USA by Rail: Plus Canada's Main Routes

This new, tenth edition of Bradt's USA by Rail guidebook remains the pre-eminent source of information for exploring North America via its ruggedly charming, unabashedly romantic, reassuringly eco-friendly and pleasingly inexpensive train network. The grandeur of North America's scenery - from its never-ending prairies, the Mojave Desert's Joshua trees and the Rocky Mountains' saw-toothed peaks to the pounding surf of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans - is one of our greatest attractions, and there is no better way to enjoy it than by train. Pampered by helpful attendants, you can travel from coast to coast, explore the Rocky Mountains and ride alongside two oceans. You can cross rivers, lakes and deserts, often seeing places that cannot otherwise be visited. You can choose your companions, read a book, let your thoughts unfurl, take a snooze, and enjoy most of the comforts of home. Through 30 chapters, 35 maps and 40 colour photos, Bradt's USA by Rail showcases 26 long-distance train journeys across the United States plus 12 in Canada, including iconic routes like the California Zephyr or Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. These are complemented by sightseeing highlights for 38 major cities among 500 featured destinations. World-renowned locations such as Disney World, the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls nestle alongside regional hidden gems, a history of North American railroads, and details of current steam train operators, tourist railways and museums. Originally written by John Pitt, who traveled 80,000 miles by train in North America before his death in 2023, this extensive update from train-travel expert Jill Dutton reflects the latest developments in rail travel across North America, including the new Rocky Mountaineer route in the US, new high-speed sections of major routes, and changes to Amtrak routes and services. Throw in route plans, advice on onboard amenities, suggestions for accommodation options from cheap to chic, tips for solo and family travelers, thoughts on seasonal attractions and help navigating unfamiliar train stations, and this unparalleled guidebook offers everything you need to make the most of a rail pass. Bradt's USA by Rail remains the essential companion for smooth and successful train travel across North America.

Author: John Pitt
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 408
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.89lbs
Size: 8.48h x 5.38w x 0.69d
ISBN: 9781804693353

About the Author
Before his death in 2023, John Pitt wrote about travel and railway journeys for Thomas Cook as well as for newspapers such as The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Sunday Times and in magazines like Wanderlust. He travelled extensively in the United States and Canada, clocking up over 80,000 miles by train, and greatly enjoyed exploring the history and culture of both countries. Pitt was the author of the nine previous editions of Bradt's USA by Rail, and during the time he spent researching the book, the conversations he had with people in the friendly, relaxed atmosphere on board trains gave him many interesting, and often surprising, insights into life in North America.