Rail guide
Trains in the USA
How Amtrak's network fits together, which trains run where, and how to pick the right one, with a guide to every route.
Amtrak runs almost all intercity passenger trains in the United States. Its network has three layers. The Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York and Washington is fast, electrified and frequent, with Acela and Northeast Regional trains every hour or better. State supported corridors such as the Pacific Surfliner, the Capitol Corridor, Amtrak Cascades, the Hiawatha and the Keystone Service run several times a day over shorter distances. Long distance trains link the regions, usually once a day, with coaches, sleeping cars, dining cars and lounge cars.
Chicago is the heart of the long distance network. From Chicago Union Station, the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, Texas Eagle and City of New Orleans head west and south, while the Lake Shore Limited and the Floridian connect east. New York and Washington are the eastern hubs for trains to the South and Florida.
Outside the Northeast, trains share track with freight railroads, so they are slower than in Europe or Asia and delays happen. The reward is the view: some of the continent's wildest country is only visible from the train. In Florida, the private Brightline offers fast trains between Miami and Orlando, and in Alaska the state owned Alaska Railroad runs summer trains between Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks.
- Amtrak long distance
- Amtrak corridor and state routes
- VIA Rail
- Brightline
- Rail tours
- Alaska Railroad
Long distance trains
| Train | Between | Journey | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Zephyr | Chicago to San Francisco (Emeryville) | ≈ 51 to 52 hours end to end | Daily in each direction |
| Southwest Chief | Chicago to Los Angeles | ≈ 43 hours end to end | Daily in each direction |
| Empire Builder | Chicago to Spokane and Seattle and Portland | ≈ 45 to 46 hours end to end | Daily in each direction |
| Coast Starlight | Seattle to Los Angeles | ≈ 35 hours end to end | Daily in each direction |
| Sunset Limited | New Orleans to Los Angeles | ≈ 46 to 48 hours end to end | Three times a week in each direction |
| Texas Eagle | Chicago to San Antonio | ≈ 32 hours Chicago to San Antonio | Daily between Chicago and San Antonio |
| City of New Orleans | Chicago to New Orleans | ≈ 19 to 20 hours end to end | Daily in each direction, overnight |
| Lake Shore Limited | Chicago to New York and Boston | ≈ 19 hours Chicago to New York | Daily in each direction |
| Cardinal | New York to Chicago | ≈ 26 to 28 hours end to end | Three times a week in each direction |
| Crescent | New York to New Orleans | ≈ 30 hours end to end | Daily in each direction |
| Silver Meteor | New York to Miami | ≈ 27 to 28 hours end to end | Daily in each direction |
| Floridian | Chicago to Miami | roughly 45 to 48 hours end to end | Daily in each direction (temporary service, as of 2026) |
| Capitol Limited | Chicago to Washington, DC | ≈ 17 to 18 hours when it ran as a separate train | Suspended as a separate train since November 2024 |
| Silver Star | New York to Miami | ≈ 30 to 31 hours when it ran as a separate train | Suspended as a separate train since November 2024 |
| Palmetto | New York to Savannah | ≈ 15 hours end to end | Daily in each direction, daytime |
| Auto Train | Lorton to Sanford | ≈ 17 to 18 hours overnight | Daily in each direction, nonstop |
Northeast Corridor and New England
- Amtrak corridorAcelaBoston to Washington, DCabout 6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours Boston to Washington; about 2 hours 50 minutes New York to Washington
- Amtrak corridorNortheast RegionalBoston to Richmond and Norfolk and Newport News and Roanokeabout 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours Boston to Washington; about 3 hours 20 minutes New York to Washington
- Amtrak state supportedKeystone ServiceNew York to Harrisburgabout 1 hour 45 minutes Philadelphia to Harrisburg, about 3 hours 30 minutes from New York
- Amtrak state supportedDowneasterBrunswick to Bostonabout 3 hours 20 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedVermonterSt. Albans to Washington, DCabout 12 hours end to end
- Amtrak state supportedHartford Line and Valley FlyerNew Haven to Greenfieldabout 1 hour 20 minutes New Haven to Springfield; about 2 hours 30 minutes to Greenfield
New York State and the border
- Amtrak state supportedEmpire ServiceNew York to Niagara Fallsabout 2 hours 30 minutes New York to Albany; about 9 hours to Niagara Falls
- Amtrak state supportedAdirondackNew York to Montrealabout 10 hours 30 minutes to 11 hours end to end, including the border inspection
- Amtrak state supportedMaple LeafNew York to Torontoabout 12 to 13 hours end to end, including the border inspection
- Amtrak state supportedEthan Allen ExpressNew York to Burlingtonabout 7 hours 30 minutes end to end
Pennsylvania and the Southeast
- Amtrak state supportedPennsylvanianNew York to Pittsburghabout 9 hours end to end
- Amtrak state supportedCarolinianNew York to Charlotteabout 13 hours end to end
- Amtrak state supportedPiedmontRaleigh to Charlotteabout 3 hours 10 minutes
- Amtrak state supportedMardi Gras ServiceNew Orleans to Mobileabout 3 hours 20 minutes
- Private intercityBrightline FloridaMiami to Orlandoabout 3 hours 30 minutes Miami to Orlando
Midwest
- Amtrak state supportedHiawathaChicago to Milwaukeeabout 1 hour 30 minutes
- Amtrak state supportedBorealisChicago to Minneapolis-St. Paulabout 8 hours end to end
- Amtrak state supportedWolverineChicago to Pontiacabout 6 hours 20 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedBlue WaterChicago to Port Huronabout 6 hours 30 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedPere MarquetteChicago to Grand Rapidsabout 4 hours end to end
- Amtrak state supportedLincoln ServiceChicago to St. Louisabout 5 hours 30 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedIllini and SalukiChicago to Carbondaleabout 5 hours 30 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedIllinois Zephyr and Carl SandburgChicago to Quincyabout 4 hours 20 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedMissouri River RunnerSt. Louis to Kansas Cityabout 5 hours 40 minutes end to end
- Amtrak state supportedHeartland FlyerOklahoma City to Fort Worthabout 4 hours end to end
West Coast
- Amtrak state supportedPacific SurflinerSan Luis Obispo to San Diegoabout 8 to 9 hours San Luis Obispo to San Diego; about 3 hours Los Angeles to San Diego
- Amtrak state supportedCapitol CorridorAuburn to San Joseabout 2 hours Sacramento to Oakland; about 3 hours 15 minutes Sacramento to San Jose
- Amtrak state supportedGold Runner (formerly San Joaquins)Oakland to Bakersfield and Sacramentoabout 6 hours Oakland to Bakersfield
- Amtrak state supportedAmtrak CascadesEugene to Vancouverabout 3 hours 30 minutes Seattle to Portland; about 4 hours Seattle to Vancouver, BC
Alaska and rail tours
- Alaska RailroadAlaska Railroad Denali StarAnchorage to Fairbanksabout 12 hours end to end
- Alaska RailroadAlaska Railroad Coastal ClassicAnchorage to Sewardabout 4 hours 30 minutes each way
- Alaska RailroadAlaska Railroad Glacier DiscoveryAnchorage to Grandviewa full day out and back from Anchorage
- Alaska RailroadAlaska Railroad Hurricane TurnTalkeetna to Hurricaneabout 5 to 6 hours round trip
- Rail tour (daylight)Canyon Spirit (formerly Rockies to the Red Rocks)Denver to Salt Lake Citytwo days with an overnight in Glenwood Springs to Moab; a longer version continues to Salt Lake City from 2026
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Which US cities have no passenger trains?
Several large cities have no Amtrak service at all, including Las Vegas, Phoenix (the nearest station is Maricopa), Nashville, Columbus and Louisville. Others, such as Houston and Atlanta, have only one train a day or a few a week.
What is the difference between long distance and state supported trains?
Long distance trains cover more than 750 miles and are funded nationally; most run once a day with sleeping cars. State supported trains run shorter corridors, often several times a day, with funding from the states they serve.
Where do I change trains to cross the country?
Almost always in Chicago, the hub where trains from the East Coast meet trains to the West. New Orleans and Washington are the other big connection points.