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The following Amtrak trains run through the Western and Southwestern U.S.


Sunset Limited - Runs along the Southern most part of the United States. The Sunset Limited begins in Jacksonville and Ends in Los Angeles. Highlights of this train are New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Tuscon, Phoenix, Palm Springs and Los Angeles.

California Zephyr - Runs through the heartland of the United States.
The California Zephyr begins in Chicago and ends in Oakland/San Francisco.
Highlights of this train are Chicago, Denver, Rocky Moutains, Salt Lake City, Reno, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sacramento and Oakland. From the city of Emeryville California, Amtrak supplies a short motorcoach ride to San Francisco. The California Zephyer ends its run in Oakland.

The Southwest Chief - This train also runs through the heartland of the United States but takes the Southwestern Route through New Mexico and Arizona. This train begins in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles.
Highlights of this train are Chicago, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Painted Desert, Flagstaff (gateway to the Grand Canyon) and Los Angeles.

The Empire Builder - This train runs between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, taking the Northern most route across the United States.
Highlights of this train are Chicago, Glacier National Park. The train splits into two at Spokane: on the ride to Seattle, the train winds through the seven mile Cascade Tunnel and along the coast of Puget Sound. On the ride to Portland, the train runs through the Columbia River Gorge, right along side the Columbia River. There are also spectacular views of Mt. Hood, Bridal Falls, Multnomah Falls and Beacon Rock.

Both Seattle and Portland are great jumping off points to Alaska, Vancouver
and the Canadian Rockies.

The Coast Starlight - This train is the premire Amtrak train in the US. The train runs froim Seattle to San Diego, with much of the route along the Pacific Ocean. Highlights of this train are Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Link to Amtrak's Web Site

Last modified on Tuesday, October 20, 1998