The USA's national rail operator, Amtrak, runs approximately 300 trains per day throughout the United States, connecting more than 500 destinations on 21,000 miles of track.
Some of these trains are commuter services that connect nearby cities, while others are long-distance trains that connect states near and far. In fact, Amtrak offers 15 thoughtfully planned overnight journeys.
Journeys to each unique region depart throughout the year and, because Amtrak traverses remote stretches and places where roads do not travel, there is no better or more relaxing way to see the hidden details of North America.
Amtrak offers several travel classes from which to choose. Coach Class is the included service for our USA Coast to Coast tour, all other tours have Roomettes as standard.
Coach Class is the standard level of service. Passengers travel in wide, reclining seats with plenty of legroom. There are trays, reading lights and electric outlets at each seat, with toilets at the end of each carriage. There are no included meals in Coach, but food can be purchased in the onboard Café.
Roomettes are private rooms with two comfortable seats that transform into upper and lower bunks at night. A large picture window in the room ensures great views of the passing scenery can be enjoyed, while each carriage has shared toilet and shower facilities. Meals are included in the Dining Car for passengers who have upgraded to this level of service.
Ensuite Bedrooms are spacious private rooms with in-room sink, toilet and shower. Twice the size of a Roomette, these contain a large picture window, a sofa and a separate chair during the day. At night, the sofa transforms into upper and lower bunks. Meals are included in the Dining Car for passengers who have upgraded to this level of service.
The number of meals is dependent on the length of the journey. Full dining service is only available on select long-distance trains, including but not limited to, the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Empire Builder and Coast Starlight.
Coast Starlight Service
Amtrak's Coast Starlight is a daily service between Los Angeles
and Seattle. The train journeys through the San Francisco Bay area
and iconic US cities such as Santa Barbara, Sacramento and Portland
on an enthralling journey along the stunning West Coast. Passengers
on Great Rail Journeys tours will experience a small stretch of the
route as we travel from LA to San Francisco. Travelling alongside
the stunning Pacific Ocean, we are treated to an enticing backdrop
of striking shorelines, rugged cliffs and pretty coastal towns as
we enjoy the renowned comfort of this legendary train.
City of New Orleans Service
The City of New Orleans train serves a 926-mile route that
connects the north and south of the United States, travelling
between Chicago and New Orleans. We join the train for a section of
the route from Memphis to the 'Big Easy', a trip which spans just
under nine hours and traverses the heart of the Deep South. We pass
through Greenwood before continuing to Jackson, a city with a rich
musical heritage and which played an important role in the American
Civil War and Civil Rights Movement. Continuing towards Louisiana,
we pass beautiful landscapes of bayous, cypress trees and
waterways, before arriving in New Orleans, a vibrant city famous
for its historic French Quarter, streetcars and jazz music.
Downeaster Service
Named after the sailing vessels built by Maine's shipbuilders in
Colonial times, the Downeaster service takes us on a 116-mile
journey through New England, travelling from Boston North Station,
Massachusetts, through beautiful countryside and rugged coastlines
to Portland, Maine. Beginning at Boston, the train travels north,
crossing the Massachusetts/New Hampshire state line. New Hampshire
is one of the original thirteen states that founded the United
States of America in 1776 and is full of historic colonial cities
such our first stop, Exeter, which dates back to 1638. From here we
continue towards the Atlantic Coast, following the striking New
England shoreline. The train makes an impressive crossing over the
Scarborough River before finally arriving at our final destination
of Portland.