Amtrak: What It Is and Why It Doesn't Belong in India's Taxi Guide

When you hear Amtrak, the national passenger railroad service of the United States. Also known as National Railroad Passenger Corporation, it connects over 500 destinations across the U.S. with long-distance routes, regional trains, and sleeper cars. It’s a big deal in America—but it has zero connection to India. You won’t find Amtrak tickets at New Delhi Station. You won’t see Amtrak logos on trains in Rajasthan. And if you’re planning a taxi trip through Goa, Kerala, or Punjab, Amtrak isn’t part of your route. It’s a U.S.-only system, built for a country with different geography, population density, and travel habits.

India has its own massive rail network—the largest in Asia and one of the biggest in the world. Over 13,000 trains run daily across 67,000 kilometers of track. You can ride from Mumbai to Kolkata in under 30 hours, hop on a luxury train like the Palace on Wheels, or catch a local commuter train in Chennai with thousands of people packed in. This isn’t just transportation—it’s culture. Amtrak’s slow, scenic routes through the Rockies or the Midwest have nothing in common with India’s chaotic, colorful, and hyper-efficient rail system. Trying to mix them up is like comparing a bicycle to a fighter jet. Both move you from point A to point B, but that’s where the similarity ends.

Some travelers confuse Amtrak with Indian Railways because both involve trains. But Amtrak is a single company running a limited network. Indian Railways is a government-run behemoth that carries over 23 million passengers every single day. It’s not just about trains—it’s about chai stalls on platforms, vendors selling samosas at 5 a.m., and tickets bought from counters that never close. If you’re looking for train travel advice in India, you need info on IRCTC bookings, Tatkal quotas, or how to survive a 36-hour journey in a sleeper class—not Amtrak’s reservation system or dining car menus.

So why does Amtrak show up here at all? Maybe you typed it in by accident. Maybe you saw it mentioned in a travel blog about U.S. road trips and got confused. Or maybe you’re wondering if you can use Amtrak to get to India. The answer is no. You can’t fly on Amtrak. You can’t book an Amtrak ticket from London to Delhi. And if you land in Mumbai and ask for the nearest Amtrak station, you’ll get a confused look—and probably a good laugh.

What you will find here are real guides for traveling across India—by taxi, by train, by foot. We’ve got tips on navigating South India’s monsoons, safety in Punjab, the best temple tours, and how to eat street food without getting sick. We cover what matters: real places, real routes, real experiences. Amtrak doesn’t belong here. But the 100-year-old temple in Bihar, the hippie beaches of Goa, and the cheapest flight days in India? Those do.

Below you’ll find posts that actually help you explore India. No trains from the U.S. No confusing names. Just clear, practical, no-fluff advice for traveling across one of the world’s most vibrant countries—with or without a taxi.