Texas road trips might have a serious rival to contend with. Amtrak is upping its Lone Star State game with expanded services, shiny upgrades and the return of those cult-favorite panoramic lounges.
Two of Amtrak’s heavyweight routes—the Texas Eagle and the Sunset Limited—have been given a facelift. Think refurbished interiors, moodier LED lighting, proper dining cars and, most importantly, the reintroduction of the Sightseer Lounge, a glassy observation car where the scenery takes center stage.
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The Texas Eagle now rolls between Chicago and San Antonio three times a week, with extra coaches and sleeping cars boosting capacity. The full journey clocks in at a laid-back 32 hours, 25 minutes, winding through Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, plus smaller but no less charming stops like Longview and San Marcos.
The Sunset Limited takes things even further. This 48-hour stretch links San Antonio and Los Angeles, sweeping through Houston, El Paso, Del Rio and Alpine. It’s a route that showcases the Texas you don’t see from the interstate: desert plains, mountain silhouettes and Big Bend National Park at its most cinematic. Alpine itself is a gem—home to more than 40 murals and the hiking hotspot Hancock Hill, with panoramic views to match those from the train windows.
Behind the scenes, Union Pacific has poured investment into track upgrades along the Sunset Limited, adding extra lines and sidings to help trains glide through bottleneck zones with fewer delays. Accessibility has also been improved across stations and services, with more details promised soon.
The timing couldn’t be better. Netflix House lands in Dallas this December, while FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to bring global crowds to Texas stadiums. Pair that with the state’s all-star attractions—Dallas’s Arts District, Fort Worth’s daily cattle drives, Austin’s live music, San Antonio’s Riverwalk, Houston’s Space Center and El Paso’s Franklin Mountains—and Amtrak suddenly looks like the coolest way to tour Texas without touching a steering wheel.