Sunset Limited

Sunset Limited
The Sunset Limited at Palm Springs, California in 2011
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
LocaleSouthwestern United States
First service1894 (1894)
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Former operator(s)Southern Pacific (1894–1971)
Annual ridership77,288 (FY23) Increase 4.6%[a][1]
Route
TerminiLos Angeles, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Stops20
Distance travelled1,995 mi (3,211 km)
Average journey time
  • 45 hours, 40 minutes (eastbound)
  • 46 hours, 35 minutes (westbound)[2]
Service frequencyThree round trips per week
Train number(s)1 (westbound)
2 (eastbound)
On-board services
Class(es)Coach Class
Sleeper Service
Disabled accessTrain lower level, all stations
Sleeping arrangements
  • Roomette (2 beds)
  • Bedroom (2 beds)
  • Bedroom Suite (4 beds)
  • Accessible Bedroom (2 beds)
  • Family Bedroom (4 beds)
Catering facilitiesDining car, Café
Observation facilitiesSightseer lounge car
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks, checked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Rolling stockGE Genesis
Superliner
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed44 mph (71 km/h) (avg.)
79 mph (127 km/h) (top)
Track owner(s)UP, BNSF

The Sunset Limited is a long-distance passenger train run by Amtrak, operating on a 1,995-mile (3,211 km) route between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Major stops include Houston, San Antonio and El Paso in Texas, as well as Tucson, Arizona. Opening in 1894 through the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Sunset Limited is the oldest continuously operating named train in the United States.

With three round-trip journeys per week, the Sunset Limited is tied with the Cardinal for the lowest frequency of any regularly-scheduled Amtrak route. Each end-to-end journey takes about two days. West of San Antonio, the train runs combined with the Texas Eagle.

From 1993-2005, the Sunset Limited operated an extended service to Miami, Florida, becoming Amtrak's longest and only coast-to-coast train route. Major stops between New Orleans and Miami included Mobile (Alabama), Jacksonville, Orlando, and Hialeah (Florida).[3] However, the route east of New Orleans was permanently halted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.


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  1. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Amtrak Timetable Results". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Amtrak Sunset Limited 1993 Route Guide". TrainWeb.com. February 5, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2024.