When Houston natives Kim and Sean Ballesteros purchased a second home 465 miles away in the West Texas community of Sanderson, they wanted their vacation to begin the moment they walked out the door. “We didn’t want the hassle of driving,” Kim says. “We live close to the train station in Houston—we literally listen to the chug of the train every day. And we thought, instead of just listening to it, why don’t we experience it?”
Their first journey on the Sunset Limited turned a trip to their vacation home into an adventure, and they’ve since made it a tradition. For them, the allure of the rails, combined with convenience, beats any alternative.
The couple always upgrades to a roomette, a private room that converts to a sleeping car, for $352. And while the hallway restroom at first gave her pause, Kim says she’s never run into another passenger trying to use the facilities at the same time.
The best part is feeling rested after their trip versus exhausted from nearly eight hours of driving. “The train rocks us to sleep, and we wake up the next morning in West Texas ready to hit the ground running,” Kim says. The couple are two of the nearly 74,000 annual riders who travel the Sunset Limited, one of three passenger train routes in the state.
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Sunset Limited
The Sunset Limited offers triweekly service originating in New Orleans and Los Angeles. The Texas portion includes stops in Beaumont, Houston, San Antonio, Del Rio, Sanderson, Alpine, and El Paso. Just looking to get from Point A to Point B? Grab a coach seat for about $32. You’ll have plenty of legroom, personal lighting for reading or working, a tray table, and an outlet to keep your phone or laptop charged. Business class seats feature extra legroom and soft drinks.
Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday service from San Antonio departs at 6:25 a.m. and arrives in Houston at 12:10 p.m. The reverse route on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday departs Houston at 6:55 p.m. and arrives in San Antonio at 2:45 a.m. Passengers can sleep on the train as it leaves the San Antonio station at 2:45 a.m. and arrives in El Paso at 1:50 p.m.
Texas Eagle
The longest train route in the U.S. starts in Chicago and makes its way to San Antonio, stopping at 16 cities and towns in the Lone Star State. That’s good news for travelers who want to explore the region between Marshall and San Antonio. Riders who want to continue out west can pick up the Sunset Limited connection in San Antonio and ride all the way to El Paso.
At each station, the conductor announces if the train is stopping for a fresh air break or if local food is available close by. Travelers can leave the train, buy a burrito, and stretch their legs before continuing their journey.
The daily southbound train makes its first stop in Marshall at 7:54 a.m., and the daily northbound train leaves the San Antonio station at 6:48 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online, and prices vary by day and route. The popular Austin to Dallas route takes about six hours, and a coach seat starts at $19. Pro tips: Reserve tickets in advance for a discount, and book on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to score the cheapest fares.
Heartland Flyer
Want to try train travel to see if it’s right for you? Climb aboard the Heartland Flyer, which originates in Oklahoma City and makes its final stop in Fort Worth. Travelers can take a ride from Gainesville to Fort Worth for $12-$19—the route begins at 11:03 a.m. and ends at 12:27 p.m.—or take the reverse route from Fort Worth to Gainesville, which leaves at 5:25 p.m. and arrives at 6:28 p.m.
