Amtrak to Launch New Route to Miami — What to Know

24.09.2024 - 19:53 / travelandleisure.com / Eliot Hamlisch

Amtrak is launching a brand-new route this fall that will run from Chicago all the way down to Miami. 

The new route, called the Floridian line, will temporarily combine the Capitol Limited and Silver Star lines to minimize disruptions during planned construction in New York, according to Amtrak. The new line will make its inaugural trip on 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’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch said in a statement. 

The Floridian route will depart daily and take about 47 hours to complete with several planned stops along the way, including in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Orlando, and Tampa. The Floridian will include the current stops from the Capitol Limited line between Chicago and Washington, D.C. and the Silver Star line between Miami and Washington, D.C. 

The Silver Meteor line will continue to travel daily between New York and Miami.

The new Floridian train will feature coach tickets as well as Roomettes and private bedroom options, which come with a dedicated attendant for turndown service, complimentary lounge access at major stations, complimentary meals, and priority boarding. The train will also include a cafe service for all customers on board as well as a dining car complete with linen tablecloths and table service (think: vegan chili or flat iron steak).

The schedule change comes ahead of the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York, which will close one tunnel tube at a time. The project will restore two tubes damaged by Superstorm Sandy and modernize the tunnel’s infrastructure, according to Amtrak. Construction is estimated to be complete in 2027.

Last year, Amtrak changed its fare structure and now offers two fare options: “value” and “flex.”