It’s 43 hours from L.A. to Chicago. These train people like it that way

LA Times ^ | December 10, 2025 | Christopher Reynolds

[Morgana]

* Passengers say the journey on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief — delays and all — is worth it: no TSA lines, ground-level scenery spanning deserts and mountains, and hours of unrushed conversation with fellow travelers.

* The route attracts everyone from Amish families seeking affordable medical care in Tijuana to model railroaders, artists and senior travelers rediscovering American landscapes.

We were well into our journey from Los Angeles to Chicago, surrounded by cornfields and grain elevators, when the train halted and a voice rang out.

“All right, folks,” said a man on the PA system. “We’ve come to a stop in what appears to be the middle of nowhere.”

To a traveler in a hurry, this is the stuff of nightmares. To a seasoned passenger on the L.A.-Chicago train known as Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, it’s just another day.

When you board an American long-distance train in 2025, you are trading the airport routine for entry into a locomotive-driven realm where there is neither TSA nor WiFi. And AI might as well stand for aged infrastructure.

There will be delays, often because of passing freight trains. But in the bargain, you are freeing yourself from worry about aerodynamics or the chronic shortage of U.S. air traffic controllers and gaining access to ground-level scenery and idle hours.

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TOPICS: Travel
KEYWORDS: trains; travel

[Morgana]

I've rode the Southwest Chief twice and would do it again tomorrow.

[exDemMom]

My son and I took a train from Washington, DC to Chicago, then we rode The City of New Orleans down to New Orleans, stayed a few days, then returned on The Crescent back to Washington, DC.

We’ve also taken the auto train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL and back twice.

If you have the time and money for it, train travel is quite enjoyable. We’d like to do another trip at some point.

[RckyRaCoCo]

I did San Bernardino to Chicago in the early 90's(January).

Pretty rough...glad I did the rail/fly package...think I would have died on the way back.

The good

1. Stopping at all the old train stations along the way.

2. Scenery west of the Rockies.

The bad

1. Food and bar car stuck in snow storm...neither available during the entire trip. (they picked up bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and Kentucky fried chicken for dinner)

2. Because we were stuck in SLC for an extended period, missed a lot of Rockies scenery(night).

3. The moron attendant going in and out of cars in below zero temps all night long. (I noticed an older couple ahead of me and the old guy was freezing, unable to sleep...I offered him my winter coat and he fell out soon after, which the wife very much appreciated ; )

4. The scenery east of the Rockies(flat and dead...thought we were going in circles).

I was supposed to connect to Port Huron, MI from Union Station in Chicago, but we got in so late I would have had to spend the night there...decided to hop a southwest flight out of midway instead.

Would I do it again?

Maybe, but DEFINITELY not in January, and probably only if I got a sleeper(expensive).

[Morgana]

“My son and I took a train from Washington, DC to Chicago,”

that was the Cardinal, no?

I’ve rode that A LOT.

[Morgana]

You rode the California Zephyr. I’ve been on that one twice. I love the view. I’d do it again tomorrow.

[mairdie]

I don’t fly, so my company sent me across country 2-3x per year by train. It was wonderful. I’d get on bouncing off the walls of the small room but by the time I’d reach the other coast I’d be mellowed out and ready to do what needed to be done.

This was a composite from multiple trips.

The Amtrak Railroad Experience - Joseph Blanchard
https://youtu.be/ry1B2zfKWNU

[PGR88]

Imagine if the USA had an actual private rail transport network?

[Paladin2]

Imagine if Calif. ever laid a foot of track on their Green RR……

[Wally_Kalbacken]

"If you have the time and money for it, train travel is quite enjoyable. We’d like to do another trip at some point."

If we have the money for it? Sure we do, we're taxayers. We pay a very large portion of the capital costs of the Amtrak operation, and on the long-distance trains the "farebox" or ticket revenue covers about 50-55% of the operating expenses of each trip.

[Enterprise]

"and probably only if I got a sleeper"

Do you know the approximate cost per day?

[Organic Panic]

I took the Amtrack from Los Angeles To Portland. Absolutely terrible. They ran out of water. They ran out of food. The AC stopped. Then, the loco broke down NPT far from the Oregon border and we waited for hours before we finally had to walk to the highway and load up on shuttle busses.

[Az Joe]

Are you European?

[Zhang Fei]

I far prefer to drive. Much more control over my itinerary, and where I bed down. Feel like checking out the local museum? Look it up on Google Maps, press Start. Nothing wrong with trains, except for the total passivity of the experience.

[Morgana]

Imagine if California was actually a state

[Morgana]

La To portland? you were probably on the Coast Starlight. Yea sometimes things go wrong. then again stuff goes wrong on planes but at least you are on the ground when it goes wrong on a train. Imagine the toilet backing up and you are in the air.

[DeplorableTrumpSupporter]

I love to watch the virtual railfan camera at a Southwest Chief stop, which is LaPlata Missouri. People watching when the SWC on camera is almost as much as the town's population.

It is a town with Amish in it. One summer day, I saw a horse and buggy with a canoe tied on top of the buggy. It was funny to see.

We are thinking of doing the Silver Star next summer to DC and take the Vermonter to see my wife's brother who is a conservative Vermonter.

[mewzilla]

I’ve never used AMTRAK.

But I see what our countries have, especially Japan.

I want first world train travel.

Not Deep State’s fig leaf for Acela.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

I’ve taken many train rides:

Pittsburgh to Indiana cities: Michigan City, South Bend, Valpo,

Autotrain from DC area to Florida near Orlando 3x

Russia: Moscow to St Pete and back - this was quite a trip: train was full of unsavory characters. Conductor told us to put our valuables in a certain place. I didn’t do that. A fellow traveling with us did - he put his camera and some money there. In the morning it was gone.

Trip from St Pete back to Moscva was beautiful, watched the morning sun come up over lots of birch and maple woods.

Whenever possible, I’ll take the train over flying.

Food is usually pretty good, I can get up and walk around and see the scenery. I can even stand in the area between cars and watch the world go by.

People are friendly, relaxed and willing to talk.

[JeanLM]

Timely Post. I just booked a round trip in April to attend my granddaughter’s graduation in LA. Sounds like fun. Did a similar trip across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver. That was what helped me decide.

[Jim Noble]

I like it too - but passengers should have to pay the cost, not the taxpayers.