A New Amtrak Route Will Transport Travelers From the Midwest to Sun-Drenched Beaches

Soon, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a leisurely journey from Illinois to Florida. Amtrak has announced a new round-trip service connecting Chicago and Miami set to launch this fall. Named the Floridian Line, it merges the Capitol Limited and Silver Star lines, starting operations on November 10.

Travelers can get off at any of the 44 stops along the way, including key cities like Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Virginia; Raleigh, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Orlando, Florida.

If you choose to experience the full trip, you'll have ample opportunity to work, enjoy a few good books, or binge-watch your favorite shows—the train ride from Chicago to Miami spans 48 hours and 19 minutes.

Passengers in the Floridian’s coach class will find themselves in comfortable reclining seats by the window or aisle, with expansive windows perfect for soaking in the scenic views.

For those seeking enhanced privacy and improved sleep, Amtrak presents two first-class private room options: roomettes and bedrooms. Roomettes come with two reclining seats that convert into bunk beds at night, along with access to a shared shower facility. Bedrooms offer an en suite bathroom and shower, providing extra space to move about. Both private room types include a dedicated attendant for turndown service and assistance with meals and luggage.

Guests in a roomette or bedroom are entitled to complimentary chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, available in the dining car or served in their rooms, as part of the “Traditional Dining Program.” This program is also accessible to select coach class passengers for an additional fee. Dinner entrees include one complimentary alcoholic beverage, salad, and rolls, with options like oven-roasted salmon with brown rice, edamame, carrots, and lobster sauce, or an Angus beef flat-iron steak with mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and port wine sauce.

This new route is temporary. Amtrak is offering it while the company works on the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York. The project involves closing one of the two tunnel tubes at a time to repair damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and to upgrade the tunnel’s infrastructure. Normally, the Silver Star train travels between New York City and Miami via Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; and Baltimore, Maryland, before arriving in Washington, D.C. By merging these two lines, Amtrak aims to reduce disruptions while maintaining service across the eastern United States. According to a press release, Amtrak anticipates the project’s completion by 2027.

Tickets for the Floridian service can now be booked on Amtrak’s website. One-way coach fares start at $110, while private rooms are priced at $734 each way.

The announcement of this new route coincides with the integration of Amtrak fares and travel recommendations into Google Search. Travelers looking for U.S. airline prices on Google Flights will now also receive suggestions for train journeys, as long as there’s an Amtrak station at both the departure and arrival locations.