A private rail venture in Delaware has proposed a high-speed rail project that would stretch from one side of the U.S. to the other.
AmeriStarRail, a startup specializing in high-speed and intermodal passenger rail, pitched a partnership with Amtrak to launch the “Transcontinental Chief,” a high-speed rail route that would run between Los Angeles and New York in under 72 hours.
Work on high-speed rail projects across the U.S. remains stagnant. Only a few networks are underway, and they face increasing local and federal opposition. The largest high-speed rail project being worked on is in California, where 500 miles of track are planned to connect San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego.
What To Know
In an open letter to Roger Harris, the president of Amtrak, AmeriStarRail proposed a joint venture with the goal of making Amtrak generate a profit.
“The Transcontinental Chief will be a great opportunity for Amtrak to team up with the private sector to confront the challenges of its money-losing long-distance trains and 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,” Scott Spencer, AmeriStarRail’s chief operating officer, wrote in the letter.
The proposed service would blend elements of Europe’s truck transport trains with U.S. passenger rail operations, offering vehicle-boarding for truckers and travelers alongside Amtrak-style accommodations and amenities.
AmeriStarRail pitched the initiative to launch by May 10, 2026, timed to coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations and the FIFA World Cup.
The startup, which previously advocated for upgrading Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor with private investment, said the new long-distance service could be launched without additional federal spending or congressional action thanks to private investment.
The plan includes major stops at Harrisburg, Chicago and the Grand Canyon before reaching Los Angeles.
The new route would replace Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian lines and rely on existing infrastructure from host railroads, including BNSF, Norfolk Southern and New Jersey Transit.
Unlike past rail startups that have required federal funding, AmeriStarRail says its model is entirely privately funded. The company has presented the proposal to President Donald Trump, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and members of Congress.
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for AmeriStarRail told Newsweek: “AmeriStarRail’s proposal to turn Amtrak’s money-losing long-distance trains into profit makers has also been shared with President Trump, DOGE, USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy, the FRA and Members of Congress.
“Subject to operating agreements with the host railroads (BNSF, Norfolk Southern and New Jersey Transit) the Transcontinental Chief can start operations on National Train Day, Sunday, May 10, 2026 to begin serving tourists for America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The Transcontinental Chief can be privately operated and funded, without new congressional legislation or additional federal spending.”
What Happens Next
Amtrak has yet to respond to the pitch from AmeriStarRail and has not acted on previous pitches made by the company.
