California Zephyr

California Zephyr
The eastbound California Zephyr near Green River, Utah, in 2023
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
LocaleWestern United States
Predecessor
  • City of San Francisco (1936–1971)
  • California Zephyr (1949–1970)
  • San Francisco Chief (1954–1971)
  • Rio Grande Zephyr (1970–1983)
  • Denver Zephyr (1971–1973)
  • San Francisco Zephyr (1972–1983)
First serviceJuly 16, 1983 (1983-07-16)
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Annual ridership351,155 (FY 24)  6.9%[a][1]
Route
TerminiChicago, Illinois
Emeryville, California
Stops33
Distance travelled2,438 miles (3,924 km)
Average journey time
  • 52 hours, 14 minutes (eastbound)[2]
  • 52 hours, 57 minutes (westbound)[2]
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)5 (westbound)
6 (eastbound)
On-board services
Class(es)Coach Class
First Class Sleeper Service
Disabled accessTrain lower level, most stations
Sleeping arrangements
  • Roomette (2 beds)
  • Bedroom (2 beds)
  • Bedroom Suite (4 beds)
  • Accessible Bedroom (2 beds)
  • Family Bedroom (4 beds)
Catering facilitiesDining car, Café
Observation facilitiesSightseer lounge car
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks, checked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Rolling stockGE Genesis or Siemens Charger locomotives
Superliner
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed55 mph (89 km/h) (avg.)
79 mph (127 km/h) (top)
Track owner(s)UP, BNSF

The California Zephyr is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area (at Emeryville), via Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Reno. At 2,438 miles (3,924 km), it is Amtrak's longest daily route, and second-longest overall after the Texas Eagle's triweekly continuation from San Antonio to Los Angeles, with travel time between the termini taking approximately 521⁄2 hours.[3] Amtrak claims the route as one of its most scenic, with views of the upper Colorado River valley in the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada.[4] The modern train is the second iteration of a train named California Zephyr; the original train was privately operated and ran on a different route through Nevada and California.

During fiscal year 2023, the California Zephyr carried 328,458 passengers, an increase of 13.1% over FY2022,[5] but down from its pre-COVID-19 pandemic ridership of 410,844 in FY2019.[6] The train had a total revenue of $51,950,998 in FY2016, the last year that route-specific revenue data was given.[7]


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  1. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2024 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. December 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Amtrak Timetable Results". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "California Zephyr Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. July 20, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  4. ^ "California Zephyr Route Guide" (PDF). Amtrak. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  5. ^ "Amtrak FY23 Ridership" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Amtrak Route Ridership: FY22 vs. FY21" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Amtrak FY16 Ridership & Revenue Fact Sheet" (PDF). Amtrak. April 17, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
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