New train (40-41 Floridian) between Miami and Chicago via Washington DC

[johnm]

As a railfan, im kinda excited about this “new” train. Living in SoCal, i plan to take the Chief, overnight, then hop on board, eventually flying home.

For you east coast route experts, will I enjoy the trip on the Floridian (regardless of how long it takes?)

 

[zephyr17]

As a railfan, im kinda excited about this “new” train. Living in SoCal, i plan to take the Chief, overnight, then hop on board, eventually flying home.

For you east coast route experts, will I enjoy the trip on the Floridian (regardless of how long it takes?)

Take it eastbound. You get most of the Appalachian Mountains/Sand Patch Grade in daylight. Westbound a lot of that is after dark.

A lot of the run south of Washington is "tree tunnel", the Silvers were never scenic wonders and renaming the Star to Floridian doesn't change it.

 

[toddinde]

Other than the SSL, what would be the advantage of a Superliner train for multi night overnight travel as far as "on board" goes? I actually think the VL accommodations are preferable.

The Viewliners are nicer. I don’t mind Amfleet II either.

Take it eastbound. You get most of the Appalachian Mountains/Sand Patch Grade in daylight. Westbound a lot of that is after dark.

A lot of the run south of Washington is "tree tunnel", the Silvers were never scenic wonders and renaming the Star to Floridian doesn't change it.

The fun of the Star and the trains running south of DC in the evening was always the lounge. Amtrak has done everything they can to kill the lounge car as well as most people plugged in instead of socializing. It would be nice to see a proper lounge return.

 

[Amtrak25]

The Amfleet-2 started off as half dinette and half Superliner lounge seats. The lounge portion become a smoking room, walled off with hard fiberglass bus seats. Then they yanked that out and put in tables.

Amfleet-2 toilets seem to be a lot more temperamental than Superliner ones, and often a clogged up mess with water, paper towels, and toilet paper all over the floor after one night. People think a mechanical chemical toilet is like a kitchen sink garbage disposal and can eat anything. What will they be like after 46 hours ?

Thet should stick an outshopped Superliner Trans-Dorm on the back end not only for the crew to free up Viewliner rooms, but for bathroom protection.

 

[Gary Moline]

I don't agree that CHI-MIA is just a bonus for rail fans. Flying and driving don't cut it for me. I, for one, am extremely happy. Living in Southern California, I can now avoid staying overnight in one, possibly two cities to make connections. I have a conference coming up in 2025 in Orlando. Coming from LAX and making a connection in Chicago the same day, and having traditional dining on both trains is extremely important to me.

 

[hlcteacher]

I cannot see this new Floridian attracting many travelers from Chicago to Miami. The original Floridian/ South Wind train was one overnight over two days. The new route would make this two overnights over three days. I don't believe that is a good move. Furthermore, the old route stopped at Nashville, Louisville, Birmingham. Montgomery, Valdosta, Waycross and cities not served by the new route. IMO, a more direct N-S route is needed.

i am planning it, love just one train with no transfer (as much as i love DC). And I will be in coach and eating in the Dining Car (if possible)

 

[zephyr17]

The Viewliners are nicer. I don’t mind Amfleet II either.


The fun of the Star and the trains running south of DC in the evening was always the lounge. Amtrak has done everything they can to kill the lounge car as well as most people plugged in instead of socializing. It would be nice to see a proper lounge return.

The single level fleet doesn't have a lounge car worthy of the name. The Amcafes just do not cut it as lounge cars.

The Seaboard's Sun Lounges would be a great model for a lounge design if a new single level LD fleet ever materializes.

 

[toddinde]

Among all the doom and gloom regarding the new service, I can't help but think it was designed specifically for me. I live in Illinois and snowbird in the Tampa Bay area; and this makes it so much easier.

Prior to #40, there wasn't even a train connection from Tampa to Chicago. The Star is scheduled to arrive in WAS at 3:04PM; and the Cap Ltd depart WAS at 4:05PM, a 1:01 layover, therefore not a legal connection. To make the trip, you would have to take a thruway bus to Orlando, then Silver Meteor arriving in WAS at 7:25AM. Now to my way of thinking getting up showering, having breakfast, and getting ready do de-train by 7:25 is not my idea of a civilized way to travel.

Granted, you could take the bus to Orlando, the Meteor to NYP, and the LSL to Chicago. I've done this several times. But still not an all train itinerary.

Now if one can throw their bike under the thruway bus from TPA to Clearwater/STP, I'm all set.

It’s a wonderful addition for Midwest passengers and a minor inconvenience for northeast passengers. I think it will be extremely popular, especially Midwest passengers traveling to the mid-Atlantic. It’s great for equipment utilization and a great marketing idea.

 

[uncleboots]

The Viewliners are nicer. I don’t mind Amfleet II either.


The fun of the Star and the trains running south of DC in the evening was always the lounge. Amtrak has done everything they can to kill the lounge car as well as most people plugged in instead of socializing. It would be nice to see a proper lounge return.

The Viewliners are nicer. I don’t mind Amfleet II either.


The fun of the Star and the trains running south of DC in the evening was always the lounge. Amtrak has done everything they can to kill the lounge car as well as most people plugged in instead of socializing. It would be nice to see a proper lounge return.

The Viewliners are nicer. I don’t mind Amfleet II either.


The fun of the Star and the trains running south of DC in the evening was always the lounge. Amtrak has done everything they can to kill the lounge car as well as most people plugged in instead of socializing. It would be nice to see a proper lounge return.

Other than the SSL, what would be the advantage of a Superliner train for multi night overnight travel as far as "on board" goes? I actually think the VL accommodations are preferable.

The multi nights on the Superliners are a big advantage to Coach Passengers. They have multi downstairs restrooms and dressing rooms,

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

The Grounded Life Travel channel on YouTube posted a video on the Floridian this morning:

 

[Septa9739]

Why do people think this move is temporary? The idea is scary, because its a management decision that makes operational sense. The train that needs to be brought back is Broadway Limited. Maybe Amtrak finds a couple of VLs and tack onto the Floridian in Pittsburgh and voila.

Because the same said Amtrak management emphatically says so. Of course that has never stopped us from dreaming up stuff since we are dreamers and that is what keep our spirits up

While I would certainly agree that ordinarily one should take an institution at its word. Amtrak changes it’s mind almost as often as we dream. 4 years is a long time for the railroad to pretend to be strategic enough to hold down a plan.

 

[cocojacoby]

The single level fleet doesn't have a lounge car worthy of the name. The Amcafes just do not cut it as lounge cars.

True but at least they offer passengers a place to sit while enjoying your food and drinks and allows you to socialize with fellow travelers. Amtrak seems to think its passengers no longer deserve such luxury.

 

[jis]

While I would certainly agree that ordinarily one should take an institution at its word. Amtrak changes it’s mind almost as often as we dream. 4 years is a long time for the railroad to pretend to be strategic enough to hold down a plan.

That is true. Then again, irrespective of what Amtrak management or anyone else says, technically speaking, everything is temporary. The only issue left open to discuss is "for how long". This is true of Amtrak and otherwise too But we are now getting into metaphysics

On this specific issue, I actually believe that Amtrak will change its mind when the time comes, to suit the immediate need for suitable equipment deployment at that time, and will not stand by any statements made previously. They seldom do, as you correctly point out. Notwithstanding all that we are always free to dream whatever to keep our spirits up too, but just don't do so in a real world event specific thread.

 

[daybeers]

Yes, technically Sunset Limited service east of NOL is still "temporarily suspended".

 

[trimetbusfan]

Found two more FLOR Bedroom fares, so here's a revised chart:

View attachment 37877

Suspect there's another Bedroom fare between the lower two, hence the space. Also suspect there's two additional fares for both sleepers if the present pattern of either 5 or 8 buckets holds.

@niemi24s It looks like $884 is the 7th roomette bucket.

 

[niemi24s]

for finding the $884. I'd found an $804 Roomette fare yesterday so that makes 8 fares for Roomettes

That implies there are two additional Bedroom fares yet to be found and which I estimate to be $1382 and $1522.

 

[west point]

I suspect that there may be more riders from Cleveland and Toledo (Detroit & Canadians).

 

[acelafan]

Here is a PDF for all y'all. Let me know of any issues with it.

 

[Septa9739]

@acelafan There are no indications of stations with baggage service. Will the train not carry baggage, or is this an error?

 

[acelafan]

@acelafan There are no indications of stations with baggage service. Will the train not carry baggage, or is this an error?

Thank you for that - I forgot to make it a sleeper/baggage train. Correction attached.

 

[thefirewarde]

I agree with your whole post, but wanted to add that the equipment would not have been an issue had Amtrak not completely bungled the rehab of the mothballed cars from over four years ago.

We're pretty much clear of the mothballed Superliner issue. The Superliner fleet sidelined now are more recent wreck repairs, axle count cars, cars leased to California, etc - still issues, and shop capacity probably isn't back where it needs to be yet, but they are mostly clear of the mothballed COVID Superliners.

As far as the desirability of CHI-MIA, you have two decently high utilization trains that effectively just got a perfect guaranteed connection. That'll tend to boost ridership compared to two independent trains without a much less reliable connection, and the new Google Flights integration/no connection booking via various apps should really boost ridership going relatively short distances from one side of DC to the other. I think full distance riders will be pretty few and far between, but folks going from the Midwest to the Southeast aren't exactly uncommon. My South Bend to Raleigh plans come to mind...

 

[trimetbusfan]

Here is a PDF for all y'all. Let me know of any issues with it.

That’s funny they kept Alexandria as a drop off only stop going north. Someone at Amtrak must have forgot to change that when making this new train.

 

[acelafan]

That’s funny they kept Alexandria as a drop off only stop going north. Someone at Amtrak forgot to change that when making this new train.

Ha interesting...agree with you.

 

[west point]

CLE / TOL - Orlando might be a high demand leg?

 

[jiml]

CLE / TOL - Orlando might be a high demand leg?

Especially with proximity to Detroit and Southern Ontario. I'm not familiar with Toledo's station but Cleveland would have to improve their parking to make this work.