Castillo Rancon
The US rail map skips some pretty big dots—and it’s not just tiny towns getting left behind. Major metros with booming populations still don’t have a single Amtrak stop. Curious which cities got ghosted by the rails? Grab a window seat and let’s hit the gaps!
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas draws over 40 million annual visitors, but has no Amtrak stop. The Desert Wind line shut down in 1997, where Union Pacific rails once reached the city. Brightline West plans a Southern California link by 2028. It’s the largest metro completely excluded from Amtrak.
Phoenix, AZ
Amtrak left Phoenix in 1996 after route conditions declined. Trains now stop 30 miles away in Maricopa. Although Arizona DOT has floated a Buckeye reroute, Union Pacific didn’t prioritize passenger access. Being the most populous US city without service, Phoenix remains a major outlier in rail coverage.
Columbus, OH
Columbus had lacked Amtrak access since 1979, when the National Limited was dropped. Later plans under the Ohio Hub initiative were shelved in the 2010s. Nearly one million people live here, yet no trains pass through. Amtrak’s Connects US plan includes future Columbus service ideas.
Fresno, CA
Fresno sits along California’s San Joaquin line but has no rail link to Los Angeles. Construction on a high-speed route continues, though the launch is years away. With over 500,000 residents, Fresno is central but undersupplied. It lies on the busiest inland Amtrak corridor in the state.
Nashville, TN
Passenger trains haven’t returned to Nashville since the Floridian route ended in 1979. Current discussions focus on reconnecting to Atlanta; however, no project has broken ground. Local commuter rail (WeGo Star) is limited. Nashville’s airport remains more connected than its long-neglected and still-defunct intercity passenger rail network.
Tampa, FL
Though Tampa and Orlando are less than 90 miles apart, no direct train links them. Amtrak’s Silver Star bypasses Orlando completely. Brightline’s proposed expansion westward lacks a launch date. Tampa Union Station exists but is underutilized. Two major cities, yet still no modern passenger rail tie.
Louisville, KY
The Kentucky Cardinal’s stopping in 2003 ended passenger service in Louisville. Indianapolis, 100 miles away, is the nearest Amtrak point. Once a key crossroads for train traffic, the city lost its last route decades ago. Several revival attempts failed due to high costs and limited support.
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa hasn’t seen Amtrak service since 1971. It relied on the Frisco and Katy lines during the mid-20th century. While BNSF now owns much of the track, it hasn’t approved passenger routes. As a large city of 400,000, Tulsa remains sidelined from America’s passenger rail revival efforts.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis only gets tri-weekly service from Amtrak’s Cardinal line. The Hoosier State route was dropped in 2019. Union Station has lost its former prominence. With limited frequency and coverage, the city has gone from a Midwestern rail hub to a capital with irregular and shrinking service options.
Boise, ID
Boise lost passenger trains in 1997 when the Pioneer Line shut down. The closest station is now over 300 miles away. Union Pacific owns the corridor and runs freight but shows no interest in riders. Despite decades of advocacy, passenger trains haven’t returned to Idaho’s capital.
