation in the world. With no true high-speed lines (and a general speed limit of 79 mph (127 km/h)), trains in the U.S. often take longer than cars or planes, and are often not cheaper than flying (though minor towns can be vastly cheaper to reach on Amtrak than by plane).

Despite all this, the unique experience can trump the often high cost and long ride. Trains remain popular with many travelers because of the social atmosphere on board, the lighter environmental impact compared to planes, the spacious design of the cars, the scenic routes, and the overall comfort of the ride. A trip from one coast of the U.S. to the other is surely one of the greatest railway journeys that you can make anywhere in the world, and with the different classes of on-board accommodation and a variety of tickets and passes available, it can also be remarkably affordable.

The largest cities in the United States with no single railroad station (either Amtrak, a commuter railroad or a heritage railroad) in service are Phoenix (light rail present), Columbus and Las Vegas (a short monorail line exists).

Higher-speed rail in the U.S. [ edit ]

The closest thing the U.S. has to a high-speed rail line is Amtrak's Acela, which runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. via New York City . Although Acela trains themselves are capable of attaining very high speeds, the route does not run on any dedicated high-speed tracks like high-speed trains in Europe and East Asia do, so they are limited to relatively low speeds for most of the journey. For this reason, expect journey times on Acela to be only marginally faster than taking the regular Northeast Corridor trains, which stop more often and have a lower top speed but cost significantly less. While plans have been mounted to build dedicated high-speed rail lines in various parts of the country, strong conservative political opposition and successful lobbying by airlines and car manufacturers have repeatedly scuttled these attempts.

History [ edit ]

Before 1971: the golden era [ edit ].

The United States was one of the pioneers of rail travel. In the days before flying, rail transport was the main way to travel long distance, and played an instrumental role in the colonization of the Wild West in the late 19th century. Perhaps the most significant event in the history of American railroads was the driving of the final spike at Promontory , Utah in 1869, which marked the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad between New York City and San Francisco. The advent of rail transport also played a key role in the industrialization of the United States , as it allowed raw materials and goods to be transported rapidly across the country, and allowed people to travel relatively quickly from their homes in rural areas to the large, industrial cities to work in the factories. Surviving examples of railroad stations from the pre-war era, such as Grand Central Terminal in New York City and Union Station in Washington, D.C. , serve as reminders of the glamour of rail travel in days gone by.

Prior to the 1960s, many of the large private rail companies provided passenger service between America's major cities, competing on price, luxury and speed. However, after the advent of the automobile, commercial air travel, and later the interstate highway system, people traveled by train less and less. This led the private rail companies to the brink of financial ruin, where they chose to severely curtail passenger service.

1971-1999: Amtrak and its struggles [ edit ]

The demise of most private passenger rail service led to the formation of Amtrak in 1971, and before setting out on a railroad adventure around America, it is worth understanding the precarious situation in which Amtrak exists. While the United States still has the longest rail network in the world, it is now primarily used for freight transport, with many former passenger lines now solely used for freight. Somewhere between being a private and a public company (all of Amtrak's preferential shares are owned by the U.S. government), Amtrak has to provide a public service and concurrently seek to be profitable as a competitive mode of transport. Despite increasing ridership (driven by rising gasoline prices and the increasing inconvenience of airline security measures), Amtrak is dependent on more than a billion dollars per year in hard-won government funding and often subject to contradictory and bizarre political mandates from Congress.

Amtrak's funding is not its only problem. Most of the rail lines that Amtrak uses are owned and maintained by private freight companies (the main exception is again the busy Northeast Corridor, most of which is owned by Amtrak or local public transit providers). While Amtrak has a legal right to be given priority over freight trains, there is no way of enforcing this, so in practice freight trains are usually given priority over Amtrak trains, leading to many delays. Many rail lines are not double-tracked, and passing loops are often few and far between. And in stark contrast to many countries in Europe or East Asia, electrified lines outside the northeast corridor are the exception rather than the norm and while modern diesel trains are a lot better than their predecessors, they are still limited in acceleration and top speed compared to similar electric train sets. Furthermore a (since repealed) set of onerous regulations required Amtrak to purchase rolling stock that was needlessly heavy and violated European and East Asian specifications without providing any tangible benefit in return - this led to higher rolling stock costs and an Acela that is both heavier and more prone to breakdowns than the French trains it is based on.

2000 Onward: Resurgence [ edit ]

While all the big high speed rail programs have either failed or are a decade or more from completion, Amtrak's situation has been slowly but surely improving since the turn of the millennium due to a virtuous cycle of increases in passenger numbers and funding increases at the federal, state, and local level. From 2007 to 2019, annual passenger kilometers traveled doubled. States have sometimes stepped in when the federal government wanted to cut funding for Amtrak routes through their state, and as a result, some states now see more service and less risk of service cancellation than ever before during the Amtrak era. Many incremental track upgrades (sometimes combined with Amtrak or local entities buying track from freight railroads) have helped improve on time performance and overall travel times. Finally, a growing consciousness about the environmental disadvantages of airplanes and cars contributed to the efforts of some cities, even smaller ones, to introduce commuter rail systems. Positive examples of this include Nashville and Albuquerque , which introduced some commuter railroad lines in the mid-2000s.

Stations [ edit ]

Just like in Europe, the rail companies of the 19th century built grandiose "bourgeois cathedrals" as a testament to their wealth and the status of rail travel. Later, many cities built "Union Stations" often in even more grandiose fashion to serve as transfer points between trains run by different companies. Perhaps the newest of the grand old stations is Los Angeles Union Station, built in the 1930s in California's Mission Revival style, though other notable old stations still operate in Boston , Chicago , New York City , Philadelphia , San Diego , and Washington, D.C. .

With the decline of rail travel, many grand stations were abandoned or put to other uses, with some even torn down, the most notable casualties being New York City's original Pennsylvania Station and Chicago's Chicago and North Western Terminal. The grand, ornate railroad stations of old were often replaced by relatively plain, uninspiring buildings that only served the bare minimum of functions, which were derisively referred to as "Am-shacks". However, the worst years seem to be over and many a grand old station has been painstakingly restored and regained train service, with some notable examples of restored stations being those of Cincinnati , Denver , Kansas City , St. Paul, and Seattle . There has even been some construction of spectacular new stations, such as the replacement for the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco . Many cities are also planning on bringing Amtrak back to their historic train stations, but costs are often a concern.

In many cities, many of the train stations also serve as bus stations for various intercity bus lines as well as a hub for the local city buses operated by city or county government. The "bus station" can be a series of bus stops lined up on a street or streets by the train station or in a lot or another building next to the train station with the ticket counters for the bus companies inside the train station or the bus station building next door. A few train stations are also connected to local urban rail but many systems weren't developed with the train station as the central hub and thus access can sometimes be awkward. Notable examples of train stations serving as local urban rail hubs are Denver and Los Angeles Union Station.

Passenger rail companies [ edit ]

This article talks primarily about travel using Amtrak, the United States' primary national passenger railroad company. For more information on traveling on regional (commuter) railroad services, see the "Get around" section of the city or region you wish to visit.

The Alaska Railroad , ☏ +1-800-544-0552 , is a long-distance railroad owned and operated by the state of Alaska for carrying both passengers and cargo entirely within Alaska. The railroad is famous for its summertime passenger services but also plays a vital part in moving Alaska's natural resources to ports in Anchorage, Whittier and Seward as well as fuel and gravel for use in Anchorage. Some of their cargo trains are also connected to the lower 48 states via rail barges between Whittier and Seattle. Passenger trains run from Seward through Anchorage , Talkeetna , and Denali to Fairbanks , with a spur to Whittier. The Hurricane Turn route between Talkeetna and Denali features North America's last remaining "flag stop" train service: a stretch of track along an area inaccessible by road where residents wait by the side of the tracks and "flag" the train to stop, giving it its name. These trains sometimes are moving fairly quickly and there's a procedure to flag it a significant distance before you actually want it to stop. See the web site for more details.

Brightline is a private company that operates a railway service in Florida between Miami and Orlando , via Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach .

Throughout the US, many heritage lines have been maintained or rebuilt as privately owned, tourist lines , which occasionally connect to Amtrak or regional systems. Most of these lines use old railroad equipment (such as steam locomotives) which have been refurbished. There are many such lines, but some of the most notably scenic are the Durango & Silver Narrow-Gauge Railroad in Colorado , the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona , the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama , New Mexico ; Sierra Railroads [dead link] in Northern California and the Cass Scenic Railroad near Marlinton , West Virginia .

Many large American cities have short- to medium-distance commuter rail systems that connect the city centre to nearby suburbs or smaller cities. Per their name, commuter lines generally focus on serving commuters during weekday rush hours, and thus offer their most frequent service during these times. But some also offer evening or weekend service, which can make them a great way to get out of the big city for a day or weekend trip. In the American Northeast, several commuter rail systems converge and are inter-connected; it is possible, for example, to go from Connecticut to Delaware using only commuter lines, although this would take much longer than on Amtrak and involve numerous transfers. See the individual state's or city's Get around section for more information on traveling by commuter rail.

In particular, Albuquerque , Boston , Los Angeles , New York City , New Jersey , Philadelphia , Washington , Chicago and San Francisco / San Jose have well-established commuter rail systems that are expansive, run very frequently, have high ridership and are well-connected to local transit systems and Amtrak. Outside of these areas, commuter rail systems tend to be more limited in scope and service, with cities such as Dallas , Fort Lauderdale / West Palm Beach , Miami , Minneapolis , Orlando , San Diego , Seattle , and Salt Lake City having constructed new systems only within the last decade or so; many of these newer systems operate on only a single route with very limited service outside the weekday rush hours. California has a set of prominent commuter rail systems that serve the state's largest cities; of particular note there is the Amtrak California system, a set of three Amtrak routes (the Capitol Corridor, the Pacific Surfliner, and the San Joaquin; all described in more detail below) and connecting Amtrak Thruway bus service that is subsidized by the state of California and which run more frequently than typical long-distance Amtrak routes.

Planning your trip [ edit ]

Chicago is Amtrak's main hub for long distance trains, so those who wish to cross the country from the east coast to the west coast by train will most likely have to change trains in Chicago. For instance, someone who wishes to retrace the classic transcontinental railroad journey from San Francisco to New York will need to take the California Zephyr from San Francisco to Chicago, then transfer to the Lake Shore Limited or Cardinal from Chicago to New York.

When to travel [ edit ]

The peak period for most rail companies in North America is somewhere between April to September, and the cost of rail passes and tickets will rise during these periods to reflect this. If you're planning a visit to the U.S. and travel a lot by train, the spring and fall (autumn) periods are likely to give you the best combination of lower ticket prices and hours of daylight for viewing the scenery from the train. Trains fill up much quicker in the summer and around national holidays (especially Thanksgiving weekend), and coach class passengers in particular will have less room to stretch out.

Timetables and brochures [ edit ]

All the major rail operators in the U.S. have websites with information about timetables, routes and on-board facilities. However many passengers still prefer to plan their trips using printed timetables. Amtrak, for instance, publishes a number of brochures, including the Amtrak America travel brochure, but the Amtrak System Timetable (with timetables for every Amtrak train and Thruway bus) can only be found online . However, Amtrak does publish individual timetables for each route.

Read [ edit ]

On-Track-On-Line.com has a number of travel tips for the first-time Amtrak user, as well as an online forum. Seasoned rail travelers can be found online in a number of dedicated rail forums, and are usually more than happy to answer your questions about which route to take. Some other forums worth searching and joining are:

• Amtrak Unlimited
• Railroad.net

Additionally, the following book goes into much greater detail about the major rail routes of North America:

• USA By Rail by John Pitt, 8th edition, February 2012, Bradt Travel Guides ( ISBN 184162389X )

Rail passes [ edit ]

If you are planning more than one journey on an Amtrak train, you may be better off investing in a rail pass, which allows unlimited rail travel within a certain period and area. You should, however, compare the cost of individual tickets when pricing and planning your trip.

• The USA Rail Pass . The amount of travel you can do with this pass is calculated in "segments"- roughly speaking one segment starts when you board a train and ends when you leave it, no matter the distance. If your planned itinerary involves many stops or changes of trains, regular tickets can be better value. There are 15-day (8 segments), 30 -day (12 segments), and 45-day (18 segments) passes ; however, all travel must be completed within one year of purchasing the pass. Restrictions apply.
• The California Rail Pass . This pass offers seven days of travel within any 21-day period on most California trains.

Rail passes are not tickets and you should reserve your ticket (and your seat) as soon as you know which train you will be taking, as the number of seats reserved for rail pass holders is limited.

Tickets [ edit ]

Amtrak tickets can be purchased in person from any staffed Amtrak station, over the phone ☏ +1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245) in the U.S. and Canada) or on the internet . Tickets can be printed at home, downloaded on to a smart phone, or provided at the desk/kiosk. Passengers who purchase tickets at staffed ticket desks should have a government-issued ID with them on hand but can also request that the tickets be sent to their email address instead. A number of travel agencies that sell Amtrak tickets in other countries are listed on the Amtrak website but these may come at a surcharge.

Tickets for most routes are priced in incremental 'buckets': in other words, as seats on a train sell out, the remaining tickets become more expensive. When buying point-to-point tickets, especially during busy holiday periods, it is important to book in advance. Round-trip (return) tickets are priced by simply adding together the two cheapest available one-way fares.

Discounts [ edit ]

Many passengers are able to receive a discount on the cost of the ticket. Discounts are available on tickets (but not accommodation upgrades) to members of the following organizations:

• NARP (National Association of Railroad Passengers)

Discounts are also offered to active members of the military, war veterans, senior citizens, passengers with disabilities and their companions, and students. Students now save 15%, no membership necessary; the former 10% Student Advantage card discount is thus terminated. Students of foreign institutions who do not have a student ID in English (required for the 15% discount) may benefit from an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which provides for a 10% discount. In all cases, you should provide your membership number, if any, when booking your ticket, and show your membership card or other applicable ID on request on board. To obtain a discount on Amtrak trains, passengers must reserve three days in advance on all trains.

Hot Deals [ edit ]

Amtrak offers heavily discounted coach fares on certain trains on the 'Hot Deals' section of their website . These non-refundable and non-changeable fares are generally available for travel in the next thirty to sixty days on routes that have spare capacity. The page is updated every Friday, and you should check back regularly if you want to snap up a bargain. Long distance coach fares of $70 from Chicago to Seattle (for example) are not uncommon, although they become much less common during the more popular summer months. These fares cannot be upgraded to sleeper accommodation at the time of booking, although you may be able to do so if one is available after you board the train.

Since 2005, Amtrak's offering of many of these heavily discounted coach fares has been limited by language in the legislation which grants Amtrak a yearly subsidy. However, this legislative language does not affect routes that receive a subsidy from individual states. Accordingly, those train routes tend to appear frequently on the 'Hot Deals' page of the website.

Boarding the train [ edit ]

Amtrak tickets generally do not indicate a coach or seat number, merely that you have a place in a reserved coach. Pay close attention to announcements and station staff, who will tell you where to wait and board the train. Attendants will need to see your ticket, ID, and/or pass as you board the train, and they will direct you towards the carriage you should sit in. In some cases, your ticket may show a seat reservation number and a carriage number. If this is the case, the numbers of the carriage are displayed on the doors; pay attention to these as the trains rolls in, so you can be at the right spot on the platform in time to get into your carriage. Some stations have indicators on the platform to show where each carriage will stop.

If you have a specific seat number on your reservation, you are advised to occupy it. Otherwise, follow the directions of the conductor who checks your ticket, and once on board your coach, you may select your own seat. Once you find your seat, you will want to stay there until the conductor comes by to check your ticket after departure. Upon doing so, the conductor will place a seat check (a small piece of paper) above your seat, to indicate that the seat is occupied. Take this with you if you decide to change seats, especially if you are leaving the train en route, because this piece of paper carries a station code to help the conductor let you know when your stop is imminent and shows you have given a ticket to him/her already.

Baggage [ edit ]

Baggage services on long-distance Amtrak trains are comparable to that of air travel, though with far fewer restrictions and little in the way of security checkpoints. Long-distance Amtrak trains will have a dedicated baggage car for checked baggage that you check-in at the station and retrieve at your destination; you are allowed up to four checked bags – the first two free of charge and two more for $20 per bag, each not to exceed 50 lbs. Special items such as bicycles are subject to different restrictions. Passengers are allowed up to two carry-on bags, excepting small items needed for the trip. Passenger cars will have overhead racks or special compartments near the entrance. Detailed baggage policy info can be found here .

Unfortunately, some Amtrak stations do not offer checked baggage as a service, and it would be advisable to check with Amtrak before boarding. A good indicator of whether your stop offers checked bags is to look at the arrival/departure time of your stop. Many stations, such as all of the stations serviced by Amtrak's Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited inside the state of Ohio are only accessed by those trains, which arrive in the predawn hours of the morning; as such they are unstaffed, and do not offer checked bags.

On board [ edit ]

The information here relates specifically to services operated by Amtrak. Private train companies and commuter rail services will offer differing standards of on-board facilities. Generally, commuter trains will have unreserved seats and little in the way of amenities aside from restrooms, although some systems might offer services like room for bicycles or quiet cars. Commuter train networks are described under the appropriate regional or city articles.

Coach class [ edit ]

Coach (economy) is Amtrak's most affordable class of travel and is offered on all trains except the high speed Acela trains of the northeast corridor (between Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C.). A ticket in coach guarantees you a seat in a carriage with 40 to 60 other seats, arranged in pairs either side of the aisle. In almost all cases you will find that seats will all face the direction of travel. Luggage racks and spaces for larger items are provided, along with toilets either at the end of the coach or in the lower level of two-level trains.

Unlike typical intercity trains in, say, Europe, most Amtrak trains don't allow you to reserve a specific seat - a "reserved" seat merely guarantees that a seat will be available somewhere on the train. Groups of 4 facing seats are theoretically reserved for families and groups of three or more. How strictly this is enforced depends on the route and how busy the train is. Staff will normally ensure that children are able to sit next to at least one of their parents or guardians, even if it involves shuffling other passengers around.

An Amtrak coach class seat is roughly comparable with a business class airline seat: there is ample leg room, a reclining seat back and fixed armrests on the outside of each pair of seats. If there is a seat in front of you, a fold-down table will be available. On longer distance routes, there is more legroom as well as a deeper recline and a padded rest that folds up to support your legs when you recline.

Business class [ edit ]

Business class is offered on most trains where there is no first (sleeper) accommodation. There is more room than coach class, as well as an at-seat attendant service with complimentary refreshments and a newspaper. On some trains, seats are arranged "2+1" style, in pairs to one side of the aisle, and singly on the other side of the aisle. In other cases seating is similar to coach class, just with a bit more legroom and probably easier access to power sockets. Long-distance trains that travel overnight generally do not offer business class; sleeper class is available instead.

Regular first class [ edit ]

The only first class service offered by Amtrak that does not include a sleeper is found on the Acela trains along the Northeast Corridor. These trains offer only first and business class service. Acela Business Class has 2+2 seating, First Class includes wider, 2+1 seating and complimentary at-seat meals.

First (sleeper) class [ edit ]

Amtrak markets and prices sleeper accommodation as 'first class', with a level of service that aims to be equal to that of a hotel. In addition to a private room on board the train, first class passengers can take advantage of a number of other amenities, including:

• Pre-departure access to Club Acela and Metropolitan Lounges in Boston South Station, Chicago Union Station, New Orleans , Miami , New York Penn Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Portland , Raleigh , Saint Paul -Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. Union Station
• All on-board meals included in the cost of your ticket
• An on-board attendant service
• Fresh linen and towel service
• Complimentary bottled water

First class accommodations are priced in addition to the lowest available coach fare, and are priced in incrementally priced 'buckets' according to availability. As each 'bucket' of rooms sells out, the price goes up. For example, if a train has one remaining room available a week prior to departure, it would be priced in the most expensive 'bucket'. On most long distance routes, Amtrak will auction off sleeper rooms 36 hours before departure through its BidUp program, which has a minimum bid of around the lowest fare bucket for the applicable sleeper accommodation. Additionally, after an Amtrak train departs its originating station, if there are any sleeper accommodations still available on the train, they revert in price to the cheapest originally available price.

Amtrak operates two types of sleeper carriage; the precise standard of accommodation that you will have depends on the type of train you will be riding on. Check the timetable or Amtrak website to discover which sort of train you'll be riding on.

Superliner coaches [ edit ]

Superliner two-level coaches are used on all long distance trains west of Chicago, and certain other routes. They offer superior ride quality and better views than single level coaches. Most accommodations are located on the upper level, with toilets and other facilities located on the lower level. Superliner sleeper cars offer the following sleeper accommodations:

• Roomette (for two people, with no en-suite toilet or shower)
• Bedroom (for two people, with an en-suite toilet and shower)
• Bedroom Suite (two bedrooms connected by an opening door)
• Family Bedroom (for two adults and two children, with no en-suite toilet or shower)
• Accessible Bedroom (for two people with an en-suite toilet, but no shower)

While there are no actual limitations, accessible bedrooms should only be booked by those with reduced mobility or a physical disability, and family bedrooms should only be booked by families traveling together. Family bedrooms and accessible bedrooms are on the lower level of the Superliner carriage. Amtrak allows three people to occupy a two-person bedroom, with two sleeping in the lower berth, if reservations are made by phone. Due to space constraints, such an arrangement would be more appropriate for parents traveling with a young child, rather than three adults.

Viewliner coaches [ edit ]

Viewliner single-level coaches are generally used on all long distance trains that operate in and out of New York Penn Station (where Superliner trains are too tall to enter the tunnels that approach the station). They are distinctive because of the two rows of windows on the side of the train, allowing both upper and lower berth passengers a view from their beds. They offer the following sleeper accommodations:

• Roomette (for two people, with an en-suite toilet, but no shower)

Accessible bedrooms should only be booked by those with reduced mobility or a physical disability.

Eating and drinking on board [ edit ]

On the shortest of journeys, Amtrak offers an at-seat trolley service of drinks and light refreshments. On most journeys however, there will be a dedicated café or lounge car that offers a marginally broader selection of hot and cold drinks, beer, wine, and spirits, and refreshments, although all snacks will be pre-packed and all hot snacks will be microwaved. Expect to find a very basic selection of sandwiches and snack food items, although a few trains may surprise you with other options (for instance, the cafe cars on many trains sell local wines and craft beers). Café and lounge cars offer an open area of seating around tables that will be open for most of your journey, so even if you don't purchase something from the café you are welcome to sit in the car, enjoy the view and maybe meet some other passengers and on-board staff.

On almost all long distance trains, Amtrak offers a dedicated dining car that will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals are generally prepared off the train before departure and then reheated and plated on board. During lunch and dinner service, for example, customers are presented a preprinted menu with a selection of a couple of appetizers, about six entrees, and a few dessert items.

The Amtrak Lead Service Attendant (LSA) who runs the dining car will seat travelers together to fill a table, instead of assigning individuals or couples to a table by themselves (however, the LSA will seat a family together). This practice tends to surprise those unfamiliar with it. In many cases, a traveler will find an interesting conversation happening that would never come about otherwise.

As mentioned above, all meals (but not alcoholic beverages) are included in sleeper tickets. Coach passengers can pay according to the menu except on the Auto Train which offers free meals to all passengers, including Coach passengers. Per meal, the breakfast menu is the cheapest and dinner is the most expensive. Reservations are required for lunch and dinner; after boarding the LSA will travel through the train taking reservations. Reservations are handled in time increments, so during meal time the LSA will periodically announce when each group of reservations will be served.

Given the high price of meals from the dining car, many seasoned travelers bring their own snacks with them on the train, and then supplement them with the odd item from the lounge or café car. However, you aren't allowed to consume any food you bring on board in the café car, and federal guidelines prohibit the dining staff from handling any food you bring on board (even if it's just to reheat something in the microwave).

Amtrak trains offer at seat meal and refreshment service for disabled passengers who are unable to access the dining car and the cafe.

With the exception of sleeper passengers who consume them in their own cabins, passengers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol on board any Amtrak train.

Other amenities [ edit ]

Many of Amtrak's short and mid-range trains as well as some of the busiest stations offer free wi-fi , though this service can be rather unreliable, and blocks some high-bandwidth uses such as video streaming sites.

Some of the long-distance trains include observation cars , also known as lounge cars, with very large windows to view the scenery. They are open to all passengers, whether you have a room or just a coach seat, and the seats and tables are first come, first serve.

Some short and mid-range lines, namely those in the Northeast Corridor, also offer a Quiet Car where cell phone conversations are specifically prohibited and any device that creates noise must be silenced (and you will get dirty looks and be asked to move if you break the rules). This is a relatively new service and is slowly being expanded to other short-distance routes.

Tipping [ edit ]

Travellers are expected to tip their servers in the dining cars, and their sleeper car attendants if they ride in the sleeper cabins. For the dining car servers, a general rule of thumb is 15-20% of the meal cost if you are a coach passenger paying for the meal, or $2-3 per person for breakfast, $3-5 per person for lunch, and $5-10 per person for dinner if you are riding in the sleeper car and your meals are included. For the sleeper car attendant, the generally accepted rate is about $10-20 per person per night. You should therefore ensure that you bring enough small change to cover you for the entire journey.

Private rail cars [ edit ]

Particularly on Amtrak's long distance Western routes, you'll see privately owned railcars attached to the end of the train with some frequency. Prior to the advent of the private jet, these were the last word in luxury travel in America, and a number of wealthy individuals still own private cars, some of which can be rented through a number of different web sites.

This is still a very expensive way to travel, as you must pay not only to rent the car but also for Amtrak to haul it around, and for any switching moves. Think of it as the equivalent of luxury trains overseas, such as South Africa's Blue Train or India's Maharaja Express. If you have a large enough group, the per-person cost can approach affordability, though it will still be a multiple of a sleeper berth on Amtrak. See the Amtrak web page linked above for information on how to arrange a trip via private car, and links to several brokers.

Delays [ edit ]

Unfortunately, delays are common on long-distance Amtrak routes. This is because private railroads own most of the tracks used by Amtrak, and they are more concerned about their own freight trains than about Amtrak's passenger trains. Average delays vary considerably among routes. In the last decade Amtrak has increased its effort to ensure trains are on time, and most trains arrive on time well over 50% of the time. Some states (most notably California, where three of the six most popular Amtrak routes run) have taken steps to ensure higher punctuality by giving Amtrak priority over freight or investing in infrastructure themselves. The Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database provides a wealth of information on Amtrak punctuality, and checking it is well worth your time if you want to see how likely you are to make a connection or arrive by a certain time.

Routes [ edit ]

Amtrak has over 30 passenger train services. There is a high concentration of routes in the Northeast and Midwest, with a lot of interconnecting lines and routes are more likely to run multiple times a day. In the South or the West (save for a small concentration of lines in California), services dwindle dramatically with only a few lines and a small number of connecting points, however these lines are also among the most scenic in the country.

• The Acela takes you from Boston , Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. via New York City , Philadelphia , and Baltimore . It also stops in Providence and New Haven , providing easy access to Brown and Yale Universities. This is the only route in the country which resembles a high-speed rail line, with a top speed of 150 mph (241 km/h), though it can only go this fast on a few short segments. There are multiple daily departures and the length of the ride from Boston to D.C. is seven hours. The Acela is pitched mainly toward business travelers, and is fairly expensive by US, and indeed world, standards. The Northeast Regional (described below) serves every station (and more) that the Acela serves, often with little reduction in comfort or travel time, and is usually much cheaper. On Amtrak's website, entering a city pair and desired travel date will show all available trains between those destinations, so it is easy to compare them.
• The Adirondack travels from New York City to Montreal via Albany and is one of Amtrak's most scenic routes, passing through the Hudson River Valley and the Adirondack Mountains. The autumn colors along this route are renowned and make it a spectacular trip in the fall. The route runs daily and takes 10 hours.

• The Amtrak Cascades takes you from Eugene , Oregon to Vancouver , British Columbia via Portland , Oregon and Seattle , Washington , though no train runs the full Eugene-to-Vancouver route. This route uses a distinctive brown Talgo trainset in lieu of the normal blue livery and passes by some lovely Pacific Northwest scenery, including beautiful coastlines and pine forests. Additionally, the cafe car onboard serves wine and regional cuisine. There are multiple daily trains running over various sections of the route; in total, including the Coast Starlight which runs on the same route between Seattle and Eugene, there are two trains daily between Vancouver and Seattle, seven trains daily between Seattle and Portland, and three trains daily between Portland and Eugene. Vancouver to Seattle takes 4 hours, Seattle to Portland takes 3½ hours, and Portland to Eugene takes 2¾ hours.
• The Auto Train is a unique service designed to carry passengers and their automobiles from the Northeast down to Florida, with cars specifically designed for holding autos. There are only two stops: Lorton , Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C. , and Sanford , Florida near Orlando . Service is daily and takes 17½ hours.
• The Blue Water Service is a daily Amtrak train connecting downtown Chicago to Port Huron (ca 8 hr – but somewhat notorious for delays; arrival nominally at 11 PM).
• Amtrak's California Zephyr travels from Chicago , Illinois to Emeryville / San Francisco (San Francisco is a short bus ride from Emeryville) via Omaha , Nebraska ; Denver , Colorado ; Salt Lake City , Utah ; and Reno , Nevada . This is arguably Amtrak's most scenic route, passing through spectacular mountain passes and narrow canyons in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada and traversing across expansive plains and deserts. Service is daily and takes 51½ hours to complete. An itinerary can be found here .
• The Capitol Corridor is a commuter service from Auburn to San Jose , California via Sacramento , Emeryville , and Oakland (with bus connections to San Francisco ). Though a short-distance line, the train does pass by some beautiful Bay Area scenery. There are multiple daily departures and the trip takes 3½ hours.
• The Capitol Limited runs from Chicago to Washington, D.C. via Cleveland , Ohio and Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . This route follows the historic B&O railroad line, passing through many scenic narrow river valleys and old industrial towns as it crosses the Allegheny Mountains. Service is daily and takes 18 hours to complete.
• The Cardinal connects New York City with Chicago via Washington, D.C., Cincinnati , Ohio , and Indianapolis , Indiana . The route traverses some beautiful Virginia and West Virginia scenery, crossing through the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling hills and lush river valleys. The train operates three days a week and is a 26½ hour trip.
• The Carolinian travels from New York City to Charlotte , North Carolina ; via Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , Washington, D.C., and Raleigh , North Carolina. Service is daily and takes 13½ hours to complete. Complementing the Carolinian in North Carolina is the Piedmont , which makes the 3 hour trip between Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina four times daily.
• The City of New Orleans takes you from Chicago , Illinois to New Orleans , Louisiana , via Memphis , Tennessee . The ride is 19 hours long and operates daily.
• The Coast Starlight runs from Los Angeles , California to Seattle , Washington via Santa Barbara , California; San Jose , California ; Emeryville , California (a short Amtrak bus ride from San Francisco ); Sacramento , California; and Portland , Oregon . Although the moniker is "Coast Starlight", the coast is visible for only a short while between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo , however the route does also pass through some pine forests with excellent vistas of mountain peaks in Oregon and Washington. Service is daily and takes 35 hours to complete.
• The Crescent runs from New York City to New Orleans , Louisiana ; via Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; Washington, D.C. ; Charlotte , North Carolina ; and Atlanta , Georgia . Service is daily and takes 30 hours to complete.

• The Downeaster runs from North Station in Boston , Massachusetts to Portland , Maine before continuing on to Brunswick , Maine. The train passes through some scenic New England mill towns and along beautiful stretches of Maine coastline. It operates 5 daily round trips between Boston and Brunswick. The trip takes 2½ hours Portland to Boston and 3 hr 25 min from Brunswick to Boston. An itinerary can be found here .
• The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to either Portland , Oregon ; or Seattle , Washington via Milwaukee , Wisconsin , Minneapolis , Minnesota , and Glacier National Park . One of Amtrak's busiest routes and one of the most scenic, the Empire Builder passes through beautiful wide open plains and spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas, with views of lush pine forests and snow-covered peaks. This route operates daily and is a 46 hour ride.
• The Empire Service is a train running multiple times a day between New York City and Albany , New York , with some trains continuing to Buffalo and Niagara Falls , passing through the Hudson River Valley and the Finger Lakes region. The trip takes 2½ hours to Albany and 9 hours to Niagara.
• The Ethan Allen Express connects New York City to Albany , New York, Rutland , Vermont , and Burlington , Vermont. The route passes through some marvelous upstate scenery and is an excellent option for taking in the fall colors. The service runs daily and takes 7½ hours.
• The Heartland Flyer runs from Oklahoma City , Oklahoma to Fort Worth , Texas , passing through prairie country and along rivers, including the scenic "Big Canyon" area of the Washita River (where bald eagles can be seen during the winter). Service is daily and takes 4½ hours.
• The Hiawatha is Amtrak's shortest line, running from Chicago , Illinois to Milwaukee , Wisconsin in a mere ninety minutes. Multiple daily departures.
• The Illinois Service is a collection of lines radiating out of Chicago, Illinois, crossing the state and terminating in Quincy , Illinois, Carbondale , Illinois, or St. Louis , Missouri . All lines run multiple times a day and the longest line takes 5½ hours.
• The Keystone and the Pennsylvanian connect New York City to Pennsylvania via Philadelphia , with the Keystone terminating in Harrisburg while the Pennsylvanian continues across the Allegheny Mountains to Pittsburgh . The Keystone runs multiple times a day and takes about 4 hours, while the Pennsylvanian runs daily and takes 9½ hours.
• The Lake Shore Limited runs from Chicago to either Boston , Massachusetts or New York City, via Cleveland , Ohio and Buffalo , New York . Runs daily and takes 19½ hours (Chicago-New York) or 22 hours (Chicago-Boston). The run to and from New York City travels along the scenic Hudson River Valley.
• The Maple Leaf connects New York City to Toronto via Niagara Falls and passing through some beautiful upstate scenery. The train runs daily and takes 12½ hours.
• The Michigan Services are a set of train routes radiating out of Chicago , Illinois to Michigan , terminating in Grand Rapids , Port Huron (via Lansing ), or Pontiac (via Detroit ). The Grand Rapids and Port Huron trains run daily, while the Pontiac via Detroit train runs three times a day. The longest line takes 6½ hours.
• The Missouri River Runner crosses Missouri , linking St. Louis , Jefferson City and Kansas City . Service runs twice daily and takes 5½ hours.
• The Northeast Regional is Amtrak's busiest service, connecting Boston , New York City , Philadelphia , Baltimore and Washington, D.C. , and the many towns and cities in-between, with some services also continuing south into Virginia . Smaller stops that might be of interest to tourists include Providence for Brown University, New Haven for Yale University, and Princeton Junction, where you can connect to a shuttle service run by New Jersey Transit to Princeton for Princeton University. This is also Amtrak's most frequent service, with multiple daily departures, and the longest trip takes 12½ hours. The Springfield Shuttle runs from Springfield, Massachusetts, and connects with the Northeast Regional at New Haven.

• The Pacific Surfliner runs from San Luis Obispo , California to San Diego , via Los Angeles and Orange County . A perfect way to beat the Southern California traffic and also great for visiting Disneyland , as well as enjoying some gorgeous coastline. The segment through San Clemente is one of the few places in the world where a rail line runs directly next to the beach. There are multiple departures every day and it takes about 6 hours to complete the trip from San Diego to Santa Barbara, with an additional 2 hours to go all the way to San Luis Obispo.
• The Palmetto, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star are three trains which travel from New York City down the East Coast. The Palmetto travels from New York City to Savannah , Georgia ; via Charleston , South Carolina . The Silver Meteor travels from New York City to Miami , Florida ; via Charleston, Savannah, and Orlando , Florida. The Silver Star follows essentially the same route as the Silver Meteor, except it takes a different route through the Carolinas and makes a detour to Tampa , Florida. All three trains run daily, and the length of the trip is up to 28 hours.
• The San Joaquin connects Sacramento , California and the San Francisco Bay Area with the Central Valley of California, running south to Bakersfield . There are multiple daily departures and the trip takes up to 6 hours.
• The Southwest Chief travels from Chicago , Illinois to Los Angeles , California ; via Kansas City , Missouri , Albuquerque , New Mexico and Flagstaff , Arizona . The route is similar to that of the Santa Fe Railway's Super Chief train; it parallels the old Santa Fe Trail between Kansas City and Santa Fe, and Route 66 between Albuquerque and Los Angeles. The route passes through some lovely desert and mountain scenery, cutting through narrow canyons and red rock country. Service on the 40-hour route is daily.
• The Sunset Limited travels from New Orleans , Louisiana to Los Angeles, California via San Antonio , Texas . This route comes within sight of the Mexican border for portions of the route and passes through a lot of desert. Service is three times a week and is 48 hours from start to end.
• The Texas Eagle travels from Chicago , Illinois to San Antonio, Texas; via St. Louis , Missouri , and Dallas , Texas. Service is daily and takes 32½ hours to complete. Three days a week, the train continues to Los Angeles via the Sunset Limited.
• The Vermonter has daily service from Washington, D.C. to New York City , New Haven , and St. Albans in Vermont . It is a very scenic route with some beautiful views of Vermont. From St. Albans, it is only a short bus ride to Montreal . The trip takes 14 hours to complete.
• The Winter Park Express is targeted toward winter sports enthusiasts and offers service from Denver to Winter Park, Saturdays, Sundays, and select Fridays only, from January thru March. A train leaves Denver in the morning and returns in the evening. The trip takes about 2 hours. This train has a tendency to sell out when skiing conditions are good.

Thruway buses and other connections [ edit ]

Amtrak operates numerous "Thruway" bus services that connect with its trains, providing services to communities with no train service or in some cases filling in "gaps" in its network. These are typically fairly modern, comfortable motorcoaches. For the most part, these can be booked via Amtrak's website as if they were trains - the website makes it clear which part of the journey will be by bus. If a train is late, the bus will be held in order to meet it. As convenient as it might sometimes be, you can't in most cases book a journey that only includes a bus, though if you've not got checked baggage there's nothing stopping you from booking a bus-train journey for one stop down the line past your destination, and just not getting on the train.

Amtrak's service map also shows some ferry services and, in at least one case (the Grand Canyon Railroad), a private rail operator as thruway connections. These are generally not operated by Amtrak, cannot be booked through Amtrak, and will not necessarily wait for a late train.

Non-Amtrak Routes [ edit ]

• The Denali Star is the Alaska Railroad's flagship route, travelling between the state's largest city Anchorage and the state capital Fairbanks via Denali National Park .
• The Coastal Classic travels along the coast between Anchorage and Seward , and is regarded as one of America's most scenic rail journeys.

See also [ edit ]

• Bus travel in the United States Outside of the northeastern and Mid Atlantic regions buses reach more places with greater frequencies than trains.
• United States without a car

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🌍 Help Me, LP! How do I make the most of Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass?

Feb 9, 2023 • 7 min read

Use your Amtrak USA Rail Pass to take in the country’s staggering scenery from the comfort of an observation car © Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock

In this series, Lonely Planet’s team of writers and editors answers your travel problems and provides tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. When an Amtrak question came across the transom, we turned to Lonely Planet contributor (and major train) fan Lauren Keith.

Question: My trip around Europe with the Eurail Pass was one of the best I’ve ever taken. Is there anything like this in the United States?

Lauren Keith: Hopping off and on trains, waking up to a new city in the morning, carrying your suitcase through elegant train stations, meeting new friends from across hostel bunk beds: taking an extended train trip in this fashion actually is possible in the United States .

Modeled on the Eurail Pass , which allows travel around 33 European countries, Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass might get you across only one international border. But the experience can be just as varied, intriguing and eye-opening as its European counterpart. 

The US might have the world’s largest road network, sure – but taking a car-free “road trip” across the country is a ticket to an unforgettable adventure, and may be the most European-style journey you can have on this side of the pond.

I’ve just bought my second USA Rail Pass, and I’m starting to pack my bags for my next Amtrak sojourn. In 2021, I took to the rails on a loop from Kansas City , going through St Louis , San Antonio , New Orleans , DC , Baltimore , Philadelphia , New York City and Boston . Here’s a quick dive into the nitty-gritty of the Amtrak pass and some of the questions I was most commonly asked about my trip.

What is Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass?

The USA Rail Pass allows riders to go on 10 Amtrak “segments” within a 30-day period for a set price. A segment isn’t always the same thing as a one-way journey – any time you get off the train is the end of a segment. A one-way journey between Seattle and Denver , for example, consists of two segments because you have to change trains.

Launched in 1976, the USA Rail Pass in its current form differs significantly from the Eurail Pass, and even from previous versions of itself. Instead of regional restrictions, the entire country is now fair game, and the pass is valid for a set 30 days, and only 30 days – travelers no longer have the option of choosing longer or shorter durations.

When can I use the Amtrak Rail Pass?

Once you purchase the pass, you have to use it within 120 days (about four months). After the first segment is traveled, the clock starts ticking, and you have 30 days to take the other nine segments.

How much does the USA Rail Pass cost?

Amtrak sells the USA Rail Pass for $499 at full price – but it’s been on sale for as low as $299 a couple times in the last few years. And at this promotional price, each segment costs less than $30, regardless of length.

What are the USA Rail Pass restrictions?

While the USA Rail Pass is pretty flexible, it’s important to know a few details before buying one.

With the pass, you must travel in coach class. Business class and sleeper cabins (which are soon to be upgraded ) are not an option, unless you want to pay for them outside of the pass at the going rate. While Amtrak’s reclining seats are far superior to those of any airline’s economy class (39 inches of legroom compared with 28 inches when flying), they can be a challenge to sleep in overnight.

Passengers using the USA Rail Pass cannot ride the Auto Train (between Virginia and Florida ), Acela trains (high-speed trains in the Northeast) or Canadian routes that Amtrak operates with VIA Rail Canada. However, these regions are still accessible to pass holders on other (slower) routes.

Riders can travel between the same two stations only twice (two round-trip journeys), so the pass is best for travelers looking to explore a larger region, or the entire country. If you’re looking to commute between cities or visit friends or family in the same place, opt for a Multi-Ride Pass instead, which doesn’t have this restriction.

Though the USA Rail Pass doesn’t have any blackout dates, only a limited number of seats are saved for pass holders on each service – which means advance reservations are highly advisable. It’s possible that some trains will be unavailable; unfortunately, the number of eligible seats isn’t shown when searching the schedules. You have to reserve seats in advance, and it’s best to book your journeys as soon as you know where you want to go, even if you haven’t nailed down all the details. If you change your mind, you can cancel and rebook any time before the scheduled departure of the train, a super-flexible option.

Where can I go on Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass?

The country is your oyster. Amtrak’s routes roll across the US from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Mexican border to stops in Canadian cities. More than 30 train lines crisscross the entire country on some 21,000 miles of tracks. Trains stop in 500 cities in 46 states, along with a handful of destinations in Canada .

How can I make the most of Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass?

That all depends on you and your travel goals. You could feel the West Coast sun along the coast in California before cozying up in a bookshop among the grays and greens of the Pacific Northwest . You could focus on the East Coast’s big-hitters, such as DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The bold could even cross the country from every direction within 30 days: east from Los Angeles to New Orleans, north from Miami to Maine , west from Chicago to Seattle, and south from Vancouver to San Diego , where you can cross the border to Tijuana , Mexico , on foot. 

Although the observation car might sound like the best way to soak up all the extraordinary diversity of scenery on an epic journey like that, I wouldn’t personally recommend it – unless you’re sure you’ve packed plenty of snacks and your body can handle days without fully lying down to sleep. The California Zephyr , one of the longest train journeys in the world, takes 52 hours from California to Chicago, and that’s assuming there aren’t any delays – a rarity.

Start by looking at Amtrak’s route map and deciding which stops are a priority. Remember that you don’t necessarily need to start from your home city: if you want to pack more in, you could fly or take a train (without using your pass) to a hub like New York, Chicago or DC that has multiple options for long-distance routes.

Another important factor is timing. You have 30 days to use your pass, and outside the Northeast, most routes run just once a day – or even as little as three times a week, as is the case for the Sunset Limited (Los Angeles to New Orleans). The small number of services mean that strange departure times are inevitable. My first trips on Amtrak in 2008 left from a small-town station in Kansas with two daily departures: 2:45am going south and 2:59am going north.

Which Amtrak routes are the most scenic?

Amtrak’s long-distance trains are some of the most scenic journeys in the world. The Coast Starlight is absolutely worth a trip, hugging the coast so closely between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara that you seem to hover at the cliff edge, as if on a roller coaster. The California Zephyr takes in the widest variety of landscapes, from the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas to the salt flats of Nevada and Utah to endless bends around the Rocky Mountains . 

Even many of Amtrak’s stations are scenic. Los Angeles’ Union Station is an art-deco jewel with its own brewpub. Denver’s Union Station is home to an impressive food hall, and the coffered ceilings of Kansas City’s Union Station (do we see a naming trend here?) are just as gorgeous as those in Chicago and Washington, DC.

Ready to take a midnight train to anywhere? See you on board.

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16 tips for travelling by train in the USA 2021

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written by Joanne Owen

updated 06.02.2024

Travelling by train in the USA is an excellent way to see vast swathes of this vast country, especially if you're on a budget. While the USA 's national rail operator Amtrak won’t get you everywhere, it's pretty darn extensive, with thirty routes throughout travelling to over 500 destinations across 46 states. What's more, travelling in the USA by train offers the exhilaration of seeing incredible landscapes zoom by, with tasty slices of Americana served up when you slow through quirky little towns. There’s also no better way to meet (or people watch) the huge range of locals who'll hop on and off during your journey. Tempted? Then read on for our 16 tips for travelling by train in the USA, covering everything from what to know before travelling to the USA for a railroad adventure, to practical booking advice - all of them top tips for USA train travel.

1. Research routes

2. research rail passes, 3. book ahead, 4. relish road-trip reads, 5. pack like a pro, 6. consider kipping options, 7. plan for delays, 8. safety first, 9. check in your bags, 10. chow down and chat, 11. chill in the bar car, 12. discover the dome car, 13. stretch without stress, 14. lounge around, 15. map transit options, 16. get more guidance.

Amtrak’s  interactive route planner  will help you choose a route - checking out this tool is definitely one of our most useful tips of USA train travel. But even before you get into the nuts and bolts of route-planning, you'll probably want to dig deeper into where you might want to end up - while the journey can sometimes be the destination, you won't want to miss out on the good stuff once you get wherever you're going. Here's an overview of a few of  many route examples  to consider:

City of New Orleans route - music-lovers might want to investigate the 19-hour Chicago-Memphis-New Orleans route that takes in 900 miles of US music heritage. Our guide to New Orleans will fill you in on what to see and do once you arrive.

Bourbon St, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Texas Eagle route - this epic 32-hour-trip from Chicago to San Antonio crosses the Mississippi River, traverses the piney woods of East Texas, and passes through Dallas before winding up in stunning San Antonio .

Pacific Surfliner route - at under six hours, this 351-mile route takes passengers through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles , Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, with portions of it tracking Southern California's coastline.

If, having done your route research, you decide to take a seriously long-distance trip, it will be worth looking into booking a USA Rail Pass . These start from $499 for a maximum of ten journeys (called segments in Amtrak speak) taken over 30 days to over 500 destinations. For comparison, here are some sample one-way fares:

Atlanta - New Orleans $39

Chicago - Washington $84

New York - Chicago $90

Los Angeles - Seattle $101

New York - Orlando $123

Chicago - Los Angeles $146

The Pacific Surfliner serves up seriously stunning views © Hilo Pictures/Shutterstock

Once you know where you want to go, you'll want to book tickets well in advance - all passengers must have seats, and some trains (especially those travelling between major East Coast cities) can be booked solid. In addition to the rail passes covered above, here's a run-down of the different ticket types:

Saver Fares: the lowest available fares, with limited availability, so book early to secure the best deals.

Value Fares: available on all routes, with some change and refund options, limited availability.

Flexible Fares: fully refundable with no cancellation fees, with reservations easily modified. This is your best option if you're given to travelling by instinct and on impulse - you might want the flexibility to hop off and explore those must-visit nuggets shared by locals during your journey.

Business Fares: located in a dedicated car or section of the train, Business Class offers an "affordable, enhanced travel experience", as Amtrak describe it. These enhancements vary by train and route, but include the likes of extra legroom and complimentary (non-alcoholic) drinks.

Premium Fares: there are two premium services - Acela First Class (complimentary onboard food and beverage services, plus privileged access to Club Acela lounges) and Sleeper, with rooms and roomettes available on most long-distance routes. Prices for these accommodations are included in your Premium Fare.

Going on a solo trip? Check out our guide to the best places to travel solo in the USA .

OK, so you might not be on the actual road, but reading novels about adventures across the US will do wonders to fire up your pre-trip excitement. In fact, this is one of our favourite general  USA travel tips - whether you’re travelling by train or not.

Read to ready yourself © Shutterstock

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While we're not going to run through everything you might need (we have a whole feature dedicated to packing ), we do want to share one of our top practical tips for USA train travel - take your own climate control. That is to say, keep a cardie or jumper to hand - the temperature in Amtrak's coaches is uniformly regulated year-round, meaning that even if you're winding through the scorching Arizona desert, your car is likely to be on the chilly side. You can thank us later. 

In addition, depending on what you decide to do about accommodation options (see below), you might also want to pack a pillow and something to snuggle under.

If travelling overnight, you have a few accommodation options to consider - either book a roomette or bedroom, or rough it in coach. Having said that, if you've packed like a pro, it needn't be that rough.

Roomettes are compact double cabins, some of which include an in-cabin toilet – only recommended for those who are very well acquainted with their travel partners.

Bedrooms are significantly bigger with more room to stretch out when the seats are arranged for day travel. They also have a more conventional, private enclosed toilet. Some even have showers.

Coach seats, despite being the cheapest option, have generous proportions, ample legroom (often superior to many airlines' business class seats) and recline pretty far back. Plenty of people do sleep in coach cars - you'll see whole families preparing to camp down with their own duvets and pillows.

When visiting the USA while travelling by train, it's worth knowing that Amtrak trains often share their tracks with massive, mile-long freight trains that are given priority. This means that delays on longer routes are pretty much inevitable. To be notified of delays on the move, get the Amtrak App or sign up for email notifications, which could save you from kicking your heels at your departure station.

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Also bear in mind that your two-hour journey might just be a small section of a much longer, multi-day route, so try to avoid any tight connections - one of the most essential tips of USA train travel if you want to avoid any unexpected bumps in the road (or tracks).

Don't get left behind - plan your connections and be mindful of delays © Shutterstock

Statistically speaking, rail travel is still one of the safest modes of transport, and providing you take all the usual common-sense precautions, travelling in the USA by train is generally safe, but it pays to be vigilant at major stations, especially at night. As always, having insurance is a smart idea too.

Be sure to keep an eye out for your bags, stowing away all valuables. If you're using night trains it might be worth investing in a basic bike lock to tether your luggage to something sturdy for total peace of mind, as opportunistic bag theft is probably the greatest threat you'll face. Alternatively...

Stations vary in size from huge complexes with multiple bars, shops and cafés to a single platform with a station sign and a bench. Most cities will let you check your baggage for free - get to your station 40 minutes before departure to take advantage of this. Having said that, all coach cars have ample overhead storage if you prefer to keep your case with you.

Checking your bags is certainly worth it on longer journeys - it frees you up to wander off to the dining car, Bar Car or vestibules without worrying about your valuables.

Check-in to be able to check-out the train with peace of mind © Shutterstock

Feasting on a whole lot of  food  is an essential experience of travel to the USA, so it goes without saying that when travelling in the USA by train, a meal in the dining car is a must-have Amtrak experience. The Dining Car opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and usually for multiple sittings. To reserve in advance, keep an eye out for attendants.

That said, don't expect fancy Pullman-style dining. Options are fairly limited and the menu changes about as often as the timetable. But it's not all about the food - if you're travelling solo or as a pair, you'll likely be seated with fellow passengers, offering the chance to chat with locals and fellow travellers, exchange travel tips, and make new friends, with a backdrop of all-American scenery providing plenty to talk about.

US railway station with rustic charm © Pixabay

Most trains will have a Bar Car. They’re usually next to the dining car, with tables and comfy leather booths for four where you can play cards, enjoy a coffee, and chat to fellow passengers, which makes visiting the Bar Car one of the best tips for USA train travel if you're the gregarious type.

The Bar Car is also where you'll find the National Park Guides, who ride the trains in their smart Scout-like uniforms during the summer months as part of Amtrak's Trails on Rails programme. They'll happily give you educational leaflets about the journey and point out interesting aspects of the passing landscapes.

Be sure to head to the bar car for coffee and chat © Shutterstock

Some of the more scenic routes will also have a Dome Car, with seats facing out with views through panoramic windows designed to make the most of the sublime scenery you'll be passing through.

These tend to fill up quickly on iconic routes like the California Zephyr, which passes through spectacular and otherwise inaccessible stretches of the Colarado Rockies , so be sure bag a seat early.

Not all stops are created equal. If you're a smoker, or just fancy stretching your legs and sampling the air outside on longer journeys, it pays to know if a stop is a designated 'rest stop', which means you're allowed to get off. If it's not, don't even try it - this rule is strictly enforced across the Amtrak network.

Sit back and soak it up © Khanh Le/Shutterstock

If you're travelling in a sleeper cabin (or in business class), you can make use of lounges in some of the bigger city stations, which offer complimentary wi-fi, newspapers, drinks and snacks before or after your train.

It's a great way to relax if you get to the station early, or want to kill a bit of time after 'detraining' (as Amtrak call it) on routes that arrive in the small hours of the morning.

Amtrak stations aren’t always slap-bang in centre of town. Most will have metropolitan transport links, of course, but some - like Atlanta , for instance - will be a cab ride away, so plan your accommodation and onward travel accordingly.

Map it out to make the most of your trip

Lastly, if you’re wondering how to travel to the USA in the first place, or keen to plan where to go and what to see in more detail, check out our  USA guide book , and read our USA travel tips for getting around more generally - by train, plane, automobile, bus and bike.

Alternatively, if you prefer to skip the planning all together, our  tailor-made USA trips might be exactly what you’re looking for.

At Rough Guides we’ve always taken pride in telling it like it is - whether we’re updating details in our guide books, or researching emerging destinations. With that in mind, we want you to know that when you click on links that lead to our affiliate partners’ sites, we can earn a small commission (at no cost to you). This is one of the ways we’re able to keep doing what we do best - provide you with travel advice and inspiration you can trust. Speaking of which, you can trust what we link to - our travel writer experts are exactly that (experts) and have highlighted them to share ideas that might make your trips all the more satisfying.

Joanne is a Pembrokeshire-born writer with a passion for the nature, cultures and histories of the Caribbean region, especially Dominica. Also passionate about inspiring a love of adventure in young people, she’s the author of several books for children and young adults, hosts international writing workshops, and has written articles on the Caribbean and inspirational community initiatives for Rough Guides. Follow her @JoanneOwen on Twitter and @joanneowenwrites on Instagram.

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As Biden Pushes Major Rail Investments, Amtrak's 2035 Map Has People Talking

Laurel Wamsley

Amtrak has proposed a plan for new and enhanced rail connections across the United States. Amtrak hide caption

Amtrak has proposed a plan for new and enhanced rail connections across the United States.

When President Biden unveiled his major new infrastructure plan last week, the proposal included much more than fixing crumbling bridges. And for those who wish America had a more robust passenger train network, it gave them something new: hope.

Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure package has two provisions involving passenger rail: $85 billion to modernize public transit (commuter rail, buses, stations, etc.) and $80 billion to improve and expand the nation's passenger and freight rail network.

"You and your family could travel coast to coast without a single tank of gas onboard a high-speed train," Biden said at the plan's unveiling.

But the idea isn't just nice family trips — it's to use improved rail infrastructure and service to alleviate problems such as traffic and air pollution as well as improve access to jobs. Transportation is the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

"The American Jobs Plan will build new rail corridors and transit lines, easing congestion, cutting pollution, slashing commute times, and opening up investment in communities that can be connected to the cities, and cities to the outskirts, where a lot of jobs are these days. It'll reduce the bottlenecks of commerce at our ports and our airports," Biden said.

The White House said the rail investment would "address Amtrak's repair backlog; modernize the high traffic Northeast Corridor; improve existing corridors and connect new city pairs; and enhance grant and loan programs that support passenger and freight rail safety, efficiency, and electrification."

Amtrak quickly responded with enthusiasm to Biden's plan, with a map and a vision for what an expanded U.S. rail network would look like by 2035.

The proposed transformation would mean some 30 new routes, and more trips on 20 existing ones. It projects 20 million more people served than the 32 million that rode Amtrak in the 2019 fiscal year.

It shows an array of potential new service lines: new rail connecting all of Texas' biggest cities and new connections across the Midwest, including between Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, and Cleveland. In the Southeast, new routes would stretch from Atlanta to Chattanooga and Nashville, Tenn., Savannah, Ga., and Montgomery, Ala.

There would be service to every state in the contiguous U.S. but South Dakota — a fact that drew the ire of Gov. Kristi Noem, who criticized the infrastructure package.

Amtrak says better rail service means "cleaner air, less traffic, and happier people," and it points to inequality that has resulted from the country's current patchy train service: "Many of the country's biggest and fastest growing metropolitan areas, with diverse populations, don't have the rail service they deserve."

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks to Amtrak employees during a February visit to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks to Amtrak employees during a February visit to Union Station in Washington, D.C.

Cities such as Houston, Atlanta and Cincinnati currently have bare-bones Amtrak service, with trains that only stop once a day and often in the middle of the night. Major cities including Las Vegas, Nashville, Columbus and Phoenix don't have any Amtrak service at all.

And that happiness bit? Amtrak notes that in some cities, people spend more than 80 hours a year in traffic. "Population growth will make this much worse without better alternatives like rail," it warns.

Around the country, local news dug into what expanded rail could mean for their communities.

"More direct train service between Raleigh and Richmond — and cities beyond. New passenger lines running to the North Carolina coast and to the state's mountains," Raleigh, N.C.'s The News & Observer wrote .

"Prospects for a passenger rail line connecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans got a boost this week," wrote the New Orleans Advocate , noting that the last passenger train to serve Baton Rouge, La., ended service in 1969.

"Amtrak may soon have the cash to install a new rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles," the Reno Gazette-Journal said .

"President Joe Biden's infrastructure improvement plan would bring Amtrak passenger service back to Phoenix for the first time in decades," NPR member station KJZZ noted .

And on Twitter, people started posting the rail lines they'd like to see. Like a direct route from Ohio to Florida.

Before all that can happen, an infrastructure bill will need to get through Congress. The House and Senate are both working on infrastructure bills, which are expected to include what the administration has proposed, but the process is still unclear.

For those eager for alternatives to the car, the historic proposal by a president known for his former daily commute by Amtrak from home in Wilmington, Del., to D.C. is what they've been waiting for.

"President Biden's plan would revolutionize the way Americans travel, finally launching U.S. passengers into the 21st century," said Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association.

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The 5 Best Luxury Trains in the U.S.

See the country in style from the Grand Canyon Railway to the Rocky Mountaineer.

For nearly 200 years, railroads have ferried passengers and freight all across the United States, transforming them from just a practical form of transportation to the pinnacle of luxury for wealthy Americans by the turn of the 20th century. But when jetliners hit the scene , rail travel languished.

These days, slow travel is making a comeback, with travelers delighting in the romantic nostalgia of elegantly furnished train cars complemented by fine dining. And while the U.S. has been, admittedly, rather slow to reclaim luxury train travel — particularly compared to the rest of the world — there are a growing number of elegant rail experiences to be found across the country. Here are five of the best experiences for luxury train travel in the U.S.

Rocky Mountaineer

In August 2021, Canadian railway company Rocky Mountaineer debuted its first-ever U.S. route, Rockies to Red Rocks . It's a long-in-the-making two-day journey between Denver and Moab, Utah, which includes an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colorado . The glass-domed cars offer passengers exceptional views of the mountains, canyons, rivers, and hoodoos along the journey. Passengers enjoy multi-course meals, either in their seats or in a designated dining room, depending on ticket class. For those who book the higher class of service, SilverLeaf Plus , there's a lounge car with a bar and an exclusive outdoor observation deck.

The Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon is a must-visit destination, so why not arrive in style? Instead of sitting in traffic to enter the national park, take the Grand Canyon Railway for a leisurely adventure. The train departs from the depot in Williams, Arizona, some 60 miles south of the canyon itself, then travels for two-and-a-half hours through the desert to reach Grand Canyon Village, right next to the South Rim. For the most luxurious experience, be sure to book the Luxury Parlor or Luxury Dome class of service — the adults-only cars have private bars and open-air platforms.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Since 1864, the Napa Valley Wine Train has been carrying oenophiles through the eponymous California wine region . Though it originally traveled between Vallejo and Calistoga, the train now makes a three-hour, round-trip journey between downtown Napa and St. Helena. There are a few different itineraries ; most include a multi-course gourmet meal served in sophisticated historic railway cars, and some rides include stops and tastings at various wineries. The most popular car on the train is the Vista Dome , a Pullman from 1952, where you'll dine in a glass-domed car with nearly uninterrupted vineyard views.

Alaska Railroad

Connecting Seward and Fairbanks via 470 miles of track, the Alaska Railroad provides scenic excursions through the state . Book the GoldStar Service for a more upscale experience — it's offered onboard the Denali Star train, a 12-hour itinerary connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks, and the Coastal Classic Train, which connects Anchorage and Seward. The service provides guests with spacious seats in a domed car, access to an outdoor viewing platform, meals in the dining car, and access to a private bar.

Strasburg Railroad

A ride on Pennsylvania's Strasburg Railroad might not be long — each journey lasts only 45 minutes. The railroad itself, however, has a long history. In fact, it's the oldest continuously operating railroad in the country, founded in 1832. For a luxurious little joy ride, book one of the historic first-class cars , which includes Marian (the private-hire President's Car); the Parlor Car, which has tables and sofas; or one of the two Lounge Cars, which are outfitted with velvet-upholstered captain's chairs. Snacks and beverages are available during each ride, but there's also a special wine-and-cheese experience for adults on select Friday and Saturday evenings.

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These Are The Best Rail Journeys In North America

Posted: May 1, 2023 | Last updated: July 1, 2023

Unmissable rail experiences

California Zephyr, Chicago, Illinois to San Francisco, California

Often dubbed the ultimate cross-country rail trip by enthusiasts, this epic 2,438-mile (3,924km), 51-hour journey between Chicago and San Francisco is undeniably breathtaking. From the majestic mountain ranges of the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada to the bright-red hues of Utah’s deserts and the seemingly endless plains of Nebraska, expect fabulous scenery from start to finish. 

What’s more, there are plenty of options to experience it. Coach seats start at around $142 for the full trip – you’ll have to make do with a reclining seat for this price – while roomettes start at around $680 (although prices vary depending when you’re traveling and how many people there are). Travelers in private rooms also have access to flexible dining that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and a wide selection of drinks. Trains usually depart daily, but check the website for updates.

Rocky Mountaineer, Denver, Colorado to Moab, Utah

Launched in August 2021, the Rocky Mountaineer’s exciting new route takes passengers on a two-day excursion between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah, including an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The Rockies to the Red Rocks journey is an extravagant one and doesn’t come cheap, starting at $1,395 for a one-way trip. All packages include gourmet meals, access to opulent lounge carriages and accommodation in Moab, Glenwood Springs and Denver. 

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While it would be easy to focus on all the luxuries found inside, the real highlight of this journey is the incredible landscapes to be found outside – which include Ruby Canyon, Mount Logan and Mount Garfield. To maximize the views, the train only runs during the day and features oversized windows and glass-domed coaches. There are also options to start or end in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas if you’d like a little time to explore these destinations.

City of New Orleans, Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana

Amtrak’s City of New Orleans  is a popular choice for those wishing to explore the rich history and culture of Chicago, Memphis and New Orleans. Trains typically leave the Windy City at 8pm, trundling through Illinois and Kentucky by night and gliding into Tennessee as the sun rises. Be sure to stop off in Memphis to wander through the homeland of blues, rock n’ roll and soul music, as well as paying a visit to Elvis’ former home.

The Canadian, Vancouver to Jasper, Canada

VIA Rail’s overnight service between Vancouver and Jasper certainly doesn't scrimp on impressive scenery. What’s more, it’s a fraction of the price of the famous Rocky Mountaineer service. The 19-hour trip starts at reasonable C$156 (US$122) per passenger for a reclining seat in Economy, or C$527 (US$413) for a two-person cabin in Sleeper Class.

Trains depart Vancouver at 3pm each day, gliding away from the city’s gleaming skyscrapers and towards British Columbia’s breathtaking mountains and lakes. Stopping at Kamloops just after midnight, the journey continues along through eastern BC and into Alberta (be sure to wake up early to see the Rockies at sunrise). Finally, you’ll arrive in Jasper at 11am the following day. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and crystal-clear lakes, this laid-back town is the ideal base for exploring the Rockies and Jasper National Park.

Now discover Canada's most jaw-dropping views

The Ocean, Montréal to Halifax, Canada

Many visitors flock to western Canada for its big-name national parks and hulking mountains, but the east coast is stunning in an entirely different way. Seeing the delights of this charming region is easy on board VIA Rail’s The Ocean . Beginning at 7pm in Montréal, the journey whisks you alongside the Lac Saint-Pierre, before passing through New Brunswick by night and then onto the picturesque lakes of Nova Scotia. Finally, you’ll arrive in Halifax at 5.51pm the following day.

Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa to St Helena, California

What could be better than drifting past emerald-green vineyards with a glass of wine in hand? Perhaps doing so on one of Napa Valley Wine Train's  unique vintage carriages, which travel on a 36-mile (58km) there-and-back trip from Downtown Napa to St Helena on an original 1864 rail line. The carriages, with their opulent velvet-upholstered seats, mahogany paneling and brass, have been sensitively restored to evoke the glamor of vintage train travel.

Offering the perfect combination of history, stunning landscapes and (of course) great wine, there's a range of packages on offer, from half-a-day winery tours with tastings to on-board dining experiences and special events, like the Murder Mystery dinner theater option. As you might expect, food and wine options aboard are ultra-opulent, with most packages offering multi-course gourmet meals and complimentary private-label wines. Needless to say, all of this doesn’t come cheap – prices are only available on application. 

Sky Railway, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Skirting through some of New Mexico’s finest scenery, the tantalizingly named Sky Railway is just as fantasy-filled as you’d imagine. The journey is made all the more enticing by the fact this 141-year old heritage route was recently saved by a group of rail enthusiasts ( Game of Thrones author George RR Martin among them). Since its revival in late 2021, it’s been given a new lease of life as a family-friendly adventure trip.

Denali Star, Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska

Ditch the car and opt for a more climate-friendly journey through one of America’s most beautiful (and least-visited) national parks. The Alaska Railroad's flagship train  Denali Star embarks on a 12-hour ride between Anchorage and Fairbanks via Wasilla, Talkeetna and Denali. Along the 365-mile (587km) route, the train rushes past rivers and mountains and offers expansive panoramas of Hurricane Gulch from the top of a 296-foot (90.2m) bridge.

Check out Alaska's most incredible sights

Copper Canyon train, Los Mochis to Chihuahua City, Mexico

This nine-hour trip between Los Mochis, Sinaloa and Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, has rightly gained a reputation as one of the most epic rail journeys in the world. The famous Copper Canyon through which it travels is nothing short of magical: think dramatic gorges, towering peaks and historic colonial towns. It’s possible to travel in both directions, but we’d advise setting off from Los Mochis so you get to see the most stunning scenery (much of which is at the beginning of the route) before the sun sets. 

Mount Washington Cog Railway, Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Dubbed “the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world”, this one-of-a-kind route traverses the steep summit of Mount Washington, reaching a 37% gradient at certain points. Located in the gorgeous Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in the heart of the White Mountains, the National Historic Engineering Landmark is certainly a fun way to discover rural New England. 

Georgetown Loop Railroad, Georgetown to Silver Plume, Colorado

Want to travel across this terrifying-looking railroad? While we admit the aptly named Devil's Gate High Bridge, which features a 100-foot (30m) drop over Clear Creek, isn’t for the faint-hearted, this thrilling experience is at the top of many rail buffs’ wish lists. It’s no surprise that when it was completed back in 1884, this circular railroad connecting Georgetown and Silver Plume was seen as an engineering marvel and attracted visitors from all over.

Grand Canyon Railway, Williams to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

It’s been a favorite road trip destination for decades, but you might not have thought to visit the Grand Canyon by rail. Yet this underrated (and surprisingly affordable) excursion has to be one of the most beautiful train journeys on the planet. Beginning in Williams, a small town 30 miles (48km) west of Flagstaff, Grand Canyon Railway meanders through ponderosa pine forests and open prairie, stopping at Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim before heading back to Williams.

Jose Cuervo Express, Guadalajara to Tequila, Mexico

Tequila fans need look no further: we’ve found the perfect train for you. Traveling the 11-hour journey between Guadalajara and the town of Tequila, the Jose Cuervo Express allows you to taste a wide variety of tequilas while whizzing past endless agave fields, all in a highly luxurious setting. Along the way, guests will also tour a distillery to discover how the spirit is made, wander the historic streets of Tequila and see an agave harvesting demonstration.

Trains depart from Guadalajara every Saturday and passengers can choose between four carriages: Express, Premium Plus, Diamond or Elite (pictured). On this luxury option, enjoy a large adults-only lounge and open bar providing a range of tequila cocktails, with decor inspired by the old-school glamor of the Orient Express. Tickets start at around 2,590 Mexican pesos ($128). 

These are the world's most luxurious train journeys

White Pass & Yukon route, Skagway, Alaska to White Pass summit, Canada

Want to feel like you’re on top of the world? A journey on the unforgettable White Pass & Yukon , which climbs nearly 3,000 feet (914m) from Skagway, Alaska to White Pass Summit in Canada’s Yukon territory, should do the trick. The 40-mile (64km), 2.5-hour round trip also takes place on a historic railroad dating back to 1898, when it was built to give greater access to mines at the time of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Today’s travelers can enjoy the ride from a range of vintage train carriages, kitted out with balconies to allow for optimum sightseeing and picture-taking. Among the incredible sights you’ll see are Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch – so named because some 3,000 horses tragically died here while traversing the Chilkoot Trail before the railroad was built. Between April and October each year there are several departures a week, with tickets starting at C$134 ($105) for adults and C$67 ($53) for children.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango to Silverton, Colorado

Often listed as one of the world’s greatest routes, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a unique journey through America’s history. Original coal-fired locomotives from the 1880s follow in the tracks of countless miners, cowboys and gunslingers from the Old West, giving an insight into what train travel was like some 140 years ago. In fact, the railroad has even been listed as a National Historic Landmark to protect its heritage. 

On the 45-mile (72km) trip, the train crosses the Animas River five times and winds its way through canyons in the stark wilderness of the San Juan National Forest. Travelers pass farmlands, old stagecoach roads and the brooding Tacoma Power Plant along the way. There are four classes to choose from during the summer season from May through to October, with prices starting at $94.

Ethan Allen Express, Burlington, Vermont to New York City

We can't think of a much better way to experience gorgeous fall colors than this. The Ethan Allen Express , which was launched by Amtrak just ahead of fall, takes passengers on a leisurely seven-hour journey between Burlington, Vermont and New York, stopping at Rutland and Albany along the way. The scenery you'll pass is incredible, from idyllic New England countryside as you pass through the Hudson Valley to the historic college towns and maple tree forests of Vermont.

You could sit back and soak up the scenery all day, but if you wish to break up the route there are plenty of worthwhile stops. Be sure to take some time exploring Saratoga Springs, where horse-racing, elegant Victorian architecture and plenty of independent shops and restaurants await. Outdoorsy types should make a beeline for Rutland, which offers skiing opportunities by winter and gorgeous hiking year-round. 

Next, discover the world's best sleeper trains

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High-Speed Rail Between U.S. Hubs May Be Closer Than It Appears

High-speed passenger rail in the u.s. is closer to reality than it’s ever been — so why does its arrival seem so far off, by jeff ostrowski april 18, 2024 6:00 am.

For decades, high-speed rail in the U.S. has been a distant, impossible dream. Not even the most promising plans could break through the financial obstacles and political minefields blocking the tracks.

Now, though, a bullet-train future is inching closer to reality. The Biden administration in December awarded a combined $6 billion to two high-speed rail projects on the West Coast.

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats in March introduced a bill earmarking $205 billion for bullet-train projects nationwide. While no one expects a divided Congress to pass the proposal, the bill reflects a growing appetite for investment in the sort of high-speed rail projects that long have whisked passengers to destinations in Europe and Asia.

“This isn’t a fantasy,” said Andy Kunz, president and CEO of the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, a trade group. “It’s been proven to work in country after country.”

Train proponents nationally are pushing a variety of new-breed railroads, including the California High Speed Rail project between San Francisco and Los Angeles, a Texas line from Houston to Dallas, and the Cascadia connection linking Portland, Ore., Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

The California High Speed Rail project received $3 billion from the White House, but that line often is cited as a cautionary tale. Its budget has ballooned past $100 billion, and the project’s already decades-old time frame keeps moving into the future. The latest estimates call for that system to begin carrying passengers in the 2030s.

“These projects are susceptible to big cost blowouts and unforeseen delays,” said Eric Goldwyn, a professor of urban planning and transportation at New York University.

Another issue is the political chasm: There’s no cross-aisle consensus about the importance of high-speed rail. Democrats love the concept; Republicans hate it. Should Donald Trump be elected president in November, Goldwyn said, “The national vision for high-speed rail disappears.”

Political concerns aside, the project closest to the finish line is  Brightline West , a $12 billion, 218-mile rail line that would connect Las Vegas with Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., a bedroom community 40 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles. Brightline’s plans call for its trains to flirt with speeds of 200 mph, topping the 186 mph threshold for a train to be considered truly high speed. (The fastest U.S. passenger trains at present — the Acela line — travel upward of 150 mph for some parts of some trips.)

Brightline hopes the service will be ready in time for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The Biden administration put $3 billion in public money into the project and also is offering access to $3.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds.

Much of the Brightline West route would be built in the Interstate 15 median, eliminating the safety concerns posed by grade crossings. The train would be electrified.

In a reminder of the limitations of high-speed rail in the car-centric U.S. transportation grid, Brightline West’s high-speed rail service will stop well short of Los Angeles, which means most Angelenos will have a long commute to the train station.

Brightline West is the brainchild of private equity billionaire Wes Edens, who bankrolled the Brightline project in Florida. As the first private passenger service to operate in the U.S. for decades,  Brightline Florida  serves as a test case.

Since it began operating in 2018, Brightline Florida has hit the mark in some crucial ways. Its trains are clean, shiny and prompt. Brightline has built palatial stations from Miami to Orlando. The service carried more than 1.2 million ticketed passengers in 2022 and more than 2 million in 2023.

“Once you have proof of concept in one place, the second one and the third one and the fourth one come very quickly,” Edens said during a 2019 event commemorating the completion of Brightline’s Orlando station.

But, in other important areas, Brightline Florida remains less than convincing. For one thing, its technology is nowhere near the standards of high-speed rail.

Brightline’s diesel-powered locomotives operate on the Florida East Coast railway line built more than a century ago, and the trains top out at a pedestrian 79 mph in South Florida.

On the east-west portion of the track, between Orlando and Cocoa Beach, Brightline’s trains accelerate to 125 mph, but even that remains well below the speeds achieved by the oldest bullet trains in France, Spain and Japan.

Brightline also has struggled to address safety concerns. Its trains cross hundreds of streets and sidewalks, and dozens of people have died after being hit by rail cars — although Brightline never has been accused of wrongdoing in any of the accidents, which often involved suicides or motorists ignoring crossing arms and warning lights.

Another obvious red flag in Florida is financial: Given the need to recoup steep startup costs of about $6 billion, Brightline Florida is nowhere near profitability. In 2022, Brightline Trains Florida reported a net loss of $259.6 million on revenue of $32 million. In 2023, the net loss widened to $306.7 million, despite a sharp increase in revenue to $87.7 million.

In each of the past two years, according to bond filings, Brightline auditor Ernst & Young included boilerplate language conveying “substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

Rail proponents say Brightline Florida’s financial issues are to be expected — after all, Brightline is a private company competing with publicly funded transportation options.

“That’s not high-speed rail, but it’s encouraging how much success they’ve had, even with a lower-speed service,” said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat representing northeastern Massachusetts. “They’re competing against heavily subsidized transportation networks. Let’s see the auditor reports for I-95.”

Brightline West, for its part, will be even costlier — that line is expected to cost $12 billion to build.

Mammoth price tags notwithstanding, proponents of high-speed rail make a compelling case. Yes, the systems are expensive and difficult to build. But, they argue, there’s really no choice.

Kunz offers one clear selling point: “You like sitting in traffic for four or five hours?”

High-speed rail projects target routes such as Southern California to Las Vegas and Houston to Dallas, areas where the drive is annoyingly long and unpredictable. Flying is also inconvenient — by the time a traveler fights through airport traffic and soldiers through security, an hour or two has disappeared.

“Our car system and our aviation system are way overloaded. So that becomes just a huge waste of time and energy,” Kunz said. “Both of them have huge limitations in terms of capacity and throughput. If we think we can keep running these transportation systems powered by fossil fuels, we’re mistaken.”

Moulton sounded similar notes when he introduced the American High-Speed Rail Act, which calls for a $205 billion public investment in high-speed and higher-speed rail projects.

“High-speed rail is faster, cleaner, safer and better for our economy,” Moulton said in a March statement. “It will connect people to more jobs in new places, give Americans freedom and choice in how they travel, and put us on par with the rest of the world.”

In an interview, Moulton said America’s lack of investment in high-speed rail is turning the nation into a transportation laggard.

“In the rest of the world, you can go 200 mph between cities, with no security delays,” Moulton said. “In America, you’re either stuck in traffic or you’re in a pressurized steel tube at 30,000 feet, hoping the door doesn’t blow off.”

Moulton’s rail bill was introduced in partnership with Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat from the Seattle area. In fact, among the bill’s more than 40 co-sponsors, all are Democrats, a blue tilt that all but guarantees the measure will go nowhere in a presidential election year.

“I can’t think of a Republican who’s very pro high-speed rail,” Goldwyn said. “Ideological challenges have hampered development.”

Republicans are generally wary of electrified means of propulsion, and they’ve long viewed the massive investments required by high-speed rail as government overreach. In 2011, newly elected Florida Gov. Rick Scott killed a $2.4 billion federally funded and shovel-ready bullet train from Orlando to Tampa because it carried “an extremely high risk of overspending taxpayer dollars with no guarantee of economic growth.’’

Given the political chasm over high-speed rail, proponents might have only a few months to guarantee the future of a long-fraught concept.

“The president is into it, the [Department of Transportation] is into it. But are they  into  it?” Goldwyn asked. “Are they ready to clear the obstacles and spend the money?”

If not, he said, a high-speed rail reality could fade further into the future.

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News & Reviews News Wire CPKC releases travel schedule for tour by No. 2816

CPKC releases travel schedule for tour by No. 2816

Latest information fills in plans between display events

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CALGARY — CPKC has filled in many of the blanks on the upcoming Last Spike Steam Tour, releasing a schedule with travel days and intermediate stops for the Canadian and U.S. portions of the three-nation tour of 4-6-4 No. 2816, shown above.

Locations and times for the “Event” days on the schedule were released last month [see “CPKC announces times, locations for Steam Tour …,” Trains News Wire, March 27, 2024.

CPKC CEO Keith Creel had vowed to send the 1930 product of the Montreal Locomotive Works, known as the “Empress,” on a tour of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico if the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger was approved. Initially expected last year, the event became a one-year celebration of the merger as overhaul and subsequent break-in of the locomotive was held last spring and summer. “We are excited to share this extraordinary experience with communities across our network as we mark the one-year anniversary of our CPKC journey,” Creel said in January when the schedule was first announced.

More information is available at the CPKC website .

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2 thoughts on “ cpkc releases travel schedule for tour by no. 2816 ”.

My assumption is the St. Paul-Portage-B’ville legs are on old Milw. Rd ROW, including the “Techny” cutoff, thus providing varied photo ops.

You are correct Curtiss. This was the ex MILW double track line to Milwaukee and Chicago, which unfortunately the Milwaukee single tracked with passing sidings. Saint Paul to La Crosse, WI is the CPKC River subdivision.

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Michael Portillo visits Madrid in new Long Weekends series

The rail enthusiast is taking us to his favourite European cities

Michael Portillo's Long Weekends takes viewers on a journey to three different cities, starting with Madrid on Friday 19 April, at 9pm on Channel 5. The series runs for three weeks, with episodes on Milan and Prague, too.

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On each Long Weekend, Michael reveals the secrets, sites and people that make the cities tick. He finds the best restaurants, bars, food markets and hotels, as well as the places only the locals know and love.

The broadcaster, who is joining Good Housekeeping readers on a special rail journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express next year , explores hidden neighbourhoods and meets up with locals who show him the city’s hidden treasures.

In the vibrant and bustling Spanish capital Madrid , Michael returns to many places he knows well, having visited the city regularly for over 60 years.

The episode begins in the city centre on the busy Gran Via boulevard, home to Madrid’s famous golden triangle of art museums and El Retiro Park.

Michael then heads for an early lunch at a restaurant he knows well in the Old Town, one with only one dish on the menu: suckling pig.

Viewers can expect hotel bars with a shady history of espionage, a traditional confectioner who makes a classic Spanish nougat, and a bespoke tailor specialising in a very stylish cape.

In between the hustle and bustle, Michael squeezes in a visit to the family flat where he stayed as a boy, in the years after the Spanish Civil War.

Michael Portillo's Long Weekends airs from Friday 19 April, at 9pm on Channel 5.

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