Amtrak · New Orleans, LA – Los Angeles, CA
Sunset Limited Cell Service & Coverage Map
Modeled coverage on board the Sunset Limited, New Orleans, LA to Los Angeles, CA. On the train, AT&T has the most solid coverage at 82% of the route, ahead of Verizon (70%) and T-Mobile (69%). Amber stretches are spotty: signal often works but may drop. AT&T's longest true dead zone runs about 28 miles between Sanderson and Alpine.
The whole line at a glance
Los Angeles, CA on the left, New Orleans, LA 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 | 82% | 12% | 57% | 103 | 27.7 mi | |
| Verizon | 70% | 23% | 27% | 147 | 44.4 mi | |
| T-Mobile | 69% | 24% | 61% | 128 | 41.2 mi |
Coverage summary
Verizon · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid Verizon service on the train, plus 23% spotty
has modeled 5G; 19% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Del Rio and Sanderson
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Yuma and Palm Springs
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 18.7%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 8.3%
- 4G LTE 42.9%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 22.8%
- No modeled coverage 7.4%
Plan downloads and calls around Del Rio–Sanderson (56.8 mi without coverage), Sanderson–Alpine (54.8 mi without coverage), Alpine–El Paso (26.7 mi without coverage).
Verizon · Outdoor model
of the route has solid Verizon service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 48% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Del Rio and Sanderson
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Houston and San Antonio
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 48.1%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 6.4%
- 4G LTE 38.1%
- No modeled coverage 7.5%
Plan downloads and calls around Del Rio–Sanderson (58.3 mi without coverage), Sanderson–Alpine (54.8 mi without coverage), Alpine–El Paso (26.7 mi without coverage).
AT&T · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid AT&T service on the train, plus 12% spotty
has modeled 5G; 50% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Sanderson and Alpine
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Palm Springs and Ontario
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 49.9%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 7.0%
- 4G LTE 25.4%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 12.5%
- No modeled coverage 5.2%
Plan downloads and calls around Sanderson–Alpine (42.5 mi without coverage), Del Rio–Sanderson (33.4 mi without coverage), Alpine–El Paso (12.9 mi without coverage).
AT&T · Outdoor model
of the route has solid AT&T service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 66% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Sanderson and Alpine
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Lordsburg and Benson
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 65.8%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 9.7%
- 4G LTE 19.2%
- No modeled coverage 5.2%
Plan downloads and calls around Sanderson–Alpine (42.5 mi without coverage), Del Rio–Sanderson (33.4 mi without coverage), Alpine–El Paso (13.4 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · On the train (in-vehicle model)
of the route has solid T-Mobile service on the train, plus 24% spotty
has modeled 5G; 43% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Sanderson and Alpine
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Houston and San Antonio
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 42.9%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 18.1%
- 4G LTE 8.0%
- Spotty (outdoor-strength only) 24.5%
- No modeled coverage 6.5%
Plan downloads and calls around Sanderson–Alpine (51.6 mi without coverage), Alpine–El Paso (24.1 mi without coverage), Del Rio–Sanderson (22.9 mi without coverage).
T-Mobile · Outdoor model
of the route has solid T-Mobile service outdoors
has modeled 5G; 81% at the faster 35/3 Mbps tier
longest dead zone (no signal in either model), between Sanderson and Alpine
longest unbroken covered stretch, between Lordsburg and Benson
- 5G NR · 35/3 Mbps 80.5%
- 5G NR · 7/1 Mbps 8.9%
- 4G LTE 3.8%
- No modeled coverage 6.8%
Plan downloads and calls around Sanderson–Alpine (52.0 mi without coverage), Alpine–El Paso (25.1 mi without coverage), Del Rio–Sanderson (24.4 mi without coverage).
Station to station
In timetable order from New Orleans, LA. Distances are along the track. Follows the carrier and model selected on the map.
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans → Schriever | 54 | 83% | 51% | — | |
| Schriever → New Iberia | 71 | 81% | 11% | — | |
| New Iberia → Lafayette | 19 | 85% | 34% | — | |
| Lafayette → Lake Charles | 74 | 92% | 7% | — | |
| Lake Charles → Beaumont | 61 | 63% | 9% | — | |
| Beaumont → Houston | 87 | 78% | 24% | — | |
| Houston → San Antonio | 210 | 83% | 38% | — | |
| San Antonio → Del Rio | 169 | 86% | 33% | — | |
| Del Rio → Sanderson | 125 | 17% | 6% | 44.4 mi | |
| Sanderson → Alpine | 91 | 34% | 6% | 43.8 mi | |
| Alpine → El Paso | 218 | 46% | 16% | 17.3 mi | |
| El Paso → Deming | 87 | 59% | 16% | — | |
| Deming → Lordsburg | 60 | 59% | 11% | — | |
| Lordsburg → Benson | 115 | 76% | 34% | — | |
| Benson → Tucson | 47 | 85% | 54% | — | |
| Tucson → Maricopa | 86 | 93% | 51% | — | |
| Maricopa → Yuma | 164 | 74% | 19% | 3.4 mi | |
| Yuma → Palm Springs | 144 | 73% | 34% | 4.6 mi | |
| Palm Springs → Ontario | 68 | 97% | 72% | — | |
| Ontario → Pomona | 6 | 100% | 43% | — | |
| Pomona → Los Angeles | 32 | 100% | 67% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans → Schriever | 54 | 100% | 93% | — | |
| Schriever → New Iberia | 71 | 100% | 21% | — | |
| New Iberia → Lafayette | 19 | 100% | 85% | — | |
| Lafayette → Lake Charles | 74 | 100% | 29% | — | |
| Lake Charles → Beaumont | 61 | 100% | 36% | — | |
| Beaumont → Houston | 87 | 100% | 59% | — | |
| Houston → San Antonio | 210 | 100% | 74% | — | |
| San Antonio → Del Rio | 169 | 100% | 62% | — | |
| Del Rio → Sanderson | 125 | 53% | 31% | 45.5 mi | |
| Sanderson → Alpine | 91 | 40% | 6% | 43.8 mi | |
| Alpine → El Paso | 218 | 88% | 36% | 17.3 mi | |
| El Paso → Deming | 87 | 100% | 54% | — | |
| Deming → Lordsburg | 60 | 100% | 32% | — | |
| Lordsburg → Benson | 115 | 100% | 75% | — | |
| Benson → Tucson | 47 | 100% | 80% | — | |
| Tucson → Maricopa | 86 | 100% | 89% | — | |
| Maricopa → Yuma | 164 | 98% | 40% | 3.4 mi | |
| Yuma → Palm Springs | 144 | 97% | 63% | 4.6 mi | |
| Palm Springs → Ontario | 68 | 100% | 93% | — | |
| Ontario → Pomona | 6 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Pomona → Los Angeles | 32 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans → Schriever | 54 | 100% | 97% | — | |
| Schriever → New Iberia | 71 | 94% | 87% | — | |
| New Iberia → Lafayette | 19 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Lafayette → Lake Charles | 74 | 100% | 92% | — | |
| Lake Charles → Beaumont | 61 | 92% | 83% | — | |
| Beaumont → Houston | 87 | 68% | 59% | 0.8 mi | |
| Houston → San Antonio | 210 | 93% | 86% | — | |
| San Antonio → Del Rio | 169 | 74% | 56% | 2.6 mi | |
| Del Rio → Sanderson | 125 | 34% | 13% | 15.3 mi | |
| Sanderson → Alpine | 91 | 38% | 20% | 27.7 mi | |
| Alpine → El Paso | 218 | 71% | 30% | 7.5 mi | |
| El Paso → Deming | 87 | 92% | 51% | — | |
| Deming → Lordsburg | 60 | 100% | 72% | — | |
| Lordsburg → Benson | 115 | 93% | 33% | — | |
| Benson → Tucson | 47 | 99% | 49% | — | |
| Tucson → Maricopa | 86 | 100% | 93% | — | |
| Maricopa → Yuma | 164 | 90% | 47% | 2.1 mi | |
| Yuma → Palm Springs | 144 | 83% | 36% | 5.2 mi | |
| Palm Springs → Ontario | 68 | 100% | 89% | — | |
| Ontario → Pomona | 6 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Pomona → Los Angeles | 32 | 100% | 99% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans → Schriever | 54 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Schriever → New Iberia | 71 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| New Iberia → Lafayette | 19 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Lafayette → Lake Charles | 74 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Lake Charles → Beaumont | 61 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Beaumont → Houston | 87 | 97% | 84% | 0.8 mi | |
| Houston → San Antonio | 210 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| San Antonio → Del Rio | 169 | 98% | 88% | 3.1 mi | |
| Del Rio → Sanderson | 125 | 73% | 21% | 15.3 mi | |
| Sanderson → Alpine | 91 | 53% | 34% | 27.7 mi | |
| Alpine → El Paso | 218 | 94% | 55% | 7.5 mi | |
| El Paso → Deming | 87 | 100% | 86% | — | |
| Deming → Lordsburg | 60 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Lordsburg → Benson | 115 | 100% | 68% | — | |
| Benson → Tucson | 47 | 100% | 70% | — | |
| Tucson → Maricopa | 86 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Maricopa → Yuma | 164 | 98% | 68% | 2.1 mi | |
| Yuma → Palm Springs | 144 | 96% | 48% | 5.2 mi | |
| Palm Springs → Ontario | 68 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Ontario → Pomona | 6 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Pomona → Los Angeles | 32 | 100% | 100% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans → Schriever | 54 | 71% | 63% | — | |
| Schriever → New Iberia | 71 | 61% | 54% | — | |
| New Iberia → Lafayette | 19 | 50% | 50% | — | |
| Lafayette → Lake Charles | 74 | 67% | 62% | — | |
| Lake Charles → Beaumont | 61 | 67% | 61% | 1.8 mi | |
| Beaumont → Houston | 87 | 42% | 39% | 7.6 mi | |
| Houston → San Antonio | 210 | 80% | 77% | 1.0 mi | |
| San Antonio → Del Rio | 169 | 64% | 57% | 1.0 mi | |
| Del Rio → Sanderson | 125 | 32% | 14% | 9.6 mi | |
| Sanderson → Alpine | 91 | 28% | 27% | 41.2 mi | |
| Alpine → El Paso | 218 | 58% | 47% | 11.5 mi | |
| El Paso → Deming | 87 | 69% | 56% | — | |
| Deming → Lordsburg | 60 | 88% | 61% | — | |
| Lordsburg → Benson | 115 | 91% | 79% | — | |
| Benson → Tucson | 47 | 76% | 75% | — | |
| Tucson → Maricopa | 86 | 99% | 96% | — | |
| Maricopa → Yuma | 164 | 85% | 79% | 2.9 mi | |
| Yuma → Palm Springs | 144 | 78% | 66% | 1.7 mi | |
| Palm Springs → Ontario | 68 | 85% | 81% | 0.5 mi | |
| Ontario → Pomona | 6 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Pomona → Los Angeles | 32 | 100% | 98% | — |
| Segment | Miles | Coverage mix | Solid | 5G | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans → Schriever | 54 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Schriever → New Iberia | 71 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| New Iberia → Lafayette | 19 | 100% | 99% | — | |
| Lafayette → Lake Charles | 74 | 100% | 98% | — | |
| Lake Charles → Beaumont | 61 | 97% | 95% | 1.8 mi | |
| Beaumont → Houston | 87 | 84% | 75% | 7.6 mi | |
| Houston → San Antonio | 210 | 98% | 97% | 1.6 mi | |
| San Antonio → Del Rio | 169 | 97% | 91% | 2.6 mi | |
| Del Rio → Sanderson | 125 | 81% | 50% | 9.6 mi | |
| Sanderson → Alpine | 91 | 43% | 42% | 41.2 mi | |
| Alpine → El Paso | 218 | 88% | 86% | 11.5 mi | |
| El Paso → Deming | 87 | 100% | 95% | — | |
| Deming → Lordsburg | 60 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Lordsburg → Benson | 115 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Benson → Tucson | 47 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Tucson → Maricopa | 86 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Maricopa → Yuma | 164 | 97% | 96% | 2.9 mi | |
| Yuma → Palm Springs | 144 | 98% | 97% | 1.7 mi | |
| Palm Springs → Ontario | 68 | 99% | 96% | 0.5 mi | |
| Ontario → Pomona | 6 | 100% | 100% | — | |
| Pomona → Los Angeles | 32 | 100% | 100% | — |
Sunset Limited cell service FAQ
Does the Sunset Limited have cell service?
For most of the trip, yes. Inside the train, solid coverage (the FCC's in-vehicle model) reaches 82% for AT&T, 70% for Verizon, 69% for T-Mobile of the 1,989-mile route from New Orleans, LA to Los Angeles, CA. Much of the rest is spotty rather than dead: AT&T has some signal on 95%, Verizon has some signal on 93%, T-Mobile has some signal on 94%.
Which carrier is best on the Sunset Limited?
AT&T has the most modeled on-train coverage (82%), with 5G on 57% of the route. Verizon covers 70% and T-Mobile covers 69%.
Where is the longest dead zone on the Sunset Limited?
AT&T: about 28 miles between Sanderson and Alpine. Verizon: about 44 miles between Del Rio and Sanderson. T-Mobile: about 41 miles between Sanderson and Alpine.
Does Amtrak Wi-Fi work on the Sunset Limited?
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.