Amtrak's NEW Floridian

[@MoonlightRailfaning]

Personally I think Amtrak should have just keep the two trains separate and fully bring back the floriden but on its old route except with a diversion to Chattanooga then Atlantis then Macon and down to Florida (Edit: there needs to be a service from the mode west to the south without going to the east or New Orleans)

[@daniellewis1789]

They also want to add that service, but it's going to require substantial negotiation, plus new stations and passing tracks all along the route. This train is a response to reduced capacity due to renovations on the route into New York City, and abysmal equipment use on the Capitol. The alternative would have been to shorten or eliminate the Silver Service with no mitigating additional connections or improved equipment use.

[@MoonlightRailfaning]

@@daniellewis1789not on all of the route Louisville still has a platform so dose bowling green but their would need to be a new station at Nashville, Chattanooga. But ok I did not know Amtrak was having such big problems with long distances passenger equipment even though Amtrak is looking for new long distance passenger cars. Though got to wonder why Amtrak has not ask Siemens yet

[@VioletLeader]

Amtrak would also need months of hiring and training new staff at all levels-engineers, conductors, car attendants, station agents, etc-after negotiations with Class 1s are fought for and won, RoWs are updated, and new rolling stock/motive power is purchased. All of this would require a lot more funding from Congress, which is not guaranteed in any term, favorable representatives or not. So, the original more direct route remains a daydream. It’s a beautiful daydream worth pursuing, but there are a lot more steps involved than just a couple existing platforms.

[@ronclark9724]

@@daniellewis1789 While that maybe so, the truth is the present Transportation Secretary is a former mayor of South Bend, which you should notice is on this route to Chicago... Somehow he found a way to reinstate "The Floridian" to Chicago and the Midwest on his watch... Many thought when Amtrak purchased the Viewliner II's Amtrak might reinstate the Broadway Limited or provide daily services to the Cardinal... Apparently the one extra train set is enough to reinstate "The Floridian," and possibly add additional sleeper or coaches to the Silver Meteor which continues to serve the New York City to Miami route... Hopefully the three Superliner train sets of the Capitol Limited is enough to provide a daily service with the Sunset Limited so desperately needed west of New Orleans which would provide better daily links with the Crescent further east... It is a no brainer Amtrak...

[@attlevi]

I'd like to see a Miami to St Louis ( FEC to Jacksonville )by way of Atl, Chattanooga, & Nashville. It would be the catch-all for the Meteor & Star connecting in Jville for passengers traveling Mid West& Mid East. It would split & combines with a New Orleans to Jacksonville route(an extention of the Sunset Limited). Another train, a St. Louis to Detroit via Indy. It will save passengers from having to go out of their way to more direct destinations cross connections to NS & EW. Lastly, 2 Autotrains: First , from Wildwood (Coleman Cutoff) to Evansville, IN where I64 & I69 meets. (Connects 5 major cities of people who just dont fly & never traveled because of it) 2nd: another Autotrain from Jupiter,FL (on FEC) with a second pickup in OrmondBeach(Daytona) to Shreveport, LA. These routes will stimulate ridership both short and longhaul connecting the MidWest,MidEast to Central & South Florida, to the keys. Finally, The Collegette: Miami to Jax to Pensacola,& a Tampa to Jax to Pensacola, both routes combine & split in Jax. Its a state & educational funded service in which students ride free. These are good markets ripe for the harvest. I'd invest heavily to see it become a reality. Union Station in Jax would need to be reopened.

[@davidwhiting1761]

I think the main reason for this change is less about connectivity and more about freeing up Superliners to have replacement vehicles more readily available for broken stock on western trains or freeing up enough Superliners to make a new western train.

[@RailWeekly]

I think you’re right. Although there are many side benefits, I think freeing up Superliners was what started this whole idea.

[@samtrak1204]

Amtrak could repair all the Superliner equipment sitting idle in Beech Grove.

[@robertcooper6853]

Having ridden the Capitol Limited recently, those Superliners are old and tired. The newest are what? 30 years old? Instead of putting money into them, they need to acquire more of their new cars.

[@samtrak1204]

@@robertcooper6853 New Superliners are miles away and that’s IF Amtrak can find a company to build them.

[@robertcooper6853]

@@samtrak1204 I meant more of the Viewliners

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

This is cool, but I hope the original Floridian comes back, have it run through Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, etc

[@RailWeekly]

Those cities along that old route desperately need service back. I was hoping Amtrak wouldn't use the Floridian name for this train, thus keeping hope alive that the original would be resurrected.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Atlanta’s going to need a new big station. I’ve been to Peachtree; if Atlanta’s going to have more than one service, that station is too small. The Southern never meant for it to be more than an infill for Terminal (which no longer exists). While the Gulch at the center of town, the place where the big stations used to be, is getting redeveloped, someone needs to build a station there. They’ve tried before but failed. I still think it needs to get done, and whether or not it gets done may depend on who we elect for governor in 2026 (unless neither candidate decides to care).

[@williamtheNWRS3class]

MOBILE NEEDS AMTRAK BACK N O W AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH

[@teambandicoottransit0824]

I'll say that Bowling Green, KY needs an Amtrak Station because this town is growing and popular I was upset that Greyhound Bus stop serving Bowling Green, KY to pick up and drop Off people and that town need transportation that can take people from Bowling Green, KY to either Chicago, IL Nashville, TN or either Louisville, KY. I had to ask my mom that she could drive me down to Cincinnati, OH to catch the Cardinal Train to Philadelphia, PA and I'm living at Bowling Green, KY

[@paulkoza8652]

Bingo. It is ridiculous to run a Chicago-Miami train through DC. The route should go via Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta, then on to Jacksonville.

[@chess8057]

What the video doesn't say is that this "Floridian" is temporary.. The Star, and Capitol will return as separate trains in November 2025. NE Corridor infrastructure improvements is the main reason for this, plus this gives Amtrak a year to fix a number of Superliner cars that have been waiting for refurbishment for a while....

[@RailWeekly]

You know... I have seen that online quite a bit, but I haven't been able to verify that, and those I have been speaking to within Amtrak haven't said anything regarding that. I have so far found zero evidence that this will be temporary. I suppose time will tell. And even if management was thinking it would be temporary, hopefully it will be so popular that it will be made permanent!

[@chess8057]

I know several people in Amtrak management, one of whom I worked with at NJ Transit, and they've all said this was a temporary thing for the reasons I mentioned. Things could change, but they were pretty adamant about it being temporary...

[@RailWeekly]

Can’t wait to see what happens. Thanks for the info!

[@THEFINALHAZARD]

That’s a bit odd though for the Capitol Limited isn’t it? How does the NEC work really… Affect that route?

[@chess8057]

It doesn't. The Star NOT running on the Corridor does, along with some modifications of NE Regional trains. Also single level equipment will be used, which will free up Superliners while Amtrak finally refurbishes Superliners in Beech Grove that have been sitting for a while. Separate trains will return in November of 2025.

[@iangarrett3308]

Damn, I remember the Floridian as a kid, haven't heard that name since 1977-1979!!! Back in the day, Amtrak had long passenger car sets, 15 to 20 cars long and the EMD SPD-40F locomotives leading the set!! The Miami route used to be busy, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, The Floridian, The Palmetto, and The Silver Palm < Miami to West Palm Beach service >.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Im so interested in this new train! Especially considering the fact that they will no longer need Superliners though Washington DC. Many of our western routes need more capacity, especially the Sunset limited and Coast Starlight

[@ronclark9724]

Imagine a DAILY Sunset Limited shunting to the Texas Eagle and making a connection to the Crescent... I can....

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

More Superliners for the western routes is sorely needed! Plus running a Viewliner dining car means traditional dining returns to the DC to Chicago segment! I think this brings benefit as long as Amtrak can provide sufficient capacity for this new service! A Chicago to Florida train would need at least three Viewliner sleepers and four Amfleet coaches!

[@RailWeekly]

Agreed. Hopefully they are able to provide this capacity. I think it will be a very popular train.

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak though thinks more in train sets than train consists, but I agree. I also expect Amtrak may add additional sleepers and coaches to the remaining Silver Meteor serving New York City to Miami...

[@samtrak1204]

Thanks for detailed update.

[@RailWeekly]

You bet

[@zenontrainstrucks9433]

This is awesome to hear!! Great video!

[@RailWeekly]

Thanks so much!

[@42ndStreetShuttle]

its finally happening!!!! and its beginning service on my mom's birthday of all days lol Edit: also not to mention that we live in South Florida and she was born in Chicago which is even more coincidental

[@HarrisonDavis]

Tampa runs a thruway bus service between TPA and ORL for connection with 97/98, that's why it doesn't show the Silver Meteor making a stop there.

[@RailWeekly]

Correct. Some were HOPING the Meteor would add the stop, but just the Floridian will be going to Tampa.

[@scott5055]

@@RailWeeklyI don’t see the meteor adding it. One of the pluses with that route is the shorter time. Unfortunately Tampa adds a good amount of time

[@johnpaulgarzaniti5065]

I enjoyed riding the Amtrak Autotrain recently and plan to ride Amtrak more in the future It's a fun an interesting way to travel. I am from the Midwest originally but have lived in South Florida for 36 years. I hope to try out the new train service between Miami and Chicago

[@bdub215]

According to the info I've received, this route is only temporary due to the construction on the tunnels in NY. The star would be affected due to its departure time which is 11am if memory serves.

[@RailWeekly]

I am hearing of this for the first time today. One other person said they heard rumors that this will be in place for at least 2 year. Others say it’s permanent. Perhaps it will be so popular that they have no choice but to make it permanent.

[@bdub215]

@RailWeekly 18 months. So year and a half. Maybe 2 years if things run behind.

[@saxmanb777]

This change is permanent. Or at least until Amtrak decides to change it again.

[@patrickhill82]

@@saxmanb777 nothing Amtrak dose is temporary unless congress applies pressure it’s definitely permanent

[@ronclark9724]

@@RailWeekly Somehow I doubt whether the present Secretary of Transportation will deny South Bend "The Floridian." service anytime soon...

[@PghDon77]

This is awesome!! If you could take a train straight from Chicago to Seattle then you should be able to do from Chicago to Miami..

[@ronclark9724]

Not just Seattle and Portland, but San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles too...Hopefully the three Superliner train sets of the Capitol Limited will be enough to provide a DAILY Sunset Limited shunt to the Texas Eagle and a connection to the Crescent... Win, win for many of us...

[@divox9pqr]

Hallelujah..This is a great idea. Since the condition of the tracks for the old Floridian would be too costly to upgrade. For me, being from Baltimore, I can still connect to the Silver Star bound for Miami in Washington. No change there. I hope there is no change to the Meteors route out of New York.

[@ronclark9724]

If anything Amtrak can add additional sleepers and coaches to the Silver Meteor to serve the New York City terminus... Amtrak has extra Viewliners and Amfleets, but Amtrak is very tight with Superliners... Adding three Superliner train sets is a gift the West needs. Hopefully enough to provide a DAILY Sunset Limited to provide a daily connection to the Crescent and a daily shunt with the Texas Eagle... A no brainer...

[@orlandorailfanproductions2010]

I've always wanted to see the Floridian come back! just wish it was its own train

[@ronclark9724]

It will be one train all the way from Chicago to Miami thru Washington DC...Considering the state of the tracks south of Indianapolis thru Louisville and Nashville, probably faster... Without having to wait several hours in Washington DC to connect to the Silver Meteor, the Midwest wins without the connection there...

[@thebluecollarpsychiatrist1644]

The old South Wind from Chicago to Miami left Chicago around 8:30 am through Louisville, Nashville, and Birmingham then through Thomasville, Valdosta and Waycross , Georgia then into Florida, arriving around early afternoon in Miami. The train was turned in Miami and departed for Chicago. All told the trip of 1550 miles one way took about 30 hours. This was when tracks were maintained well and being on time was paramount. 60 years later i.e. now the new Floridian would take 47 hours from Chicago to Miami. Even I as a rail enthusiast would pass on that.

[@Melrieoi]

And it's gooodd newwsss. The Silver Star IS coming to Miami.

[@JaxBrubaker-po8ld]

This is so cool! The Capitol Limited wasn’t on time in WV

[@ChamplainDivision]

This is a slap in the face to the literally hundreds of thousands of citizens that have been requesting a Chicago Miami train via Atlanta since, pretty much, Amtrak was formed

[@CrazyWhiteBoomer]

The original route for the joint Illinois Central-Central of Georgia-Atlantic Coast Line's City of Miami was Chicago, Carbondale IL, Birmingham AL, Albany GA, Jacksonville, Miami,

[@ChamplainDivision]

@@CrazyWhiteBoomer If you're thinking I'm not aware of those facts you are mistaken, sir. A completely new train via a new route would be prohibitively expensive because of all the infrastructure (stations, track upgrades, etc) that would have to be built between Chicago and Jacksonville via Atlanta. Sending a new train over the ridiculous old Floridian route would be only slightly less expensive because a lot of the old stations are still there, but in much need of refurbishment/upgrades. There are virtually no upgrades needed on the proposed routing for 40/41. So, CHI MIA route requestors have gotten their train; but not in the market they've been asking for.

[@ronclark9724]

@@ChamplainDivision But the former mayor of South Bend, our present Transportation Secretary, somehow found a way to reinstate "The Floridian." Note it will also stop in South Bend... The former "Floridian" ran on Illinois Central mainline thru Jackson, TN skirting around the Appalachians, not on the former Louisville & Nashville mainline... Frankly the present Atlanta station has only a one track platform without any real estate to add more platforms...

[@fjkelley4774]

Well, at least there will be dining car service. I don't plan to take any eastern trains that don't have such and, as I don't need to go to FL, well, I guess the Empire Builder and Zephyr will do. Finding a way to use superliners through DC headed south would be quite desirable. And, not to be a complete grouch, very much appreciate your update. Yes, having "Floridian" for a service Chicago-Louisville-Nashville-Atlanta would be great. As has been observed, Atlanta would probably need a new station for that.

[@timnewman1172]

Never left anything behind in Florida that I ever needed to go back for... but, kudos to Amtrak for upgrading the service.

[@CrazyWhiteBoomer]

Would prefer the original City of Miami route Chicago-Carbondale IL-Birmingham AL-Albany GA-Jacksonville-Miami.

[@fjkelley4774]

@@CrazyWhiteBoomer Yeah, nice ideas, but Carbondale? Birmingham works, but Albany, GA? No, a service that connects Atlanta is more needed (and has been since the Western & Atlantic connected Atlanta (Terminus?) to Chattanooga. If you have ATL, then Chattanooga and Nashville fit in. Louisville seems a bit of a stretch but it would add additional traffic. Besides, we aren't dealing with the C&EI, PRR, IC, ACL, CofG, L&N, SAL, FEC, and all those railroads of yore. I miss them too, but this would be a feasible route and provide service to some areas that need/deserve it. Don't mean to harsh on you, and I know it comes across that way, so apologies on that matter.

[@ronclark9724]

@@fjkelley4774 But the former Floridian never served Louisville and Nashville, it used the former Illinois Central mainline thru Jackson TN skirting the Appalachians....

[@fjkelley4774]

@@ronclark9724 I simply named some of the railroads in SE service (and neglected to include NC&StL, sorry). But what is needed is service from Atlanta to the Midwest. This would end up including Chattanooga and Nashville. However, that connection would need to cross the Ohio River. So where? A crossing at Louisville would also put Indianapolis in line with a final destination of Chicago. I see that some connection from Atlanta to the coast (I assume Savannah?) is also included. If we loose ourselves on the names and routes used by the trains in the 1920's, I think we'll miss the point. Is anyone concerned that the Crescent used to go to Montgomery (via A&WP/WRyA) to make its connection with the L&N? And now it goes to NOLA via Birmingham instead? BTW, one of the stainless coaches from A&WP's Crescent ended up on the Georgia RR's "mixed" train from Atlanta to Augusta. That was still a substantial train into the 50's. Now the line is a major CSX connector to the Port of Charleston.

[@natesmainlinevids]

What service will the numbers 29, 30, 91 and 92 eventually run on? Northeast Regional? Piedmont? One of the newer long distance / intercity services coming soon? Hopefully something will be done but I'm glad passengers from Chicago finally will be able to travel to Miami this way again.

[@HarrisonDavis]

For now Silver Star 91/92 & Capitol Limited 29/30 will be no more for a while. The superliners will be used for trains out west to ease shortage. The NEC is undergoing major infrastructure work as to why the star was showing SOLD OUT north of DC to NYP.

[@daniellewis1789]

They'll probably be kept in reserve for a few years, until the construction around NYC wraps up and the track slot is available again. Long term, I think Amtrak is angling to run the Floridian route in addition to the Silvers and possibly Capitol - this is a chance to prove out ridership potential and justify the additional new long distance equipment.

[@THEFINALHAZARD]

How the heck does NYC work affect the Capitol Limited and why isn’t this affecting other NYP originating trains

[@natesmainlinevids]

@@HarrisonDavis Seems like it would make sense considering the Northeast Corridor already seems to have enough runs on the Acela Express and Northeast Regional between Washington DC Union Station and New York Penn Station. Same can be said with the Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Vermonter.

[@ronclark9724]

@@daniellewis1789 Texans have been demanding a DAILY Sunset Limited for decades with a daily shunt with the Texas Eagle and a connection to the Crescent... Hopefully the Capitol Limited three train sets will be enough... Ask those living on the Cardinal route, trice weekly services are stupid and suck... Imagine a trice weekly Lake Shore Limited or a Silver Meteor...

[@marciomesquita1976]

You're back! Glad to see your videos again!

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you! Yes, I'm on "break" until about March. My day job keeps me super busy from August - Feb, so not much time to edit. I have filmed a LOT though, and I'm really excited about some of my 2025 videos!

[@aliensojourner]

This is great news

[@RobRepass-l9g]

Wow I love this it’s so cool I’m excited and would like to ride on this train soon

[@andrewschmid5917]

This leads to a new problem of “how do you swap out superliners on auto train”. That’ll lead to rather interesting catches for equipment moves

[@paulw.woodring7304]

The equipment base for the Auto Train has always been Sanford, where they do have an extra car or two. I don't know that they've ever done much in the way of stealing equipment from the Cap for the AT anyway? Maybe someone who has been crew on the AT can enlighten us?

[@peterconrad6135]

Thank you for this update. I will have a front row seat to this change-literally: I live only 100ft south of Amtrak's Hammond/Whiting, IN Station.

[@javonjames4195]

I will be on Amtrak on November 25 going to Columbia South Carolina

[@TheMarylandrailoaddude145]

This means I will get to see the silver star almost every day

[@Monorail14]

It is a miracle. Most importantly this newer Amtrak Floridian still serves Tampa, Florida and all the existing Amtrak Sliver Star Florida train stations. I still currently live in Tampa, Florida. This is great. I also have a friend that moved to Chicargo, Illinois. I might take the new Amtrak Floridan from Tampa, Florida to Chicargo, Florida in next year April 2025. Because in April 2025 is the Chicargo Comic Con 2025. My friend and I might go the Chicargo Comic Con 2025. Most important, I really hope this new Amtrak Flordian train route is permanent and not temporarily. Because me and a lot other people have been wanting Florida to Illinois Amtrak train service restored for a long time.

[@ronclark9724]

This new sleeper train should save several hours as the present Capitol Limited has connections to only the Silver Meteor as the connections to the Silver Star is too short for Amtrak to consider... But with a thorough sleeper train without connecting to another train the short time connection is waved at Washington DC... The only loser is the terminus at New York City, as the other stations north of Washington DC weren't being served by either Silver trains... I pray Amtrak will use the three Superliner train sets of the Capitol Limited to proved a DAILY Sunset Limited...

[@Monorail14]

​@ronclark9724 I definitely agree with you. Amtrak needs to eventually and finally restore the Amtrak Sunset Limited Train Route from New Orleans, Florida to Jacksonville, Florida and/or Orlando, Florida. I would be more happy since I currently live in Tampa, Florida if Amtrak extended the Amtrak Sunset Limited from New Orleans, Louisana and terminate here in Tampa, Florida. Then, Tampa, Florida would have two long distance Amtrak train routes. Then depending the Florida state government future decisions we might those three new proposed Amtrak Connect US Florida state supported train route. For example: 1. Tampa to Jacksonville 2. Miami to Orlando 3. Tampa to Miami In addition, the Brightline train also might be extended from Orlando International Airport to Tampa, Florida/Ybor City/etc. However, the SunRail Train/Brightline Train Sunshine Corridor project would have to be approved first. Hopefully.

[@clonecommando-cn6bo]

Imagining an auto train running from Los Angeles to las Vegas

[@trainnadimamtrakthomasalle9037]

I like the idea, it should be permanent because the Amtrak routes out west need more superliner car

[@rockguitarist931]

It's a crime that they didn't revive the original route of the Floridian. I live south of Nashville and I cannot tell you how desperately we need a proper passenger service in this part of America. Unfortunately, there is a strong anti-rail sentiment in this area so that will probably never happen but they will eagerly discuss the expansion of I-24 into an 8-lane mega highway as if that won't create at least ten years of roadwork and traffic jams.

[@Eddieanthony-fs7is]

Good. Now extend the Sunset Limited back to Orlando, Florida ...

[@RailWeekly]

Yes please!!

[@ronclark9724]

@@RailWeekly Frankly I would prefer a DAILY Sunset Limited shunting to the Texas Eagle and connecting to the Crescent... But I do wish Amtrak added a Horizon daily train to Jacksonville from New Orleans, or soon from Mobile... This trice weekly nonsense is stupid... Plus I am very sure the people living in the Panama panhandle would prefer a Horizon day train thru Mobile and Pensacola and Tallahassee than a sleeper train in the wee hours of the morning at night. That former Sunset Limited that went to Orlando was a THREE night train trip, not the TWO nights to New Orleans from LA.The Sunset Limited arrives in New Orleans around dusk. The Crescent leaves New Orleans around dawn. Even with a connection there, one must spend a night at a New Orleans hotel in both directions. Adding another night due to trice weekly nonsense is stupid. Presently those living in Mobile are awaiting their Gulf Coast service during the day, not at night of the former Sunset Limited. I do recall the Sunset Limited bridge collapsing during the night in that horrible incident that cost lives...

[@Monorail14]

Yes, hopefully they do.

[@dvferyance]

Here I had my hopes up the real Floridan was coming back. Only to be greatly disappointed to find out it's not.

[@ronclark9724]

Still a win as now with riding one train there won't be several hours wasted making a connection to the Silver Meteor... And I doubt whether the other route will be faster...

[@dvferyance]

@@ronclark9724 But it makes those travelling from NYC to Florida having to make a connection. The other route would be much faster far more direct.

[@ronclark9724]

@@dvferyance The Silver Meteor still runs to Florida from New York City... It is a short bus ride to Tampa from Orlando...Spending hundreds for a overnight train ride is much more expensive than a short bus ride to Tampa from Orlando... Or just rent a car...

[@kentfrederick8929]

This is like flying Chicago to a Florida destination and changing planes at LaGuradia, Newark, Philly, Washington, Detroit, Houston, or DFW. The only connecting cities that make sense, if you can't get a non-stop, are Charlotte or Atlanta. A Chicago-to-Florida train via Washington just makes no sense.

[@DJNX4995]

I’m gonna miss the superliners on the Capitol limited, the views are better on those than a view liner with no lounge car

[@RailfanKaleb]

@@DJNX4995 I don't think I'm gonna like this new train

[@Englishkin]

A Chicago-Terre Haute-Vincennes-Evansville-Nashville-Chattaboog-Atlanta-Jacksonville-Miami DIXIE FLYER could be 36-hours from evening departures after business hours to second morning arrivals before business hours.

[@gerardlang9690]

I feel this could be a great service, but people need to understand that it's not that simple for Amtrak to just put a train on the rails and say go. There is a lot of bureaucratic red tape, plus the extreme amount of funding needed to build, rebuild, and rehabilitate stations, training and qualifying employees, and then there is the Host Railroad aspect. You have to consider that it would be extremely difficult for Amtrak to work with the railroads to add capacity on their rails, plus they are not going to just allow Amtrak to expand on their rails without Amtrak opening their checkbook.

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Although this is what Amtrak SAYS is a temporary solution, my hope is that if enough riders go from Chicago to Florida on this revived but heavily rerouted Floridian, this could give Amtrak a reason to bring back the OG Floridian and send it along the more direct route the Floridian took (if not switch it to go to Chattanooga and Atlanta, which is what the long distance study proposes) And who knows, maybe this time, this Floridian isn't gonna be Amtrak's most crappy train. (I'm serious, when Amtrak ran the original Floridian, they admitted themselves that it was their worst service. They wanted to improve the Floridian, which could have involved the train being one of the first to get Superliners, but the Carter Administration said otherwise)

[@ЛЬВИНИ]

. Nice video, likes from me .

[@RailWeekly]

Thank you very much!

[@railfanhunterjacob6353]

If Amtrak wants to revive the Gulf Wind from Houston to Jacksonville, then they should consider Tampa as a stop

[@ronclark9724]

I think Amtrak would rather provide the Sunset Limited with daily services west of New Orelans in order to provide a daily link with the Crescent in New Orleans... This trice weekly nonsense is a slap to the face of Texans and the Southwest USA... Please stop SCREWING Texas Amtrak!

[@mikemainer3009]

Over $250 for coach seat and over $1100 for a cabin - outrageous!! Travel anywhere around the world, with the exception of Canada and Australia, and the price for the equivalent train travel is a fraction of the ripoff prices from Amtrak. So long as Amtrak prices its product as a luxury item, train travel in the United States will remain a niche form of travel for the well heeled. Which is a shame because the world needs much more train travel, not more earth-killing auto and air travel.

[@anthonyrowland9072]

I just want regular trains. They can have sight seeing trains. We need more "get there" trains though. Just give us 100mph...

[@lstuart2704]

3 days of sitting on my ass or 3 hours for a lower price. Yeah I'll pass and continue to fly.

[@anthonyrowland9072]

@@lstuart2704 Or get a faster train and get off the cattle plane...

[@ronclark9724]

@@anthonyrowland9072 Outside the northeast corridor there isn't a HSR train in America presently...

[@DanM-q7n]

Why does my Amtrak stop (indoors) close exactly when the train is scheduled to arrive/depart?😯..I need some guarantee that frostbite 🥶 won't be looming.

[@AlcoLoco251]

I wonder if this is a test to see how big Chicago-Miami train traffic is.

[@RailWeekly]

Hopefully huge! This unlocks so many new city pairs! Cleveland to Savannah, Pittsburgh to Orlando. The list is endless.

[@coolleo149]

I can’t wait to ride it for the first time! But I’m gonna be disappointed if it gets too pricey for me to buy the tickets

[@DavidNSRailfan]

i rode one of the last Floridians thru Nashville in the early 70s and we are denied service i see again we are the 3rd largest city without major passenger service and i dont understand that but guess its not in the cards

[@sargentrowell81]

Exciting, but I wish they would've given the train a different name since that means it's taken for the very slim chance that the original Floridian route should it ever return. I suppose it's fair, since I've only really heard of service to Louisville from the north resuming, and no through way services. Granted, it's also been quite some time since I've heard anything, so it's probably down the Kentucky not necessarily being ready to be a state sponsor for Amtrak.

[@RailWeekly]

I was thinking the exact same thing. The route of the original Floridian would benefit greatly from a new train.

[@sargentrowell81]

@@RailWeekly Hell, if Amtrak could get either the "regional" or midwest sort of train from Louisville to Chicago green lit, or the long distance one, then the other would be at least slightly less challenging to accomplish.

[@ronclark9724]

@@sargentrowell81 Unfortunately Indiana pulled the funding for the Indianapolis to Chicago local regional train. I doubt whether Indiana will pay to extend this to Louisville, Kentucky to the Tennessee border, and Tennessee to the Alabama border...

[@TheMarylandrailoaddude145]

But it is awesome that they are bringing back a discontinued Amtrak route

[@TheMarylandrailoaddude145]

To be honest, they should name it silver limited because that name is pretty good

[@Society2day]

Wait? 😅 we gotta go to dc from Chicago before heading south? I will drive.

[@ronclark9724]

Even though routing thru DC will probably be faster than riding a train on the previous Floridian route?

[@Society2day]

@ronclark9724 dude, they just need to send it down the new Orleans route the cut straight down the pld sunset limited route. Going to DC sounds uncultured and way out of the way.

[@ronclark9724]

@@Society2day But the people in the Florida panhandle would prefer a DAY train, not a NIGHT train serving them. They would rather have the soon to operate Gulf Coast train extended east from Mobile...

[@Society2day]

@@ronclark9724 then give them what they want. More trains

[@Hyacinth828]

This video was very helpful to me. Amtrak’s trip calculator already includes the Floridian on trips between the route’s stops, but the summary of the Floridian wasn’t available in the regional trips section. I thought the website was gaslighting me for hours before I caught this!

[@RailWeekly]

Glad it was helpful! It looks like Amtrak has since updated their website as well.

[@judywarner5910]

Are there both ViewLiner I and Viewliner II cars on the Floridian?

[@RailWeekly]

I would assume so since they are using most of the Silver Star consists, and that train has both.

[@6allmotivepowers363]

Let me know when the Desert Wind gets revived.

[@RailWeekly]

Yes please!

[@Sublette217]

I guess that means that the Washington crew base is losing its only long-haul train.

[@jasonalperin9414]

I believe this is only temporary as there is tunnel construction on the NEC!

[@RailWeekly]

Yes, the press release said it’s supposed to be temporary. But I’m hoping it does so well it becomes permanent.

[@vincent412l7]

Why use single-level cars? Is the route capable of handling SuperLiners or are there restrictions?

[@RailWeekly]

One of the goals is to make more Superliners available for western trains. Otherwise, this train could definitely be Superliners if they wanted. There would be no restrictions.

[@tallflguy]

Most people have mentioned this, but I think they just did this to free up Superliner cars to ease the shortage.

[@RailWeekly]

I agree that is probably the main reason.

[@Mars-ev7qg]

The problem is that having one train on the route is that there will be more delays since if anything goes wrong anywhere between Miami and Chicago, it will delay the entire route instead of just one of the two train routes.

[@ronclark9724]

All it takes to delay any Amtrak train is one hot wheel bearing on any axle of the Amtrak passenger train or a freight train in front of the Amtrak train. Freight trains have hundreds of cars with four axles each.

[@rrdispr2919]

It's not a new long distance train! It is the combination of two trains to improve equipment utilization and release Superliners to the western pool. Also, Amtrak ran a through coach for many years between Chicago and MIA...829/830.

[@TheLordAI]

They should consider electrifying some of these routes

[@Robert0Pirie]

I live in Savannah GA and it's so awesome that we've now got a one seat ride to Chicago. I am almost too excited for the Floridian!

[@ronclark9724]

Imagine saving hours not having to make connections with the Silver Meteor. Just ride "The Floridian" without making a connection Amtrak presently refuses to offer to the Silver Star or Capitol Limited...

[@jec20721]

47 hours travel time. I can't imagine the frequent record habitual delays that will occur. Would make a lot more sense to just truncate the Silver Star at WAS with a timed-connection to the current Capitol Ltd. Terrible Amtrak mismanagement of the Superliners is the real reason for this change and its the passengers that have to bear the cost as usual.

[@SeanBleaking]

now Amtrak have more superliner back in service from crash, i don't know if going used some superliner are not but i want to see both single level and bi level cars used together on Amtrak for years that wood look cool in my opinion.

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

There are still 23 Superliners damaged in a series of derailments since 2020 that have been designated for repairs!

[@happyburger23]

Why would you mix single and double-levels cars? Superliner passengers wouldn't even be able to use the vestibule passageway because it's higher than the single-level cars. Ditto for the single-level vestibule passageway.

[@SeanBleaking]

@@happyburger23 one superliners door for baggage car i that work but not all route like the one with low tunnel .

[@ronclark9724]

@@SeanBleaking There are only so many Superliner transition sleepers... Amtrak does not like coach passengers entering sleeping cars...

[@hikertrashfilms]

I mean seriously, there is zero reason why this should not be Superliner if it is not going thru the Baltimore tunnels and into Penn Station. It runs on trackage that fully supports Superliners in the Auto Train & Capitol Limited. I need to know the exact last date of the Capitol Limited, because I want to book a ticket in coach on that last Superliner consist

[@noahtomczakfilms183]

Raleigh and Tampa have platforms similar to that of NEC stations, so that’s why they’re keeping the single level equipment

[@hikertrashfilms]

This train shouldn't even be going to those places...Tampa passengers could take the Amtrak Bus to Orlando. (& this is coming from someone in the Tampa region) This train should take CSX trackage from Jacksonville up through Waycross and go to Atlanta, Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis & then Chicago. It would change the paradigm of train transportation East of the Mississippi and reinvigorate enthusiasm for riding Amtrak. You can open the downstairs windows for fresh air and outstanding videography on Superliners only. I am not going to suffocate myself on single deck Amtrak ever again, and I had the rail pass before. The Cardinal was the worst train I ever rode, and when I took the Capitol Limited back it was so much nicer, and it has nothing to do with the faster timetable...It's all due to the Superliners

[@kevinkorell7350]

What about the Capitol Hill tunnel in DC? The combined train still has to pass through that one.

[@hikertrashfilms]

@@kevinkorell7350 this train shouldn’t even be going to DC, it should be going to Miami, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis then Chicago

[@paulpage5034]

Auto train begins/ends at Lorton VA, avoiding the tunnel south of DC’s Union Station. In late ACL operations dome cars were added/removed at Richmond for the same reason.

[@robertmoir5695]

I d like to see Amtrak train service pick up the pace

[@ronclark9724]

Unfortunately Amtrak does not have a lot of extra rolling stock to make train sets, just a few. I wonder if the three train sets from the Capitol Limited will be enough to profile a DAILY Sunset Limited for shunts with the Texas Eagle and connections to the Crescent. This trice weekly nonsense is stupid...

[@retiredatlast1976]

Amtrak is missing the boat. It needs to have direct service from Chicago to Miami through Atlanta. Why is Amtrak so blind as to not see this?

[@CrazyWhiteBoomer]

Chicago to Miami via Columbus, GA!

[@attlevi]

@@retiredatlast1976 the direct route goes through Nashville & Chattanooga. It's used sparingly because of the steep grades mountains. Nashville is traffic jam 24 hours because it feeds 5 major cities.

[@jimmyhook4852]

So in other words.... no more Capitol Limited? :(

[@CrazyWhiteBoomer]

Yea, I'm bummed out also!

[@jimmyhook4852]

@@CrazyWhiteBoomer Same.

[@ronclark9724]

And Silver Star... Say hello to the Floridian...

[@jimmyhook4852]

@@ronclark9724 That as well

[@RailfanKaleb]

@@jimmyhook4852 I honestly don't think I'm gonna like this new train

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

A new Amtrak train, yeah! Old rickety, bumpy tracks will suck.

[@pinkygirlno]

So is it a new train and new route or just new route?

[@RailWeekly]

Two combined routes so you no longer have to change trains to go between the south and the Midwest. The train is the same equipment as the old Florida train.

[@noworldrecords8924]

Bad news for anyone between Savannah and Rocky Mount on the Silver Star route wanting to go north of Washington since there is now no direct train from there to New York.

[@sleepyg2011]

This will bypass the busy northeast corridor.

[@StillPlaysWithModelTrains1956]

So farewell to the Capital Limited. She had a good run...

[@RailWeekly]

If this Floridian ends up being temporary as Amtrak says, maybe the Capitol will be back. I would be this new trains ends up being so popular that they eventually make it permanent.

[@hikertrashfilms]

This train is going to suck. No Superliners means it’s going to be terrible in coach. This is terrible. It should go from Miami - Jacksonville - Atlanta - Nashville - Louisville - Indianapolis- Chicago

[@ronclark9724]

Unfortunately nearly every east coast sleeper train has a Viewliner/Amfleet consists except the Auto Train... Get over it...

[@hikertrashfilms]

@@ronclark9724 I did…that’s why I hop Intermodals…. I can already go Jacksonville-Chicago in 36 hours with the wind blowing through my hair and no dirty windows with glares to obstruct views

[@eclipz4129]

I’m excited but the only thing I disagree with is them using Amfleets for a trip as long as that. That really bothers me, I thought they would have both Amfleets and Superliners but I was wrong apparently. For a trip that long I’d like a Superliner Sleeper Car….

[@saxmanb777]

The high level platforms prevent the use Superliners in places like Tampa and Raleigh.

[@CrabMan2539]

As much as I wish they just added a train that took this trip while keeping the other ones, I get why they decided to do this. Adding trains is incredibly expensive and amtrak is incredibly underfunded. Amtrak is also partially a government entity and gets taxpayer funds so the process for adding a new long distance train would take a lot of studies and evaluations as well as controversial political battles. They would need to figure out the ridership and tradeoff (which they had to do for this train as well but it was easier and cheaper than adding another train). What I wish they did was made it so the train ran fully from miami to DC and split there with one segment going to New York while the other went to Chicago.

[@Monorail14]

I agree. Or Amtrak should also also consider restoring the Amtrak Palmetto from Savanah, Georgia to Ocala, Wildwood, Dade City, and then terminate in Tampa. Then, Tampa, Florida would have two Amtrak train routes. The new Amtrak Floridian Miami/Tampa/Washington DC/Chicargo, and re-extended Amtrak Palmetto Tampa/Ocala/Savanah/Washington DC/New York.

[@Monorail14]

Or you could transfer to the Amtrak Northwest Regional Train Route to get to and from Washington DC to New York. Because the Amtrak Northwest Regional Train Route has mutiple trips per day.

[@CrabMan2539]

@@Monorail14 You could also do that. It would just be more convenient and a bit cheaper to just take one train. The palmetto thing you said was interesting tho.

[@ronclark9724]

Amtrak is short on Superliner cars and have more extra Viewliner sleepers and Amfleet coaches after recently receiving Viewliner II cars and refurbishing the Amfleet fleet. Furthermore Amtrak has received numerous Siemens Venture coaches to replace Amfleet I cars, and is expected to soon order more Venture coaches to replace Amfleet II cars. Plus many want the Sunset Limited to either become a DAILY train or extend it to Orlando as a trice weekly train although those living in the Florida panhandle would prefer a day train over a night train such as extending the soon to run Gulf Coast train east of Mobile from New Orleans... One wonders what Amtrak will do with the Capitol Limited's three Superliner train sets...

[@mikehaas1393]

It makes no sense! Why not go directly from Chicago to Miami via Indianapolis and Louisville and Atlanta and so on. It’s so dumb! Who is in charge of Amtrak?!

[@williamfrank7565]

if you travel from CHICAGO to FLORIDA...I doubt "GPS" would suggest you go through Washington DC.....but kudos to AMTRAK..... if American Airlines can(hub at DCA) and United too(hub at IAD)..why not by train....advantage Delta(hub at ATL)..still true....the shortest distance between two points is a straight line....exciting news...

[@Smithy88888]

3 hrs by air vs 2 days. Why would anyone take the train? Even greyhound is 1.5 days. I don’t get it.

[@RailWeekly]

There’s nothing quite like an overnight train journey. 2 days isn’t long enough! Haha

[@Smithy88888]

@@RailWeekly sometimes I listen to YT train audio clickity clack while I sleep. I totally get it if it’s for the experience and for enthusiasts.

[@williamfrank7565]

practically speaking.... now one less train to switch from electric to diesel in DC....and allowing regional to long distance connections may be a "union" issue....so easier said(or dreamed of) than done....BUT alas..... I am both pro AMTRAK and pro union....shows they can work together(just my thoughts)

[@Randoman35]

So now they literally have a Chicago-Miami train but still no train going through Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta.

[@RailWeekly]

That route really needs to come back

[@ronclark9724]

The former Floridan route used Illinois Central main line tracks thru Jackson MS and Albany GA, not Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta... The Louisville & Nashville Railroad train that ran from Chicago to Nashville to Atlanta was the Georgian... It did not go to Florida...

[@Randoman35]

@@ronclark9724 I don't care, I didn't say anything about the former route.

[@parkerjon29]

I beg to differ about Washington to Chicago passengers seeing no change. We are going to get on a train in DC that's been occupied for over 24 hours and often runs hours and hours late and puts many connections at risk.

[@RailWeekly]

That’s a good point about Chicago connections! Although re the cleanliness, I board the California Zephyr mid-route in Denver all the time, and the crew does an amazing job of keeping the train fresh the whole route. I have never had a complaint. Perhaps that part won’t be so bad.

[@collinfossell]

Do you want? Because the Floridian is getting replaced from the Capitol limited from Chicago to Washington DC and also getting replaced from the silver star for New York all the way to Miami, because The Train is not gonna arrive in Orlando until 10:07 AM, if Amtrak wants to look into implementing Bus service in addition to just the three-way service, they do now, if they want to look in the implementing those buses to author specified transfers between the Orlando Amtrak station to all Orlando area hotels, including all Walt Disney World resort, Swan, and dolphin, Disney Springs area, hotels, including the Wyndham Wakeland Vista, all good neighbor Hotels That would really make it convenient for a lot of passengers that people do not have to always utilize Uber or left to transport down from the station to the hotel. I’m not saying that they have to utilize the service but this is just as an option for when you do make reservations, the customer service agent should ask would you like specified transfers to the hotel you’re staying at and then ask what hotel are you staying at so that we know that the bus can drop you off at that location?

[@charlessutherland274]

The real question is, will they provide the service frequently enough to be worth riding?

[@RailWeekly]

Here's hoping! It's supposed to be a daily train.

[@nstrains4001]

they are getting rid of the silver star and silver meteor?

[@RailWeekly]

Only the Northern part of the Silver Star route is disappearing. The Meteor is not changing.

[@jimpern]

Well, it's not really a new train, just a joining of two existing ones. But the system still needs a DIRECT Chicago to Florida train, going thru Nashville and Atlanta, that would take much less time and serve important cities that desperately need more service.

[@ronclark9724]

Why do you assume running thru Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta will be quicker? The former Floridian didn't use that route. It took the route thru Jackson TN and Albany GA skirting the Appalachians...

[@jimpern]

@@ronclark9724 And that train was too slow. The most direct route should be the quickest, and both Nashville and Atlanta are too important to be bypassed.

[@Northeast-Regional-172]

It's a shame that the SILVER STAR-R TRAIN #91 & CAPITOL LIMITED #30 will be replaced.

[@MariaPaul-y4o]

Jessica Expressway

[@AndrewPietrykowski-o3e]

Are they still going through louisville nashville Atlanta?😢😢😢😢😢 in 2035

[@milepost4846]

In 2035??? If even then..... Amtrak will never make a straight line Chicago to Florida 😢

[@ronclark9724]

@@milepost4846 The former Amtrak and Illinois Central Floridian train didn't run through Louisville and Nashville to Atlanta, it ran on Illinois Central main line thru Jackson TN and Albany GA skirting the Appalachians. The Louisville and Nashville ran the train from Chicago to Atlanta thru Nashville with the Georgian, but it terminated in Atlanta and never went to Florida... The Dixie Flyer ran from Chicago and St. Louis thru Evansville, Nashville, and Atlanta to Florida using numerous railroads and finally the Florida East Coast Railroad south of Jacksonville...

[@GissingBrian-l1b]

Eleazar Crest

[@nmonster]

You lost me when you said the train will be arriving in Miami earlier but the DC to Miami trip will be lengthened by an hour 🤔 🤯

[@nmonster]

I think I follow you now though...the train leaves DC a couple of hours earlier than before but only arrives in Miami 20 minutes earlier resulting in a slower schedule...I wonder why though 🤔

[@billginnj6595]

AMTRAK is making a big mistake with this change......

[@postalfnj]

no more Silver Star?

[@kellybrown8638]

"EmTrak"😂

[@johndonlon1611]

This is beyond idiotic and when it fails they'll say, "oh well." Hey Amtrak, do it the same way the Illinois Central did it 75 years ago and passengers get there in 36 hours, not this nonsense.

[@bradleygoebel6402]

Keep Capitol Limited or I will yell at Kawasaki to build new Bi Levels for every single route starting with Capitol Limited Floridian should run on CSX ex L&N

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

So pretty much they use the numbers of the Broadway and name of the Floridian? Personally I think they should've restored the original route. It would've made more sense.

[@RailWeekly]

That would have been amazing!

[@ronclark9724]

I doubt whether that route would be any quicker... Not the former Illinois Central Floridian thru Jackson TN and Albany GA skirting the Appalachians..

[@DJmondavi]

WTF…. Tampa to NY.. when..???

[@RailfanKaleb]

i'm not sure how i feel about this

[@locojohn6637]

Sorry folks… this “new” train is really one step forward and two steps back.