You’ve probably seen the headlines. You might have even tried to book a ticket on the Amtrak website, only to find yourself staring at a "Thruway Bus" connection that takes five hours from Los Angeles. It’s frustrating. For decades, the dream of taking Amtrak to Las Vegas Nevada has been a cycle of hype, bureaucratic stalls, and "coming soon" promises that never quite materialize.
The truth is a bit messy.
Currently, if you want to get to Sin City on those iconic blue-and-red cars, you can’t. At least, not directly. The Desert Wind, Amtrak’s legendary route that connected Chicago to LA via Vegas, took its final breath in 1997. Since then, the tracks have been quiet, save for the occasional Union Freight train hauling shipping containers through the Mojave.
But things are shifting. Fast.
The Reality of Amtrak to Las Vegas Nevada Right Now
If you go to the Amtrak app today and type in LAS, you aren't going to find a train station. You'll find a bus stop. Specifically, Amtrak runs a "Thruway" bus service that connects passengers from the North San Diego or Los Angeles Union Station areas to the Las Vegas Strip.
It's okay. It’s not great.
You get the Greyhound experience with an Amtrak logo. You're stuck on I-15. You're dealing with the same "Stoddard Wells" traffic jams as everyone else. Honestly, if you're looking for the romance of the rails, this isn't it. People often mistake this bus connection for a train service, leading to some pretty disappointed tourists standing at the bus curb behind the Horseshoe (formerly Bally's).
The actual rail gap exists because Amtrak doesn't own the tracks. Union Pacific does. And Union Pacific’s primary job is moving massive amounts of cargo, not making sure you get to your blackjack table by 8:00 PM. Sharing those tracks is a logistical nightmare that has killed several "X-Train" and "Z-Train" proposals over the last twenty years.
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Why the Desert Wind Failed
The old route was beautiful but slow. It took forever. In the 90s, the Desert Wind was plagued by delays because freight trains took priority on the single-track sections. By the time it was axed, the federal government was looking to trim "underperforming" long-distance routes. Vegas, surprisingly, didn't have the lobbyist pull back then to save it.
The Brightline West Factor: Not Amtrak, But Close
Here is where the nuance comes in. While everyone searches for Amtrak to Las Vegas Nevada, the real story is Brightline West.
This is a private company, not a government entity. They are currently building a high-speed rail line that will connect Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga. From there, you'd jump on a Metrolink train to get into downtown LA.
Wait. Why does this matter for Amtrak fans?
Because Amtrak is watching. In early 2024, the Biden-Harris administration injected billions into rail infrastructure. While Brightline is the shiny new toy, Amtrak has been "studying" (their favorite word) the restoration of the multi-state route that would pass through Vegas. The difference now is the federal money. We are talking about the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development Program.
Basically, the government is paying to see if they can bring the trains back.
The Infrastructure Law Changes Everything
The $66 billion allocated for rail in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the first time since Amtrak’s inception in 1971 that the money actually matches the ambition. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has been vocal about "Vegas-to-LA" being a primary target for American high-speed rail.
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It's not just a pipe dream anymore. It's a construction site.
What the Journey Would Actually Look Like
Forget the bus. Imagine leaving Union Station in LA. You’d pass through the San Bernardino mountains, hitting the high desert. If the route follows the old Desert Wind path, you’re looking at some of the most starkly beautiful scenery in the American West. Joshua trees. Red rock formations. The kind of stuff you miss when you're doing 80mph in a rented Kia.
- Speed: We aren't talking about the Acela (150mph). We are talking about traditional long-distance speeds, likely averaging 60-70mph due to the mountain passes.
- Amenities: This is where Amtrak wins over flying. You have the Sightseer Lounge. You have a dining car. You have actual legroom.
- The "Vegas Stop": Most plans place the station near the South Strip or Downtown, near the Plaza Hotel, which actually still has the old train platform infrastructure tucked away in its bones.
If you’ve ever flown into Harry Reid International (LAS) on a Friday night, you know the hell of the taxi line. A train station at the Plaza would put you right in the heart of Fremont Street. No Uber surge pricing. Just walk off the train and buy a yard-long margarita.
The Political and Environmental Tug-of-War
Not everyone wants this.
Airlines like Southwest, which basically treat the LA-to-Vegas flight like a city bus, aren't exactly thrilled. Then there’s the environmental impact. Building new tracks through the Mojave Desert involves disturbing the habitat of the Desert Tortoise. That sounds minor until you realize a single lawsuit can stall a rail project for five years.
However, the carbon footprint of 50 million people driving or flying to Vegas every year is massive. The argument for Amtrak to Las Vegas Nevada is largely an environmental one now. One train can take hundreds of cars off the I-15. That’s less smog in the Cajon Pass and fewer frustrated drivers at the Barstow Del Taco.
Comparing Your Options: Train vs. Plane vs. Car
Let's get real for a second.
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If you drive, it’s 4 to 5 hours. If there's an accident at the Primm border? It’s 9 hours. I've done it. It’s miserable.
If you fly, the flight is 45 minutes. But you have to get to LAX two hours early. You have to deal with TSA. You have to wait for your bags. Total time? Still about 4 hours.
If a train existed today, it would likely take 5.5 hours. So why do people want it? Because you can work. You can sleep. You can drink a beer in the cafe car while watching the sunset over the Mojave. It’s about the experience, not just the destination.
The Timeline: When Can You Actually Buy a Ticket?
If we are talking about a true Amtrak to Las Vegas Nevada long-distance route, we are looking at 2028 or later. The FRA studies are slow. Engineering a way to share freight tracks without causing massive delays takes years of negotiation with Union Pacific.
Brightline West is aiming for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. If they succeed, it is highly likely Amtrak will try to negotiate "trackage rights" or create a partnership.
Don't hold your breath for 2025.
Actionable Next Steps for Travelers
Since you can't hop on a train today, here is how you navigate the current system and prepare for the future.
- Use the Thruway Bus if you must: If you’re coming from a distant Amtrak city (like Chicago or Denver), you can book a single ticket that includes the bus to Vegas. It’s convenient because Amtrak guarantees the connection. If the train is late, the bus waits.
- Monitor the FRA Corridor ID Program: This is the boring government list that actually matters. If "Los Angeles to Las Vegas" stays on this list, the funding is secure.
- Check Metrolink Connections: If you want to simulate the experience, take the Metrolink from LA to San Bernardino. It’s the first leg of the future trip. It gives you a sense of the terrain.
- Join the Rail Passengers Association: If you actually want this train to happen, these are the people lobbying for it. They provide the most accurate, non-hype updates on Western rail routes.
- Book the Coast Starlight instead: If you just want a great West Coast train experience right now, take the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle. It’ll scratch that itch while we wait for the Vegas tracks to get polished.
The dream of the "Gambler’s Special" isn't dead. It’s just in a very long holding pattern. With the current mix of private investment from Brightline and record-breaking federal grants, we are closer than we have been in thirty years. Just keep your car keys or your Spirit Airlines app handy for a little while longer.
Expert Insight: The most significant hurdle isn't the money—it's the "Cajon Pass." This mountain pass is one of the busiest rail bottlenecks in the entire world. Any passenger train heading to Vegas has to fight for a slot between dozens of massive freight trains. Solving the Cajon Pass is the "final boss" of Las Vegas rail. Until that’s solved, any schedule is just a guess.