AmeriStarRail proposes 72-hour New York to Los Angeles train

AmeriStarRail has proposed a new transcontinental rail service, dubbed the ‘Transcontinental Chief’, which aims to connect New York and Los Angeles in approximately 72 hours by 2028.

The proposed route would include stops in Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, with a branch connection to Washington D.C. via Philadelphia. Rather than using Manhattan’s Penn Station, the East Coast terminus would be located at the Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey, with passenger access to New York City provided via PATH trains and ferries.

In a departure from traditional passenger rail, the service is designed to transport both people and vehicles, including heavy truck tractors. This model aims to allow commercial drivers to fulfill federally mandated rest periods while in transit, potentially creating a more profitable business model than current long-distance operations. The plan intends to utilize existing railroad infrastructure and Amtrak’s Superliner equipment to minimize regulatory and construction hurdles.

However, the project faces significant delays. While an initial launch was targeted for May 2026, the service has yet to materialize due to difficulties in securing a partnership with Amtrak. AmeriStarRail’s chief operating officer, Scott Spencer, noted that Amtrak has so far declined to form a joint venture, which is necessary to meet statutory requirements and enter agreements with railroad owners.