USA by Train
Trains - Tickets - RoutesA Travel Guide For Train Travel In The USA.
Here you will find information for the USA about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.
Useful Information
Population: 327 million
Currency: US Dollar
Language: English
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Country Code: +1
Time Zones: Pacific Time Zone, Mountain Time Zone, Central Time Zone, Eastern Time Zone
Train Companies
The rail network in the USA is operated by AMTRAK.
Train Tickets
Buy your train tickets for the USA online on the AMTRAK official homepage.
Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.
Rail Passes
Amtrak USA Rail Pass
The American rail operator Amtrak offers you a great opportunity to travel flexibly by train in America. You can use the USA Rail Pass in 46 states and visit over 500 locations. You can choose between 8, 12, and 18 trips within 15, 30, or 45 days.
California Rail Pass
Amtrak offers you a special train pass for the sunshine state of California. With the California Rail Pass, you can travel by train throughout California. Travel on 7 days within 21 days.
TrAIN tYPES
The major rail network in the USA is composed of the following trains:
Rapid Transit Systems are variations of Subway and Metro networks and are predominant in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami.
- 2nd Class only
- No reservations required nor possible
Amtrak Regional Commuter trains connect large cities to the to one another on short to medium distance routes
- 2nd Class offered: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- 1st Class (offered on some services): Rows of three seats (2+1), complimentary food and beverages
- Business Class (offered on some services): Rows of three seats (2+1), complimentary non-alcoholic beverages
- Trains are equipped with toilets
Amtrak Long Distance trains connect cities across America.
Trains are equipped with a dining car, a café car, and a lounge car; however, amenities may differ by train.
Superliner Seating Carriages:
- 40-degree reclining coach seats
- Power sockets are located at every seat
- Drinking water and toilets are available at the end of every carriage
- 2 levels of seating, upper and lower level. Upper level offers you panoramic views
Superliner Sleeper Carriages:
- All rooms include bedding, soap, towels, 3 meals per day, as well as drinking water, coffee, tea, and juice
- 2-berth roomettes
- Beds fold up into two seats facing each other for daytime seating
- Toilets and showers are located at the end of the carriage
- 2-berth bedrooms
- More spacious than the roomettes
- Beds fold up and sofa chairs are in bedrooms for daytime seating
- Private toilet and shower en suite located in the room
- 4-berth bedroom suite
- Made up of two 2-berth bedrooms combined
- Beds fold up and sofa chairs are in bedrooms for daytime seating
- Private toilet and shower en suite located in the room
- 4-berth family bedroom
- 2 adult beds, 2 children beds
- Beds fold up into 4 seats facing each other for daytime seating
- Toilets and showers are located at the end of the carriage
- 2-berth special bedroom
- Handicap accessible
- Accessible toilet located in the room
- Accessible shower located adjacent to the room
Viewliner Seating Carriages:
- 40-degree reclining coach seats
- Power sockets are located at every seat
- Drinking water and toilets are available at the end of every carriage
- A single level of seating
Viewliner Sleeping Carriages:
- All rooms include bedding, soap, towels, 3 meals per day, as well as drinking water, coffee, tea, and juice
- 2-berth roomettes
- Beds fold up into two seats facing each other for daytime seating with a fold-down table
- A washbasin and a concealed toilet are located in the room
- 2-berth bedrooms
- More spacious than the roomettes
- Beds fold up and sofa chairs are in bedrooms for daytime seating
- Private toilet and shower en suite located in the room
- 4-berth bedroom suite
- Made up of two 2-berth bedrooms combined
- Beds fold up and sofa chairs are in bedrooms for daytime seating
- Private toilet and shower en suite located in the room
- 2-berth special bedroom
- Handicap accessible
- Accessible toilet and shower located in the room
International Routes to and from Canada with Amtrak. See national routes in America for train amenities, sitting, and sleeping arrangements.
Maple Leaf
Route: Toronto – Niagara Falls – Buffalo – Rochester – Syracuse – Albany – New York
Adirondack
Route: Montreal – Westport – Saratoga Springs – Albany – New York
Amtrak Cascades
Route: Vancouver (British Columbia) – Seattle – Tacoma – Portland – Salem – Eugene
All long-distance trains are sleeper trains.
Bone & Scenic Valley Railroad
V&T Railway
Roaring Camp Railroads
Colorado Scenic Rails
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train
Strasburg Railroad
Disneyland Railroad
The Mount Washington Cog Railway
Nevada Northern Railway
Routes
Frequently Travelled Routes In The USA
National
From > To |
Duration (h) |
Changes | Transport |
Chicago to Seattle, Washington | 46:10 | Direct | Train |
Chicago to San Francisco, California | 53:00 | 1 | Train |
Chicago to San Diego, California | 48:00 | 1 | Train |
Chicago to New Orleans, Louisiana | 19:42 | Direct | Train |
Chicago to New York, New York | 20 – 27:00 | 0-1 | Train |
Chicago to Boston, Massachusetts | 21:22 | Direct | Train |
New York to Boston,Massachusetts | 3:35 | Direct | Train |
New York to Miami, Florida | 27:24 | Direct | Train |
San Francisco to Los Angeles, California | 9:50 | 3 | Train |
Los Angeles to San Diego, California | 2:45 | Direct | Train |
Seattle to Los Angeles, California | 35:15 | Direct | Train |
San Diego to New Orleans, Lousiana | 72:12 | 3 | Train |
International
From > To |
Duration | Changes | Transport |
New York to Montreal, Canada | 11:15 | 2 | Train & Bus |
Chicago to Toronto, Canada | 15:46 | 1 | Train |
Seattle to Vancouver, Canada | 4:00 | Direct | Train |
USA travel routes
USA: Amazing Train Trip From Chicago To Seattle
USA: East Coast Train Tour From New York To Miami
Main Train Stations
- New York
- Boston
- Washington D.C.
- Detroit
- Chicago
- Minneapolis
- St. Louis
- Kansas City
- Atlanta
- Orlando
- New Orleans
- Houston
- San Antonio
- Phoenix
- Denver
- Salt Lake City
- San Diego
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Sacramento
- Portland
- Seattle
Train Tours in the USA
Good to know
Best Time To Travel To The USA
Accommodation In The USA
Booking
The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE
Hostelworld
If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE