In a bold move to redefine luxury travel, a Philadelphia-based startup, Lunatrain, is offering an extravagant experience aboard a private jet–style rail car. This unique opportunity allows passengers to journey in unparalleled luxury, complete with a personal chef, steward, and a suite of lavish amenities, all for the impressive price of $18,500 for a group of six.
Lunatrain has chosen two iconic Amtrak routes for this high-end service. The first is a 36-hour voyage on the California Zephyr line, stretching from Emeryville to Denver, priced at $18,500. The second option is a 12-hour journey on the Coast Starlight route, traveling from Oakland to Los Angeles, available for $10,000.
Demand for this opulent travel experience has been overwhelming. The inaugural Coast Starlight trip departed Oakland at 9 a.m. on January 15, selling out at the $10,000 price tag. Similarly, the first California Zephyr journey left Emeryville at 8:15 a.m. on January 16, with all seats booked at $18,500.
Travelers aboard these vintage 1950s-era rail cars are treated to a plethora of luxuries. The cars feature stunning glass dome ceilings, sumptuous leather seating, and a full dining room equipped with fine china and crystal. For entertainment, there’s a media room complete with a flat-screen TV and a fully stocked bar.
The accommodations include five bedrooms, one of which is a master suite offering a double bed and a private shower. Moreover, the rail car boasts an open-air platform, providing passengers a chance to step outside and take in the scenery while the train is stationary.
They also boast five bedrooms including a master suite with a double bed and private shower, and an open-air platform for passengers to step outside while the train is stopped.
“This is above first class service, closer to the experience of chartering a private jet,” Mike Avena, founder and CEO of Lunatrain, told the San Francisco Chronicle in December.
“Our trips offer a chance to travel in ultimate luxury and view the scenery in a way that our passengers have never seen it before.”
Lunatrain acts as a booking marketplace, curating private railcars owned by independent operators and coordinating the logistics much like an online travel agency.
Luxury trips aboard privately owned railcars have long been available through roughly 60 independent operators across the country, though booking them has often been fragmented and difficult to navigate.
The company’s New York–New Orleans route — which includes overnight service between the Big Apple and the Big Easy — costs more than $28,000 for a party of six, according to its booking site.
“If you want to charter a rail car, we can go anywhere that Amtrak goes,” Avena said.
