Rail travel is available in the United States even though most people in America own one or more cars. Rail travel is most popular in the Northeast Corridor between New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Boston as well as around Chicago. The trains in these areas run often and provide fast service. They are less reliable and often face delays in other areas of the country. It is still possible to travel from one coast of the US to the other by train.
First class travel is available on some trains with service similar to that of hotels. Routes from New Orleans, New York City, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Oregon, Washington, DC, and a few other places offer first class rail travel which includes meals, linens and towels, and bottled water. Long distance trains have a dining car for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and most have a café and lounge where a passenger can rest and buy beverages and snacks.
Chicago, Illinois is considered to be the long-distance rail center of America since many passengers catch connecting trains in this city. There is only one high-speed train line available for rail travel that has a top speed of 150 miles per hour. This train travels from Boston, Massachusetts to Washington, DC and goes through New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
There are unique rail travel options for travelers in America, such as the auto train. You ride in the passenger car while your car travels toward the back of the train in an enclosed rail car. Another is the Coast Starlight which travels from Los Angeles to Seattle. This scenic trip has floor to ceiling windows in the Sightseer Lounge. The Southwest Chief goes between Los Angeles to Chicago, traveling through the scenic beauty of Arizona and New Mexico.
