Summary
Starting Nov. 10, Amtrak will launch the “Floridian” line, a new daily service from Chicago to Miami.
The route merges Amtrak’s Capitol Limited and Silver Star lines due to ongoing repairs on the East River tunnel damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
The journey spans nearly 48 hours, with stops in Cleveland, Washington D.C., Orlando, and Tampa.
Coach tickets start at just over $100, while private rooms with added amenities like dining car meals, turndown service, and showers begin at $700. Café snacks and a dining car with various meal options are available.
I guess… I am the target market… I take Amtrak from Savannah, GA to Washington DC (about 12 hours) to visit family at least once a year. This new route is basically the same service, but instead of terminating in NYC, it now goes to Chicago (two other trains still follow the route up to NYC). It’s much more comfortable than the bus and way cheaper than flying; it’s usually about $100-120 for a coach seat round trip. Now that I can get a one seat ride all the way to Chicago, because I’ve never been, right now I’m planning a trip there next spring once I get my tax return.
Serious question: How do you go about sitting for 2 days straight without going mad? Obviously you can get up and walk around, but it doesn’t seem like the most comfortable way to travel. (Although still, probably more comfortable than an airplane for that duration.)
Most folks going the full two day journey are in the sleeper cars. The Roomettes are Amtrak’s two person sleeper accommodations and they’re pretty nice (there are larger accommodations available, but the Roomettes are by far the cheapest and most common). There’s also meals included in the sleeper car price and the food on Amtrak is actually not too bad. If you’re traveling alone (or in any amount of people less than four) the dining car attendant will seat you with folks you don’t know, there’s tons to talk about. Lots of people, whether in the sleepers or in coach, bring books and have their tablets or laptops filled up with movies and series. My last trip up to DC I had saved a bunch of podcasts to listen to and finished Dan Simmons “Hyperion” series while I rode.