Amtrak · Chicago, IL – New Orleans, LA
City of New Orleans Cell Service & Coverage Map
Modeled coverage on board the City of New Orleans, Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA. On the train, AT&T has the most solid coverage at 86% of the route, ahead of Verizon (69%) and T-Mobile (59%). Amber stretches are spotty: signal often works but may drop. AT&T's longest true dead zone runs about 2 miles between Yazoo City and Jackson.
The whole line at a glance
New Orleans, LA on the left, Chicago, IL on the right. Scroll sideways on a phone. Hover a band for its mileposts. Verizon, on the train.
Carriers compared on the train
| Carrier | Coverage mix | Solid | Spotty | 5G | Dead-zone miles | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Best on board | 86% | 14% | 61% | 5 | 2.4 mi | |
| Verizon | 69% | 29% | 22% | 19 | 12.3 mi | |
| T-Mobile | 59% | 37% | 52% | 38 | 3.8 mi |
Coverage summary
Verizon · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid Verizon service on the train, plus 29% spotty
has modeled 5G; 15% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), near Yazoo City, MS
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Champaign and Mattoon
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 15.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 6.7%
- 4G LTE 47.3%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 28.8%
- No modeled coverage 2.1%
Plan downloads and calls around Yazoo City–Jackson (12.3 mi without coverage), Greenwood–Yazoo City (4.3 mi without coverage), Hammond–New Orleans (1.5 mi without coverage).
Verizon · Outdoor model
of the route has solid Verizon service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 44% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), near Yazoo City, MS
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Champaign and Mattoon
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 44.3%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 5.8%
- 4G LTE 47.8%
- No modeled coverage 2.1%
Plan downloads and calls around Yazoo City–Jackson (12.3 mi without coverage), Greenwood–Yazoo City (4.3 mi without coverage), Hammond–New Orleans (2.0 mi without coverage).
AT&T · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid AT&T service on the train, plus 14% spotty
has modeled 5G; 52% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Yazoo City and Jackson
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Champaign and Mattoon
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 52.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 8.9%
- 4G LTE 25.0%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 13.6%
- No modeled coverage 0.6%
Plan downloads and calls around Yazoo City–Jackson (2.8 mi without coverage), Carbondale–Fulton (1.9 mi without coverage).
AT&T · Outdoor model
of the route has solid AT&T service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 71% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Yazoo City and Jackson
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Champaign and Mattoon
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 71.2%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 13.2%
- 4G LTE 15.0%
- No modeled coverage 0.5%
Plan downloads and calls around Yazoo City–Jackson (2.8 mi without coverage), Carbondale–Fulton (1.9 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid T-Mobile service on the train, plus 37% spotty
has modeled 5G; 36% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Yazoo City and Jackson
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Chicago and Homewood
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 36.5%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 15.8%
- 4G LTE 6.7%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 37.0%
- No modeled coverage 4.1%
Plan downloads and calls around Carbondale–Fulton (11.4 mi without coverage), Marks–Greenwood (9.8 mi without coverage), Centralia–Carbondale (7.3 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · Outdoor model
of the route has solid T-Mobile service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 76% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Yazoo City and Jackson
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Champaign and Mattoon
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 76.0%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 14.2%
- 4G LTE 5.2%
- No modeled coverage 4.6%
Plan downloads and calls around Carbondale–Fulton (13.0 mi without coverage), Marks–Greenwood (9.9 mi without coverage), Centralia–Carbondale (9.4 mi without coverage).
Station to station
In timetable order from Chicago, IL. Distances are along the track. Follows the carrier and model selected on the map.
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Homewood | 24 | 100% | 46% | — | |
| Homewood → Kankakee | 32 | 99% | 44% | — | |
| Kankakee → Champaign | 72 | 94% | 42% | — | |
| Champaign → Mattoon | 45 | 100% | 50% | — | |
| Mattoon → Effingham | 27 | 98% | 58% | — | |
| Effingham → Centralia | 53 | 86% | 43% | — | |
| Centralia → Carbondale | 56 | 86% | 19% | — | |
| Carbondale → Fulton | 96 | 58% | 14% | 1.0 mi | |
| Fulton → Newbern | 37 | 70% | 9% | — | |
| Newbern → Memphis | 86 | 68% | 14% | — | |
| Memphis → Marks | 66 | 61% | 6% | — | |
| Marks → Greenwood | 56 | 44% | 5% | — | |
| Greenwood → Yazoo City | 52 | 47% | 17% | 3.4 mi | |
| Yazoo City → Jackson | 45 | 43% | 7% | 12.3 mi | |
| Jackson → Hazlehurst | 34 | 64% | 5% | — | |
| Hazlehurst → Brookhaven | 20 | 30% | 0% | — | |
| Brookhaven → McComb | 24 | 27% | 3% | — | |
| McComb → Hammond | 52 | 65% | 15% | — | |
| Hammond → New Orleans | 52 | 72% | 34% | 1.5 mi |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Homewood | 24 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Homewood → Kankakee | 32 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Kankakee → Champaign | 72 | 100% | 80% | — | |
| Champaign → Mattoon | 45 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mattoon → Effingham | 27 | 100% | 79% | — | |
| Effingham → Centralia | 53 | 100% | 84% | — | |
| Centralia → Carbondale | 56 | 100% | 54% | — | |
| Carbondale → Fulton | 96 | 99% | 43% | 1.0 mi | |
| Fulton → Newbern | 37 | 100% | 14% | — | |
| Newbern → Memphis | 86 | 100% | 45% | — | |
| Memphis → Marks | 66 | 100% | 25% | — | |
| Marks → Greenwood | 56 | 100% | 11% | — | |
| Greenwood → Yazoo City | 52 | 92% | 30% | 3.4 mi | |
| Yazoo City → Jackson | 45 | 73% | 20% | 12.3 mi | |
| Jackson → Hazlehurst | 34 | 100% | 31% | — | |
| Hazlehurst → Brookhaven | 20 | 100% | 6% | — | |
| Brookhaven → McComb | 24 | 100% | 6% | — | |
| McComb → Hammond | 52 | 100% | 49% | — | |
| Hammond → New Orleans | 52 | 96% | 76% | 1.5 mi |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Homewood | 24 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Homewood → Kankakee | 32 | 100% | 88% | — | |
| Kankakee → Champaign | 72 | 99% | 92% | — | |
| Champaign → Mattoon | 45 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mattoon → Effingham | 27 | 100% | 84% | — | |
| Effingham → Centralia | 53 | 94% | 62% | — | |
| Centralia → Carbondale | 56 | 92% | 65% | — | |
| Carbondale → Fulton | 96 | 72% | 50% | 1.3 mi | |
| Fulton → Newbern | 37 | 85% | 47% | — | |
| Newbern → Memphis | 86 | 89% | 68% | — | |
| Memphis → Marks | 66 | 86% | 41% | — | |
| Marks → Greenwood | 56 | 45% | 23% | 0.4 mi | |
| Greenwood → Yazoo City | 52 | 92% | 48% | — | |
| Yazoo City → Jackson | 45 | 69% | 44% | 2.4 mi | |
| Jackson → Hazlehurst | 34 | 97% | 67% | — | |
| Hazlehurst → Brookhaven | 20 | 94% | 41% | — | |
| Brookhaven → McComb | 24 | 74% | 28% | — | |
| McComb → Hammond | 52 | 84% | 56% | — | |
| Hammond → New Orleans | 52 | 89% | 68% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Homewood | 24 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Homewood → Kankakee | 32 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Kankakee → Champaign | 72 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Champaign → Mattoon | 45 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mattoon → Effingham | 27 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Effingham → Centralia | 53 | 100% | 89% | — | |
| Centralia → Carbondale | 56 | 100% | 94% | — | |
| Carbondale → Fulton | 96 | 98% | 83% | 1.3 mi | |
| Fulton → Newbern | 37 | 100% | 90% | — | |
| Newbern → Memphis | 86 | 100% | 92% | — | |
| Memphis → Marks | 66 | 100% | 71% | — | |
| Marks → Greenwood | 56 | 100% | 41% | — | |
| Greenwood → Yazoo City | 52 | 100% | 82% | — | |
| Yazoo City → Jackson | 45 | 94% | 62% | 2.4 mi | |
| Jackson → Hazlehurst | 34 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Hazlehurst → Brookhaven | 20 | 100% | 55% | — | |
| Brookhaven → McComb | 24 | 100% | 47% | — | |
| McComb → Hammond | 52 | 100% | 88% | — | |
| Hammond → New Orleans | 52 | 100% | 97% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Homewood | 24 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Homewood → Kankakee | 32 | 95% | 90% | — | |
| Kankakee → Champaign | 72 | 71% | 67% | — | |
| Champaign → Mattoon | 45 | 90% | 75% | — | |
| Mattoon → Effingham | 27 | 85% | 81% | — | |
| Effingham → Centralia | 53 | 68% | 59% | — | |
| Centralia → Carbondale | 56 | 40% | 37% | 3.3 mi | |
| Carbondale → Fulton | 96 | 37% | 33% | 2.9 mi | |
| Fulton → Newbern | 37 | 45% | 41% | 0.9 mi | |
| Newbern → Memphis | 86 | 52% | 42% | — | |
| Memphis → Marks | 66 | 50% | 46% | 1.4 mi | |
| Marks → Greenwood | 56 | 31% | 31% | 2.4 mi | |
| Greenwood → Yazoo City | 52 | 65% | 55% | 1.1 mi | |
| Yazoo City → Jackson | 45 | 49% | 47% | 3.8 mi | |
| Jackson → Hazlehurst | 34 | 69% | 54% | 0.7 mi | |
| Hazlehurst → Brookhaven | 20 | 46% | 43% | — | |
| Brookhaven → McComb | 24 | 38% | 28% | — | |
| McComb → Hammond | 52 | 68% | 59% | — | |
| Hammond → New Orleans | 52 | 75% | 62% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago → Homewood | 24 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Homewood → Kankakee | 32 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Kankakee → Champaign | 72 | 100% | 98% | 0.4 mi | |
| Champaign → Mattoon | 45 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Mattoon → Effingham | 27 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Effingham → Centralia | 53 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Centralia → Carbondale | 56 | 83% | 77% | 3.3 mi | |
| Carbondale → Fulton | 96 | 87% | 77% | 3.4 mi | |
| Fulton → Newbern | 37 | 94% | 83% | 1.0 mi | |
| Newbern → Memphis | 86 | 100% | 96% | — | |
| Memphis → Marks | 66 | 98% | 90% | 1.5 mi | |
| Marks → Greenwood | 56 | 82% | 62% | 2.4 mi | |
| Greenwood → Yazoo City | 52 | 97% | 94% | 1.0 mi | |
| Yazoo City → Jackson | 45 | 91% | 86% | 3.8 mi | |
| Jackson → Hazlehurst | 34 | 97% | 96% | 1.1 mi | |
| Hazlehurst → Brookhaven | 20 | 100% | 96% | — | |
| Brookhaven → McComb | 24 | 100% | 91% | — | |
| McComb → Hammond | 52 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Hammond → New Orleans | 52 | 100% | 100% | — |
City of New Orleans cell service FAQ
Does the City of New Orleans have cell service?
For most of the trip, yes. Inside the train, solid coverage (the FCC's in-vehicle model) reaches 86% for AT&T, 69% for Verizon, 59% for T-Mobile of the 931-mile route from Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA. Much of the rest is spotty rather than dead: AT&T has some signal on 99%, Verizon has some signal on 98%, T-Mobile has some signal on 96%.
Which carrier is best on the City of New Orleans?
AT&T has the most modeled on-train coverage (86%), with 5G on 61% of the route. Verizon covers 69% and T-Mobile covers 59%.
Where is the longest dead zone on the City of New Orleans?
AT&T: about 2 miles between Yazoo City and Jackson. Verizon: about 12 miles near Yazoo City, MS. T-Mobile: about 4 miles between Yazoo City and Jackson.
Does Amtrak Wi-Fi work on the City of New Orleans?
Amtrak Wi-Fi relies on cellular networks, so it generally weakens or drops in the same places your phone does. Expect it to be unreliable through the dead zones shown on this map.
How accurate is this coverage map?
It reflects carrier-reported modeled coverage published by the FCC (data as of Dec 31, 2025). It is not an onboard measurement. BarTrakr shows the FCC's in-vehicle model by default; the outdoor model is available with the Outdoor switch.
Can I use BarTrakr on the train without signal?
Yes. Tap “Save for offline” before you board. The route, coverage data and map background up to zoom 10 are stored on your device, and live tracking uses your phone's GPS, which works without cell service.
About this data
- Coverage: FCC Broadband Data Collection mobile coverage for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, release D25 (as of Dec 31, 2025, published Oct 13, 2026).
- Route: U.S. DOT / BTS National Transportation Atlas Database, Amtrak Routes. Stations and stop order: Amtrak GTFS.
- On the train: colored where the FCC in-vehicle model shows coverage; amber (spotty) where only the outdoor model does; red where neither does.
- Stretches shorter than a quarter mile are merged into their neighbors; at train speed they last only seconds.