September 23, 2024 Amtrak Launching the Floridian, with Daily Service Between Chicago and Miami

[mahatmakanejeeves]

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September 23, 2024
Amtrak Launching the Floridian, with Daily Service Between Chicago and Miami

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.

{snip}

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.

For More Information
Kimberly Woods
[e-mail]
Amtrak Contact
202 906.3860

Amtrak says the combined Flordian, which will not serve New York, will free up track space for the East River Tunnel Project; it’ll also free up Superliners for western routes.

Amtrak to ‘Temporarily’ Combine Capitol Limited, Silver Star Into New Train
By Justin Franz

Amtrak announced this week that it was “temporarily” combining the Chicago to Washington D.C., Capitol Limited and the New York City to Miami Silver Star into one train called the Floridian. The “new” train will run from Chicago to Miami via Washington D.C., but will skip New York City. That means there will be one less train running through the East River Tunnel, which is presently being repaired. ... The train, which will make its debut on November 10, will run with all single-level equipment, which is another reason why Amtrak is combining the trains: it will free up much-needed Superliner equipment for its western routes currently used by the Capitol.

The Floridian (Trains 40 and 41) will operate on a similar schedule and make the current stops of the Capitol Limited (Trains 29 and 30) between Chicago and Washington, D.C., and the Silver Star (Trains 91 and 92) between Miami and Washington, D.C. The Silver Meteor (Trains 97 and 98) continues to operate daily between New York and Miami. {snip} Besides connecting Chicago to Miami with a one-seat ride, the train will also offer traditional dining service.

{snip}

Justin Franz is a railfan. His "real" job is as a writer for the "Flathead Beacon" out in Kalispell, Montana.

[House of Roberts]

1. So they're cutting out the DC to New York leg for the 91 and 92?

Or are those trains going to continue to run their own routes?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I'm going to edit the OP now to add info. Thanks for prodding me.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

To answer your question, yes. 91 and 92 are discontinued on the NE corridor north of DC.

[House of Roberts]

3. Oh well,

we won't gain any new trains thru Ashland then.

I just looked at the tracker and all four Silvers are in Florida atm.

Have a good rest of the day.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. That is correct. It's not really new service, just existing service that's been cut back and renamed. NT