High-Speed Rail Proposal Seeks to Connect Los Angeles to New York City

A new high-speed rail line aims to link Los Angeles and New York City ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Dubbed “The Transcontinental Chief,” this initiative was presented to Amtrak, as well as former President Trump and his Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy. The goal is to enable travel between these two major cities in just 72 hours.

Ameristar Rail, based in Delaware, plans to utilize the existing infrastructure owned by Amtrak and various other rail companies across key cities including Kansas City, Chicago, and Philadelphia. This approach focuses on leveraging current resources instead of embarking on extensive new public projects.

The project is designed to be funded by private investors rather than involving taxpayer money. According to Ameristar, it will feature passenger and cargo vehicles inspired by European train systems.

The spokesperson for Ameristar expressed optimism that the rail line could be operational by May 10, 2026, just in time for the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

A spokesperson indicated that “the Transcontinental Chief provides a wonderful chance for Amtrak to collaborate with the private sector, addressing the challenges faced by long-distance services that often run at a loss. This could usher in a new era of profitable rail travel for both passengers and freight.”

This plan was shared with President Trump and Secretary Duffy, and aims to prevent taxpayers from shouldering the financial burden.

As for operational timelines, Ameristar is eyeing a launch on National Train Day, which coincides with the celebrations for America 250 and the FIFA World Cup.

Interestingly, while the proposal is ambitious, as of now, there hasn’t been any public response from Amtrak.