A $245 train trip from Mississippi to Texas sounds like it should be a straightforward regional journey. For a traveler starting in Jackson and heading to Houston, however, the rail itinerary first goes south to New Orleans. The westbound train leaves before the Jackson train arrives, which turns a simple-sounding connection into an overnight stop.
The $245 in this headline is unverified, not a confirmed current Amtrak fare. This article examines Jackson to Houston using the City of New Orleans and Sunset Limited. It considers the route’s practical limitations without inventing a promotion, a personal journey, or a consensus that every passenger dislikes the service.
The trains can form a useful trip for someone who wants a night in New Orleans. They are less persuasive as an effortless way to move between Mississippi and Texas when that extra city, hotel, and restricted departure calendar were never part of the original plan…