Amtrak train services to Atlanta consist of one daily passenger train in each direction on the Crescent route, traveling between New York at its northeastern terminus to New Orleans at its southwesterly point.
For travelers on a flexible schedule, the train can be a comfortable and enjoyable way to travel, offering ample legroom and baggage allowances, often at very reasonable prices, especially when booking well ahead.
As Amtrak services are frequently delayed, however (largely due to sharing a track with prioritized freight trains), the train is not a suitable mode of transport for time-critical journeys.
Amtrak services from Atlanta are currently accessed via the surprisingly small Peachtree Station in the Brookwood neighborhood, between Midtown and Buckhead. Negotiations over plans to transfer the passenger station to a new facility in another part of the city are ongoing.
See also:
– Atlanta festivals
– Public transport in Atlanta
– Best time of year to visit
– Things to do in Atlanta
!Service availability, schedules and other information may change at short notice. Please verify all details before planning your trip.
Atlanta is served by one Amtrak service, the Crescent, which runs one train daily on its nearly 1400-mile route from New York to New Orleans, and another train daily from New Orleans to New York.
Major cities served along the Crescent line are: New York, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, Alexandria, Charlotte, Birmingham, and New Orleans. A full list of stations served along the route is available in the route guide.
Two other Georgia cities are served by the Crescent service, Gainesville and Toccoa. South Carolina stops are at Clemson, Greenville and Spartanburg. Alabama stops are at Anniston, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
The southbound train arrives in Atlanta at 8:13am, having left New York at 2:15pm. Total travel time from New York to Atlanta is just under 18 hours. The southbound train then leaves Atlanta at 8:38am, arriving in New Orleans at 7:32pm, an additional journey time of just under 12 hours.
The northbound train leaves New Orleans at 7am, arriving in Atlanta at 7:35pm, with a total journey time of around 11 hours 30 minutes. The northbound train then leaves Atlanta at 8:04pm, arriving in New York at 1:46pm, a total additional travel time of a little less than 18 hours.
New York, NY to Atlanta – Train departs New York (Penn Station) 2:15pm, arrives Atlanta 8:13am. Return train departs Atlanta 8:04pm, arrives New York (Penn Station) 1:46pm.
Newark, NJ to Atlanta – Train departs Newark 2:37pm, arrives Atlanta 8:13am. Return train departs Atlanta 8:04pm, arrives Newark 1:25pm.
Philadelphia, PA to Atlanta – Train departs Philadelphia (Gray 30th Street Station) 3:55pm, arrives Atlanta 8:13am. Return train departs Atlanta 8:04pm, arrives Philadelphia (Gray 30th Street Station) 12:08pm.
Baltimore, MD to Atlanta – Train departs Baltimore (Penn Station) 5:12pm, arrives Atlanta 8:13am. Return train departs Atlanta 8:04pm, arrives Baltimore (Penn Station) 10:55am.
Washington, DC to Atlanta – Train departs Washington (Union Station) 6:30pm, arrives Atlanta 8:13am. Return train departs Atlanta 8:04pm, arrives Washington 9:53am.
Charlotte, NC to Atlanta – Train departs Charlotte 2:45am, arrives Atlanta 8:13am. Return train departs Atlanta 8:04pm, arrives Charlotte 1:21am.
Birmingham, AL to Atlanta – Train departs Birmingham 2:24pm, arrives Atlanta 7:35pm. Return train departs Atlanta 8:38am, arrives Birmingham 11:50am.
New Orleans, LA to Atlanta – Train departs New Orleans (Union Passenger Terminal) 7am, arrives Atlanta 7:35pm. Return train departs Atlanta 8:38am, arrives New Orleans 7:32pm.
In some cases, it is technically feasible to travel between two cities by train, but the journey time is wildly disproportionate to the distance separating them. This is especially true of cities within a few hundred miles by road which happen not to be on the same passenger rail line.
Because of the infrequency of most Amtrak services, any journey that requires a transfer is usually excessively long due to the wait times between trains on different routes. Amtrak also offers very few routes, which can necessitate extreme detours via distant cities, again adding significantly to the total travel time.
Unless you want to make a stopover in a transfer city, a bus service or flight will usually be much faster and will not necessarily cost more.
Savannah, GA – Although there used to be a direct passenger rail service between Savannah and Atlanta, it was discontinued in the 1970s. There is talk of resurrecting the line, but for now train travel between the cities takes more than 24 hours (compared to 4 hours by road).
If time and money are no object and you would like to spend the day in Washington, DC, an overnight train to that city is available from Atlanta, leaving a full day in the capital before taking another overnight train to Savannah (the same is true in the opposite direction).
Baggage storage facilities are available at Washington’s Union Station, as are sleeper cars (for a price) with shared shower facilities on both routes.
Miami, FL – Train travel between Atlanta and Miami involves a long ride up to Washington, DC followed by a several-hour connection and then an even longer journey down to Miami. Total travel time: 2 full days, standard round-trip seats from around $550 per person.
Orlando, FL – The journey from Atlanta to Orlando is as for the Atlanta to Miami route above, but with a slightly shorter second leg.
Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville is two hours further down the east coast mainline route from Savannah.
Nashville, TN – Nashville has no passenger rail station, but Amtrak’s Thruway buses connect the city to the national network. The bus part of the journey will usually be longer than the direct Greyhound bus service between Nashville and Atlanta.
Asheville, NC – Asheville has no passenger rail station, and no Thruway connection to the rail network. Nearby Greenville, SC is served by the Crescent line, however, and connected to Asheville by bus.