On Monday, Amtrak announced its new From Florida The train will run daily from Chicago to Miami starting November 10. Local stops are Rockville, Washington and Alexandria. The new train connects the Capitol Limited (Chicago to Washington) and the Silver Star (Miami to New York). This change, which will be temporary, was necessary because New York City’s 114-year-old East River Tunnels were undergoing a $1.6 billion upgrade following flooding during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
As a result, residents who Silver Star have to use other routes to New York. The Silver Meteor will continue service from Miami to New York. Other options such as the Vermonters or the Northeast Region will also remain in operation throughout the construction period. Amtrak expects the project to be completed in 2027. Amtrak plans to close one tunnel at a time to limit service disruptions.
The From Florida will make 46 stops along the route, with the entire trip expected to take nearly 47 hours. Outside of Chicago and Miami, there are several notable stops along the route. It includes vacation destinations such as Sandusky (OH), Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. Many major cities are also on the route, including Tampa, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland.
The train will be the second Amtrak service to bear the name. Its predecessor also ran from Chicago to Miami in the 1970s. The old version had 14 fewer stops and took a more direct route through states such as Indiana, Tennessee and Alabama en route to the Sunshine State.
Tickets for the From Florida are now available on the Amtrak website as trains 40 and 41. If you want to take the entire trip, prices range from $113 for the coach to over $1200 for a one bedroom if you want a more comfortable trip.
Image courtesy of Amtrak on X
