Experience the Texas Eagle Amtrak Route

You’ve heard of “The Little Engine That May,” however Amtrak’s Texas Eagle simply could be the little practice that might. Amtrak introduced plans to discontinue the route within the Nineteen Nineties, however the communities in Texas have been so passionate concerning the service between San Antonio and Chicago that they rallied collectively, decided to remain on Amtrak’s map. They saved the beloved practice, and it nonetheless runs at the moment. 

In additon to that colourful historical past, the Texas Eagle additionally has an attention-grabbing relationship with the document books. It is also known as Amtrak’s longest route, however, by itself, the roughly 30-hour Eagle would not fairly reside as much as that declare. As Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari advised Journey + Leisure, it is solely on the three days every week when the Eagle joins up with the Sundown Restricted — a route connecting New Orleans and Los Angeles — that you may experience an Amtrak route that is longer than some other. That Chicago to Los Angeles journey takes a whopping 65 hours and 20 minutes. 

Irrespective of the way you outline the route, although, the eagerness and enthusiasm for the Texas Eagle is palpable, particularly in its namesake state. 

“There are individuals who assume all of Texas seems like Southport Ranch from the Dallas TV present, when actually, Texas is a really various state,” mentioned Magliari, describing areas starting from Hill Nation to city facilities like Austin, Dallas, and Fort Price, in addition to extra forested areas. “We’re in piney woods and lakes the deeper we get into East Texas — and I’m undecided individuals anticipate that in Texas, in the event that they’re desirous about dusty prairie cities. It is a extra various state than I believe individuals perceive.” 

After all, the Lone Star State is just the southern finish of the Texas Eagle. In the event you’re pondering of boarding the north-south practice by way of the guts of the nation, right here’s every part you could know.

Route and Schedule

Beginning in San Antonio, the practice goes northeast by way of Texas, making stops in Austin, Dallas, Fort Price, and a few smaller cities in between earlier than crossing into Arkansas. There, it cuts diagonally up by way of the state, with stops in Hope and Little Rock, amongst different locations. Crossing the border into Missouri, the practice makes stops in Poplar Bluff, Arcadia, and St. Louis. Lastly, the route goes into Illinois, stopping at seven downstate stations earlier than pulling into its northern terminus, Chicago Union Station. The southbound journey makes the identical stops within the reverse course. 

The northbound Texas Eagle departs San Antonio at 6:48 a.m. day by day on an in a single day journey that arrives the following day in Chicago at 1:44 p.m. On this course, the experience takes 30 hours and 56 minutes. These beginning within the north in Chicago can board at 1:52 p.m. day by day and arrive in San Antonio at 10:16 p.m. the next day, a experience lasting 32 hours and 24 minutes. Bookings might be made between any two cities alongside the Texas Eagle route.

For many who take the add-on with the Sundown Restricted out to Los Angeles, the following part of the route traces the Texas border from San Antonio with stops in Del Rio, Alpine, and El Paso. The practice then goes into New Mexico with stops in Deming and Lordsburg; Arizona with stops in Benson, Tucson, Maricopa, and Yuma; and California, stopping in Palm Springs, Ontario, Pomona, and Los Angeles’ Union Station. 

That longer route is on the market on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, with a departure time in Chicago of 1:52 p.m. and an arrival time in Los Angeles three days later at 5:35 a.m. In the wrong way, the practice leaves Los Angeles on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 p.m., arriving three days later in Chicago at 1:44 p.m.

Tickets and Reservations

Essentially the most direct approach to e book a visit on the Texas Eagle is thru Amtrak.com. In our searches on the positioning, we have been capable of finding one-way coach seats between San Antonio and Chicago from $118 for worth fares, during which no adjustments are permitted and a 25 p.c cancellation price is enforced. For many who want flexibility, we discovered fares beginning at $157 for the Flex fee, which permits adjustments and cancellations earlier than departure with no penalty.

For many who’d like extra privateness, non-public rooms start at $555 one-way for a roomette or $847 for a bed room, each for as much as two passengers. There’s additionally a household room choice from $747, which might accommodate as much as two adults and two kids. 

On the complete experience between Los Angeles and Chicago, we discovered one-way coach fares from $150 and one-way room fares from $885.

An alternate approach to benefit from the journey between Los Angeles and Chicago is thru Railbookers’ Route 66 by Rail bundle, which “takes time and breaks up the practice experience with in a single day stays in among the cities alongside the way in which,” mentioned Dan Reisig, communications supervisor at Amtrak Holidays, which is a part of the Railbookers Group. “Whether or not it’s a experience to the highest of the long-lasting Gateway Arch in St. Louis, sightseeing your method across the Southwestern allure of Albuquerque, [or] even venturing north in Arizona to expertise the majesty of the Grand Canyon,” he says, “we make it straightforward to rework the epic journey on board the Texas Eagle into an entire, once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

Lessons of Service

On the Texas Eagle, seats vary from modest to roomy and personal. Coach service affords reclining seats, spacious legroom, and a tray desk, studying lights, and electrical retailers for every passenger — with no center seats. The bi-level superliner vehicles supply the next vantage level, Magliari mentioned. 

The non-public rooms begin with the roomette, which is 2 seats by day reworked into higher and decrease beds at night time. Additionally obtainable is the household room, which might accommodate as much as two adults and two kids, with seating for 4 in the course of the day and two higher and two decrease beds at night time. Each embrace entry to a shared rest room and bathe within the automobile.

For much more privateness, the bed room choice is twice the house, with a settee and separate chair by day and higher and decrease beds by night time — in addition to an in-room sink, restroom, and bathe. 

All the rooms include bedding, pillows, linens, and towels, in addition to a devoted attendant, lounge entry, precedence boarding, and complimentary meals.  

That mentioned, there are a restricted variety of every class on each departure. “The Texas Eagle is sadly Amtrak’s long-neglected little one,” mentioned Noah Gershoff, a journey video creator specializing in documenting practice journey on Lonestar Journey Reviews. “This implies no statement lounge automobile like on different long-distance routes, and no conventional eating for sleeper automobile passengers,” he added.

Extra vehicles are added for the Sundown Restricted extension, so Gershoff notes that passengers can anticipate extra providers and higher-end meals between Los Angeles and San Antonio. On eastbound journeys between these two cities, there may be breakfast each mornings, lunch each days, and dinner on the primary night time, whereas westbound journeys begin with dinner, adopted by breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

As for which choice is greatest for the journey, he mentioned, “For prolonged journeys, a roomette is a superb choice. You get a non-public compartment, a lie-flat mattress at night time, and complimentary meals all through your travels.” However he provides: “Coach seats are an excellent worth too, and are tremendous snug, however deliver a pillow and blanket if touring in a single day.”

What to Anticipate on Board

“When planning a visit on any long-distance Amtrak route, there’s a lot to think about, out of your lodging on board [to] what to pack and tips on how to benefit from the journey,” Holidays by Rail’s Michael Sauer advised T+L. That features wanting on the route map and timing out key locations you wish to catch views — like these getting into and exiting Chicago — in addition to when there could be lengthy stretches to sleep.

He added that “It’s also good to decorate in and produce layered clothes, as temperature preferences within the rail vehicles can differ by traveler.” Whereas these in non-public rooms may have blankets supplied totally free, coach passengers is not going to — although Magliari notes that they will buy a passenger consolation package on board, containing a blanket, eye masks, ear plugs, and neck pillow. 

As a frequent practice traveler, Gershoff prompt to purchase snacks and meals forward of time when using the Texas Eagle, for the reason that cafe alternatives might be restricted and expensive. He additionally prompt packing an influence splitter or lengthy charging cable. These in coach will solely have entry to the wall retailers, and aisle passengers will want that lengthy cable. Since roomettes solely have one outlet, an influence splitter is crucial so a number of individuals can plug in. “Bedrooms are rather less limiting, with three retailers whole,” he added.

One other insightful tip from Gershoff: “Reap the benefits of smoke stops,” he mentioned. “Getting off the practice and strolling round is a good way to maintain blood circulating and refresh the thoughts after sitting on board for lengthy durations of time. It is also a good way to interrupt up the journey when touring the entire route.”

One factor to notice is that Wi-Fi will not be an onboard amenity, so passengers may wish to put together to make use of their cellphone as a sizzling spot if staying linked is vital. 

In any other case, the journey is the proper alternative to benefit of the time. “Make sure you pack belongings you get pleasure from, whether or not that be a digicam to seize the surroundings, a couple of books to learn, or card video games and board video games,” Sauer mentioned. 

However, in fact, you may also simply benefit from the view. “The surroundings out the window is greater than sufficient to seize the eye of any traveler,” Reisig mentioned.

Factors of Curiosity

Although the prolonged Texas Eagle route passes by way of lots of America’s biggest cities — in addition to the less-trodden areas in between — Gershoff admitted that the true Chicago to San Antonio phase is generally small cities and farmland interspersed with occasional city facilities. 

“The arrival and departure in St Louis is well one of the best a part of the north-south hall,” he mentioned. “Heading south, passengers will get an excellent view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch and downtown cityscape as they cross the Mississippi River into Missouri. Second to that is the bridge throughout Girl Chook Lake in Austin, however that view solely lasts for a minute or two.”

In the course of the mixed journey with the Sundown Restricted, the Southwestern deserts create a surprising panorama — with one spotlight being the tracks coming inside toes of the Mexican border close to El Paso, Gershoff added.

Magliari notes that the Texas Eagle can also be a good way to discover President Invoice Clinton’s legacy in Arkansas. The practice stops seasonally in Hope, the place the birthplace residence of “The Man from Hope” is situated. “We’ve a beautiful station there, staffed by volunteers, that you may discover,” he mentioned. A pair stops north in Little Rock, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is close to the station. “It’s actually value at the very least half a day, if not a full day, as a result of it’s enormous — there’s even a full-scale mock-up of the Oval Workplace,” Magliari mentioned. “In the event you’re into historical past, you may make the Texas Eagle a historical past practice by getting off in Little Rock and Hope and spending a day in every.” 

One other under-the-radar station cease of word is Marshall, Texas, which hosts the Texas & Pacific Railway Museum and Present Store, just lately restored by the group. Elsewhere in Texas, the stops in Austin, Dallas, and Fort Price supply loads of alternative for sightseeing, as does San Antonio. The station there may be near the grounds of the 1968 World’s Truthful, referred to as HemisFair ‘68, in addition to town’s downtown and the San Antonio River Stroll.

As for the mixed journey with the Sundown Restricted, Reisig mentioned, “From rolling plains and farm fields to Texas Hill Nation and the rugged deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, the journey offers a large number of experiences out the window of the Texas Eagle practice, whereas additionally connecting the tradition and pleasure of main cities like Dallas/Fort Price and Austin and a lot extra.”