Traveling by train has long been celebrated for its unique advantages, particularly when it comes to soaking in natural beauty.
Rail transport offers unrivaled access to breathtaking scenery like lush forests, sparkling lakes, and majestic mountains—all of which are often inaccessible by car or plane.
In addition to stunning views, trains allow passengers to move freely during travel and present a less cumbersome alternative to flying.
As one of the most eco-friendly forms of transportation, electric trains produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to planes and cars, with Amtrak indicating that electric trains generate 72 percent and 83 percent fewer emissions, respectively.
Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, is an essential way to traverse the contiguous United States and parts of Canada, featuring a network that spans more than 21,400 miles and includes over 500 stations.
From the rocky coastlines of the Pacific Northwest to the sunny shores of Florida, Amtrak provides some of the most scenic routes across the country.
One of the underrated experiences is the Amtrak Adirondack Train, which travels between New York and Montreal.
However, one of America’s most renowned cities, Las Vegas, is oddly absent from Amtrak’s network.
While Las Vegas does have an Amtrak bus station, the nearest train station is located in Kingman, Arizona, requiring travelers to take a bus to reach the entertainment capital.
Las Vegas once had a functional passenger train service, but all operations ceased in 1997 due to various challenges, including financial issues and changes in the travel landscape.
In the past, Las Vegas was a budding railroad town, founded in 1905 when the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroads arrived.
The availability of water in the Las Vegas Valley made it an ideal railroad stop, as it served as a mid-point for travelers between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.
Originally, Las Vegas was a green oasis, dotted with multiple railroad tracks.
However, the expansion of hotels, casinos, and the famous Strip gradually shifted the region’s focus away from railroads, establishing it as a global tourism hotspot.
Despite its continued popularity among tourists, it has now been decades since Amtrak operated passenger trains into Las Vegas.
The city’s last station, located at 100 S. Main Street behind the Plaza in downtown, served the Desert Wind, a long-distance train running from Chicago to Los Angeles starting in 1979.
For many years, the Desert Wind provided breathtaking views of the American Southwest during the journey.
Regrettably, the station has since fallen into disrepair, overshadowed by the frequent passage of cargo trains but no passenger services.
The demise of the Desert Wind was primarily attributed to budget cuts.
By 1995, service had dwindled to three times a week and was completely cut in 1997 due to reduced federal subsidies amid decreasing demand.
Long travel times were another contributing factor, as the train ride from Los Angeles to Las Vegas took over seven hours, a stark contrast to the four-hour car journey.
At the same time, the fares for the Desert Wind had become comparable to faster, low-cost flights taking off from Southern California, making rail travel less appealing.
The memory of the Desert Wind and the scenic landscapes of the Southwest remain cherished among train enthusiasts, despite the train’s discontinuation.
The Southwest has seen notable population growth, igniting discussions about the feasibility of reinstating passenger rail service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Desert Southwest’s population growth from 1950 to 2010 outpaced the national average, which has increased interest in rebuilding rail routes.
Sustainability in travel also plays a pivotal role in the conversation about reestablishing train services.
Nevertheless, as it stands today, Amtrak shows no immediate plans to return train service to Las Vegas.
While the company has indicated some interest, it continues to grapple with budget constraints and a lack of infrastructure funding.
With air and road travel dominating the region, there are concerns that a renewed Amtrak service would face similar challenges as in the late 90s when interest dwindled.
Conversely, there is significant enthusiasm among potential train travelers advocating for a new route, including proposals connecting Los Angeles to Denver via Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
Nonetheless, even with this demand, there are no official plans for restoring train service to Las Vegas by Amtrak.
It appears that any future passenger rail service in Las Vegas may stem from private initiatives.
Since the discontinuation of the Desert Wind, multiple proposals have emerged for restoring rail service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but none have moved forward successfully.
Almost 25 years ago, local officials pursued a public-private partnership aiming to create a high-speed magnetic-levitation train spanning 272 miles between the two cities, but the plan never gained traction.
As discussions and plans continue to circulate, the future of passenger train service in Las Vegas remains uncertain, resting on the intersection of public interest, investment potential, and infrastructural capability.
image source from：thetravel
