Rail travel in the United States
Photo: RedPottery18, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The United States may be the land of the car, but it is also a fantastic country to explore by train. Private operators offer exclusive and luxurious packages on trains, but it is on board Amtrak trains 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 great rail journeys, known for its breathtaking scenery and historical significance.
UnderstandAmtrak, the quasi-government-owned passenger rail company, is the only operator of regularly scheduled long distance passenger trains in the contiguous United States.
HistoryThe United States was one of the pioneers of rail travel.
StationsJust 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.
Passenger rail companiesThis article talks primarily about travel using Amtrak, the United States' primary national passenger railroad company.
Planning your tripChicago 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.
Rail passesIf 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.
TicketsS. and Canada) or on the internet. Tickets can be printed at home, downloaded on to a smart phone, or provided at the desk/kiosk.
Boarding the trainAmtrak tickets generally do not indicate a coach or seat number, merely that you have a place in a reserved coach.
On boardThe information here relates specifically to services operated by Amtrak. Private train companies and commuter rail services will offer differing standards of on-board facilities.
Private rail carsParticularly on Amtrak's long distance Western routes, you'll see privately-owned railcars attached to the end of the train with some frequency.
DelaysUnfortunately, delays are common on long-distance Amtrak routes.
RoutesAmtrak has over 40 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.
Stay safeAs Amtrak's trains are considered to be federal property, do not under any circumstances carry marijuana onto them.
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rail travel in the United States" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: RedPottery18, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons