Amtrak train from Austin (Dallas, San Antonio: to rent, live, yard)

[readymade]

I recently took an Amtrak train from Boston to NYC and I LOVED it! I am now mildly obsessed with taking a train somewhere. Where's good to go from Austin that's less than 6 hours (I don't want to go nuts)? Anyone know?

I was HOPING there would be a train to New Orleans, but unfortunately there is a stopover in CHICAGO (approx 28 hours).

[centralaustinite]

Yes, the NOLA train comes from the east coast, it is a completely different line. I take Amtrak to St. Louis sometimes, great fun! I just love those big seats.

Anyway, the Texas Eagle runs from Austin to Chicago, unfortunately the piece between Austin and Ft. Worth takes a long time with many stops, the scheduled time is over 4 hours!

But Ft Worth is fun and the train yard is very big! You can also continue straight into the heart of downtown Dallas. But you will not get there fast!

[twange]

Train service in our country is sub-lame. While Amtrak will work if you're going to certain places(mostly the North-East), it's almost impossible to use as an alternative to driving or flying. Here in Texas, your choices are really limited. You can go to San Antonio and Ft Worth in under 6 hours...maybe, provided there are no delays! But there is a route called the Sunset Limited that runs from Orlando to L.A. and looks to pass through San Antonio where the Texas Eagle heads up to Chicago. Up until Katrina, it used to run through N.O. Not sure what the status is now as that segment has been suspended.

Sunset Limited - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I just looked into getting my folks to take Amtrak from St. Petersburg Fla to Austin. No. They would have to go from Fla - D.C. - Chicago and then to Austin...about 4 days


Amtrak is government run and has to rent tracks from freight companies. It's too bad because it's an awesome way to travel, as you now know. I'd love to be able to go to Santa Fe, Denver, New Orleans or Arizona via Amtrak. When I lived in Cleveland, there were a lot of options as the Lakeshore Limited runs from Chicago to NYC and then to Boston. The trip through the Hudson Valley is amazing!

Let's hope Obama's administration gives passenger rail a bit of love!

Update: To find trains to New Orleans, search from San Antonio NOT Austin. It will still take you 15 hours(scheduled).

[readymade]

Wow, awesome information. Thanks!

Ug. 15 hours on a train to NO is a bit much. According to Mapquest, it's an 8 hour drive or so. Which is also a bit much, heh.

Still, the train from Austin to San Antonio sounds promising. And I've wanted to see the Alamo ever since PeeWee! ah-DOUGH-bee.

[el borracho]

take the train west

[AustinSpartan]

Originally Posted by readymade

And I've wanted to see the Alamo ever since PeeWee! ah-DOUGH-bee.

This made me chuckle.

I plan on finding the basement on my first visit in February!