Amtrak Is Launching an Epic New Long-Distance Train Route

As the national passenger railroad of the United States, Amtrak operates more than 30 train routes across the country (and parts of Canada) that stop at over 500 stations along the way. These long-distance train journeys allow passengers to sit back, relax, and watch the beautiful scenery of the American landscape pass them by. In fall 2024, Amtrak announced plans to expand its network even further, introducing an exciting new long-distance train route. Here are all the details.

Introducing the Floridian Line

The Floridian line begins daily service on November 10, 2024, taking Amtrak passengers between Chicago, Illinois, and Miami, Florida, over the course of 47 hours. The route combines two existing routes — the Capitol Limited and Silver Star — to create a new opportunity to travel from the Midwest to Florida without changing trains.

During the journey, riders will pass through 44 stations, with stops in major cities such as Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Columbia, South Carolina; and Orlando, Florida. (This new Floridian line is not to be confused with an Amtrak route of the same name from the 1970s, which made stops in locations including Louisville, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee.)

Heading southward, the Floridian line will depart Chicago’s Union Station every day at 6:40 p.m. local time, before reaching Miami around 6:00 p.m. local time two days later. In the other direction, trains will depart Miami each morning at 11:05 a.m. Eastern time before arriving in Chicago at 8:45 a.m. Central time after nearly two days of travel. No matter which direction you’re going, the train will also make a quick detour to service passengers in Tampa, Florida, before doubling back to continue on its direct route between Chicago and Miami.

Temporary Benefits 

Sadly for travelers, the new Floridian line won’t be a permanent offering. Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes due to construction work on tracks in New York City, which is estimated to be completed in 2027. In a press release, Amtrak describes this as an “innovative solution to keeping passengers moving during critical state of good repair work.”  

This new Floridian line will alleviate train congestion in the Northeast Corridor, with the added benefit of providing a long-requested direct route for passengers to easily travel between the Midwest and Florida. During this time, repairs will be made on New York City’s East River Tunnel, which is used by more than 450 trains each day and was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. 

Due to the tunnel closure, fewer trains will be able travel in and out of New York City. The Floridian line is designed to take pressure off of the already-congested Northeast Corridor, as offering these direct trains will lessen the need for passengers to make a transfer in New York City.

What Accommodations Are Available?

To book the Floridian, visit Amtrak’s website and choose from several seating options. The most affordable option is coach class, but Amtrak coach seats are anything but basic — the wide, reclining chairs offer a generous amount of personal space compared to economy class in the skies. One-way coach seats begin at $113 (one way) as of publication in November 2024, though that number may spike during peak periods. Those sitting in coach can take advantage of amenities including the café car, onboard Wi-Fi, and checked bag services.

For a more luxurious ride, Amtrak offers several types of first-class accommodations: roomettes, bedrooms, and accessible bedrooms. These private rooms begin at $734, though don’t be surprised to see the one-way cost exceed $1,500. However, all of these private rooms come with multiple beds of varying sizes, so you can share the cost with a travel companion. First-class passengers are also treated to complimentary meals during their journey, including Amtrak staples such as their signature French toast and iconic flat iron steak.