Multi-Purpose Mobility Machines
Amtrak’s long-distance trains connect cities and rural areas, serving budget-minded commuters and higher-ticket tourists in one highly-efficient vehicle.
They are highly productive, cost-effectively bundling together many trip types and travel markets.
We believe that night trains can be the foundation for improving and expanding our entire national rail network.
Urgent Next Step: Buy New Trains
Amtrak’s night trains are old and worn out. An order to buy new trains has been delayed.
Night trains connect the nation
The Chicago-Seattle Empire Builder offers one example of how trains bridge time zones and economic classes, serving residents of dense cities and sparse rural areas alike.
Passengers get on and off the train all along its route, some riding for just a stop or two, some going the entire distance between the Midwest and the West Coast.
Corridor Spotlight: The Southwest Chief
There’s a 2,265 mile corridor between Chicago and Los Angeles. It is served by the Southwest Chief, which carries 355,000 passengers every year.
Because it makes 31 stops, the Southwest Chief serves 528 different city pairs. Passenger trips range from a short 40 miles to a long 2,265 miles and everything in between. People traveling all the way between Chicago and Los Angeles account for 20% of the revenue – but only 8% of the riders.
But there’s only one train leaving each day.
This needs to change. It’s vital for so much travel. But it suffers the same fate as too many overnight trains.
Sleeping Car Passengers Make It Possible
83% of long-distance train passengers choose coach. But the 17% who choose a bedroom provide 44% of the revenue, which makes these trains possible.
It’s a win-win for everyone. Bedrooms offer a huge advantage over driving because travelers are still moving even when they are sleeping. And coach passengers benefit from affordable fares.
The impact of intentional neglect
A failure to invest in high-quality tracks and modern trainsets to offer quality service has had predictable results.
Take the Lake Shore Limited, connecting Chicago to New York. A trip that once took 16 hours, now takes more than 20 – if on time. Because there is only one train day, a passenger heading to Cleveland gets there in predawn hours, which is rarely a great time to arrive anywhere.
Inconvenience depresses ridership. It lowers demand. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
More frequent, reliable, and convenient schedules on long-distance trains would induce demand, driving ridership growth on existing corridors.
How to Improve Long-Distance Trains
The demand already exists to promote better cross-country trains. Here’s what is needed to for them to succeed.
Better Tracks
Amtrak has fought with its most important vendors, the Class 1 railroads, about on-time performance for decades. A better approach would be to jointly identify track and signal fixes that will benefit both passenger and freight. Then, jointly ask Congress to fund them.
More Daily Departures
When there is just one train a day, some stations are forced to get dark-of-night service. At least two trains a day are needed to ensure everyone has daytime service. Spacing the two departures 8 hours apart makes maximum use of existing station employees.
State-of-the-Art Trains
Amtrak’s inter-regional trains are old and past their useful life. New trainsets would reduce operating costs, attract more riders, and improve on-time performance. They could even be designed to tilt around turns, cutting trip times without building new tracks.
Urgent Next Step: Buy New Trains
Amtrak’s night trains are old and worn out. An order to buy new trains has been delayed.
Want to learn more?
Resources on the benefits of night trains to riders, communities, and policymakers:
- “Long Distance Trains – A Foundation for National Mobility” includes more ideas for how we can improve the network.
- Our August 2004 and 2002 special edition newsletters speak to this topic.
- New NightJet trains for Austria show what modern night trains can be.
- Residents of Edinburgh and London in the U.K. embrace night trains’ convenience and cost-effectiveness.
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