Inter-American (Amtrak)
Encyclopedia
The Inter-American was a passenger train operated by Amtrak
between Chicago, Illinois to Laredo, Texas
. Its route changed over time and was eventually replaced by the Eagle.
, Mexico
, and connect with Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
("N de M") trains to points in Mexico. The train operated three times a week.
In March 1974, the train was extended to St. Louis, following the route of the former Missouri Pacific Texas Eagle
. From St. Louis passengers could connect to Chicago, and the extension finally added service to Dallas
itself. In October 1976 Amtrak extended the Inter-American all the way north to Chicago. This train operated daily between Chicago and St. Louis and tri-weekly between St. Louis and Laredo. On October 31, 1978, a St. Louis-Chicago Inter-American became the last train to serve Union Station in St. Louis. In October 1979 budget cuts forced Amtrak to combine the Inter-American with the Lone Star
(formerly the Texas Chief). The new train, still called the Inter-American, operated daily between Chicago and Laredo, with a section to Houston, Texas
which split at Temple, Texas
.
In the fall of 1981 Amtrak, forced to make service cuts, truncated the Inter-American to San Antonio, Texas
and eliminated the through cars to Houston. The new service was named the Eagle, and is a forerunner of the current Texas Eagle
.
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
between Chicago, Illinois to Laredo, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
. Its route changed over time and was eventually replaced by the Eagle.
History
Upon its inauguration in January 1973, the Inter-American connected Laredo with Fort Worth. At Fort Worth, travelers could connect with the Texas Chief, but doing so required an overnight layover. At Laredo, it was possible to cross the border to Nuevo LaredoNuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and connect with Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México, was Mexico's state owned railroad company from 1938 to 1998, and prior to 1938 a major railroad controlled by the government that linked Mexico City to the major cities of Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juárez on the U.S. border...
("N de M") trains to points in Mexico. The train operated three times a week.
In March 1974, the train was extended to St. Louis, following the route of the former Missouri Pacific Texas Eagle
Texas Eagle (MP train)
The Texas Eagle was a named passenger train operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Texas and Pacific Railway between St. Louis, Missouri and multiple destinations in the state of Texas. The train began on August 15, 1948, with the renaming of the Sunshine Special. For thirteen years,...
. From St. Louis passengers could connect to Chicago, and the extension finally added service to Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
itself. In October 1976 Amtrak extended the Inter-American all the way north to Chicago. This train operated daily between Chicago and St. Louis and tri-weekly between St. Louis and Laredo. On October 31, 1978, a St. Louis-Chicago Inter-American became the last train to serve Union Station in St. Louis. In October 1979 budget cuts forced Amtrak to combine the Inter-American with the Lone Star
Lone Star (Amtrak)
The Lone Star was an Amtrak passenger train serving Chicago, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Houston and intermediate points. From Amtrak's inception in 1971 until March 1974, the train was known as the Texas Chief, as it had been under the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
(formerly the Texas Chief). The new train, still called the Inter-American, operated daily between Chicago and Laredo, with a section to Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
which split at Temple, Texas
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
.
In the fall of 1981 Amtrak, forced to make service cuts, truncated the Inter-American to San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and eliminated the through cars to Houston. The new service was named the Eagle, and is a forerunner of the current Texas Eagle
Texas Eagle
The Texas Eagle is a 1306-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the central and western United States. Trains run daily between Chicago, Illinois, and San Antonio, Texas, and continue to Los Angeles, California, 2728 miles total, three days a week...
.