Does the U.S. still have passenger trains?

The sole long-distance intercity passenger railroad in the continental U.S. is Amtrak, and multiple current commuter rail systems provide regional intercity services such as New York-New Haven, and Stockton-San Jose. In Alaska, intercity service is provided by Alaska Railroad instead of Amtrak.



Yes, the United States maintains a significant but geographically uneven passenger rail network, primarily operated by Amtrak, the federally chartered national railroad. Amtrak serves over 500 destinations across 46 states and the District of Columbia, utilizing a mix of short-distance corridors and iconic "Long Distance" routes like the California Zephyr and the Empire Builder. The most successful and frequent service is the Northeast Corridor (NEC), connecting Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. with high-speed Acela trains reaching 150 mph. In addition to Amtrak, several states fund regional "Commuter Rail" systems (like Metra in Chicago or Long Island Rail Road in NY) that carry millions of daily passengers. In 2026, the industry is seeing a resurgence with private ventures like Brightline, which operates higher-speed trains in Florida and is constructing a "Brightline West" line between Las Vegas and Southern California. While the U.S. rail system is often criticized for being slower and less frequent than those in Europe or East Asia, it remains a vital mode of transport for millions of Americans seeking an alternative to flying or driving.

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In fiscal year 2022, Amtrak served 22.9 million passengers. That figure was down ten million from 2019 when 33 million people rode Amtrak, a 30% decline. By contrast, in 2022, some 736 million U.S. air passengers were screened by the TSA, as airline travel returned to near pre-pandemic levels.

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The Amtrak Sleeping Car fleet consists of two types of cars: Superliner and Viewliner. The primary difference: a Superliner features two levels of private accommodations per car and Viewliner features a single level. For your trip, the type of car will depend on the route you select.

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While not nearly as expensive, taking an Amtrak train across the US is also largely the domain of rail enthusiasts as it takes multiple days and costs significantly more than flying. In countries like Japan, South Korea and much of Europe, the opposite is true as the train is simply a way to travel larger distances.

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Amtrak trains stop in almost all U.S. states. The exception is South Dakota, Wyoming, Hawaii and Alaska.

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There are many reasons for this. There is limited service between cities (Amtrak says it runs 300 trains with about 87,000 passengers per day), freight is often prioritized over passenger service in the U.S., and trains and facilities are often outdated.

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We often get the question “Is Amtrak safe for single woman”, the short answer is yes. You are in a train car full of people. One of the great things about Amtrak is the space. On airplanes the seats are so close together that it's hard to avoid touching your seat mates.

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Amtrak's Acela, which reaches 150 mph (240 km/h) over 49.9 mi (80.3 km) of track and Brightline, which runs at 125 mph (201 km/h) in a dedicated ROW between Orlando and Cocoa, are the US's only high-speed rail services.

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The infrastructure that was transferred to Amtrak's management was also aging rapidly and required repairs. However, perhaps the biggest issue of all was that under the Rail Passenger Service Act, Amtrak did not gain ownership of the majority of the railroad tracks that their trains ran on.

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CLIMATEWIRE | The first U.S.-made high-speed bullet trains will start running as early as 2024 between Boston, New York and Washington, with the promise of cutting transportation emissions by attracting new rail passengers who now drive or fly.

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Across the United States by train... Coast to coast, 3,397 miles from New York to San Francisco in 3 days by train, a journey of a lifetime for as little as $197.

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Texas Eagle Amtrak's longest route (and the longest in America), this three-night, 65-hour journey follows a path first established by the Pacific Railway in 1948, passing some pretty amazing sights: from the Ozarks to Little Rock along the Mississippi River, then into the vast expanse of the Texan countryside.

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HOW SAFE ARE TRAINS? Trains are statistically much safer than driving. In 2020, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics recorded 40,867 total deaths from travel, including in planes, in cars on highways and on trains.

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Trains also are safer than planes, in part, because many train stations have open-air platforms where travelers board, Dr. Aaron Rossi told USA Today in October. That's far less risky than the indoor settings of airport security lines and waiting areas where passengers gather and sit before boarding.

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Trains consume less energy and produce less harmful pollutants than either car or air travel. Hopping on an Amtrak train will save you gas and daily wear and tear on your car.

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As of 2020, Texas was the U.S. state with the largest railroad mileage, reaching over 10,400 miles. It represented around 7.6 percent of the total mileage for the United States.

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Let us introduce you to the Amtrak Quiet Car. The Quiet Car is located at the opposite end of the train from the Café Car and is marked off with special signs so loud-talkers don't wander in by mistake.

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Before you start clicking links, make sure to check Amtrak's Weekly Specials, on sale between Tuesday and Friday each week. These are deeply discounted fares (often up to 80% off) that can be for any train in the country.

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Amtrak does, in fact, offer scenic, luxury rail journeys to top locations across the U.S., especially if you are looking for some vacation deals.

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