Amtrak is introducing a new route that will run temporarily between Miami and Chicago, named the Floridian, providing a travel option that connects the Southeast to the Midwest. Slated to begin operation on November 10, the Floridian combines together two existing routes, the Capitol Limited and the Silver Star, as a response to the East River Tunnel rehabilitation in New York, which is anticipated to affect train services in the region.
The stretch, surpassing 40 hours, will make several stops including Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa before arriving in Miami, as detailed by NBC Miami. This new route is expected to provide passengers with an alternative while the East River Tunnel project is underway, a strategy meant to ease rail congestion and better utilize equipment during an almost disruptive period to regular 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.," Amtrak described in a statement quoted by NBC Miami.
Furthermore, passengers have different class options at their disposal, from the wide, reclinable seats of coach class that also boasts a plenty of legroom and absence of middle seats to the more private First Class accommodations. These include roomettes with convertible beds and shower access, bedrooms with more space and en-suite bathrooms, and accessible bedrooms for travelers with disabilities. ABC7 Chicago notes, traditional dining services will also be available in the dining car, complimentary for First Class passengers, and for an additional charge to coach passengers.
Jim Mathews, President & CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, praised the initiative, saying, "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." Ticket prices are set to vary based upon the fare type, with Silver Meteor trains to continue their regularly scheduled service between New York and Miami despite the temporary route change, as reported by NBC Miami.
