All aboard in Taylor: Bound for fun in the sun
At half past 10 each morning, followed by 30 after five in the afternoon, the Texas Eagle blows its horn and slows to a stop in Taylor.
Passengers and neighbors alike are greeted by the distinctive sound, which many would agree is not as harsh as the window-rattling blast of a freight train.
Amtrak beckons any wandering spirit in eastern Williamson County to hop aboard and explore Texas and beyond.
Bisecting the state, the Texas Eagle is the daily train service that connects San Antonio through Central Texas to Fort Worth and Dallas, before leaving the state bound for Chicago.
In service since 1948, then operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Texas and Pacific Railway, Amtrak has managed the route since 1981.
TAYLOR BY THE NUMBERS
Taylor’s ridership in 2024 was 5,308, providing an annual revenue of $315,231, according to Marc Maglari, senior public relations manager for Amtrak.
Taylor Station is located at 118 E. First St.
It offers a covered pavilion next to the Union Pacific Railroad depot.
For schedules, reservations and more, visit amtrak.com or 1-800-USA-RAIL.
In comparison, Temple’s ridership was 15,163 with $826,394 in annual revenue in 2024. Temple’s historic 1911 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe station, with its red brick and stucco Santa Fe depot, is a quintessential example of Prairie-Beaux Arts architecture.
“Reliable rail service provides a vital transportation option for residents and visitors alike, strengthening regional mobility, economic development and tourism,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris.
WHY RIDE THE TRAIN?
Those who love traveling on the rails say the train offers more room for passengers, both in their seats and to walk around the compartments. Forget traffic jams and airport security lines; passengers can arrive minutes before their departure.
With fares starting at $12 per rider to San Antonio, it is less than the Texas 130 toll charge to Seguin from Hutto.
For travelers packing an outfit for every occasion, the three-piece luggage allowance is fit for fashionistas. Amtrak maintains an app with real-time train status information and E-tickets, similar to airlines.
Best of all, train travelers incur no hotel parking fees if they visit San Antonio, which can soar by $50 a day at some properties.
BITTEN BY THE TRAIN BUG?
Where can you go from Taylor? Sunset Limited offers service to Los Angeles three times a week from San Antonio. Passengers boarding in Taylor will be directed to the last cars of the eightcar Texas Eagle. After arriving in San Antonio, those cars are reattached to the westbound Sunset Limited.
The Texas Eagle continues to St. Louis and terminates in Chicago.
Chicago is a major railway hub, and passengers can connect to destinations across the U.S. such as New York City and Seattle.
RAILWAYBOUND
For those who yearn for a slower pace while traveling, Amtrak offers an enjoyable mode of locomotion. Passengers gather in the Observation Car, exchanging stories while others enjoy the passing landscape from floor-to-ceiling windows.
In an eight-car train configuration, the Texas Eagle offers bi-level Superliner coach cars with no middle seats. Coach seats offer a decadent amount of personal space when compared to airlines. The seat pitch is 50 to 52 inches, versus the airline standard of about 30 inches between rows.
Passenger seats are outfitted with leg rests and tray tables, paired with standard North American 110-volt electrical outlets at the window. For passengers who want a midjourney snooze, the panoramic windows include fabric curtains to block light.
The Superliner lower level includes seats for those with mobility concerns. Amtrak employees show great care for those who need assistance. Cabin attendants help passengers on and off the trains, loading and unloading luggage, medical equipment and strollers for passengers in need.
Also on the lower level, passengers can stow their carry-on luggage. The Amtrak luggage allowance includes one personal item, like a backpack or a purse, plus two carry-ons with a 28-inch by 22-inch size limit, each weighing less than 50 pounds. Worth noting, passenger luggage is included in the fare, and an additional two pieces are allowed, charged $20 a piece.
DINING ONBOARD
THE TEXAS EAGLE
The Sightseer Lounge Car is located in the center of the train with two levels of service. On the lower level, passengers will find a cafe with grab-and-go options, like breakfast, hot and cold sandwiches and snacks. Amtrak sells an assortment of beverages, including wine, beer and liquor.
The lounge car’s upper level offers swivel seats and tables for working or eating. From the curved upper windows, passengers can enjoy the scenery and the night sky both day and night.
For those with a sleeping compartment, the dining car starts the day with breakfast options such as a three-cheese omelet. Lunch and dinner entrees include chicken fettuccine Alfredo and Asian BBQ glazed salmon.
LONGERAMTRAKJOURNEYS
For passengers continuing past Texas, a private sleeping compartment offers the most comfort. The private roomettes offer seating during the day with individual climate and lighting controls, plus electrical plugs.
Meals are served in the adjacent dining car, or in roomettes. The Superliner Sleeper Car offers all-day coffee on its upper level.
The sleeping car features an attendant who performs the nightly turn-down service. For on-board bathing, passengers will find a private shower room outfitted with toiletries on the lower level.
SAN ANTONIO: THE PERFECT TRAIN GETAWAY
With a highly walkable downtown, San Antonio is the best destination to explore in Texas without a car. The historic train station is located downtown, with public transportation and ride-sharing available.
VIA Metropolitan Transit is San Antonio’s public transportation system and offers convenient options to get around downtown, according to David Gonzalez of Visit San Antonio.
It also utilizes an electric five-person people mover that is free to use. The local vehicles travel between popular spots in central San Antonio, such as Market Square and La Villita.
For visitors who want to visit the Pearl District north of downtown, site of a former brewery now turned into a shopping and arts center, a Go Rio River Shuttle moves passengers along the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River. Each ferries passengers up the river and through one of its locks to terminate at The Pearl.
The downtown core of San Antonio offers over 14,000 rooms, according to the Platform for the Business Events Industry. With the world-famous Alamo and San Antonio River Walk, visitors can easily walk between top sites.
For one of the closest hotels to the train station, the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk is a AAA Four-Diamond property. Towering above the River Walk, it is the tallest building in downtown San Antonio and steps from the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and The Shops at Rivercenter mall.
THE NEW AND FADING ROUTES
For over 25 years, the Heartland Flyer has been a vital link between Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City along the Interstate 35 corridor. Operated in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Heartland Flyer faces imminent service suspension no later than Oct. 1, unless Texas secures its share of funding, according to Amtrak.
In late 2025, a new route will shuttle passengers between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, with stops in Mississippi including Gulfport.
The new Amtrak Mardi Gras Service is the first train service to Mississippi in nearly 20 years.
Andy Saucedo, an Amtrak conductor on the Amtrak Texas Eagle, assists passengers during their trips. PHOTO BY CATHERINE PARKER
Comment
Comments