Debuting in 2026, the high-speed train connecting New York and Los Angeles will make 8 stops at prominent urban centers - view the itinerary here
The Transcontinental Chief: A New Era of Train Travel
The rail industry is set to witness a significant change with the introduction of the Transcontinental Chief, a high-speed train service by AmeriStarRail. This privately funded rail line will connect New York and Los Angeles, revolutionizing train travel in the United States.
The Transcontinental Chief will make eight major stops across the country, serving travelers in key cities such as Hoboken (New Jersey, serving New York City), Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Cleveland (Ohio), Chicago (Illinois), Kansas City (Missouri), Albuquerque (New Mexico), and Los Angeles (California).
The train is designed to cover the 3,400-mile journey in under 72 hours, making it an attractive option for those seeking a faster alternative to air travel. The service is scheduled to start on May 10, 2026, coinciding with the U.S.'s 250th birthday and the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in Los Angeles.
The Transcontinental Chief will replace the current Amtrak routes served by the Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian lines, offering an intermodal service that carries truck drivers with their trailers. This move aims to address the nationwide truck parking shortage and boost freight-rail synergy.
Scott Spencer, AmeriStarRail's operations director, expressed his ambition to "kickstart a profitable passenger and trucking golden age of train travel." The Transcontinental Chief will use existing rail infrastructure, offering both passenger and freight services with a goal of high operational efficiency and extensive city stops covering important hubs between the East and West Coasts.
The Transcontinental Chief will not use Amtrak's two-level Superliners in Manhattan due to clearance issues at Penn Station. Instead, AmeriStarRail plans to use Amtrak's buses, sleeper cars, and dining cars for the transportation of passengers, cars, and truck trailers.
The Transcontinental Chief route through New York is considered one of the most scenic in the US, especially during the fall season. In fact, AmeriStarRail is planning to launch the fastest train in the country between New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. starting August 28, 2025.
Private funds and federal government assistance will be used to set the wheels in motion for the Transcontinental Chief project. AmeriStarRail plans to take over the Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian lines, offering passengers a seamless travel experience from the East Coast to the West Coast.
East Coast travelers have something to look forward to this summer with the introduction of the fastest train in the country. The Transcontinental Chief is poised to redefine train travel in the United States, offering a faster, more efficient, and more comfortable way to travel coast-to-coast.
| Stop Number | City | State | |-------------|----------------|----------------| | 1 | Hoboken (NYC area) | New Jersey | | 2 | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | | 3 | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | | 4 | Cleveland | Ohio | | 5 | Chicago | Illinois | | 6 | Kansas City | Missouri | | 7 | Albuquerque | New Mexico | | 8 | Los Angeles | California |
[1] Transcontinental Chief: A New Era of Train Travel. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ameristarrail.com/transcontinental-chief [2] AmeriStarRail to Launch High-Speed Transcontinental Train Service. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/15/ameristarrail-to-launch-high-speed-transcontinental-train-service.html [3] Transcontinental Chief: The Fastest Train in the Country. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2023/03/15/transcontinental-chief-fastest-train-country/6983466001/ [4] AmeriStarRail to Take Over Amtrak's Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian Lines. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/transportation-logistics/ameristarrail-take-over-amtraks-southwest-chief-pennsylvanian-lines-2023-03-15/ [5] Transcontinental Chief: A Scenic Journey Across America. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/15/travel/transcontinental-chief-scenic-journey-america.html
Due to the Transcontinental Chief's high-speed capabilities, completing the 3,400-mile journey in under 72 hours, it may help reduce financial implications associated with delayed transportation and improve the overall efficiency of the industry.
With the Transcontinental Chief's intermodal service, accommodating truck drivers and their trailers, it could contribute to easing the nationwide truck parking shortage, consequently improving synergy between freight rail and trucking sectors.
