Clarification: Amtrak Daily Service, LA-New Orleans

A week or so ago, I posted an item about the proposal for Amtrak to increase service between San Antonio and Los Angeles. The current three-days-a-week schedule is now being provided by the venerable Sunset Limited. The new arrangement would increase that service to a daily schedule. After a reader raised a question, I re-read my original post and realized that some of the information was not correct and, compounding the felony, the writing was confusing, too.

Amtrak’s Harris Cohen was kind enough to send me the correct info. Here’s how the new proposal would work, if implemented.

The Texas Eagle’s schedule would be expanded for the train to run daily in both directions between Chicago and Los Angeles via San Antonio.

Amtrak would add a daily train to provide daytime service in each direction between San Antonio and New Orleans.

Texas Eagle passengers heading east to New Orleans will be able to make a smooth connection to the new daily train in San Antonio. Likewise, westbound passengers coming from New Orleans will be able to make that same transfer in San Antonio.

In addition to the expanded service, there are other benefots. For one, nearly seven hours would be shaved off the schedule between LA and Chicago.

Nothing is definite yet, but it is possible – Note: I say possible – that this new service could take effect as early as this Fall.