AmeriStarRail’s Transcontinental Chief: NYC To LA In Under 72 Hours With 8 Major City Stops

[ AmeriStarRail’s “Transcontinental Chief”](https://secretnyc.co/ameristarrail-transcontinental-chief-coast-to-coast-rail-line/) is slated for a May 10, 2026 debut — right in time for the FIFA World Cup *and* National Train Day . As we inch closer to the high-speed train’s target launch, the transit startup has begun sharing more details about what commuters can expect, including the proposed route from **NYC to LA**. According to ***Newsweek***, Scott Spencer, AmeriStarRail’s chief operating officer, plans to “create opportunities to usher in a profitable Golden Age of rail travel for passengers and truckers, with the ingenuity of free enterprise, as we celebrate our great nation’s 250th birthday next year.” AmeriStarRail plans to carry passengers, cars, and tractor-trailers and envisions utilizing Amtrak’s coaches, sleepers, and dining cars for the undertaking. As far as the cross-country route, we’ll tell you everything you need to know. Take a look at the AmeriStarRail “Transcontinental Chief” route & map ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- How will this all come to fruition? AmeriStarRail proposes taking over Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian lines, which connect Southern California and New York through stops in Chicago, Illinois or Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The project is privately funded, and the Delaware startup has also reached out to the Federal government. “This is a way to confront the challenges Amtrak faces and create opportunities for them to succeed,” Spencer told ***USA TODAY***. “We’re hopeful that all the parties that are involved including the host railroads recognize what a great opportunity this is for our nation.” Looking ahead, New Yorkers will be able to hop on the PATH to Hoboken, New Jersey, and ultimately make their way to Union Station in LA. Although travelers will venture through 54 cities in total throughout the 72-hour journey, the eight major city stops are as follows: * Hoboken, NJ (stop for those in NY, NY) * Harrisburg, PA * Pittsburgh, PA * Cleveland, OH * Chicago, IL * Kansas City, MO * Albuquerque, NM According to ***Railway Supply***, clearance issues at Penn Station prevent the cross-country train from using Amtrak’s double-deck Superliners in Manhattan . We have less than a year before the plans roll out, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on the Transcontinental Chief’s progress throughout that time, particularly as Amtrak reps said the startup is “lacking a fundamental business case to support its lofty proposal.” Until May 2026, travelers on the East Coast have something concrete to look forward to: **the country’s fastest train** will leave from New York and create quicker, smoother, and sleeker travel between NYC, Boston, and Washington, D.C. beginning August 28th. Source: https://secretnyc.co/nyc-la-high-speed-train-route-map/