For travelers who like the idea of ββtraveling across the country by train but want a little more space, privacy, and sophistication than Amtrak’s standard seats and sleepers, a new option is coming to the tracks this winter. From mid-January 2026, a new company called Holloway will offer a more luxurious rail experience. The company launches dedicated private rail vehicle journeys on two of the most scenic routes in the American West.
Rather than operating its own luxury trains, Holloway will connect two restored historic railcars to Amtrak’s regular trains, creating what the company calls a completely private on-board experience, a sleeping, eating and relaxing experience completely reserved for one group. The initial itinerary will operate on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight Line, which connects Los Angeles and Oakland (across from San Francisco), and the California Zephyr Line, which connects Oakland and Denver, Colorado.
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Holloway’s first departure will take place on January 15, 2026, aboard the Coast Starlight. The course is a route that celebrates California’s seascape, particularly along the section between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, where the line runs close to the Pacific Ocean. Travelers pass through vineyards and seaside towns, often taking in views of the coast from the comfort of a train. This trip is a 12-hour daytime journey (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) between Los Angeles Union Station in the San Francisco Bay Area and Jack London Square Station in Oakland.
The next day, January 16, the experience expands eastward as the California Zephyr begins its journey from Oakland to Denver. This much longer journey, considered one of the most beautiful railroad lines in the United States, is a 36-hour trip that climbs the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and Nevada, crosses the vast desert basins and red rock regions of Utah, and enters the impressive mountain ranges of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. The route ends at Union Station in downtown Denver.
Holloway private railway car
Both itineraries use the same two-car train, a vintage space that has been renovated to function as a self-contained private rail experience. A midcentury Union Pacific sleeper, the Evelyn Henry features four double bedrooms and a queen-bed master suite with its own bathroom and wardrobe, effectively serving as a boutique hotel on the railroad. Paired to this is a 1955 Union Pacific Warren R. Henry. The vehicle is a classic domed window vehicle designed for tourism, offering panoramic overhead views and space for dining, relaxing and socializing.
Vehicles are reserved exclusively for one group of up to 6 people. Other passengers will not pass through the lounge in turn, so there will be no competition for observation seats.
How it works (and how to book)
Holloway’s private rail car experience on the Coast Starlight route between Los Angeles and Oakland starts at $10,000 for exclusive occupancy and sleeps up to six people. California Zephyr journeys from Northern California to Denver start at $18,500. All meals are included in the price and prepared by your personal chef. Rates also include laundry and overnight bed making services.
Reserving a private rail car doesn’t mean chartering an entire train or bypassing Amtrak’s system entirely. Instead, Holloway, which bills itself as the first online marketplace dedicated to private railcar travel, is tapping into a long-standing but little-known feature of U.S. passenger railroads. It allows privately owned railcars to connect to regular Amtrak trains and travel along approved routes.
In practice, this means that Holloway’s cars are physically connected to the same trains as Amtrak’s standard passenger cars and sleeping cars. Trains depart and arrive at all scheduled Amtrak stations according to Amtrak schedules. Travelers who book through Holloway don’t ride in Amtrak accommodations, but they are part of much the same train and operating system.
The first two itineraries are sold out. However, Holloway plans to add more itineraries in the coming weeks. Once available, you will be able to book on Holloway’s website. For those looking to book a custom charter of a private rail car, Holloway can arrange travel in either direction on the Coast Starlight Route or the California Zephyr Route.