Amtrak launching "The Floridian" with daily service between Chicago and Miami...

[The Tradition]

Two iconic routes combine to create a new travel experience

WASHINGTON – Amtrak customers can now purchase tickets on the Floridian, a new temporary route offering a direct round-trip between Chicago and Miami with intermediate stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa that will take customers to these cities in comfort and style. This train combines the routes of the Capitol Limited and Silver Star for a limited time and makes its inaugural trip on Sunday, Nov. 10.

“The Floridian offers customers an exceptional and sustainable journey to great destinations between Chicago and Miami, providing the amenities and delicious food our guests enjoy when traveling with us,” Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch said.

Customers traveling in Coach Class enjoy wide, reclining seats with ample legroom, no middle seat, and windows to enjoy the scenery. For extra comfort and additional privacy, customers can upgrade to a First Class private room. For an additional fee, a limited number of dining car meals are also available for Coach Class customers.

First Class private room options include a Roomette—featuring two reclining seats that transform into upper and lower beds by night and shower access—or a Bedroom offering twice the space of a Roomette and an in-room restroom and shower. For First Class customers traveling with a disability, Accessible Bedrooms are located on the entry level of the train and offer ample space for those who use a wheeled mobility device.

The private rooms have large bi-level windows, a sink and a dedicated attendant who provides turndown service, assists with meals, helps with luggage and shares great stories of life on the rails.

All customers in private rooms receive complimentary lounge access at major stations and priority boarding.

The Floridian will offer Traditional Dining service in the Dining Car, a complimentary amenity for customers traveling in First Class private rooms. This popular service, experienced in a dining car with bi-level windows, will feature several enhancements, including chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner; table service with glassware, cutlery and linen tablecloths; vegetarian and vegan menu options; selections for children and a complimentary alcoholic drink with dinner. The menu offers several customer favorites, including:

• Amtrak Signature Railroad French Toast, Three Egg Omelet for breakfast;
• Artisan Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Natural Angus Burger, Vegan Chili Bowl for lunch;
• Amtrak Signature Flat Iron Steak, Atlantic Salmon, Rigatoni Bolognese for dinner.

Café service, also featuring a newly updated menu, will be available onboard for all customers, offering a variety of meals, snacks and beverages for sale.

Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains to create the Floridian due to the upcoming East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York. During this project, one tunnel tube will be closed at a time, minimizing service impacts, maximizing construction access and modernizing the tunnel infrastructure to serve customers for another 100 years.

“Our members have had a long-standing dream of restoring a one-seat ride from the Midwest to Florida, and we’re thrilled that a new generation of American passengers will be able to experience this service for themselves,” said Jim Mathews, President & CEO of the Rail Passengers Association. “This move will free up badly needed equipment while taking pressure off Northeast Corridor infrastructure during the renovation of the ERT Project. Rail Passengers applauds Amtrak for this innovative solution to keeping passengers moving during critical state of good repair work. We believe riders will flock to this new service.”

The Floridian (Trains 40 & 41) will operate on a similar schedule and make the current stops of the Capitol Limited (Trains 29 & 30) between Chicago and Washington, D.C., and the Silver Star (Trains 91 & 92) between Miami and Washington, D.C. The Silver Meteor (Trains 97 & 98) continues to operate daily between New York and Miami.

Amtrak Launching the Floridian, with Daily Service Between Chicago and Miami - Amtrak Media

Two iconic routes combine to create a new travel experience WASHINGTON – Amtrak customers can now purchase tickets on the Floridian, a new temporary route

media.amtrak.com

 

[HROT]

Who amongst us wouldn’t love to spend 47 hours on Amtrak?

 

[The Tradition]

One way in a private room starts around $1,500 and includes six meals? Not bad.

 

[95Hawk]

One way in a private room starts around $1,500 and includes six meals? Not bad.

$1500, 6 meals, and 47 hours to get from Chicago to Sourh Florida? Yikes.

I wish we had better rail options in the US. I want it to be an option, but this isn’t it. For me, anyway.

 

[The Tradition]

Coach is as low as $113 on my sample date departing on a Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m., but you're going to sleep in a chair for two nights before arriving at 6:09 on Thursday night?

 

[Gimmered]

One way in a private room starts around $1,500 and includes six meals? Not bad.

I've thought about doing this taking the northern route from Portland to Chicago. Sounds like it's a beautiful trip. I doubt my body would handle the trip though.

 

[TC Nole OX]

Florida Amtrak mostly blows. Illinois DOT provides additional subsidies for their Amtrak service and the product is far superior.

 

[The Tradition]

Florida Amtrak mostly blows. Illinois DOT provides additional subsidies for their Amtrak service and the product is far superior.

Sanford, Florida has the auto-train station.

 

[jonesy5960]

Just got back from Italy yesterday. Holy shit are we ass backwards from a rail and overall travel perspective. 225 MPH comfortable trains that you can easily book and jump on every 30 minutes with a moment's notice. And don't get me started on what the Rome airport looks like compared to anywhere I've been in the U.S. Their Duty Free is one of the largest high end shopping experiences I've ever seen. Bvlgari, Saks, Ferragamo, Cartier, and many more. Dozens of real restaurants as well. It's like a completely different world of travel over there.

 

[lucas80]

I've thought about doing this taking the northern route from Portland to Chicago. Sounds like it's a beautiful trip. I doubt my body would handle the trip though.

I believe @ThorneStockton has posted about taking this trip?

 

[Urohawk]

Just got back from Italy yesterday. Holy shit are we ass backwards from a rail and overall travel perspective. 225 MPH comfortable trains that you can easily book and jump on every 30 minutes with a moment's notice. And don't get me started on what the Rome airport looks like compared to anywhere I've been in the U.S. Their Duty Free is one of the largest high end shopping experiences I've ever seen. Bvlgari, Saks, Ferragamo, Cartier, and many more. Dozens of real restaurants as well. It's like a completely different world of travel over there.

Although I would love to have good high speed rail options. This image 100% counters your comments on trains. The East coast from NYC to DC should maybe be the same as Italy. May be the state of California. Then third, possibly the state of TX. Otherwise it's too far and population is not high enough.

 

[jaxhawk06]

Although I would love to have good high speed rail options. This image 100% counters your comments on trains. The East coast from NYC to DC should maybe be the same as Italy. May be the state of California. Then third, possibly the state of TX. Otherwise it's too far and population is not high enough.

There's a decent amount of city pairs that would be perfect for HSR. Portland to Seattle (and Vancouver), Atlanta to Charlotte, Chicago to St. Louis, Houston to Dallas (and the Texas Triangle) to name a few

 

[The Tradition]

There's a decent amount of city pairs that would be perfect for HSR. Portland to Seattle (and Vancouver), Atlanta to Charlotte, Chicago to St. Louis, Houston to Dallas (and the Texas Triangle) to name a few

Brightline seems to be working from SoFla to Orlando. They're going to get a station at the airport and then expand service to Tampa.

I would never ride it, but I guess enough people are doing it.

 

[jaxhawk06]

Brightline seems to be working from SoFla to Orlando. They're going to get a station at the airport and then expand service to Tampa.

I would never ride it, but I guess enough people are doing it.

If Brightline ever connects to Jacksonville, I'd definitely ride it when I'm back in Florida. If Brightline West succeeds (Vegas to Southern California) it could be a game changer as it will be true high speed rail.

 

[Bank of Hawk]

Thanks, I’ll fly. If I wanted to see the country while traveling to a far off destination, I’ll drive. 0 interest in long travel train routes

 

[HawkeyeShawn]

Chicago to Miami, with stops at Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. They label this as “direct”?

 

[The Tradition]

Chicago to Miami, with stops at Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. They label this as “direct”?

"Daily" is also strange considering the entire trip takes two full days.

 

[jonesy5960]

Although I would love to have good high speed rail options. This image 100% counters your comments on trains. The East coast from NYC to DC should maybe be the same as Italy. May be the state of California. Then third, possibly the state of TX. Otherwise it's too far and population is not high enough.

Nonsense. We used to be able to do things. Back in the 30's we built roads to nowhere and tracks are cheaper to lay than highways. The trains in Italy connect to all of Europe. Overlay that on top of the U.S. A train hooking up the entire East coast would hit way higher populations per mile than the Italian trains do. Same for the west and Chicago to the Northeast.

 

[ThorneStockton]

I believe @ThorneStockton has posted about taking this trip?

Have taken from Portland and Seattle to Chicago. Excellent trip.

Wouldn't do it in coach, but in the sleeper car it's a fantastic way to travel.

 

[lucas80]

Thanks, I’ll fly. If I wanted to see the country while traveling to a far off destination, I’ll drive. 0 interest in long travel train routes

I’ve done Chicago to Winter Park and it was excellent. You see things differently from the rails with a different path and the height of the observation car.

 

[Tenacious E]

Nonsense. We used to be able to do things. Back in the 30's we built roads to nowhere and tracks are cheaper to lay than highways. The trains in Italy connect to all of Europe. Overlay that on top of the U.S. A train hooking up the entire East coast would hit way higher populations per mile than the Italian trains do. Same for the west and Chicago to the Northeast.

There are vast swathes of land here with no one living in them compared to Europe. Add to that there can only be one train on the track at a time. I loved the passenger trains in Italy but they just won’t work in the US as a whole.

 

[UpstreamHawkeye]

Sigh... Chicago to Miami, driving distance 1400 miles, train ride distance 2100 miles, 47 hours; Beijing to Hong Kong, driving distance 1400 miles, train ride distance 1500 miles, 8 hours and 10 minutes.

 

[Bank of Hawk]

I’ve done Chicago to Winter Park and it was excellent. You see things differently from the rails with a different path and the height of the observation car.

I might do a scenic type ride like this. Suppose it’s a solid way to see the landscapes of the county side.

 

[GOHOX69]

Where will it derail?

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Naming it the Floridian is just playing with fire IMO.

 

[OrlandNole]

Chicago to Miami, with stops at Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. They label this as “direct”?

It's direct because you don't have to transfer trains. If they went straight to Chicago without stopping at all of those intermediate cities, it would be labeled "express."

This is obviously not a travel option for business or anyone who just wants to get from point A to point B. This is an excursion train where the journey is half the fun. Not for everyone.

 

[jonesy5960]

There are vast swathes of land here with no one living in them compared to Europe. Add to that there can only be one train on the track at a time. I loved the passenger trains in Italy but they just won’t work in the US as a whole.

These don't have to be all or nothing discussions. The East and West coasts are perfect for something like this. A train linking Chicago with the Northeast would as well. The population served per mile of track in these cases would far exceed that of Italy or anywhere else in Europe.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

The European system will never work in the U.S.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Coach is as low as $113 on my sample date departing on a Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m., but you're going to sleep in a chair for two nights before arriving at 6:09 on Thursday night?

I'm pretty close to Chicago and we just drive and we get there faster than that.

I'm not seeing anything about this that makes it preferable to flying or driving. Both will get you there faster, if you have several people (we have a family of 5) driving is cheaper than even the coach class with no meals. Even if you include staying in a hotel along the way.

And honestly at $113, you can get plane tickets for that price or less usually.

 

[Tenacious E]

These don't have to be all or nothing discussions. The East and West coasts are perfect for something like this. A train linking Chicago with the Northeast would as well. The population served per mile of track in these cases would far exceed that of Italy or anywhere else in Europe.

I think where trains make sense here they are used, like subway systems within a City. I also think they can make sense in thickly settled areas like the east cost from Boston down to say, DC. I also think they are a cool experience going through the sprawling west and the Rockies. But I just don't think they move enough people fast enough for the US. They were great in Italy but part of that was being a tourist, and part of it is the abysmal road infrastructure compared to here (both getting from point A to point B, and then around in points A and B). For me personally, I could see doing train trips once I'm retired, but if I only have X number of free days per year, I'm not doubling/tripling/quadrupling my transit time.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I think where trains make sense here they are used, like subway systems within a City. I also think they can make sense in thickly settled areas like the east cost from Boston down to say, DC. I also think they are a cool experience going through the sprawling west and the Rockies. But I just don't think they move enough people fast enough for the US. They were great in Italy but part of that was being a tourist, and part of it is the abysmal road infrastructure compared to here (both getting from point A to point B, and then around in points A and B). For me personally, I could see doing train trips once I'm retired, but if I only have X number of free days per year, I'm not doubling/tripling/quadrupling my transit time.

Part of the problem is that we have a lot of land to cover but we don't have high speed rail. Overseas there are trains that go like 200 mph. If we had that than rail for long distance trips could conceivably make more sense.

But with regular rail, if you want to take a long distance trip it takes longer to get there than just driving a car and with multiple people it's more expensive too, and less comfortable.

So really it has zero advantage to it.

 

[ihhawk]

Brightline seems to be working from SoFla to Orlando. They're going to get a station at the airport and then expand service to Tampa.

I would never ride it, but I guess enough people are doing it.

I rode it last month. It was freaking nice. It is well worth it if you are going for business and someone else is paying. I will never make that drive again

 

[jonesy5960]

I think where trains make sense here they are used, like subway systems within a City. I also think they can make sense in thickly settled areas like the east cost from Boston down to say, DC. I also think they are a cool experience going through the sprawling west and the Rockies. But I just don't think they move enough people fast enough for the US. They were great in Italy but part of that was being a tourist, and part of it is the abysmal road infrastructure compared to here (both getting from point A to point B, and then around in points A and B). For me personally, I could see doing train trips once I'm retired, but if I only have X number of free days per year, I'm not doubling/tripling/quadrupling my transit time.

Nobody is talking about this and you're not considering the entire picture. It feels like you're mentally stuck on subways and Amtrack. There are obviously situations where air travel is faster and others where high speed trains are faster than either air or driving. High speed trains are always faster than cars and often faster or similar in time to air travel when considering shorter to medium routes. I've flown and driven to Pittsburgh and I know that total time on a high speed train would be less than half that of a car and probably less than a plane when the time at airports before and after the flight is factored in. It's also much more flexible and less expensive when booking close to departure.

 

[Tenacious E]

Nobody is talking about this and you're not considering the entire picture. It feels like you're mentally stuck on subways and Amtrack. There are obviously situations where air travel is faster and others where high speed trains are faster than either air or driving. High speed trains are always faster than cars and often faster or similar in time to air travel when considering shorter to medium routes. I've flown and driven to Pittsburgh and I know that total time on a high speed train would be less than half that of a car and probably less than a plane when the time at airports before and after the flight is factored in. It's also much more flexible and less expensive when booking close to departure.

I think there are separate conversations going on. My doubling to quadrupling comments were in context of a Chicago to Florida train or whatever, with multiple days of travel time. I agreed that they could make sense within the boston to DC corridor.

 

[jonesy5960]

I think there are separate conversations going on. My comments doubling to quadrupling comments were in context of a Chicago to Florida train or whatever, with multiple days of travel time. I agreed that they could make sense within the boston to DC corridor.

I think the entire East coast from Boston to Miami could easily support this in addition to the Chicago to Northeast line witn stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philly, and New York.

 

[cohawk]

I've thought about doing this taking the northern route from Portland to Chicago. Sounds like it's a beautiful trip. I doubt my body would handle the trip though.

It's not bad even in coach. It is a beautiful trip.

 

[ThorneStockton]

Just bought roundtrip tickets last week for a little post-Xmas vacation. Chicago to Boston in a sleeper. Beautiful scenery, relaxing ride, SEE level. Will be spending NYE on the train heading back to Chicago. My wife and I took the train from Chicago to San Francisco last December (my third trip on that route), her first ever long distance trip - excluding Europe - and she loved it.

Nothing is expected of the train passenger. In planes the traveler is condemned to hours in a tight seat; ships require high spirits and sociability; cars and buses are unspeakable. The sleeping car is the most painless form of travel.

 

[theiacowtipper]

We use Amtrak from western Illinois to Chicago. Last time I used it the cost was $14 per person each way. Less than 100 round trip for two people. That was less than two nights parking let alone the cost to drive. Well worth it

 

[ISUBryce]

My sister went to MSU, and I helped her move. I took Amtrak back from Battle Creek, MI to Osceola. Took me longer on the train than the drive and the ticket was not cheap at all.

I just don’t think this is feasible in places like the Midwest. Maybe the Acela corridor but that’s really about it.

Edit: let’s not even bring up the kids factor. If you’re traveling with kids this absolutely isn’t an option at all, and my kids are good travelers. This is basically for retirees and people not in any hurry which basically excludes everybody I know other than my parents.

 

[ISUBryce]

Nothing is expected of the train passenger. In planes the traveler is condemned to hours in a tight seat; ships require high spirits and sociability; cars and buses are unspeakable. The sleeping car is the most painless form of travel.

1. For the cost of a sleeper car you can probably get first class plane tickets, which aren’t tight.

2. What do you think happens first? Fully autonomous driving where the driver could literally sleep, especially on the highway overnight, or we build mind boggling amounts of high speed rail?