Can I charter a train?

Question

I know people can charter a bus but can people charter a train as well?

Answer 1

If you are extremely wealthy and powerful you can.  

Mike Ilitch chartered a train to a baseball game last summer and is thinking about expanding the service.

Answer 2

While technically no, at least for intercity or commuter service like with Amtrak, you can book passage on luxury trains like the American Orient Express and dozens of other tourist trains across the country.

If, however, you are lucky enough to own your very own private passenger car(s) and it meets all FRA requirements you can have it included in an Amtrak consist (i.e., on a passenger train, usually at the end) for a cost (and it's not cheap).

Answer 3

Depends on what you're looking for.  Many tourist railroads off the option of chartering a train for a round trip up and down the line, or even chartering the entire railroad for a day.  Most of these lines are only a few miles long, so you're really chartering the experience of riding the rails exclusive of others not in your company, not using it for actual transportation.

I believe that in the past Amtrak has run special trains, for example to the Super Bowl or college bowl games.  This has been done in conjunction with either travel agencies, universities or booster clubs.  President Bush (Sr.) traveled by train in 1992 when he was campaigning for reelection.  You could call these types of movements "chartering a train."  It would be very cost prohibitive for an individual to do, though.

Answer 4

Yes in tyhe UK and India for sure, fairly certain in Europe and US also.

Where do yo want to go ?

Answer 5

Yes you can.

I am sure not all railroads will allow it but they are in business to make money, offer them enough and they will.

More frequent is for someone with a private car to "charter" a spot on existing trains, usually Amtrak but it can be done on freight trains as well.

There are for hire private luxury rail cars.

Answer 6

You can in the UK . The charter market is  very active for things like enthusiasts' specials, steam and diesel, trains to away sports matches and even big business chartering some of the luxury preserved stock we have to provide corporate hospitality.