HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak has turned down a private company’s proposal for a transcontinental passenger train that would have included an auto-carrying feature.
WPMT-TV reports that Amtrak said in a statement that it reviewed the proposal from AmeriStarRail and “found it to be lacking a fundamental business case to support its lofty proposal.”
Earlier this year, AmeriStarRail proposed partnering with Amtrak on a “Transcontinental Chief” train to offer 72-hour service between New York and Los Angeles to begin in 2026. The proposal called for drive-aboard service for truckers and Auto Train features for passenger cars and other vehicles, including charter buses. [See “Private company AmeriStarRail proposes …,” Trains.com, July 1, 2025]. Under its plan, the new train would have replaced Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian, using existing Amtrak equipment and TTX flatcars and auto racks. Amtrak declined comment when the proposal was released.
AmeriStarRail chief operating officer Scott Spencer told WPMT that Amtrak never held “serious meetings and discussions” about the proposal. He said he will now aim to get Congress, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the U.S. Department of Transportation to push Amtrak into negotiations, with the idea of starting the service by the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
AmeriStarRail regularly proposes changes to Northeast Corridor passenger service, including privately funded high speed trains, new infrastructure, and three-class high-speed service. Those proposals either do not address funding or do so only in general terms. More on AmeriStarRail is available at its website.
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On the one hand, not surprised to hear a government agency turned down a radical new idea with no consideration. Innovation is not their strong suit.
On the other hand, this does sound like a rather “ambitious” plan…