The US train industry ia bracing itself for a boom as more people take to the rails for travel. The United States has a proud history of train travel, with much of the country built around overland routes which created the vast nation’s earliest transport links.  However, in recent years, with the popularity of budget air travel, the rail industry fell into serious decline. This now seems to have gone full circle as many Americans are now returning to trains as the preferred means of travel.

The national rail carrier, Amtrak, had reported consistent growth of around 14 per cent in the lead-up to the 2008 recession, which grounded all businesses. With signs that the economic downturn may now finally be over, the American rail industry is bracing itself for another boom period.

American train riders are rediscovering what much of the world already knows when it comes to the advantage that train travel has over the likes of buses, cars and planes. If getting there is half the fun, then rail journeys have always offered the best scenic opportunities combined with maximum movement while onboard.

Sleeping cabins, similar to cruise ships, provide the best way to relax and unwind and also offer the convenience of having a base while moving. Less scrutiny on check-in, less queues, more leg-room, more headspace and no liquid limits are also popular features. To celebrate the resurgent rail industry, the US National Train Day will take place on May 8 in all major cities.