Sunset Limited

Sunset Limited
The Sunset Limited near Vail, Arizona, in 2025
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
LocaleSouthwestern United States
First service1894 (1894)
Current operatorAmtrak
Former operatorSouthern Pacific (1894–1971)
Annual ridership91,493 (FY 25)  18.9%
Route
TerminiLos Angeles, California
New Orleans, Louisiana
Stops20
Distance travelled1,995 mi (3,211 km)
Average journey time
  • 45 hours, 40 minutes (eastbound)
  • 46 hours, 35 minutes (westbound)
Service frequencyThree round trips per week
Train numbers1 (westbound)
2 (eastbound)
On-board services
ClassesCoach Class
First Class Sleeper Service
Disabled accessTrain lower level, all stations
Sleeping arrangements
  • Roomette (2 beds)
  • Bedroom (2 beds)
  • Bedroom Suite (4 beds)
  • Accessible Bedroom (2 beds)
  • Family Bedroom (4 beds)
Catering facilitiesDining car, Café
Observation facilitiesSightseer lounge car
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks, checked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Rolling stock
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed44 mph (71 km/h) (avg.)
79 mph (127 km/h) (top)
Track ownersUP, BNSF
Route map
Service suspended
to Orlando
Service suspended
to Orlando
Orlando
Winter Park
Sanford
DeLand
Palatka
Jacksonville
Lake City
Madison
Tallahassee
Chipley
Crestview
Pensacola
Atmore
Service suspended
to Orlando
Mobile
Pascagoula
Biloxi
Gulfport
Bay St. Louis
0
New Orleans
56 mi
90 km
Schriever
126 mi
203 km
New Iberia
145 mi
233 km
Lafayette
219 mi
352 km
Lake Charles
279 mi
449 km
Beaumont
363 mi
584 km
Houston
574 mi
924 km
San Antonio
744 mi
1197 km
Del Rio
870 mi
1400 km
Sanderson
961 mi
1547 km
Alpine
1183 mi
1904 km
El Paso
1271 mi
2045 km
Deming
1331 mi
2142 km
Lordsburg
1446 mi
2327 km
Benson
1493 mi
2403 km
Tucson
Pre-1996 route
via Phoenix
Pre-1996 route
via Phoenix
Coolidge
Tempe
Phoenix
1579 mi
2541 km
Maricopa
1744 mi
2807 km
Yuma
Indio
Closed 1998
1894 mi
3048 km
Palm Springs
1957 mi
3149 km
Ontario
1963 mi
3159 km
Pomona
Alhambra
Closed 1975
1995 mi
3211 km
Los Angeles

The Sunset Limited is a long-distance passenger train run by Amtrak, operating on a 1,995-mile (3,211 km) route between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Major stops include Houston, San Antonio and El Paso in Texas, as well as Tucson, Arizona. Opening in 1894 through the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Sunset Limited is the oldest continuously operating named train in the United States.

With three round-trip journeys per week, the Sunset Limited is tied with the Cardinal for the lowest frequency of any regularly scheduled Amtrak route. Each end-to-end journey takes about two days. West of San Antonio, the train runs combined with the Texas Eagle.

From 1993 to 2005, the Sunset Limited operated an extended service to Florida, terminating in Miami from 1993 to 1996 and in Orlando for most of 1996 through 2005, and becoming Amtrak's longest and only coast-to-coast train route. Major stops between New Orleans and Miami included Mobile (Alabama), Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Orlando (Florida). However, the route east of New Orleans was permanently halted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There have been attempts to re-extend the service back to Florida but have stalled mainly due to administrative and political obstacles. Amtrak restored service from New Orleans to Mobile in the form of the Mardi Gras Service in August 2025.