Ready to pull off one of Fortnite’s most thrilling challenges? The Train Heist is a high-stakes, fast-paced quest where you must track down a moving locomotive, board it, fend off rival players, and hack a large chest to claim epic loot-all while the train barrels across the island. Whether you’re on Nintendo, PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, mastering this heist will boost your XP and gear you up for victory. Here’s your step-by-step guide to successfully completing the Train Heist and dominating the rails in Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 and beyond.
Whether you’re ticking off the challenge, or want to learn how the Train Heist works, this page can help.
What is the train in Fortnite, and where can you find the train location?
The train in Fortnite is a moving locomotive that travels along a looping railway track around the island, introduced in Chapter 5 Season 1. It connects several train stations near named locations, with Reckless Railways being the main terminal where the train stops. Players can locate the train by looking for a train icon on their map, which shows its current position and direction of movement. The train does not stop at most stations except Reckless Railways, so boarding it typically involves timing your approach or landing directly on it at the start of a match. The train offers valuable loot and is central to the Train Heist challenge, where players hack a large chest on board to claim rewards.
Since the train is a moving POI, it can be a little hard to track. However, in Chapter 6 Season 1, the train will always stop at Brutal Boxcars for its first pit stop.
The train spawns in right at the beginning of a match, and you can see it the second you bring up your map screen. You can see the train location as designated by the map icon, as seen in the screenshot above, and the train even has an arrow to denote in which direction it’s traveling.
There are a few things you should know about the train:
- The train can and will take you into the storm
- The train’s cache can be opened multiple times in a match in Chapter 6 Season 1 – meaning you’ll have a few chances to complete a train heist in one game.
- The cache will glow once a heist can be started.
- The train will occasionally stop at stations near named locations around the map, so be wary of oncoming passengers looking to complete a heist of their own.
How to complete a train heist in Fortnite
To complete a Train Heist in Fortnite, first locate the moving train on the map and position yourself where it will pass. Land on the front carriage of the train and look for a large chest. Interact with the chest by selecting “Hack Chest” to start a progress bar; once it fills, you will complete the heist and receive valuable loot. Be prepared to face other players who may attempt the heist simultaneously, and defend yourself while hacking the chest. Timing is crucial-starting the heist early in the match increases your chances of success before others arrive. After the hack completes, collect your rewards and use the loot to gain an advantage in the game.
The first step to completing a train heist in Fortnite is getting onto the train. Since the train always stops at Brutal Boxcars at the beginning of the match, we recommend landing nearby.
To complete the train heist, you need to get on the train and interact with with the chest on the frontmost open carriage. Make sure to interact with the chest first; if an opposing player initiates the heist, you will not get credit for the quest and have to wait for the chest to become accessible again.
It takes around one minute for the heist to complete, so stick by the chest and fend off any oncoming players for the time being. To see the heist’s progress, look at the diamond with the train chest inside or at the loading bar on the train chest itself. Once the diamond or loading bar are full, the heist will finish and loot will spill out onto the floor.
How to make the Train Heist easier
To make the Train Heist easier in Fortnite, try to start the heist as early as possible in the match to avoid heavy competition from other players. Use the map to track the train’s location and position yourself ahead of it for a quick boarding. Once on the train, loot the small chests first to gather weapons and ammo for defense. Eliminate any rival players nearby to secure the area before hacking the large chest, as the hack takes about 45 seconds during which you must defend yourself. If the train has turrets, destroy them first to prevent them from interfering with your thermite placement when breaking into the vault. Having teammates to watch your back or choosing a moment when fewer players are contesting the heist can also improve your chances of success.
If you’re struggling to hack the train, we recommend waiting until later in the season when the train is a less popular destination, as over time, more players will have completed the challenge, and the novelty of the feature will wear off.
Want to learn the secret to hacking the train’s biggest chest quickly
To hack the train’s biggest chest quickly in Fortnite, you need to first board the moving train by jumping onto its side as it approaches. Once on the train, locate the chest on the frontmost open carriage and start the hacking process by holding the interact button. The hack takes about 45 seconds to complete, during which you must defend the train from enemy players and henchmen trying to stop you. Using powerful weapons and healing items like Slurp Juice and Med Mist grenades can help you survive the fight and speed up the process. Once the chest is hacked, it unlocks a vault full of valuable loot, including gold bars and weapons. Positioning thermite charges strategically can also help stop the train temporarily, giving you more time to hack the chest safely.
What’s the fastest way to hack the train’s biggest chest in Fortnite
The fastest way to hack the train’s biggest chest in Fortnite is to first board the train by landing on the open carriage just behind the front, where the large chest is located. Once on the train, immediately open the two smaller chests nearby to gather weapons and healing items, which will help you defend yourself during the hack. Then, approach the big chest and press and hold the interact button to start hacking it; the process takes about 30 to 40 seconds. To speed up the hack and increase your chances of success, use powerful weapons to eliminate enemy players and henchmen trying to stop you, and consume healing items like Slurp Juice or Med Mist grenades to stay alive during the fight. Positioning thermite charges to temporarily stop the train can also give you more time to complete the hack safely. Staying close to the chest and defending it without dying is crucial, as dying will fail the hack and force you to start over.
