MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
In anticipation of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, AmeriStarRail has proposed a bold new partnership with Amtrak to launch a privately funded, coast-to-coast train service connecting Los Angeles and New York. Dubbed The Transcontinental Chief, the new train promises to transform long-distance rail travel and freight logistics in the U.S.
According to a letter sent by AmeriStarRail Chief Operating Officer Scott Spencer to Amtrak President Roger Harris, the train would begin operations on National Train Day, May 10, 2026, and be timed to support travel for both the America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The project aims to move passengers, truck drivers, and their fully loaded tractor trailers across the country in less than 72 hours, offering what the company calls a “rolling rest stop for truckers.” At designated “RailPorts” along the route, truckers would be able to drive their rigs onto rail flatcars, then rest in onboard coach, sleeper, or dining cars during their federally mandated 10-hour rest periods.
In addition to freight-hauling, The Transcontinental Chief would feature a transcontinental Auto Train service for passengers traveling with cars, vans, motorcycles, RVs, or charter buses, with major stops in New York, Chicago, the Grand Canyon, and Los Angeles.
Spencer said the proposed service offers Amtrak an opportunity to confront the financial losses of its existing long-distance routes and revitalize cross-country rail with “the ingenuity of free enterprise.”
The project would require operating agreements with BNSF, Norfolk Southern, and New Jersey Transit, but Spencer emphasized that no new federal legislation or additional funding would be needed.
AmeriStarRail has shared the proposal with transportation leaders including former President Donald Trump, USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy, the Federal Railroad Administration, and members of Congress.
“This is a great opportunity for Amtrak to team up with the private sector,” Spencer wrote, “to usher in a profitable Golden Age of rail travel for passengers and truckers.”
If approved, The Transcontinental Chief could mark the first privately funded, coast-to-coast passenger and freight rail service of its kind in modern U.S. history.