Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule
Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule

Texas Eagle (Amtrak): Chicago – San Antonio – LA

Consider a trip aboard the Amtrak Texas Eagle, a daily Superliner train between Chicago and San Antonio, Texas. The train continues to Los Angeles three days a week as part of the Sunset Limited route. With its blend of comfort, convenience, and charm, the Texas Eagle offers a unique experience—almost two trains in one, three days a week.

The journey covers 1305 miles from Chicago to San Antonio, offering passengers a glimpse into the heart of America. Along the way, the journey stops at various towns and cities. For those interested in heading to the West Coast, the adventure continues past San Antonio. The Texas Eagle heads Westward, embarking on a 66-hour, 2728-mile voyage between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Like all Amtrak trains, smoking or vaping is prohibited on the Texas Eagle train.

Whether you’re interested in the cultural richness of San Antonio, the urban allure of Chicago, or the laid-back vibes of Los Angeles, the Amtrak Texas Eagle invites you to come aboard and discover the beauty of America, one mile at a time.

Texas Eagle Schedule Changes

Effective Sunday, November 10, 2024
Due to infrastructure work being performed by Union Pacific Railroad, the Texas Eagle Service will be adjusted on November 10. Schedule times listed on Amtrak.com have been updated to reflect these changes.

Train 22, which normally operates between San Antonio and Chicago, will terminate at St. Louis. Bus 3022 will provide alternate transportation between St. Louis and Chicago.Southbound/Westbound

Train 21, which normally operates between Chicago and San Antonio, will originate at St. Louis. Bus 3021 will provide alternate transportation between Chicago and St. Louis.
Train 421, which normally operates between Chicago and Los Angeles, will originate at St. Louis. Bus 3021 will provide alternate transportation between Chicago and St. Louis.

Amtrak Texas Eagle fueling in STL
The Texas Eagle is fueling in St Louis, MO.

What you should know about the Texas Eagle

About the Texas Eagle route

My first Amtrak trip in a Superliner roomette was on the Texas Eagle, and that experience hooked me on getting sleeping accommodations.

The Texas Eagle offers a journey through the heart of the Lone Star State. This train departs from Chicago and travels to San Antonio, with intermediate stops including Austin and Dallas. The route includes scenic views of the Land of Lincoln, the Mississippi River, the Ozarks, and the piney woods of East Texas.

Cows in a field around McGregor, Texas, as seen from the windows of the Texas Eagle.
A view from the train window around McGregor, Texas

After arriving in Dallas, passengers can explore the city’s vibrant culture. The train then continues to Austin, known for its dynamic atmosphere and thriving arts scene. The final destination is San Antonio, famous for the Alamo and the charming Riverwalk.

If you want to see the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and California, you can travel on the Texas Eagle to Los Angeles three days a week.

Along this route, part of the Eagle joins the Sunset Limited. From the train, you can see Mexico, the Prada store in the desert, and, if you’re lucky, a tasty burrito from the Burrito Lady in El Paso!

Buckle up and get ready to experience the best of Texas and the Southwest aboard the Texas Eagle!

For more information about the stops, refer to the Texas Eagle route guide Amtrak published years ago. Although old, it still contains fascinating history and tidbits to enhance your journey.

Booking on the Amtrak Texas Eagle

You have a few options for booking this train. You can use Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app, or call them at 1-800-USA-RAIL.

When you book, you may see an option for trains 21 or 421; in the other direction, 22 or 422, you can pick whatever is cheaper. All that means is when you want to ride, cars are on that train, either going to or coming from Los Angeles.

The on-time performance of the Amtrak Texas Eagle and Track ownership

It’s important to remember that delays can happen to any transportation, including Amtrak trains. While Amtrak is responsible for some of these delays, it’s crucial to understand that many are actually out of its control because Amtrak doesn’t own most of the tracks it operates on and relies on the host railroads that do. Unfortunately, these host railroads sometimes prioritize their trains over Amtrak’s, leading to delays.

For the 21/22 Chicago to San Antonio section, Amtrak reported that the train’s average passenger on-time performance was 63.6% from September 2023 to 2024, with an average delay of 90 minutes. However, for September 2024, the train’s average passenger on-time performance was 62.5%, with an average delay of 71 minutes.

Here are the host railroads (15 miles or more) for this train and the top two reasons that each railroad added to or caused delays for this train:

  • BNSF (116 miles) experienced delays due to slow orders and freight train interference.
  • CN-IC (35 miles) experienced delays due to freight train interference and signal delays.
  • UP (1073 miles) experienced delays due to freight train interference and slow orders.
  • TRE (33 miles) experienced commuter train interference and signal delays.

The information from this section is from the Amtrak Host Railroad Report September 2024.

Coach class on Amtrak Texas Eagle

Amtrak Superliner coach seats
Amtrak Superliner lower-level coach seating (Photo courtesy of Amtrak.com)

The Texas Eagle has Amtrak coach seating,

  • Upper and lower-level seating options
  • Comfortable reclining seats with ample legroom
  • A fold-down tray
  • Individual reading lights
  • Grounded (three-prong) 120v electric outlets on the wall.
    • Pack and extension cord.
  • Coach storage
    • There are overhead luggage racks.
    • Additional luggage storage on the lower level
  • Restrooms are in each car on the lower level.

This accommodation does not have access to showers, but the Amtrak shower article offers some ideas for the coach passengers to stay fresh as they travel.

Amtrak Superliner Coach Car Diagram
Superliner coach car diagram: Some cars do not have lower seating but have a space for baggage.

Sleeper Car (Rooms) on the Texas Eagle

Amtrak sleeping accommodations are my happy place on the Texas Eagle because they allow me to sleep horizontally, have extra privacy, and more. 

Amtrak Superliner roomette seat
Amtrak Superliner roomette seat

Room on the Texas Eagle provides fresh linens, towels, and pillows to help you get a good night’s sleep. 

Your reservation includes all your scheduled meals.

As a passenger on the Texas Eagle, you can access station lounges in Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. 

A dedicated car attendant will be at your service, ready to assist with any request.

For added privacy and comfort, each room has curtains on all windows. You can lock the door from the inside while you are in your room, but you cannot lock the door when you leave.

Your daytime seating transforms into a comfortable berth, becoming a cozy bed at night. Please note that if you choose a room with an upper bunk, someone must climb up to access it.

Amtrak provides hanging space for clothing, complete with hangers. For your convenience, a coffee and juice station is available, and each room has at least one 120-ground (three-prong) outlet. I highly suggest bringing an extension cord with you, preferably with multiple outlets on end.

All sleeping car passengers have access to a shower. If you have reserved a bedroom, the shower is within your private bathroom. All other accommodations can use the shower on the lower level. Amtrak provides towels, washcloths, and soap, either bar or soft. If you need more than that, you may need to pack it. 

Accommodations offered

  • Roomettes
    • Amtrak’s smallest accommodations
    • Great for solo travelers, comfy for two.
  • Bedrooms
    • Twice the space of a roomette and more.
    • The room has an ensuite bathroom with a shower and a sink.
  • Accessible room
    • Accommodation for passengers with mobility challenges.
    • To reserve this room, call Amtrak.
  • Family Bedroom
    • Provides seating and berths for two adults and two smaller kids

Texas Eagle sleeping car layout

Superliner Sleeper
The layout of a Superliner Sleeper Car.

Bikes and Pets on the Texas Eagle

Bikes

  • Amtrak has space available for standard, full-size bicycles
    • Up to 50 lbs, 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches
    • Amtrak stores bikes in designated bike racks in the baggage car
    • Check out the Amtrack bicycle page for more information and the latest policy.

Pets

  • You can bring your cat or dog aboard the Texas Eagle
    • Your cat or dog must be under 20 pounds, including pet and carrier.
    • The journey must be under seven hours.
    • Amtrak requires reservations for your fluffy friend!
    • Pet owners must complete paperwork that Amtrak will electronically send once the reservation process is complete. Passengers can also find the paperwork in the My Trip section of the website and app.
    • Before booking, read the Amtrak pet police.

If you plan to bring a service or comfort animal, before booking, review the Amtrak service animal policy to ensure your animal qualifies and for booking instructions.

Luggage – carry-on and checked

You need to know a few things if you want to check baggage.

  • Amtrak allows two bags up to 50 lbs. and 75 linear inches per person for free.
  • You can check two additional bags for a fee.
  • Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage,
  • Not all locations can handle checked baggage
  • Your first and last station needs to offer checked bag service.
    • Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service.

Each passenger may carry on:

  • One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
  • Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each

If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each.

Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

Accessibility on the Eagle

A wheelchair Ramp is available to assist passengers in boarding and detraining with a wheeled mobility device.

There are accessible sleeping accommodations available, but other rooms may be available based on your abilities. There is also lower-level coach class seating.

The Cafe car on the Texas Eagle

The cafe car is open to all passengers throughout the route but is closed at night and for breaks.

  • The cafe features:
    • A variety of hot and cold meals
    • Snacks,
    • Hot, cold, and adult beverages

If you are traveling between Chicago and San Antonio, the cafe car is between coach and sleeping car, and you will find the attendant on the upper level.

For those traveling between San Antonio and Los Angeles, the cafe is on the lower level of the Sightseer car between the coach and dining car.

Sleeper car passengers/dining car meals on the Texas Eagle

Depending on your departure and arrival stations, You can have either or both Amtrak meal types.

Flex dining meals are served on trains 21 or 22 and 421 or 422 between San Antonio and Chicago.

Traditional Dining on trains 421 and 422 between LA and San Antonio.

DIRECTIONCITY SECTIONSDAY OF TRAVELMeal TypeMEALS OFFERED
#21-421
Southbound
Chicago, IL – Poplar Bluff, MO1FDinner
#21 endsWalnut Ridge, AR – San Antonio, TX2FBreakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
#421 joins #1San Antonio, TX – Maricopa, AZ3TBreakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Yuma, AZ – Los Angeles, CA4TNo Meal
#422 EastboundLos Angeles, CA – Ontario, CA1TNo Meal
Palm Springs, CA – Sanderson, TX2TBreakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
#422 Hooks with #22
in San Antonio, TX
Del Rio, TX – Little Rock, AR3 for 422
1 for 22
FBreakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
#22-422 San Antonio
to Chicago
Walnut Ridge, AR – Chicago, IL4 for 422
2 for 22
FBreakfast & Lunch
The route by the day. F = Flex T = Tradtonal

This chart breaks down the route by day, where you can see what meal type you will get.

If you are traveling between San Antonio and LA, skip to the next section; if you are traveling through San Antonio, check out both sections.

Flex dining on the Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio.

Flex dining is a complimentary meal system for sleeping passengers. It includes warmed-prepared breakfast and dinner, as well as complimentary beverages. Passengers can choose to eat the meals in their rooms or in the cafe car. Flex dining meals are not available to coach passengers.

Meals on trains 421/422 between San Antonio, TX, and Los Angeles, CA

Amtrak omelette breakfast
An Amtrak traditional dining omelet breakfast.

Traditional Dining

  • Complimentary for sleeper car passengers
    • These are chef-prepared meals.
  • Offerings include breakfast, lunch, and dinner with selections for kids,
  • Meals come with non-alcoholic beverages.
  • You can purchase an array of wine, beer, and spirits.
  • Your first adult beverage with dinner is on Amtrak.
  • If space is available, coach passengers can eat in the dining car with reservations.
    • Meals are a set price for coach passengers.
    • You can eat your meals in the dining car or sleeping accommodation.

Tips for first-time Amtrak Texas Eagle rides!

We only know as much as you know, and this section is here to help you expand your knowledge base.

You can book via Amtrak’s app or website. If you need help, you can go to a staffed station or call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-Rail.

Not all Amtrak Texas Eagle stations have staff; you can learn about the different Amtrak stations. As you prepare for your trip, you may have questions about tickets and boarding the train. You can use digital tickets or print them out, and do not forget to bring an ID. If this is your first trip, or you have not been on Amtrak in a while, you may want to check out my article on boarding Amtrak trains.

Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule

‘This chart is a guide; always check with the electric version of your tick for the most up-to-date times or consult the Amtrak website.

Printable Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule

You can use the button below or print a custom schedule from Amtrak.com. Learn how to print your own Amtrak schedule.

The New schedule will be up soon!

Amtrak Texas Eagle Schedule Abbreviations

R = Receive passengers only; this means you can board the train and travel south, but you cannot buy a ticket from Chicago to this station on this train.

D = Depart only; you cannot buy a ticket from this station to Chicago on this train.

* = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.

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Kevin Monteith

Kev Monteith has been traveling on Amtrak since 2012. With over a decade of experience, he has been on over 800 trains, covering over 200k miles of rail. Kev enjoys helping others achieve their travel dreams by providing support and information. Outside of travel, Kev enjoys making music as an organist and outings with family.

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