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Cruise and Rail

Combine the two most relaxing forms of travel on a cruise and rail holiday. Experience the best of both worlds as you explore diverse ports of call at sea, coupled with unique, scenic train journeys over land, travelling in effortless comfort - often without the need to fly.

We have an extensive range of cruise and rail holidays on offer throughout the year covering all four seasons. Continents include Asia , Europe and North America . With a rail cruise in America, you can choose from our ever-popular Amtrak routes across the USA, combined with a range of different cruise itineraries which include Alaska , Transatlantic sailings and the Caribbean . In Canada , choose the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer for a trip through the heart of the Canadian Rockies combined with an Alaska cruise, or Via Rail for a trans-Canadian rail journey from the east to west coast.

Anyone who has ever embarked on a cruise ship will know what special holiday experiences these ‘floating 5-star hotels’ can offer. However, have you ever considered how your cruise adventure could be made even more amazing by combining it with a spectacular rail trip? By choosing a cruise holiday which takes in an ocean or river cruise as well as a luxurious overnight journey by land, you will benefit from exploring your destinations of choice from not just one but two magical perspectives. The variety provided by a cruise and rail holiday will truly spoil you with twice the views, twice the service and twice the memories!

Cruises which offer guests the opportunity to also enjoy a first-class train journey or two are available to many of the world’s most popular destinations, but it is widely accepted that some of the very best holidays of this kind can be enjoyed via an America rail cruise. It is no secret that the United States is a fascinating place to visit, being a land of great contrasts, incredible natural landscapes and vibrant, iconic cities; and, whilst sailing past the Pacific Coast and spending a day or so in world-famous locations like Los Angeles and San Francisco will be a brilliant experience, there is nothing quite like boarding an Amtrak train and sitting back with a drink in hand as you immerse yourself in North America’s most awe-inspiring rural and urban settings. Book a rail cruise to the USA today and start getting ready to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.

Cruise & Rail Packages

Lake Garda & Greek Isles Explorer cruise

May 2024 - Sep 2025

From £1449

Premium Alaska & Rocky Mountaineer Eastbound 2024

May 2024 - Sep 2024

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Niagara Falls & Upstate New York - Westbound

May 2024 - Dec 2026

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Apr 2024 - Nov 2026

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U.S. Rockies Rail Journey and Alaskan Discovery Cruise

From £2219.

All Inclusive Alaska Cruise & Rockies Express to Chicago

May 2024 - Oct 2025

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West Coast USA & Alaska

May 2024 - Aug 2025

From £2359

Premium Alaska & Rocky Mountaineer Westbound 2024

From £3079.

Princess Alaska and The Rocky Mountaineer Train-Eastbound 2024

May 2024 - Aug 2024

From £3209

Premium Alaska & Rocky Mountaineer Eastbound 2025

Apr 2025 - Sep 2025

From £3299

Premium Alaska & Rocky Mountaineer Westbound 2025

May 2025 - Sep 2025

From £3379

Alaska and via rail eastbound via Jasper

From £3549.

Niagara Falls & Upstate New York- 8 Night Eastbound

Jun 2024 - Dec 2026

From £1819

Niagara Falls & All-Inclusive Canada New England Breakaway

Aug 2024 - Oct 2024

From £2119

All Inclusive Caribbean Getaway & Music Capitals Express

Oct 2024 - Apr 2025

From £2159

Cunard Alaska & the Rocky Mountaineer (10 Night cruise)

Jun 2024 - Sep 2024

From £3409

Cunard Alaska & the Rocky Mountaineer (11 Night cruise)

From £3689.

The Big Easy and the Delta Blues

Oct 2024 - Mar 2025

From £1539

From the Big Apple to the Big Easy & Caribbean Cruise

Carnival Cruises

May 2024 - Apr 2026

From £1769

Niagara Falls and All inclusive Bermuda Cruise from New York

Apr 2024 - Aug 2024

From £2289

San Francisco, Chicago & New York - 8 Night Eastbound

San Francisco, Chicago & New York - Westbound

San Francisco, Chicago & New York - Eastbound

From £2369.

Explorer of the Med (Ravenna to Athens)

From £949.

Sorrento and Rome Odyssey (7 night cruise)

Jun 2024 - Sep 2025

From £1729

Cunard 10 Night Alaska Cruise & Rockies Express from Seattle to Chicago

Jun 2025 - Sep 2025

From £2489

Cunard 11 Night Alaska Cruise & Rockies Express from Seattle to Chicago

Jun 2025 - Aug 2025

From £2639

Princess Alaska and The Rocky Mountaineer Train-Westbound 2024

From £2789.

The Majestic Canada Rockies and Pristine Alaska (2024)

From £3239.

Princess Alaska and The Rocky Mountaineer Train-Westbound 2025

May 2025 - Aug 2025

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The Majestic Canada Rockies and Pristine Alaska (2025)

From £3479.

Canada Coast to Coast East Bound

From £4609.

Quebec, Montreal & Canada

From £1999.

Maiden Transatlantic Voyage to Boston with New York

From £1799.

Grand Circle USA

From £3569.

Luxury Venice Simplon-Orient-Express & 5* Med

Jul 2024 - Aug 2025

From £5669

Grand Music Circle Express Plus Nashville- No Flying

From £3399.

New York & Fort Lauderdale Beach- No Flying

From £2479.

Azamara No Fly European Voyages

From £2449.

Top 13 Train Vacations To Take Before or After Your Cruise

Cruise holidays don’t always have to start and end at the port. Tag a train vacation onto your cruise trip , and you have a rail-cruise holiday, which promises to transport you back to the golden age of travel.

So-called "rail-sail packages" allow cruise passengers to add an extra special something to their voyage and reach new horizons. Instead of simply transporting travelers from A to B, the train journey becomes a focal point of the holiday, and you can take your pick from the surprising range of rail vacations that can be twinned with cruises to stunning effect.

Here is our selection of the 13 best combinations of cruise trips and train vacations.

On This Page

• Train Vacations to The Rugged Edge of North America: Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise
• A Train Vacation Through Ecuador’s Highest Mountains: Trans-Andean Railway and Galapagos Cruise
• A Rail Vacation in Style: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Mediterranean Cruise
• Train Vacations in the USA: Memphis-New Orleans Train and Caribbean Cruise
• Train Vacations to the Arctic Circle: Oslo to Bergen by Train and Norwegian Cruise
• A Coast-to-Coast Train Vacation and Transatlantic Crossing to Britain
• High-Speed Train Vacation in Spain and Transatlantic or Mediterranean Cruise
• UK-Europe Vacation by Railway: Eurostar Across the Chunnel and River Cruises
• High-end Rail Vacation Aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, Plus Hebridean Cruise
• Pan-European Railway Vacation and Baltic Cruise Trip
• Rail Vacation Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express and Asia Cruise
• Pride of Africa Train Vacation and Cruise
• Reunification Train in Vietnam and Halong Bay or Mekong Cruise

1. Train Vacations to The Rugged Edge of North America: Rocky Mountaineer and Alaska Cruise

It's said to be the most popular rail/cruise combination for Brits, and it's easy to see why as this trip combines two of North America's great wildernesses: the rugged Rocky Mountains and the icy wilderness of Alaska.

Most travelers catch the Rocky Mountaineer train , boarding at the mountain towns of Jasper or Banff for the four-day journey across the spine of Canada to either Vancouver or Seattle before joining their cruise ship for a sailing into the heart of Alaska .

Cruises along Alaska's Inside Passage showcase this remote region's stunning backdrop, from mighty glaciers and dramatic terrain to the Gold Rush-era history of the Yukon and Russian heritage around Sitka . Of course, you can do it the other way around and save the rail vacation until after your voyage.

High points: Awe-inspiring scenery and the chance to spot bears and whales in their natural habitat.

2. A Train Vacation Through Ecuador’s Highest Mountains: Trans-Andean Railway and Galapagos Cruise

A wonderful rail-sail combo, this historic railway line that runs along the roof of Ecuador through the Andes Mountains was only restored in 2013, following a multi-million pound project that breathed new life into one of the world's most spectacular railway trips.

It stretches from Ecuador's capital Quito, connecting the Andean uplands where it rises to nearly 10,000 ft, to the Pacific Coast and the port town of Guayaquil, departure point for cruises to the Galapagos Islands . Regarded as a triumph of engineering, it originally opened in 1908, but had fallen into disrepair.

Passengers who now join the four-day railway trips travel through stunning mountainous terrain by steam train down Devil's Nose, a 262-foot cliff-face leading to the coastal plain.

From Guayaquil, travelers can sail or fly to the Galapagos Islands, the legendary archipelago famous for its rich wildlife , with several indigenous species and animals that have no fear of humans.

A number of small cruise lines offer sailings that range from a few days to two weeks and visit several islands, each one known for particular wildlife species .

High points: Unforgettable scenery, rich Ecuadorian culture and unique wildlife encounters.

Notet that several sections of the railway line are currently under construction. Train service is expected to resume later in 2023.

3. A Rail Vacation in Style: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Mediterranean Cruise

This has to be possibly the most famous rail/cruise trips. It combines an unforgettable journey through the heart of Europe aboard, arguably, the world's most famous train -- the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) -- with a cruise that allows you to visit the romantic bellowers and palazzi of Venice .

Start your vacation by railway in style from London's Victoria Station aboard the Belmond British Pullman. After traveling through the Channel Tunnel, climb aboard the restored Art Deco carriages of the VSOE in France for the picturesque overnight journey through the Alps to Venice.

From here, the delights of the Mediterranean and Adriatic coasts await, to be explored on the numerous ships that sail from different locations around the Renaissance city . Alternatively, take the VSOE as a fitting finale to your cruise trip as it follows the northwards route back to London.

High points: Reliving the glamor of the golden age of rail travel and exploring some of Europe’s top cultural gems

4. Train Vacations in the USA: Memphis-New Orleans Train and Caribbean Cruise

America's railroads lend themselves to pairings with countless cruise trips and rail departures, and this particular route showcases the heritage of the country's Deep South.

Starting in Memphis , the city linked inextricably with Elvis Presley and the growth of the Civil Rights movement, the nine-hour Amtrak train route passes through Tennessee and the Mississippi Delta region into Louisiana.

There, the houses take on a more Gallic slant, and the train rolls past the bayous and swamps this state is known for. You may even spot basking alligators and pelicans during your railway trip.

And then it's New Orleans , a city as famous for its French ambience as much as its musical vibe as the home of jazz. The location of the "Big Easy" on the banks of the Mississippi River makes it an ideal departure point for cruise trips to the Caribbean , with stops at islands including Jamaica and Grand Cayman .

High points: Musical heritage, American history and tropical hotspots.

5. Train Vacations to the Arctic Circle: Oslo to Bergen by Train and Norwegian Cruise

Ride the rails across the "Roof of Norway" on the famous Bergen Line to experience one of the most hair-raising cruise and train vacations. It isn't just one of the world's greatest train journeys ; it is also the highest line in Scandinavia, climbing across the snowy Hardangervidda mountain plateau on a 306-mile route between Oslo and Bergen .

En route it stops at Finse, which at 4,000-feet, is Northern Europe's highest mainline station. The 7.5-hour journey can easily be combined with Hurtigruten sailings from Bergen that follow Norway's coastline northwards into the Arctic Circle , with stops including Alesund , Trondheim and the Lofoten Islands .

High points: Spectacular mountainous terrain, breath-taking fjords and bountiful sea life.

6. A Coast-to-Coast Train Vacation and Transatlantic Crossing to Britain

Travel across the breadth of America on a coast-to-coast rail vacation from San Francisco to New York that lifts the curtain on America's heartlands and ends with a cruise trip across the Atlantic.

The 2,500-mile train journey takes passengers through the stark beauty of the Rocky Mountains and vastness of the Kansas plains, passing through Salt Lake City, Denver and Kansas before rolling into Chicago's Union Station on the first two-night leg.

Swap trains for the final overnight trip through Indiana and Ohio, skirting the Great Lakes before reaching Buffalo and then New York City . Travelers can spend a few nights here or head straight to the Brooklyn cruise port to catch Cunard's Queen Mary 2 for the seven-night transatlantic crossing to Southampton .

Alternatively, you can do this in reverse, sailing to New York and leaving your train holidays to the West Coast for the end.

High points: The vastness of America's hinterland, top cities and iconic transatlantic crossing.

7. High-Speed Train Vacation in Spain and Transatlantic or Mediterranean Cruise

Spain’s high-speed (AVE) train network makes it easy to hit some of the country’s top destinations in a relatively short time either before or after your cruise trip. Madrid, Barcelona , Sevilla, Granada, Toledo, Valencia and Malaga -- along with a host of other smaller cities -- are all connected via AVE and well worth a visit.

Madrid is the central point of all AVE trains, creating a star-shaped high-speed train network that gets you anywhere within two to three hours from the capital. Hence, the most time-efficient option for those who want to start with their train vacation would be to make Madrid their hub before traveling to the coast for the cruise leg of the trip.

Those looking to leave the rail vacation for the end of their holidays should disembark in either Valencia or Barcelona before traveling to Madrid, and from there on to other destinations by train.

High points: Cultural and gastronomic diversity, rich history.

8. UK-Europe Vacation by Railway: Eurostar Across the Chunnel and River Cruises

For travelers who like the ease of taking the train and avoiding flights, catching Eurostar opens up a host of cruise options.

While dedicated rail-lovers can negotiate their way across Europe to sail from Mediterranean ports , some of the most popular and convenient rail/cruise combinations involve river voyages. The quickest and easiest pairing with Eurostar are Seine itineraries , which start and end in Paris, sailing through Normandy and visiting Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny en route.

Another French spot within easy reach of Paris is Bordeaux , where cruises along the Garonne and Dordogne rivers provide a fitting taste of this rich wine region.

Beyond that, travelers can venture further on Europe’s railways, via major inter-changes at Lille and Brussels, in addition to Paris, to take river cruises along other continental waterways such as the Rhine and the Danube .

High points: The cultural and historical riches of Europe’s most famous cities.

9. High-end Rail Vacation Aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman, Plus Hebridean Cruise

This rail-cruise combination explores the Highlands and islands of Scotland in typically traditional and upscale fashion, starting with one of Britain's most iconic trains.

This is evident from the moment passengers are piped aboard the stately Royal Scotsman train at Edinburgh's Waverley Station for a two-, three- or four-night journey into the heart of the Scottish Highlands, visiting whisky distilleries, country houses, castles and gardens.

It is followed by a voyage on the upmarket Hebridean Princess ship -- chartered by Queen Elizabeth II for her 80th birthday -- on sailings to the Inner and Outer Hebrides , visiting islands such as Lewis, Skye, Stornoway and St. Kilda.

High points: Scottish traditions, Highland heritage and unspoilt scenery.

10. Pan-European Railway Vacation and Baltic Cruise Trip

Europe’s extensive railway network and lack of lengthy border controls allow travelers to move easily between countries. Whether you're looking to make the most of your time visiting every corner of a single country or hoping to explore as much as possible, the Interrail/Eurail train pass is the way to go for an inexpensive, convenient train vacation in Europe .

Passes range from one-country options to global tickets that allow travelers to hit up to 33 countries for a flat rate. Most high-speed train tickets and night trains require an additional fee, but all other trains are included in every pass.

While it is possible to cruise the Baltic Sea from a number of northern European ports, the itinerary from Amsterdam is considered one of the better options. Due to the city’s central location in the region, cruisers are able to see more and have fewer sea days than if they were to embark in, say, Southampton .

Most Baltic cruises include ports of call such as Tallinn , Stockholm , Oslo , Rotterdam and Copenhagen . Some also offer day trips to Helsinki from Tallinn.

High points: Flexible travel, unique architecture, rich culture.

11. Rail Vacation Aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express and Asia Cruise

The sister of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers similarly high standards as it travels between the tropical terrain of Bangkok and Singapore , and arguably a more exotic rail/sail experience.

The three-night railway trip from the Thai capital takes passengers through paddy fields and past grazing water buffalo before stopping at the River Kwai, scene of the notorious wartime Death Railway.

It continues through Malaysia's tropical hinterland, stopping at Butterworth for a visit to Penang Island before reaching Singapore. The city-state is a popular starting and finishing point for Asia cruises , making the train ride an easy option to slot on to sailings.

Many ships departing Singapore offer cruise trips along the coast of Thailand and Vietnam, while longer voyages sail southwards to Indonesia and onwards to Australia.

High points: An evocative taste of the tropical hinterland, rich history and coastal beauty.

Note that The Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express is currently not operating. Service is expected to resume in late 2023.

12. Pride of Africa Train Vacation and Cruise

This cruise and rail vacation means travel through some of Africa's most compelling landscapes on the Pride of Africa train that transports passengers back to its 1920s heyday and the halcyon age of rail travel. Passengers can relax in the teak-finished restored Pullman-style carriages on various routes across the southern part of the continent.

The journeys between Pretoria and Cape Town , Dar es Salaam and Namibia showcase the region's national parks and wildlife along with the picturesque beauty of South Africa's Garden Route and the magnificence of Victoria Falls.

A growing number of cruises depart from Cape Town, and occasionally from Dar es Salaam, for sailings to the Indian Ocean, along the African coast or further afield.

High points: Unbeatable wildlife, fascinating African tribal culture and natural icons.

13. Reunification Train in Vietnam and Halong Bay or Mekong Cruise

A journey on Vietnam’s Reunification Express Train is an experience in itself. It’s definitely not for everyone, but adventurous travelers seeking a low-cost vacation by railway will enjoy the train’s atmosphere and side-trip options.

The 1,072-mile journey follows the coast almost all the way from Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) to Hanoi . If you don’t get off, the trip can take anywhere between 33 and 36 hours, but taking it slow and enjoying the gorgeous towns and beaches along the way is the way to go if you have some extra time.

Once in Hanoi, change trains to Halong Bay for a day or overnight cruise in this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is also possible to combine the train vacation with a Mekong River cruise instead of, or in addition to, the Halong Bay trip.

High points: Changing landscapes, with lively cities and natural wonders.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

9 great vacations that combine a cruise and a train trip

Editor's Note

Some people can think of nothing better than spending every moment of their vacation time on a cruise. Others dream only of train trips.

There are also people who love both modes of travel so much that they have a tough time deciding which to choose for a getaway.

If you want the best of both worlds — a "train cruise," if you will — we have some good news: You don't have to choose between the two types of trips. You can arrange vacations that combine the best of cruising with the best of train travel.

Most commonly called cruise-and-rail trips, many aren't even official pairings. That is, you'll have to book the cruise portion and the train portion separately, as few companies sell them together as a package. (Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is one line that does. See below for details.)

But don't worry about that too much. You'll be able to find a travel agent to work out the logistics for you.

The more significant issue you'll face is deciding which stunning part of the world with train corridors and cruise ship-plied waters you should focus on for a cruise-and-rail adventure.

We can help. Here are our picks for nine of the most spectacular cruise-and-rail combination trips.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter.

An Alaska cruise with the Rocky Mountaineer

One of the great hubs for Alaska cruises , the port of Vancouver, British Columbia, is also the gateway for one of the most scenic train experiences in North America: a two-day ride through the Canadian Rockies on the Rocky Mountaineer. As a result, travelers can easily combine the two experiences into an extended cruise-rail vacation.

Fans of trains and ships can board the Rocky Mountaineer in Banff or Jasper, Alberta, for a one- or two-day journey through the mountains to the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station in Vancouver, British Columbia. From there, it's just a seven-minute cab ride to the Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal, where vessels operated by Princess Cruises , Holland America Line , Royal Caribbean International and several other lines depart on seven-night trips to Alaska.

Expect to see soaring mountains, forests and wildlife — and learn a little about Gold Rush-era history — during both parts of the trip. The Alaska cruise portion also will include stops in small port towns, such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

Read more: The 6 coolest things to do on an Alaska cruise

An Alaska cruise with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

Are you looking for a shorter train experience to tie into an Alaska cruise? Consider signing up for a daytrip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway as your shore excursion when visiting the small Alaska port town on a cruise.

A ride into the mountains on this narrow-gauge railroad is the "tour that everybody does" when visiting the Gold Rush town turned tourist hub — and for a good reason. It offers an easy way to venture deep into the great Alaskan outdoors.

Personally, I'm a fan of more active excursions in Skagway. But, for someone who isn't going to hike, bike, horseback ride or raft their way through the wilderness around the town (there are tours for all of those things, too), a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railway is one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the area's classic Alaskan scenery.

From the comfort of a vintage rail car, you'll take in stunning views of mountains, gorges, glacial rivers and waterfalls as you climb nearly 3,000 feet to the summit of White Pass — the headwaters of the mighty Yukon River. Designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the 20-mile route is a marvel in its own right; it has improbably steep grades at times and segments that pass over soaring wooden trestles and around tight, cliff-hanging curves.

A Mediterranean cruise with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

You'll want to pack a copy of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" for this combination trip. It pairs an overnight ride from Paris to Venice on the train that Christie made famous — the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express — with a Mediterranean cruise out of Venice (if you're sailing a small ship cruise line like Windstar , Sea Cloud Cruises or Uniworld). If your cruise is aboard a larger vessel with lines like Seabourn Cruise Line , MSC Cruises and Oceania Cruises , you'll likely sail out of other nearby ports, such as Ravenna or Marghera.

Read more: Big cruise ships may say goodbye to the classic Venice sail-away

Now owned by U.K. luxury hospitality company Belmond, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express features restored art deco carriages. You can view the heart of Europe as the train travels southward from Paris through the Alps to Italy before your cruise. Or, you can save the train portion of your trip for the end of your vacation and ride the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in reverse. You can also extend the trip with an add-on train ride between Paris and London.

From Venice, the cruise portion of the trip can take you to Adriatic ports such as Dubrovnik, Croatia; or it can bring you to the Greek islands or western Italy, France and Spain, depending on which vessel you pick. Several ships sail out of the region around Venice each year.

Read more: Orient-Express debuts new, dream-worthy European routes

An Asia cruise with the Eastern & Oriental Express

Like Europe's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Southeast Asia-focused Eastern & Oriental Express is owned by U.K.-based hospitality company Belmond. It will take you on a multi-day rail journey through the region that can be paired with an Asia cruise for an epic cruise-rail adventure.

Routes of the scenic luxury train include a three-night round-trip journey from Singapore. When you return, you can hop on one of several dozen cruise vessels that call the city-state home at various times during the year.

Onboard the Eastern & Oriental Express — which features elegant green and gold carriages — you'll find magnificent interiors adorned with cherry wood paneling, Thai silks and Malaysian embroidery. The train's routes will take you past lush jungles, paddy fields, ancient temples and quaint villages.

Cruise lines departing from Singapore include Celebrity Cruises , Regent Seven Seas and Royal Caribbean. Itineraries often visit coastal destinations in Thailand and Vietnam; some venture farther afield to Indonesia or even as far as Australia.

A Norway cruise with the Bergen Railway

The Bergen Railway, known as the Bergensbanen to the locals, will take you across the mountainous "Roof of Norway" from Oslo to Bergen. From Bergen, you can catch a cruise along the scenic coast with such lines as Hurtigruten or Viking .

Expect stunning mountain scenery on both legs of the trip. The seven-hour railway portion of the adventure taking you across the snowy Hardangervidda mountain plateau. Stretching just more than 300 miles, the Bergen Railway route is the highest in all of Northern Europe and will bring you stunning views of mountains, forests, fjords, waterfalls and rivers. A marvel of engineering, it'll take you through 180 tunnels and make stops at some of the highest train depots in Europe.

From Bergen, cruise vessels can deliver you up the Norwegian coast to fairytale lands like Alesund and the mountainous and glacier-carved Lofoten archipelago.

Read more: 9 mistakes travelers make on their first train trips

A Mekong River cruise with Vietnam Reunification Express

Vietnam's North-South Railway Line is often referred to as Vietnam Reunification Express. Built by the French and completed in 1936, the rail system linked Hanoi with Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) until 1954, when the country was divided into north and south. The line was restored in 1975 when Vietnam gained independence, and it's a testament to the country's resilience and unification. Several trains run daily.

The journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City can take 32 to 37 hours. Along the way, the train rolls through rice fields, fishing villages, a dense jungle and bustling neighborhoods.

You can book a seat or sleeper, both "soft" or "hard" options. Soft accommodations are more comfortable, thanks to roomy cushioned beds and plush chairs. Hard seats and sleepers are smaller and lack cushions (though sleepers come with pillows and blankets). Passengers can visit the restaurant car or get a snack or freshly prepared meal from one of the food trolleys when it comes around.

A number of lines ply the Mekong, departing from Ho Chi Minh City. Among them are AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Abercrombie & Kent and Scenic. Itineraries might include visits to Phnom Penh's Royal Palace and ancient temples like Angkor Wat and Wat Nokor in Cambodia.

A Caribbean cruise with Amtrak

Beginning in Chicago, Amtrak 's Chicago-to-New Orleans route traverses 900 miles through Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee within roughly 19 hours. In Chicago, stroll along the Riverwalk or through Millennium Park, and visit the Art Institute of Chicago.

The journey ends at the Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, just about a 10-minute cab or Uber ride from the Port of New Orleans. Before your cruise, enjoy an overnight stay in the Big Easy with time to explore the National World War II Museum, the French Quarter and Louis Armstrong Park.

Carnival Cruise Lines , Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean offer four- to 11-night round-trip sailings to the Caribbean . They might include port calls to the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Aruba and the Dominican Republic.

A luxury Cruise & Rail itinerary with Uniworld

Unlike many lines that offer separate pre- or post-cruise rail tours you can add to your sailing, Uniworld's Cruise & Rail itineraries include them automatically. The upscale line partners with luxury train companies Golden Eagle Luxury Trains and the Maharajas' Express to create a seamless, high-end, river-to-rail travel experience.

With six itineraries to choose from, travelers can opt for 15-, 16- and 19-night trips that visit Venice, Italy; Milan; Istanbul; Nuremberg, Germany; Mumbai; and New Delhi.

For example, the 15-day Grand Alpine & Enchanting Danube itinerary takes travelers down the iconic Danube River on S.S. Maria Theresa. You'll visit Vienna and Budapest before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express for a weeklong rail journey with stops in Zurich, Milan and Venice.

Travelers on the 16-day Sacred Ganges & The Maharajas' Express begin their trip with seven nights on board Ganges Voyager II, traveling through the bucolic villages lining India's Ganges River. The rail portion begins in Mumbai and includes stops in Jodhpur, Jaipur and New Delhi.

A train trip on a cruise ship ... sort of

Passengers sailing on Utopia of the Seas can have a unique rail experience and upscale dining at sea. Royal Caribbean's new and final Oasis Class ship will launch in July 2024. At the time of writing, the line has yet to release full details about the new Royal Railway - Utopia Station. However, what we know about this tech-forward, train-inspired restaurant is very exciting.

The "locomotive" will carry guests to "any place and time," thanks to LED screens in the windows and onboard performers sharing the train-inspired storyline. After imbibing pre-dinner drinks on the station platform, passengers will hear a train whistle sound, signaling diners to board. Throughout the immersive experience, passengers enjoy a multicourse dinner.

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Review: Rail Cruise America in St. Louis

By Sean Hixson - Photo courtesy of RailCruise America // August 1, 2004

Born in 1917, my grandmother fondly recalls the days when travel in and out of St. Louis was done on rails. She rode the streetcars to and from work, to and from shopping and to and from anywhere too far to walk. As a kid, she and her family would flee North Grand on summer weekends, taking the open-air trolley through the country backwoods of undeveloped St. Louis County to the leisure of Creve Coeur Lake.

During World War II, she remembers city-to-city trains being so crowded that some people had to stand. En route to Milwaukee in 1942, she recalled a young soldier and his girl (not her) unable to keep their hands to themselves, and the soldier earnestly asking the girl, “Now, what’s your name?” She remembers and misses St. Louis’ trains, trolleys and streetcars, particularly their romance.

Today, save imperfect Metrolink and inadequate Amtrak, passenger trains are gone from our town, right? Read on, Grandma.

The look … Third-generation railroader and RailCruise chairman Ed Boyce Jr. loves trains. Throughout the last few decades, he has purchased eight vintage passenger cars, thoroughly refitting them inside and out. If his sleek, green train were at HO scale, it’d be a model railroader’s dream. It looks exactly like a passenger train should.

Before boarding, passengers are warmly greeted by the conductor on a red carpet. The authentic interiors are ornately appointed in warm mahogany and black walnut, with hunter greens and golds coloring the carpet, walls and seating.

The train length and configurations vary, but all passenger cars feature huge windows with views of the passing cityscape or countryside. The Columbia River and Mississippi River dome cars feature 360-degree-views in the glass-enclosed upper dome. The Cuivre River and Osage River units are windowed single-level dining cars. The Charrette Creek car includes a complete bar and dance floor. Reminiscent of an upscale hotel lobby, the Missouri River unit boasts a large observation deck with leather- and cloth-upholstered club seats.

The scene … Think of it as a 1,100-foot-long, 9.5-foot-wide, white-linen-tablecloth, candlelit restaurant on rails, with unique, ever-changing views.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the City Skyline excursion departs Union Station and travels north through the city and across the river. While the city sights are very familiar, the perspectives are new. The train continues on to the river’s east bank, traversing through Madison County and the old historic riverfront. In the summertime, you’ll see an overwhelming amount of green from the flora along the track. Ignore the garish Casino Queen. This three-hour trip attracts mostly 40-year-old-plus couples, many celebrating special occasions.

On Sunday mornings, the Mississippi River Run departs to Kimmswick, heading west through the city then south, returning through Carondelet Park. The trip includes quaint views of city neighborhoods and spectacular scenery of river bluffs and the Mississippi River itself, which at times is no more than 10 feet away. I swear I saw Huck and Jim on their raft. This six-hour trip (three in Kimmswick) attracts mostly the antiquing set. If you like hand-made jewelry, tea and red hats, this trip is for you.

On both excursions, passengers mostly stay in their seats, but I encourage exploration of the train, particularly relaxing in the roomy Missouri River unit. The dress code for all trips is business casual.

RailCruise offers other excursions as well. About every month, grow a funny mustache, and try your hand at playing Hercule Poirot when a local theater company offers an interactive comedy/mystery. For more excursion details, visit www.railcruiseamerica.com.

The products … Executive chef Michael Slay knows his way around the kitchen. On my trips, I heard nothing but high praise for the meals. Zero complaints. Impressive for having a moving, limited kitchen.

The dinner excursions include a three-course (salad, entrée and dessert) meal. Passengers chose seasonally varying entrées, like prime pork rib roast and salmon, prior to departure. Appetizers such as shrimp cocktail or lobster ravioli also vary by season and are available à la carte. Order drinks at the cash bar or through your server. Obviously, storage space is limited, but the full bar offers the usual beer and spirit choices. The small wine list covers the bases with a few reds, whites and sparklings, available by the glass or bottle.

Service was topnotch, with the wait staff enthusiastically describing what was outside our window and inside on our plates.

Upon first glance, prices seem steep, but keep in mind, you’re paying for more than the food. Pricing starts at $35 per person for The Cocktail Club (dinner not included) and $79 for a dinner parlor seat. Prices then head north depending on your desired view or privacy.

The straight 411 … For a moving (literally), sophisticatedly old-school evening or afternoon with atypical views of our river and our town, all aboard RailCruise.

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Add a Luxury Train to a Cruise for a Rail and Sail Vacation

If a weeklong cruise isn’t enough, why not combine it with a luxury train adventure and create the trip of a lifetime.

This isn’t a new concept. Rail-and-sail vacations have been quietly available for years. When combined with a cruise, a pre- or post-cruise train trip offers a chance to explore territory that simply can’t be seen from a cruise ship. Or even a car. Travel overnight or try a day trip for a truly unique experience. 

Take a Luxury Train Trip Before or After Your Cruise

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Travel by train past snowcapped mountains and sleepy picturesque villages while nestled in your luxurious accommodations. Settle into a plush lounge chair in a vintage glass-domed observation car. Indulge your palate with fine dining, complimentary cocktails and meet other train enthusiasts bound for a new experience.

If this sounds intriguing, here are some of the most popular rail trips around the world to enhance your cruise vacation.

Explore the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer

If a visit to Alaska is on your wish-list, chances are you’ve thought about an Alaska cruise. This means one of three options:  a northbound or southbound cruise between Anchorage and Seattle or Vancouver. Or an Inside Passage cruise round-trip from either Seattle or Vancouver.

Stay longer and explore more. Combine an Alaska cruise with a luxury train ride with Rocky Mountaineer. Ride the rails deep into the awe-inspiring Canadian Rocky Mountains. 

The gleaming navy and gold rail cars slowly meander past some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Board the Rocky Mountaineer train in Vancouver for a choice of a simple one- to an amazing 14-night luxury train adventure. With four train routes to choose, there are dozens of post- or pre-cruise itineraries.

Onboard Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer offers two classes of service; GoldLeaf or SilverLeaf. As someone who’s tried both classes, if your budget allows, go with GoldLeaf. As you travel through the Canadian Rockies, you’ll spend the overnight in world-famous hotels, not on the train. In the early morning, re-board your train and travel deeper into the mountains through areas not reachable by car. A full breakfast is served as the train leaves the station.

The train rarely exceeds 35 m.p.h. allowing passengers in GoldLeaf ton step outside onto an old-fashioned roomy outdoor platform. Great for taking photos and spotting wildlife. Those in SilverLeaf have an a very small outside area, just enough room for two or three guests at a time.

For example, embark on the seven-night round-trip rail journey from Vancouver and visit the charming city of Kamloops, then onto Banff, the Columbia Icefield, gaze across sparkling Lake Louise and spend time wandering the ski mecca of Banff.

READ MORE:   Rocky Mountaineer Adds New Luxury Train in Colorado

See More of Alaska Onboard the Historic Alaska Railroad 

Speaking of Alaska, there’s no better way to begin or end your Alaska cruise than to ride the Alaska Railroad. To do this, you’ll need to plan either a northbound or southbound cross-gulf Alaska cruise. These unique cruises embark or disembarking in the port towns of Whittier or Seward.

From either port, it’s a short jaunt from your ship to the train. In fact, some cruise lines include a ride on the Alaska Railroad with their cruise-tour packages.

Similar to Rocky Mountaineer, there are two classes of service on the Alaska Railroad; Adventure Class for the budget-minded or Goldstar Service. Goldstar Service operates much the same as its Canadian cousin with spacious leather/fabric seats upstairs and full-service dining downstairs. 

Conversely, cruise passengers can begin an Alaska tour in Fairbanks and board the Alaska Railroad for the ride south all the way to Seward or Whittier. Spend a few days in Denali National Park, a night in rustic Talkeetna, and a couple of days in cosmopolitan Anchorage. 

Then re-board the train to reach your embarkation port for your southbound cruise. Same is possible in reverse for a northbound cross-gulf cruise from Seattle or Vancouver. 

Down to the Delta

If a river cruise in the United States is on your to-do list, hop aboard an authentic paddle wheeler and ply the Mississippi River. You can step back in time on a severn-night cruise between New Orleans and Memphis. 

Try a round-trip Mississippi river cruise from New Orleans or choose from a variety of itineraries as long as they include Memphis or New Orleans. A Mississippi River cruise combines history, regional cuisine and an antebellum experience.

For more southern charm, design your rail and sail vacation with a ride aboard Amtrak’s famous City of New Orleans train . While not actually a luxury train, the City of New Orleans more than makes up for it in history and nostalgia. This legendary train route runs between the Big Easy and Chicago with Memphis in the middle. 

Meet fellow train enthusiasts in the Sightseer Lounge car or in the dining car. As you roll past “houses, farms and fields” it’s easy to remember singer/songwriter Steve Goodman’s City of New Orleans song. Try to get the song out of your head as you travel past fields of wheat, corn and snowy cotton gently waving in the wind.

Whether you choose to ride the City of New Orleans before or after your Mississippi river cruise, this one-night train journey offers tranquil scenery and a glimpse of rural America that can only be viewed from a train.

Across Canada by Train on VIA Rail Canadian

On my Canada and New England and Alaska cruises, I’ve met rail and sail passengers who ended their cruise with a cross-Canada train trip. With convenient departures from Vancouver or Toronto, it’s easy to begin a luxury train ride aboard the Canadian on Canada’s ViaRail train network. A really great idea if you have the time and money.

ViaRail’s most famous four-day route winds its way in either direction between Toronto and Vancouver. If you want to go coast-to-coast, you’ll have to connect in Toronto to Montreal on a day train. Then continue on a one-night ride to Halifax, in Nova Scotia.

Romance, Mystery and Agatha Christie

Mention the Orient Express and it usually conjures up visions of intrigue along the rails in foreign lands. A resurgence and new affordability of luxury train travel, you can experience an adventure that was once available only to the rich and famous.

Add the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express onto a Mediterranean cruise from Venice. Board or depart from Berlin or Budapest. Add a London departure after a transatlantic crossing to England. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the epitome of a rail and sail combination.

Travel back in time and journey across Europe in your cozy bedroom in original 1920’s carriages. The train runs in both directions (seasonally, from March to November), so you can embark on your journey before or after your cruise.

If you’d like a very special finale to your Mediterranean cruise, board the vintage train in Venice. Embark on a five-day journey across Europe, an adventure that includes two nights in Budapest. 

Then mainline from Budapest to Paris and, after crossing the Channel, board the luxury British Pullman train for a short jaunt into London…or vice versa. This itinerary could be the most once-in-a-lifetime rail adventure aboard one of the world’s most famous trains.

Train Travel Down Under

Australia offers so much more than can be seen while on a cruise. No one should fly all the way to Australia for a one- or two-week cruise. If you’re going the distance, consider adding on one of two luxurious cross-continent train trips to your itinerary.

Complete your visit to Sydney with a first-class 3-night journey aboard the historic Indian Pacific. Travel some 2,700 miles between Sydney and Perth in the comfort of your own cabin. Along the route you’ll cross the famous Nullarbor Palin. At nearly 300 miles in length, brags the longest stretch of straight track in the world.

Australia’s other historic luxury train, the Ghan , runs between Adelaide in the south to northern Darwin on the Indian Ocean. This is the route if Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock) are on your list of iconic travel sights. In my opinion, no trip to Australia is complete without the breathtaking experience of watching the sunrise over the magnificent red rock mountain of Uluru.

If time allows, you can even leave the train to spend an overnight or two at these points of interest. Rejoin the train to continue on to Adelaide. From there, you can transfer to the eastbound Indian Pacific train back to Sydney.

More Luxury Trains Around the World for a Rail and Sail Vacation

No matter which luxury train you choose, it’s a great way to begin or end a fabulous cruise. And these are just the tip of the luxury train iceberg. There’s the Golden Eagle – a luxury version of the Trans-Siberian Express from Moscow to Vladivostok. Take the elite Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa and have your own bathtub in your compartment!

READ MORE:  How to take Amtrak to any cruise port in the USA

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Patagonian Rail & Cruise

Trip synopsis.

Patagonia is undeniably one of the most charming places in the world, with gorgeous vistas at every turn, paths unspoiled by the masses, soaring snow-capped peaks, glistening glaciers and countless lakes of varying colors. The Chilean Patagonia consist of an impassable fjord landscape, so the very south of the country can be reached only by boat or by crossing Argentine territory. The Argentinean Patagonia are vast plains of unspoiled pampa beneath the snow-capped Andean mountain range towering in the distant west.

Patagonia’s unusual geography makes our Tour an extraordinary adventure trip. You will travel on trains, ferries and private vehicles to experience one of the most scenic and breathtaking routes in the world. We’ll conclude our tour with a spectacular five-day cruise around South America’s southern tip, the Cape Horn. 

Our Patagonian journey begins in Santiago de Chile, where we’ll explore Chile’s capital city and the surrounding region. At Santiago’s Alameda Railway Station, we will embark on our trip by train to Talca, where we’ll change trains and take the historical train from Talca to Constitucion.

The next leg of our journey carries us on “Carretera Austral” from Puerto Montt to Chaiten. We must cross various fjords on a ferry before reaching Chaiten. We will then continue on the scenic road across the Andes via Futaleufu to Esquel in Argentina. Esquel is the home of the famous train “Old Patagonian Express,” also known as “La Trochita.” Our journey continues to Bariloche, from which we do the famous "Cruze Andino" back to Puerto Varas in Chile. We continue flying southward to Puerto Natales to see the spectacular National Park Torres del Paine. 

We will spend the last leg of our tour on a small expedition cruise vessel traveling for five days in one of the most remote parts of South America, from Punta Arenas around Cape Horn to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Our last train trip is on the Southern Fuegian Railway, perhaps better known as ”El Tren del Fin del Mundo,” the southernmost railway in the world. 

• Day 1 : Arrival at Santiago de Chile
• Day 2: City Tour, Santiago de Chile
• Day 3: Train Limache - Valparaiso
• Day 4: Train to Concepción via Talca
• Day 5: Concepción- Puerto Varas
• Day 6: Osorno Volcano ‍
• Day 7: Carretera Austral to Lake Yelcho ‍
• Day 8: Lake Yelcho - Futaleufu - Esquel ‍
• Day 9: Old Patagonian Express - Bariloche ‍
• Day 10: Bariloche ‍
• Day 11: Andean crossing Bariloche - Puerto Varas ‍
• Day 12: Flight Puerto Montt - Torres del Paine ‍
• Day 13: Torres del Paine National Park ‍
• Day 14: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales
• Day 15:  Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas
• Day 16:  City Tour, Punta Arenas ‍
• Day 17:  Punta Arenas & Check in Australis Cruise ‍
• Day 18: Australis Cruise around Cape Horn ‍
• Day 19: Australis Cruise around Cape Horn ‍
• Day 20: Australis Cruise around Cape Horn ‍ ‍
• ‍ Day 21: Ushuaia Fuegian Railway ‍
• Day 22:  Departure from Ushuaia

Price including the Cape Horn Cruise:

Pricing is based on two persons traveling together and sharing a bedroom, starting at USD 13'900 per person ‍

Single Room Supplement: From $3'308 per person

When you book any 2022 journey, enjoy flexible payment terms with no change fees on your tour cost. For all 2022 bookings, final payment will not be due until 60 days before departure – giving you more time and flexibility should your plans change.

If your 2022 plans do change due to COVID any time up until the day of departure, your full deposit (or tour payment) can be applied to a future Rail South America journey of your choice. Be assured that you’ll also have choices in the event Rail South America cannot operate your journey’s departure date. We’ll give you flexible options to travel on another 2022 or 2023 date – or, if you wish, on a different journey. And if you decide that the time is not right for you to travel, we’ll refund your full tour cost. ‍

Please Note : These flexible payment terms apply to 2021/22 journeys only; deposit must be made at the time of booking.

• Full support before, during & after your trip
• Meals during travel portions of the tour
• Accommodation at 3-4* hotels
• Tours/activities as mentioned
• The cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia
• Domestic flights in Economy Class
• English-speaking Tour Leader
• English-speaking local guides
• One piece of luggage, up to 23 kg (50 lb) per person
• International flight to Santiago and out of Ushuaia.
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Entrance visas when applicable
• Other services not mentioned
• Tips and gratuities to guides and driver
• Personal Expenses

Interested?

Interested in participating in this tour? I would be delighted to have you join us on this trip! Please reserve your seat using the reservation form.

Rail South America hosts world-class small-group tours utilizing rail travel whenever possible to discover the most renowned, unique, and unforgettable destinations in South America.

Find Your Perfect Alaska Cruisetour

Combine your cruise with a train trip and up to 3 nights at Denali National Park or go into the Yukon with a guide.

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Extend your cruise and venture on land deep into Alaska and the Yukon. How many total days do you have to travel (cruise days + tour days)?

Every cruisetour includes accommodations at our McKinley Chalet Resort at the gates of Denali National Park. How long would you like to stay?

Your perfect cruisetour is...

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Amazing Historic Photos Of America’s Railroads

Posted: February 29, 2024 | Last updated: February 29, 2024

A train trip through time

As America expanded into the Wild West, settlers were transported by a technological advance that changed the face of America: the railroad. Railways would eventually cross both country and continent, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and helping transform America into the global superpower that it is today.   

Click through this gallery to journey back in time to the nation’s first locomotive, steam through the Golden Age of Rail and terminate once again in the present day...

1830: The first steam locomotive

A tiny steam locomotive nicknamed Tom Thumb made history on two counts. In 1829, it was the first steam locomotive built in the USA, crafted by an inventor named Peter Cooper. The following year, legend holds that it carried the directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on a test race against a horse-drawn carriage, reaching a top speed of 18 miles per hour and proving the potential of steam-powered rail travel. Though the original engine was scrapped, a replica was built in 1927 and is pictured here recreating the famous race.

1830: America’s first passenger line

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad originally relied on horses to pull its trains, but it became the first American railroad to switch to locomotives in 1830 – although the tracks didn’t actually reach Ohio until 1852. A branch line reached Washington DC in 1835 and the first train into the capital was the Atlantic, a replica of which is pictured here carrying double-decker carriages. The Atlantic was among the first commercially viable locomotives as it boasted superior coal-burning efficiency compared to earlier models.

1862: The railways go to war

By 1860, the United States had more than 30,000 miles of rails, and when the Civil War broke out it became the world’s first railway war. Trains could rapidly transport troops and supplies to the frontline, so soldiers systematically destroyed rails, bridges and rolling stock to hinder the enemy. The rail line near the federal armory at Harper’s Ferry (pictured here during the war) came under repeated attack.

1865: Reconstruction

By the end of the Civil War America's railways, like the rest of the nation, required reconstruction. The South was particularly badly affected, partly because Confederate saboteurs destroyed their own lines to try to halt the Union advance. Repairs were often hastily carried out by military engineers, as with this bridge on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Photographed in 1865, the bridge is just about being supported by a rudimentary-looking patch. Thanks to this sort of work, lines could sometimes be back up and running within hours of an enemy attack.

1869: The first transcontinental railroad

Soon, the railways were expanding even more quickly than they had before the Civil War. After peace was declared, work accelerated on the biggest civil engineering project America had ever seen – the transcontinental railroad. Stretching from Omaha in Nebraska to Sacramento in California, the 1,776-mile  line was built by speedy track-laying crews who were incentivized to lay one to two miles of track per day. Laborers worked in all weathers to ensure the work was completed in a timely fashion.

1869: The golden spike

On May 10, 1869, the railway's eastern and western construction crews met in the middle, on a patch of high ground in Utah known as Promontory Summit. Here, the management of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads met for a celebration (pictured) and drove a ceremonial golden spike into the ground to mark the exact point the tracks touched. From now on, Americans could travel from sea to shining sea by a single mode of transport: the railway.

1870s: A diverse workforce

Thanks to shortages in manpower after the carnage of the Civil War, railroad construction crews lacked a steady supply of cheap labor. The solution came from overseas. Irish immigrants on the East Coast regularly moved inland to find jobs laying rails, while in the west often poorly-treated Chinese migrants were a cheap solution. More than 10,000 Chinese laborers helped to build the first northern transcontinental line. Here Chinese laborers work their way along the Northwest Pacific Railway on a handcar, sometime in the 1870s or 1880s.

1876: Extraordinary engineering

When the Union Pacific Railroad reached the seemingly impassable Dale Creek, Wyoming in 1868, they initially breached the gap with a wooden trestle bridge – but it was a rickety structure. Two carpenters fell from the bridge to their deaths, and it swayed alarmingly when trains passed over it. In 1876 the original crossing was replaced by an iron bridge, pictured here in 1885. The spindly legs did a much better job of holding up the tracks, although trains still had to slow to 4 miles per hour when crossing.

1877: Rail riots

Railway work was poorly paid and dangerous, but that didn’t stop bosses trying to squeeze wages even lower. In 1877, workers snapped and went on strike and the heavy-handed government response was to send in the troops. The deaths of 20 strikers in Pittsburgh helped cause a riot that targeted railway property. The damage was substantial – as seen in this picture of the destruction at the Pennsylvania Railroad Roundhouse – but the riots eventually petered out and the strikers were forced to return to work with no pay rise.

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1880s: Rail empires

By the 1880s, industrialists like Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt and JP Morgan made fortunes by sinking vast sums of money into railroads and slowly gaining a monopoly on rail travel. Small, regional lines were consolidated into giant rail empires headed by men whose astonishing wealth and sometimes-questionable business practices meant they became known as 'robber barons.' Lines continued to expand as money was pumped into new track and infrastructure, like the new bridge crossing over the Green River in Washington, pictured here in 1885.

1885: The death of canals

The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company had transported coal in New York State since 1828, but by the 1870s water transport was slow and unprofitable. Instead, the managers of the D&H transitioned into rail transport. By 1885, when this photograph was taken in the Drake Street engine house in New York, the company’s rail lines stretched across the state and beyond, and it abandoned the obsolete canal in 1898.

1886: Frontier wars

The westward migration of white settlers into the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains brought them into conflict with the Native American tribes that had lived there for millennia. Transcontinental railroads became a target for native raids, but trains helped the US Army respond quickly to attacks and brutally subjugate the tribes who fought to defend their lands and way of life. Here, Chiricahua Apache prisoners including famous native leader Geronimo are pictured outside a rail car in 1886, on a journey from Texas to Florida as part of a forced relocation.

1887: 'Hell on Wheels'

As the railroads passed through long stretches of empty plain, construction crews carried everything with them to ensure work continued in often hostile environments. Track-layers lived in tent communities that followed the rails, accompanied by pop-up saloons, dance halls, gambling houses and brothels. The owners of these lawless establishments were keen to separate the workers from their wages, and the itinerant communities soon garnered the nickname 'Hell on Wheels.' This image shows the construction of a railroad in Montana in 1887.

1890s: Going up

While rail tracks encroached further and further into the Wild West, railways were also taking over the cities of the East Coast, and to keep their urban footprint as small as possible engineers built into the sky. New York’s first elevated railway opened in 1878, and it was joined by Chicago’s first (pictured here) in 1892. Known as 'els,' these raised tracks arrived in Boston in 1901 and in Philadelphia in 1907. The high-rise rails were not to everyone’s tastes, however, and many were later pulled down to be replaced with underground subways.

1894: The Pullman Strike

Railway building proved so lucrative in the 1880s that almost every mogul got in on the action, but the bubble burst in 1893 when a financial crisis rocked Wall Street and many railroads went bankrupt. Workers felt the brunt of the pain again and it pushed many to go out on strike. The government backed big business over the workers and sent in the troops to protect railway property, like the soldiers here patrolling the Rock Island Railroad in Illinois.

1895: Electrification

By the end of the 19th century, steam trains were becoming a public enemy in city halls across the country and several towns and cities attempted to crack down on smoke levels. The eventual solution was the electrification of metropolitan railways and tramways. The Baltimore and Ohio became the first line to use electrical passenger trains in a three-mile stretch of tunnel in 1895 (pictured here in 1896). Electrification came at significant cost and required all-new rolling stock, so it would take many more years to become the industry standard.

1896: Welcome to Miami

The railroads gave birth to several cities that wouldn't otherwise exist in their current form. The Florida East Coast Railway was initially supposed to run from Jacksonville to Palm Beach, but bosses decided to extend it another 75 miles south to Miami, then a sleepy fishing village with a population of 300. In 1896, this train was one of the first to steam into Miami, kickstarting the city’s rapid growth into one of America’s most popular vacation destinations.

1900s: The golden age of rail travel

The dawn of the 20th century saw the beginning of a period now known as the golden age of rail travel in the USA. Profits boomed as the railways reached a peak of 254,251 miles of track in 1916, while wealthy first-class travelers enjoyed unprecedented levels of luxury. Pictured around 1905, this passenger is enjoying a comfortable bunk in a sleeper carriage.

1906: A pillar of the economy

The railway industry didn’t just prop up the American economy by transporting passengers and goods – it employed millions of Americans too, both on the railroads themselves and in allied industries. By 1906 the Baldwin Locomotive Works (pictured here some years later) employed 17,000 people working round-the-clock shifts and had the capacity to produce 2,500 new locomotives a year.

1910: Going underground

Building railroads through the wilderness was challenging, but squeezing them into fast-growing cities on the coasts came with an entirely different set of problems – mainly a lack of space. In New York, passengers on the Pennsylvania Railroad terminated their journeys west of the Hudson River and had to get a ferry into Manhattan. That inconvenience ended in 1910 with the completion of a tunnel under the Hudson and Penn Station, pictured here during construction. On opening, a thousand trains flooded into the station every weekday.

1917: Government takeover

By 1917, the American railroad system was beginning to show its age – and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. The USA had just joined the First World War, and rail infrastructure was going to be vital for troop mobilization and transporting supplies. The government stepped in by temporarily nationalizing the railroads, pouring money into updating and standardizing tracks, stations and rolling stock. Three years later the railroads were transferred back into private hands, although the government retained an increased level of oversight.

1930s: Planes, trains and automobiles

During the interwar years the railroad industry faced increased competition from two fast-growing modes of transportation: road vehicles and planes. While the government hampered railroad operation with red tape and regulation, it also aided the competition by pouring vast sums into highways and airports. As trucks began transporting freight, and cars, buses and planes aided the movement of people, the railways endured the Great Depression of the 1930s under a level of sustained pressure they’d never felt before.

1934: Streamlining

With competition rising, railroads needed a new innovation to fight back. They got one with streamlined trains. These rapid locomotives ran at increased speed by cutting wind resistance, made trains more efficient and cheaper to run, and helped add a modern feel to a mode of transport widely viewed as old-fashioned. For a short period in the late-1930s the 10 fastest train services in the world were all American streamliners. This image shows one of the first and fastest streamliners – the Commodore Vanderbilt, built in 1934.

1950s: A new power

Streamlined steamers were only temporarily in fashion, and by the mid-1950s a new form of engine had taken over the rails. Diesel locomotives had been around for a while, but only grew to truly dominate the rails through the late-1940s and 1950s. They were more expensive to build than steam engines, but were easier to maintain and required only one driver. The cost and reliability of diesel engines like this one on the Canadian Pacific gave rail a fighting chance in a competitive freight transport industry, and the success of diesels ultimately condemned steam locomotives to the scrapheap.

1950s: New standards of comfort

In the battle to keep commuters out of cars, railroad bosses tried to redefine the passenger experience with more comfortable carriages. The Pennsylvania Railroad spent millions on new lightweight carriages (pictured here in 1956) with lowered floors that enabled them to take corners more quickly. The only problem was that passengers hated them – the split-level stairs tripped people up and bottlenecks formed at the doors.

1960s: Turbotrains

In the late 1960s rail travel entered the jet age with a new piece of kit: the Turbotrain, pictured here in 1968. Built by an aircraft manufacturer, Turbotrains were powered by gas-turbine engines similar to those found on airliners and featured tilt technology to take corners at high speed. Despite the cutting-edge tech, Turbotrains were scrapped after only a few years thanks to increasing fuel costs during the global oil crisis.

1971: Amtrak is born

By the end of the 1960s, the railroads were in crisis once again. Many smaller railways were driven out of business thanks to the relentless expansion of car ownership, and even the bigger railroads were not immune. After the Penn Central rail company became America's biggest ever corporate bankruptcy in 1970, the government was forced to step in. The result was Amtrak, a semi-public corporation that was subsidized by taxpayers to take on several bankrupt lines and rebuild America’s aging rail infrastructure. This image shows passengers strolling beside a typical Amtrak train in New Mexico in 1974.

1980s: Rebuilding the fleet

Amtrak’s efforts to rejuvenate rolling stock and stations did not significantly boost passenger numbers, which remained relatively stable between 1980 and 2000. It had more success in reviving freight traffic, however. Restrictive regulations were binned, allowing operators to concentrate on profitable lines and alter timetables to make networks more efficient. New trains like the electric-powered AEM-7 (pictured here in 1987) became workhorses of the Amtrak fleet. Now, rail carries 40% of America’s freight – more than any other form of transport.

2024: Looking ahead

The present-day rail network continues to transport freight across the country in vast quantities. Politicians have long promised to win back passengers with announcements about high-speed lines, integrated infrastructure and modernization. But, for now, American rail seems likely to remain a freight-first business while ordinary Americans opt for their automobiles to get from A to B.

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Breaking news, work starts on america’s first high-speed train between la, las vegas that could cut travel time in half.

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The much-anticipated construction of the first high-speed passenger train between Los Angeles and Las Vegas got underway Monday — promising to ferry passengers between the two cities in half the the time it now takes to drive through the desert.

The $12 billion project is being spearheaded by Brightline West, which will lay 218 miles of track between a new terminal in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and another station just south of the Las Vegas Strip by 2028, according to Fortune .

In a statement, Brightline Holdings founder and chair Wes Edens said that breaking ground on the rail on Monday — thanks to $6.5 billion in backing from Joe Biden’s administration, plus $2.5 billion in tax-exempt bonds — was laying “the foundation for a new industry.”

Brightline also won federal authorization in 2020 to sell $1 billion in similar bonds, Fortune reported.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will reportedly participate in the rail’s Monday groundbreaking.

Upon its completion, Brightline West is expecting to welcome millions of passengers aboard the high-speed train, which will travel up to 200 miles per hour between the two major US cities in just over two hours — about half the time it takes to drive between LA and Vegas.

The high speeds are comparable to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains, whose network includes nearly 2,000 miles of lines on the country’s four major islands.

Brightline’s estimates are that 11 million passengers will take the electric-powered train one way per year, meaning there will be 30,000 travelers per day. The trains will also have restrooms, Wi-Fi, and food and beverage.

There will also be the option to check luggage — with ticket fares with or without large bags anticipated to be well below the cost of flying across the Mojave Desert.

It wasn’t immedately clear what a ticket aboard Brightline West will cost, though airline costs range between $80 and $230 depending on the time of the year.

Passenger traffic at Sin City’s Harry Reid International Airport set a record of 57.6 million people in 2023, Fortune reported.

Meanwhile, an average of more than 44,000 automobiles per day crossed the California-Nevada state line on Interstate 15 in 2023, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority data — perhaps because of the Super Bowl and Formula 1 Grand Prix race that both took place in Las Vegas last year.

Las Vegas — which has nearly 3 million residents — draws more than 40 million visitors per year.

Brightline CEO Mike Reininger has said the goal is to have high-speed trains operating in time for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

Almost the full distance of the forthcoming train will be along the median of I-15, according to Fortune, which begins in San Diego and runs through Los Angeles before passing through Nevada and into parts of Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Montana.

At this point, only one station stop along the route will take place in San Bernardino County’s Victorville area, per Fortune.

At a later date, Brightline West has said it may add more stops in Palmdale, Calif., and other US metros that are too close to fly between but too far to drive to, though details have yet to be finalized.

The goal is to relieve congestion on I-15, where motorists often get caught in slow-moving traffic.

Representatives for Brightline West did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Florida-based Brightline already operates a Miami-to-Orlando high-speed line, where trains reach speeds of up to 125 miles per hour.

The service launched in 2018 and expanded to include service to the Orlando International Airport in September 2022, Fortune reported. It now offers 16 round trips daily, with one-way tickets to travel the 235-mile-long track going for about $80.

Another fast train in the US include Amtrack’s Acels, which can reach 150 miles per hour while transporting passengers between Boston and Washington, DC — but rails aren’t considered “high speed” unless they top at least 160 miles per hour.

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April 22, 2024

Making history: brightline west breaks ground on america’s first high-speed rail project connecting las vegas to southern california  , officials hammer the first spike commemorating the groundbreaking for brightline west.

LAS VEGAS (April 22, 2024)  – Today, Brightline West officially broke ground on the nation's first true high-speed rail system which will connect Las Vegas to Southern California. The 218-mile system will be constructed in the middle of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. Hailed as the greenest form of transportation in the world, Brightline West will run zero emission, fully electric trains capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour. Brightline West is a watershed project for high-speed rail in America and will establish the foundation for the creation of a new industry and supply chain. The project was recently awarded $3 billion in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. The rest of the project will be privately funded and has received a total allocation of $3.5 billion in private activity bonds from USDOT.

The groundbreaking included remarks from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Brightline Founder Wes Edens, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Senior Advisor to President Biden Steve Benjamin and Vince Saavedra of the Southern Nevada Building Trades. In addition, Nevada Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steve Horsford and California Reps. Pete Aguilar and Norma Torres made remarks and joined the celebration. More than 600 people, including union representatives, project supporters and other state and local officials from California and Nevada, attended the event.

“People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades – and now, with billions of dollars of support made possible by President Biden’s historic infrastructure law, it’s finally happening,” said Secretary Buttigieg. “Partnering with state leaders and Brightline West, we’re writing a new chapter in our country’s transportation story that includes thousands of union jobs, new connections to better economic opportunity, less congestion on the roads, and less pollution in the air.”

“This is a historic project and a proud moment where we break ground on America’s first high-speed rail system and lay the foundation for a new industry,” said Wes Edens, Brightline founder. “Today is long overdue, but the blueprint we’ve created with Brightline will allow us to repeat this model in other city pairs around the country.”

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIGHTLINE WEST

Brightline West's rail system will span 218 miles and reach speeds of 200 mph. The route, which has full environmental clearance, will run within the median of the I-15 highway with zero grade crossings. The system will have stops in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as Victor Valley, Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

The privately led infrastructure project is one of the largest in the nation and will be constructed and operated by union labor. It will use 700,000 concrete rail ties, 2.2 million tons of ballast, and 63,000 tons of 100% American steel rail during construction. Upon completion, it will include 322 miles of overhead lines to power the trains and will include 3.4 million square feet of retaining walls. The project covers more than 160 structures including viaducts and bridges. Brightline West will be fully Buy America Compliant.

STATIONS AND FACILITIES

Brightline West will connect Southern California and Las Vegas in two hours or almost half the time as driving. The Las Vegas Station will be located near the iconic Las Vegas Strip, on a 110-acre property north of Blue Diamond Road between I-15 and Las Vegas Boulevard. The site provides convenient access to the Harry Reid International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. The station is approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.

The Victor Valley Station in Apple Valley will be located on a 300-acre parcel southeast of Dale Evans Parkway and the I-15 interchange. The station is intended to offer a future connection to the High Desert Corridor and California High Speed Rail. The Victor Valley Station is approximately 20,000 square feet plus parking.

The Rancho Cucamonga Station will be located on a 5-acre property at the northwest corner of Milliken Avenue and Azusa Court near Ontario International Airport. The station will be co-located with existing multi-modal transportation options including California Metrolink, for seamless connectivity to Downtown Los Angeles and other locations in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The Rancho Cucamonga Station is approximately 80,000 square feet plus parking.

The Hesperia Station will be located within the I-15 median at the I-15/Joshua Street interchange and will function primarily as a local rail service for residents in the High Desert on select southbound morning and northbound evening weekday trains.

The Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) is a 200,000-square-foot building located on 238 acres in Sloan, Nev., and will be the base for daily maintenance and staging of trains. This site will also serve as one of two hubs for the maintenance of way operations and the operations control center. More than 100 permanent employees will report on a daily basis once operations begin and will serve as train crews, corridor maintenance crews, or operations control center teammates. A second maintenance of way facility will be located adjacent to the Apple Valley station.

The Las Vegas and Southern California travel market is one of the nation’s most attractive corridors with over 50 million trips between the region each year. Additionally, Las Vegas continues to attract visitors from around the world, with 4.7 million international travelers flying into the destination. The city dubs itself on being the world’s No. 1 meeting destination, welcoming nearly 6 million people to the Las Vegas Convention Center last year.

In California, approximately 17 million Southern California residents are within 25 miles of the Brightline West station sites. Studies show that one out of every three visits to Las Vegas come from Southern California.

ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Brightline West's $12 billion infrastructure investment will create over $10 billion in economic impact for Nevada and California and will generate more than 35,000 jobs, including 10,000 direct union construction roles and 1,000 permanent operations and maintenance positions. The investment also includes over $800 million in improvements to the I-15 corridor and involves agreements with several unions for skilled labor. The project supports Nevada and California's climate goals by offering a no-emission mobility option that reduces greenhouse gasses by over 400,000 tons of CO2 annually – reducing vehicle miles traveled by more than 700 million each year and the equivalent of 16,000 short-haul flights. The company will also construct three wildlife overpasses, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Caltrans for the safe passage of native species, primarily the bighorn sheep.

BRIGHTLINE FLORIDA

Brightline’s first rail system in Florida connecting Miami to Orlando began initial service between its South Florida stations in 2018. In September 2023, Brightline’s Orlando station opened at Orlando International Airport, connecting South Florida to Central Florida. The company has plans to expand its system with future stops in Tampa, Florida’s Space Coast in Cocoa and the Treasure Coast in Stuart.

BRIGHTLINE WEST

ABOUT BRIGHTLINE WEST

Brightline is the only private provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity passenger rail service in America – offering a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road by connecting city pairs and congested corridors that are too short to fly and too long to drive. Brightline West will connect Las Vegas and Southern California with the first true high-speed passenger rail system in the nation. The 218-mile, all-electric rail service will include a flagship station in Las Vegas, with additional stations in Victor Valley and Rancho Cucamonga. At speeds up to 200 miles per hour, trains will take passengers from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in about two hours, twice as fast as the normal drive time.

Brightline is currently operating its first passenger rail system connecting Central and South Florida with stations in Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, with future stations coming to Stuart and Cocoa. For more information, visit  www.brightlinewest.com  and follow on  LinkedIn ,  X ,  Instagram  and  Facebook .

QUOTE SHEET

“Through this visionary partnership, we are going to create thousands of jobs, bring critical transportation infrastructure to the West, and create an innovative, fast, and sustainable transportation solution. Nevada looks forward to partnering with Brightline on this historic project.”  - Governor Joe Lombardo, Nevada

“Today, not only are we breaking ground on a historic high-speed rail project here in Nevada, we are breaking ground on thousands of good paying American jobs, union jobs.”  - Steve Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

“For decades, Nevadans heard about the promise of high-speed rail in our state, and I’m proud to have led the charge to secure the funding to make it a reality. Today’s groundbreaking is the beginning of a new era for southern Nevada -- creating thousands of good-paying union jobs, bringing in billions of dollars of economic development, enhancing tourism to the state, reducing traffic, and creating a more efficient and cleaner way to travel. This is a monumental step, and I’m glad to have worked across the aisle to make this project come true.”  - Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

“Having high-speed rail in Las Vegas will electrify our economy in Southern Nevada, and I’m thrilled to celebrate this milestone today. This project is on track to create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs while cutting down traffic on I-15, and I’ll keep working with the Biden Administration to get this done as quickly as possible and continue delivering easier and cleaner transportation options for everyone in Nevada.”  - Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

“Today’s groundbreaking is a historic step in modernizing rail service in the United States. Californians driving between the Los Angeles region and Las Vegas often face heavy traffic, causing emissions that pollute the air in surrounding communities. The Brightline West Project will provide travelers with more options—helping Californians and visitors alike get to their final destination without facing gridlock on the road.”  - Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

"High-speed rail in the Southwest has been a dream as far back as the nineties when Governor Bob Miller appointed me to the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission. As a senior Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, I am honored to have helped write the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and secure $3 billion to turn that dream into a reality which will generate millions of dollars in tax revenue, reduce carbon emissions by easing traffic on Interstate 15, and create thousands of good-paying union jobs. I am proud to stand with advocates and transportation leaders as we break ground on the Brightline West project and look forward to welcoming high-speed passenger rail to Southern Nevada."  - Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1)

“For decades, high-speed rail was just a dream in southern Nevada – but now, I’m beyond proud that we finally made it a reality. I worked across the aisle to help negotiate, craft, and ultimately pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because I knew it would kickstart transformative projects like Brightline West that will stand the test of time. Together, we’re cutting down on traffic, boosting our tourism economy, and creating thousands of good-paying union jobs.”  - Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-3)

“I am proud to join Brightline West for the groundbreaking of this monumental project for Southern Nevada and the southwestern United States. By connecting Las Vegas to Southern California via high-speed rail, we will boost tourism, reduce congestion on the I-15 corridor, and create jobs. The impact on our local economy and the people of the Silver State will be tremendous. In my conversations with Secretary Buttigieg, Brightline West, and our Nevada labor leaders, I know that local workers and our Nevada small businesses will benefit from this transformational investment. This will be the nation's first true high-speed rail system, blazing a new path forward for our nation’s rail infrastructure, and we hope it will serve as a blueprint for fostering greater regional connections for many other cities across the country.  - Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-4)

“Brightline West’s groundbreaking today marks the construction of a dynamic high-speed rail system that will link Las Vegas, Hesperia, and Apple Valley to Rancho Cucamonga’s Metrolink Station, creating new jobs and fostering economic growth in California’s 23rd Congressional District. This convenient alternative to driving will reduce the number of cars on the road, decreasing emissions and reducing congestion in our High Desert communities. This is an exciting step and I look forward to the completion of this project.”  - Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23)

"Today's groundbreaking on the Brightline West high-speed rail project marks an incredible milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to fulfilling the promise of high-speed rail and emissions-free transportation across the country. As a longtime supporter of this project, I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has already invested over $3 billion to support the completion of this project. By increasing transportation options, spurring job creation and new economic opportunities, and improving our environment through cutting over 400,000 tons of carbon pollution each year, this project will be transformative to my district and all of Southern California for generations—particularly in and around the last stop in Rancho Cucamonga. With the goal of being operational in time for Los Angeles to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2028, I look forward to Brightline West facilitating travel for the millions visiting our region and elevating our 21st-century connectivity on the global stage."  - Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28)

"As the Member of Congress that represents the City of Rancho Cucamonga and a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, it is my honor to participate in breaking ground on one of the most highly anticipated high-speed rail projects in the country. We gathered today thanks to the Biden Administration's leadership, which enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to fund vital projects like this and transform our economy. The Brightline project is a stellar illustration of the power of successful public-private partnerships. Thanks to all the labor unions, Tribes, and wildlife advocates for their hard work, which brought this project to life. The bright line is fully electric and has zero emissions, which is excellent for our environment. I am eagerly anticipating the completion of this project in my district and look forward to seeing everyone there."  - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35)

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Vanessa Alfonso [email protected]

MIT Technology Review

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Hydrogen trains could revolutionize how Americans get around

Decarbonizing rail transportation is a political problem as much as a technological one.

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Like a mirage speeding across the dusty desert outside Pueblo, Colorado, the first hydrogen-fuel-cell passenger train in the United States is getting warmed up on its test track. Made by the Swiss manufacturer Stadler and known as the FLIRT (for “Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train”), it will soon be shipped to Southern California, where it is slated to carry riders on San Bernardino County’s Arrow commuter rail service before the end of the year. In the insular world of railroading, this hydrogen-powered train is a Rorschach test. To some, it represents the future of rail transportation. To others, it looks like a big, shiny distraction.

In the quest to decarbonize the transportation sector—the largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States—rubber-tired electric vehicles tend to dominate the conversation. But to reach the Biden administration’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, other forms of transportation, including those on steel wheels, will need to find new energy sources too. 

The best way to decarbonize railroads is the subject of growing debate among regulators, industry, and activists. Things are coming to a head in California, which recently enacted rules requiring all new passenger locomotives operating in the state to be zero-emissions by 2030 and all new freight locomotives to meet that threshold by 2035. Federal regulators could be close behind.

The debate is partly technological, revolving around whether hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, or overhead electric wires offer the best performance for different railroad situations. But it’s also political: a question of the extent to which decarbonization can, or should, usher in a broader transformation of rail transportation. For decades, the government has largely deferred to the will of the big freight rail conglomerates. Decarbonization could shift that power dynamic—or further entrench it. 

So far, hydrogen has been the big technological winner in California. Over the past year, the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, has ordered 10 hydrogen FLIRT trains at a cost of $207 million. After the Arrow service, the next rail line to receive hydrogen trains is scheduled to be the Valley Rail service in the Central Valley. That line will connect Sacramento to California High-Speed Rail, the under-construction system that will eventually link Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In its analysis of different zero-­emissions rail technologies, Caltrans found that hydrogen trains, powered by onboard fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity, had better range and shorter refueling times than battery-electric trains, which function much like electric cars. Hydrogen was also a cheaper power source than overhead wire (or simply “electrification,” in industry parlance), which would cost an estimated $6.8 billion to install on the state’s three main intercity routes. (California High-Speed Rail and its shared track on the Bay Area’s Caltrain commuter service will both be powered by overhead wire, since electrification is necessary to reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour.)  

Further complicating the electrification option, installing overhead wire on the rest of California’s passenger network would require the consent of BNSF and Union Pacific, the two major freight rail carriers that own most of the state’s tracks. The companies have long opposed the installation of wire above their tracks, which they say could interfere with double-stacked freight trains. 

Electrifying all 144,000 miles of the nation’s freight rail tracks would cost hundreds of billions of dollars, according to a report by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), an industry trade group, and even electrifying smaller sections of track would result in ongoing disruptions to train traffic and shift freight customers from trains to trucks, the group claims. Electrification would also require the cooperation of electric utilities, leaving railroads vulnerable to the grid connection delays that plague renewable-energy developers. 

“We have long stretches of track outside of urbanized areas,” says Marcin Taraszkiewicz, an engineer at the engineering and architecture firm HDR who has worked on Caltrans’s hydrogen train program. Getting power to those rugged places can be a challenge, he says, especially when infrastructure must be designed to resist natural disasters like wildfires and earthquakes: “If that wire goes down, you’re going to be in trouble.” 

The AAR thinks California’s railroad emissions regulations are too much, too soon, especially given that freight rail is already three to four times more fuel efficient than trucking. Last year, the AAR sued the state over its latest railroad emissions regulations, in a case that is still pending . Though the group generally prefers hydrogen to electrification as a long-term solution, it contends that this alternative technology is not yet mature enough to meet the industry’s needs. 

A group called Californians for Electric Rail also views hydrogen as an immature technology. “From an environmental as well as a cost perspective, it’s a really circular and indirect way of doing things,” says Adriana Rizzo, the group’s founder, who is an advocate for electrifying the state’s regional and intercity tracks with overhead wire.

Synthesizing, transporting, and using the tiny hydrogen molecule can be very inefficient. Hydrogen trains currently require roughly three times more energy per mile than trains powered by overhead wire. And the environmental benefits of hydrogen—the ostensible purpose of this new technology—remain largely theoretical, since the vast majority of hydrogen today is produced by burning fossil fuels like methane. Natural-gas utilities have been among the hydrogen industry’s biggest boosters , because they are already able to produce and transport the gas. 

Opinions on the merits of hydrogen trains have been mixed. In 2022, following a pilot program, the German state of Baden-Württemberg determined that this technology would be 80% more expensive to operate over the long run than other zero-emissions alternatives. 

Kyle Gradinger, assistant deputy director for rail at Caltrans, thinks there’s been some “Twittersphere exaggeration” about the problems with hydrogen trains. In tests, the hydrogen-powered Stadler FLIRT is “performing as well as we expected, if not better,” he says. Since they also use electric motors, hydrogen trains offer many of the same benefits as trains powered by overhead wire, Gradinger says. Both technologies will be quieter, cleaner, and faster than diesel trains. 

Caltrans hopes to obtain all the hydrogen for its trains from zero-emissions sources by 2030—a goal bolstered by a draft clean-­hydrogen rule issued by the Biden administration in 2023. California is one of seven “hydrogen hubs” in the US, public-private partnerships that will receive billions of dollars in subsidies from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for developing hydrogen technologies. It’s too early to say whether Caltrans will be able to procure funding for its hydrogen fueling stations and supply chains through these subsidies, Gradinger says, but it’s certainly a possibility. So far, California is the only US state to have purchased hydrogen trains. 

Advocates like Rizzo fear, however, that all this investment in hydrogen infrastructure will get in the way of more transformative changes to passenger rail in California. 

“Why are we putting millions of dollars into buying new trains and putting up all of this infrastructure and then expecting the same crappy service that we have now?” Rizzo says. “These systems could carry so many more passengers.” 

Rizzo’s group, and allies like the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada , think decarbonization is an opportunity to install the type of infrastructure that supports the vast majority of fast passenger train services around the world. Though the up-front investment in overhead wire is high, electrification reduces operating costs by providing constant access to a cheap and efficient energy source. Electrification also improves acceleration so that trains can travel closer together, creating the potential for service patterns that function more like an urban metro system than a once-per-day Amtrak route. 

Caltrans has a long-term plan to dramatically increase rail service and speeds, which might eventually require electrification by overhead wire, also known as a catenary system. But at least for the next couple of decades, the agency believes, hydrogen is the most feasible way to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals. The money, the political will, and the stomach for a fight with the freight railroads and utility companies just aren’t there yet.  

“The gold standard is overhead catenary electrification, if you can do that,” Gradinger says. “But we aren’t going to get to a level of service on the intercity side for at least the next decade or two that would warrant investment in electrification.” 

Rizzo hopes that as the federal government puts more railroad emissions regulations in place, the case for electrifying rail by overhead wire will get stronger. Other countries have come to that conclusion: a 2015 policy change in India resulted in the electrification of nearly half the country’s track mileage in less than a decade. The United Kingdom’s Decarbonising Transport Plan states that electrification will be the “main way” to decarbonize the rail industry. 

These changes are still compatible with a robust freight industry. The world’s most powerful locomotives are electric, pulling ore-laden freight trains in South Africa and China. In 2002, Russia finished electrifying the 5,700-mile Trans-Siberian Railway, demonstrating that freight trains running on electric wire can travel very long distances over very harsh terrain.

Things may be starting to shift in the US as well, albeit slowly. BNSF appears to have softened its stance against electrification on a corridor it owns in Southern California, where it has agreed to allow California High-Speed Rail to construct overhead wire on its right of way. Rizzo and her group are looking to make these projects easier by sponsoring state legislation exempting overhead wire from the California Environmental Quality Act. That would prevent situations like a 2015 environmental lawsuit from the affluent Bay Area suburb of Atherton, over tree removal and visual impact, that delayed Caltrain’s electrification project for nearly two years.

New innovations could blur the lines between different kinds of green rail technologies. Caltrain has ordered a battery-­equipped electrified train that has the potential to charge up while traveling from San Francisco to San Jose and then run on a battery onward to Gilroy and Salinas. A similar system could someday be deployed in Southern California, where trains could charge through the Los Angeles metro area and run on batteries over more remote stretches to Santa Barbara and San Diego. 

New hydrogen technologies could also prove transformative for passenger rail. The FLIRT train doing laps in the Colorado desert is version 1.0. In the future, using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier could result in much longer range for hydrogen trains, as well as more seamless refueling. “With hydrogen, there’s a lot more room to grow,” Taraszkiewicz says.

But in a country that has invested little in passenger rail over the past century, new technology can only do so much, Taraszkiewicz cautions. America’s railroads all too often lack passing tracks, grade-separated road crossings, and modern signaling systems. The main impediment to faster, more frequent passenger service “is not the train technology,” he says. “It’s everything else.”

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