Amtrak: Train Travel in the USA and How It Compares to India’s Railways

When you think of train travel in the Amtrak, the national passenger railroad service of the United States, you might picture long, slow rides through open landscapes—mountains, deserts, forests—without the rush of airports or traffic. But here’s the thing: Amtrak isn’t just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s a different kind of travel experience, one that’s more about the journey than the destination. And if you’ve ever ridden a train in India, you already know how powerful that feeling can be.

India’s Indian railways, the world’s largest railway network under a single management, carrying over 23 million passengers daily is chaos turned into culture. It’s packed trains, street vendors selling chai at platforms, and overnight journeys where you sleep above the wheels and wake up in a different state. Amtrak? It’s quieter. Cleaner. Fewer people. But it doesn’t move as fast, and it doesn’t cover as much ground. Still, both systems share something rare today: they let you see the country unfold outside your window. That’s why people choose them—not because they’re the fastest, but because they’re the most alive.

And that’s exactly why you’ll find posts here about scenic train journeys, routes where the landscape is the main attraction—whether it’s Amtrak’s Coast Starlight winding through California, or India’s Palace on Wheels gliding through Rajasthan. You’ll also find comparisons between how these two countries handle rail tourism, what travelers actually pay, and which routes are worth the time. Some posts dig into how train travel affects local economies, while others just give you the real scoop on whether you should book a sleeper car or stick with a bus.

You won’t find fluff here. No marketing speak. Just straight talk on what these trains are really like—what you’ll see, what you’ll pay, and whether it’s worth it. Whether you’re planning a trip across the American Midwest or exploring India’s hill stations by rail, this collection gives you the facts you need to decide. And if you’ve ever wondered why someone would choose a 24-hour train ride over a two-hour flight, these stories will show you why.