Transcontinental Chief: Ambitious Plan to Revolutionize Cross-Country Travel

In a move to challenge Amtrak's dominance, a private rail company called AmeriStarRail has unveiled plans for a new coast-to-coast train route set to debut as early as May 2026. The Transcontinental Chief, as it's called, aims to transport passengers between Los Angeles and New York City in under 72 hours, significantly faster than Amtrak's existing bicoastal routes. The ambitious project, which has been presented to Amtrak, is timed to coincide with the United States' 250th birthday and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. AmeriStarRail CEO Scott Spencer believes the route would be more profitable than Amtrak's long-distance trains, and hopes to partner with the national rail operator. Beyond just transporting passengers, the Transcontinental Chief also plans to serve as a "rolling rest stop for truckers," offering a roll-on, roll-off loading system to transport tractor-trailers between the West and East coasts. This would provide truck drivers with a safe alternative during their federally mandated rest periods.