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The Amtrak Sunset Limited is a Superliner train that runs three times a week in each direction, traveling between New Orleans, LA, and Los Angeles, CA. The train passes through several states, including Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, with 20 intermediate station stops. Notable cities along the route include San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson, and Phoenix, each adding its unique charm to the journey.

The train covers 1995 miles from end to end and completes its cross-country adventure in under 46 hours.

The Sunset Limited is longer between San Antonio and LA because it incorporates a few cars from the Texas Eagle. If traveling between those cities, you can book your trip on either train; choose the more affordable option.

After reading this article, you’ll understand the train and the schedule, allowing you to plan and book your next Amtrak adventure easily.

A quick look at the Sunset Limited

Here is an overview of this train:

• Sunset Limited accommodations
  • Coach class
  • Sleeper (rooms) accommodations
• Food services
  • A cafe car is open to all.
  • Transitional dining car with priority to sleeping passengers
  • You can bring food and drink aboard
• Wi-Fi is not available on this train
• Checked baggage is not available at all stations.
• Smoking and vaping are not permitted.

What you can see on a Sunset Limited adventure!

Embark on an unforgettable journey between Louisiana and California along our scenic southernmost route. Step aboard the Sunset Limited and immerse yourself in the captivating sights outside your window. From the enchanting Bayou Country to the rugged Mexican border, the vast, southwestern deserts, and the majestic peaks of California’s mountains, you’ll experience breathtaking scenery.

Plus, make seamless connections to other Amtrak trains, such as the Texas Eagle, Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, and San Joaquins, expanding your adventure further.

A few personal highlights on this journey include spotting the Prada Store in the desert and, if you’re lucky, enjoying a tasty burrito from the Burrito Lady in El Paso! On the other end of the route, the Huey P. Long Bridge is an exciting experience, giving the feeling of flying at one point and being in the middle of a highway at another. There is much more to see on this route.

Sunset Limited Booking Sidenote

If you get an error when booking this train, it could be because you are trying to book on a day this train does not run. Check the schedule below to see what day of the week the train stops.

If you are traveling between San Antonio and LA, it does not matter if you are on train 1 or 421; the same is true with 2 or 422. For more information, check out this article about trains with multiple route numbers.

The Amtrak Sunset Limited Limited has on-time performances and hosts railroads.

Regardless of the transportation, delays can happen. When it comes to train travel, sometimes these delays are due to Amtrak, but often, they are due to the host railroads.

• The Sunset Limited average on-time performance per station:
  • February 2023 to February 2024 40.7%
  • February 2024, 51.5%

Trains can often make up time, and that number does not reflect every station.

The host railroads and the cause of delays

Sunset Limited has to travel 15 or more miles to make this list, and these are the top two delays caused to Amtrak trains by these railroads. Learn more about the causes of Amtrak delays.

• BNSF
  • The train runs on 190 miles of tracks
  • Delays they cause are signal delays and slow order delays.
• UP
  • The train runs 1784 miles on UP tracks
  • Delays caused by freight train interference and slow order delays.

In fairness, slow order delays can be for safety, for example, if there is track work or extreme weather.

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

Coach Class Seating on the Sunset Limited

The Sunset Limited coach seating offerings

• Upper and lower seat options
• Comfortable reclining seats with ample legroom
• A fold-down tray
• Individual reading lights
• 120v grounded electric outlets (three prongs) on the wall.
  • Bring an extension cord.
• These cars have luggage storage above your seat with additional storage on a rack on the lower level by the stairs.
• The bathrooms are on the lower level.

Sunset Limited coach class car layout

Sleeper Car (Rooms) on the Sunset Limited

All rooms include:

• Fresh linens and towels
• Traditional Dining
• Lounge access in Los Angeles and New Orleans
• Dedicated car attendant
• Curtains for privacy and to block out the light
• Room lights, plus night and reading lights.
• Your room will have a closet or a hook to hang things, and Amtrak will provide hangers.

Types of rooms offered

There are four types of rooms offered on this train.

• Roomette
  • Grand for one cozy for two
  • 1-10 on the upper level and 11-14 on the lower.
• Bedroom
  • Great for two and offers the most out of any accommodation on this train!
  • Only on the upper level
• Family bedroom
  • This car is great for two adults and two little ones.
  • On the lower level of the car
• Accessible room
  • A room for those with mobility challenges.
  • Room for a travel companion

Superliner sleeper car layout

Sunset Limited add-ons

You can add a few things to your reservations that could improve your trip.

Bikes

• Space is available for standard, full-size bicycles.
  • Up to 50 lbs, 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches
  • Amtrak stores bikes in the baggage car (if available).
• Learn more about this and the complete rules on Amtrak’s bike policy page.

Pets and service animals

• Amtrak allows dogs and cats to be allowed if they meet these qualifications.
  • You are allowed up to 20 pounds with the combined weight of the pet and carrier.
  • Your trip needs to be seven hours or less.
  • Your fluffy friend needs to be on your reservation
    • After you complete your reservation, Amtrak will electronically send you a form to fill out before you leave for the station. You can also find the paperwork in the My Trip section.
• To learn more, check out Amtrak’s pet policy.

If you have a service or comfort animal, please read Amtrak’s service animal policy before booking your trip.

Luggage: checked and carry on

Not all locations can handle checked baggage, so click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service.

• Your first and last stops both need to provide checked bag service to do it.
• Amtrak allows you to check two bags up to 50 lbs of seventy-five linear inches per person for free.
• Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
  • You can check up to four bags per passenger passenger.
• Here is more information: check out Amtrak’s checked bag service policy.

Each passenger may carry on:

• One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches, and 
• 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.

Acceablilty on this train

There is a wheelchair ramp that is available to assist passengers with a wheeled mobility device in boarding and detraining. There is also lower-level coach seating for those with mobility challenges and an accessible bedroom if you want private and more space.

Food service on the Amtrak Sunset Limited

There are two food cars on this train!

Amtrak Cafe

The café is on the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge. The car is between the dining room and coach cars in the train’s center. The cafe takes cash and cards; if you want to use a card onboard or buy an adult beverage, have your ID ready.

It is generally open from 6 am to 10 pm, but hours may vary, so please listen for announcements. The car does close during the day for the attendant’s meal breaks.

You can purchase a variety of hot and cold meals and snacks, as well as hot, cold, and adult beverages. The café attendant will warm your purchased products. Selections can change, and the availability of all items along your adventure is not guaranteed, for this car gets filled at the beginning of the trip.

You can bring food and drinks aboard the train, but Amtrak cannot heat, refrigerate, or store them. You can only drink alcohol you brought on the train if you are in a sleeper’s accommodation. If you are in coach class, leave it packed, or you could get removed from the train.

Amtrak Sunset Limited Dining Car

The Sunset Limited features a dining car that provides sit-down meals, traditional chef-prepared dishes, and table service.

There are breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner options and choices for kids. Along with your meals, you get complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, but the dining car offers a variety of wine, beer, and spirits for purchase. If you eat dinner on the train, your first adult beverage is on Amtrak!

Meals are complimentary for sleeping passengers and can be eaten in the dining car or delivered to their rooms. Limited reservations are available for coach passengers, and the meals are at a set price.

The Sunset Limited Broken Down By The Day And Dining Car Meals Offered

If you are looking to see what meals you get on the Sunset Limited, this table will help you figure it out.

DIRECTION	CITY SECTIONS	DAY OF TRAVEL	MEALS OFFERED
#1 Westbound	New Orleans, LA – Houston, TX	1	Lunch & Dinner
	San Antonio, TX, – Yuma, AZ	2	Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
	Palm Springs, AZ – Los Angeles, CA	3	No Meal – early arrivel
#2 Eastbound	Los Angeles, CA – Ontario, CA	1	No Meal – late departure
	Palm Springs, CA -Sander, TX	2	Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
	Del Rio, TX – New Orleans, LA	3	Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Amtrak Sunset Limited Schedule

It is a short stop if the station does not list an Arrival and departure time. This train runs three days a week, as indicated under the times.

Trains 1 Westbound	Communities Served	–	Train 2 Eastbound
Read Down	Runs Three Times A Week	Miles	Last Stop
9:00a Mo, We, Sa	New Orleans, LA Union Passenger Terminal (NOL)	0	9:40p Tu, Fr, Su
10:30a	Schriever, LA (SCH)	56	7:03p
11:56a	New Iberia, LA (NIB)	127	5:41p
12:24p	Lafayette, LA (LFT)	145	5:15p
1:55p	Lake Charles, LA (LCH)	219	3:29p
3:34p | 3:48p	Beaumont, TX (BMT)	281	1:53p | 2:05p
6:18p | 6:55p Mo, We, Sa	Houston, TX Amtrak Station (HOS)	363	11:10a | 12:10p
12:05a | 2:45a Tu, Th, Su	San Antonio, TX (SAS)	573	5:00a | 6:25a
5:52a	Del Rio, TX (DRT)	742	1:12a Tu, Fr, Su
8:27a	Sanderson, TX (SND)	868	10:46p Mo, Th, Sa
10:31a | 10:41a	Alpine, TX (ALP)	959	8:45p | 8:55
1:25p | 1:50p	El Paso, TX Union Depot (ELP)	1178	3:00p | 3:45p
3:38p	Deming, NM (DEM)	1264	12:48p
4:33p	Lordsburg, NM (LDB)	1325	11:53a
5:38p	Benson, AZ (BEN)	1443	8:53a
7:00p | 7:15p	Tucson, AZ (TUS)	1493	7:38a | 7:53a
8:32p | 9:02p	Maricopa, AZ (MRC)	1597	5:35a | 5:55a
11:49p Tu, Th, Su	Yuma, AZ (YUM)	1744	3:47a
2:02a We, Fr, Mo	Palm Springs, CA Amtrak Station (PSN)	1890	12:36a Mo, Th, Sa
3:54a	Ontario, CA (ONA)	1957	10:54p Su, We, Fr
4:04a	Pomona, CA (POS)	1964	10:41p
5:35a We, Fr, Mo	Los Angeles, CA – Union Station (LAX)	1995	10:00p Su, We, Fr
Last Stop	Station	Miles	Read Up

Abbreviations

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

D = Depart only; you can buy a ticket to this station but not from this station.

* = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.

Printable Amtrak Sunset Limited Schedule

You can print the schedule below or custom schedules catered to your tip from Amtrak.com, with layover and other transportation. Learn how to print Amtrak schedules.