- Brand USA highlights American rail for 2027 bicentennial
- Canyon Spirit operates daylight-only western journeys
- Amtrak routes include California Zephyr and Coast Starlight
- Heritage railways operate in Colorado, Pennsylvania and West Virginia
- Rail-themed hotels and restored carriages offer overnight stays
Brand USA is inviting visitors to experience American rail in 2027, 200 years after rail began reshaping America. In 2027, the United States marks 200 years since the beginning of its railroad era. Canyon Spirit operates daylight-only journeys through canyons, mountains and red-rock landscapes, linking cities including Denver and Salt Lake City with national parks and outdoor destinations.
Amtrak routes include the California Zephyr between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, the Coast Starlight between Seattle and Los Angeles, and the Empire Builder between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest with a stop at Glacier National Park. Amtrak’s upcoming Airo trains are expected to join Amtrak Cascades, the rail corridor connecting cities including Seattle and Portland. Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service links New Orleans with Mobile, Alabama. The Southwest Chief can parallel portions of the historic Route 66 corridor from Chicago through Mother Road communities and into the Southwestern desert, with stops in Albuquerque and Flagstaff.
Heritage railways include the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through the San Juan Mountains, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad across the Colorado-New Mexico border, the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania, the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia and the Finger Lakes Rail Experience in New York State. Museums and former railway buildings include the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation in Baltimore, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Denver Union Station with the Crawford Hotel, the Durham Museum in Omaha, Kansas City’s Union Station and Cincinnati’s Union Terminal. Overnight stays include Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo in Chattanooga, the Asher Adams hotel in Salt Lake City, Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot in Minneapolis, Idaho Train Stays in Deary, the Antigua Inn in Madrid, New Mexico, The Hamilton in Lamy and Union Pacific cabooses at Two Rivers State Recreation Area near Omaha. Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA, shared that rail is where America’s travel story began, and 200 years later the romance of the rails endures. The Raylrode Daze Festivul in Branchville, South Carolina, maintains a tradition that launched in 1969.
