Private Luxury Rail Travel Is Coming to These Scenic US Train Routes
Train travel in the United States is taking a sharp turn toward luxury. Beginning in January 2026, a new private rail option brings exclusive-use luxury cars onto some of the most visually striking routes in the American West. The experience combines vintage rail glamour with modern service, all while staying firmly within the country’s existing passenger rail network.
The concept is simple. Instead of booking seats or sleeper rooms alongside hundreds of other passengers, travelers reserve an entire set of restored railcars for their own group. The scenery remains classic, but the experience changes completely.
The company behind the launch is Halloway, which is introducing private, exclusive-use railcar journeys attached to regularly scheduled Amtrak trains. Rather than operating its own trains, Halloway integrates restored historic cars into Amtrak’s system, allowing guests to travel on established routes while remaining entirely separate from standard accommodations.
Each journey is reserved for a single group of up to six guests. Sleeping, dining, and lounging spaces are fully private.
The Scenic Routes Launching First
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Loco Steve from Orpington, UK
Halloway’s debut focuses on two routes long praised for their scenery.
The first operates along the Coast Starlight, running between Los Angeles and Oakland in Northern California. This daytime journey traces the Pacific coastline, particularly along the stretch between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, where tracks hug the shore. Ocean views, beach towns, and vineyards roll past the windows during the roughly 12-hour trip.
The second route travels east on the California Zephyr, connecting Oakland with Denver. This longer, overnight journey climbs through the Sierra Nevada, crosses Nevada and Utah’s open desert landscapes, winds past red rock canyons, and finishes in the Rocky Mountains before arriving in downtown Denver.
It’s widely regarded as one of the most scenic rail routes in the country.
Inside the Private Railcar Experience
Image via iStockphoto/LiuNian
Both routes use the same two-car setup, restored and redesigned for private travel. The sleeper car, known as the Evelyn Henry, features multiple double bedrooms, including a master suite with a queen bed and an en-suite bathroom. The companion car, the Warren R. Henry, is a glass-dome lounge designed for sightseeing, dining, and relaxing beneath panoramic windows.
All meals are prepared onboard by a private chef and served exclusively to the group. Housekeeping, laundry service, and nightly turndown are included, and there’s no need to compete for observation space or dining reservations. The entire environment belongs to the people who booked it.
How the Journeys Are Structured
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Znns
Although the experience feels removed from traditional rail travel, the logistics remain straightforward. Halloway’s cars are coupled to Amtrak trains and follow the same timetables and station stops.
Guests board and disembark at major stations, including Los Angeles Union Station, Oakland’s Jack London Square, and Denver’s Union Station.
The Coast Starlight journey between Los Angeles and Oakland starts at $10,000 for exclusive use of both railcars. The longer California Zephyr trip from Northern California to Denver begins at $18,500. Pricing covers up to six guests and includes accommodations, meals, and onboard service.
What Comes Next
The first departures in mid-January 2026 have already sold out, and additional dates are expected to be added. Halloway also plans to offer custom charters on these routes, allowing groups to choose travel dates and direction. Travelers drawn to slow journeys, expansive scenery, and complete privacy would enjoy these new railcar experiences.