What is the largest city in the US with no Amtrak service?

In fact, Phoenix is the largest city in the country without it. But it wasn't always that way. Phoenix's Union Station was a bustling train hub when rail travel peaked around World War II. Today, it sits dormant as Amtrak stopped its service to Phoenix in June 1996.



As of early 2026, Columbus, Ohio, remains the largest city in the United States without a direct Amtrak station. With a city population approaching 1 million and a metro area of over 2 million, Columbus has been without passenger rail since 1979. While there is significant buzz in 2026 regarding the "3C&D" corridor (connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton) under the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification program, tracks have not yet been laid for active service. Other major cities often cited include Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. However, Phoenix is served by an Amtrak Thruway bus connection to the nearby Maricopa station, and Las Vegas is currently awaiting the completion of the Brightline West high-speed rail. Columbus stands alone as the most populous urban center with a total "gap" in the national passenger rail map, forcing residents to rely entirely on cars or buses.

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Columbus is actually the largest city in the USA with no passenger train service of any kind whatsoever. No passenger rail service of any sort. No metro or light rail. There was a light-rail network in the planning stages, which was essentially torpedoed by Duke University as they objected to the trains.

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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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Amtrak trains stop in almost all U.S. states. The exception is South Dakota, Wyoming, Hawaii and Alaska. To learn about where trains stop and where they go, view the list of Amtrak routes in each state below.

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Amtrak trains stop in almost all U.S. states. The exception is South Dakota, Wyoming, Hawaii and Alaska. To learn about where trains stop and where they go, view the list of Amtrak routes in each state below.

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Florida's low-lying topography prevents any form of underground tunneling, leaving trains susceptible to hurricane, flood, and tornado damage, while also being unable to efficiently navigate urban areas that were built around automobile transportation.

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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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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. It also reduces the ever-increasing traffic congestion on the roads and in the skies.

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Amtrak's competitors and similar companies include Genesee & Wyoming, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National Railway, Kansas City Southern, BNSF Railway, Arriva and Valley Transportation Authority. Amtrak is a provider of intercity passenger rail services.

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It was supposed to become self-supporting after a transition period, but it has never earned a profit and it consumed more than $50 billion in federal subsidies over five decades to 2020. In fiscal year 2021, Amtrak had revenues of $2.1 billion, expenses of $4.1 billion, and a loss of $2.0 billion.

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The numerous freight and passenger trains coursing through Chicago define the city as the nation's railroad hub.

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The longest and heaviest train in North America occurred on November 15, 1967. The Norfolk & Western Railroad ran a 500 car coal train plus caboose, weighing 48,170 tons and stretching 4.06 miles (6.53 km), a distance of 159 miles (256 km) from Iaeger, West Virginia to Portsmouth, Ohio.

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It was supposed to become self-supporting after a transition period, but it has never earned a profit and it consumed more than $50 billion in federal subsidies over five decades to 2020. In fiscal year 2021, Amtrak had revenues of $2.1 billion, expenses of $4.1 billion, and a loss of $2.0 billion.

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Amtrak Train Derailment in Moorpark, California – June 28, 2023. An Amtrak train derailment in Moorpark, California, left over a dozen people with injuries.

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Amtrak tickets tend to be higher than air fares if you book a roomette or bedroom as the price includes meals and private accommodations. However, Amtrak coach seats are often cheaper than coach seats on a plane, especially if you purchase tickets in advance.

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Longer Trip Times It's typically faster to travel by plane than by train, especially when your destination is across the country. A three-hour flight might be two nights on a train.

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No we are at sea level so having a subway system would be underwater. There are buses and trolleys at the beach and small above ground train that takes you places downtown. It's free but helps with parking and traffic in the city. There are trains that go out west but it's not an advanced system with many lines.

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