5 of the best new U.S. rail trips

The last time it was this exciting to be a train rider in the US might have been the 1800s, when trains first arrived in the country. Amtrak, the only national passenger rail service in the country, is setting record ridership numbers. And though the US lags behind Europe, China, Japan and other places when it comes to travel by rail, the sentiment is starting to shift, with more routes operated by both Amtrak and private companies finally coming to fruition.

1. Amtrak’s Borealis: Chicago to Minneapolis/St Paul

Unveiled in 2024, Borealis doesn’t go along the same tracks as two other services: the long-distance Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle or Portland) and the Hiawatha (Chicago to Milwaukee, Wisconsin). But the increased number of trains around the Great Lakes is a boon for travellers. From Chicago, you could day trip to Milwaukee to check out the breweries inspired by the city’s German heritage. Or go all the way to Minneapolis/St. Paul to ogle at the Walker Art Center — don’t miss the Spoonbridge and Cherry statue in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden outside — and catch live music in Prince’s hometown at the Guthrie Theater or First Avenue & 7th St Entry.

2. Canyon Spirit: Salt Lake City to Denver

Arguably the most scenic rail journey in the US is aboard the privately operated luxury train line Canyon Spirit, which follows a portion of the tracks covered by Amtrak’s California Zephyr, one of the world’s most iconic train trips. Unlike Amtrak, Canyon Spirit — recently rebranded from Rocky Mountaineer, which still operates scenic luxury trains in Canada — chugs along only during the day, delivering nonstop epic views of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and Utah’s red-rock desert. The service previously ended in Moab, Utah, a gateway town for Arches and Canyonlands national parks. From 2026, it’s extending to Salt Lake City, which has an international airport and better interstate highway connections.

3. Amtrak’s Floridian: Chicago to Miami

In 2024, Amtrak took two existing train services — the Capitol Limited between Chicago and Washington, DC, and the Silver Star between New York City and Miami — and merged them into one. This line is offered for a limited time only: once the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York City is completed in 2027, the two separate train services will resume. Until then, the Floridian will cover 46 stops in 47 hours, making it possible to travel from Florida to Chicago without having to change trains.

4. Brightline: Miami to Orlando

The only private intercity train service in the US, Brightline connects two of Florida’s most popular destinations for visitors, with plans to expand to Tampa. The company brings a true touch of luxury not found on any other intercity-style services, from high-speed wi-fi to sleek stations with a signature citrus scent and even wide seats said to be made with the same leather used in Bentleys. Now, the service has set its sights on the West Coast: a true high-speed line is under construction between Rancho Cucamonga — a city about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles — and Las Vegas, expected to open fully in 2029.

5. Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service: New Orleans to Mobile

The Sunset Limited train once belted the entire southern US between Los Angeles and Orlando. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought unprecedented devastation, and the track east of New Orleans was destroyed. It soon reopened to freight trains, but passenger services wouldn’t return for another two decades. It was only in August 2025 that Amtrak’s twice-daily Mardi Gras Service finally launched, covering a portion of the older service. The two cities it connects are famous for the namesake Carnival celebrations: the country’s biggest is in New Orleans, with giant floats and marching bands; the oldest in Mobile, on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, dating to 1703.