Welcome aboard the Amtrak Cardinal, the hidden gem of the Amtrak network, offering picturesque landscapes. This is one of my favorite East Coast Amtrak routes. I am delighted to share my knowledge and experience with you, along with the train schedule/timetable and other essential information to help you plan your trip on this train.
Please note that this train operates only three days a week.
Imagine embarking on an 1147-mile journey through breathtaking terrain, immersing yourself in the sights and sounds as the Cardinal travels between Chicago, IL, and New York, NY. Along the way, you’ll pass through 30 intermediate stops, each offering a unique glimpse into the heart of the country—from the nation’s capital of Washington, DC, to the charming streets of Charlottesville, VA, and more!
So whether you’re embarking on a single-night escapade or planning a grand Amtrak adventure, join me aboard the Cardinal, and let’s make unforgettable memories together.
The views of the Amtrak Cardinal
The Cardinal offers unforgettable views as it passes through horse country, including the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and the wild white-water rivers of West Virginia.
As the train heads westward, it travels along the banks of the mighty Ohio River, through the quaint towns of Ashland and Maysville, and on to the skyline of Cincinnati. From there, the journey continues to Indianapolis and then northward to Chicago.
If you want to learn about the towns you will pass through, you can use a route guide published by Amtrak, albeit it may be from years ago.
Amtrak Cardinal’s on-time performance
Delays happen regardless of how you travel. While sometimes Amtrak is responsible for delays or acts of God, host railroads often cause delays.
- The Cardinal’s average passenger on-time performance
- From July 2023 to 2024, the Cardinal’s average on-time performance was 57.2% of the time, with an average delay of 71 minutes.
- For July 2024, the Cardinal averaged a 53.7% average delay of 76 minutes.
- The main reasons for delays caused by the host railroads of 15 miles or more:
- CSX (703 miles): freight train interference and signal delays
- NS (79 miles): signal issues and passenger train interference
- BBRR (132 miles): passenger train interference and freight train interference
The information for this section comes from the July 2024 Amtrak Host Railroad Report.
Coach class on the Amtrak Cardinal
The Amtrak Cardinal offers coach seating in Amfleet 2 cars, providing an economical travel option.
The Cardinal coach seats recline further back than regional Amtrak coach seats and come with foot and leg rests, ample legroom, and a fold-down tray.
Individual reading lights and 120v electric outlets are available on the wall.
Each car has two bathrooms across from each other on one end of the coach car.
Additionally, there are overhead storage compartments above the seats for baggage, or passengers can use the luggage rack at the car’s end.
Kev’s coach class travel tips
My first time on the Cardinal train was in coach class in 2013, and since then, I have gathered a few tips to improve the experience.
Travel can be unpredictable, so bring a water bottle and snacks. Trains can get dry, and having these on hand ensures you’re always prepared. I also suggest bringing money for the cafe car for meals and extras. You never know when you might need a little something.
One practical tip is to bring an extension cord. Each seat pair on the wall has one outlet, but with an extension cord, each passenger can access more than one outlet. This tip is handy if you have an aisle seat, as you can have power on your side without inconveniencing your seatmate. The cord is often the last thing to go in my bag, so it can be the first thing I pull out on the train.
If you are bringing anything that makes noise, headphones are necessary. Also, remember your chargers, and sometimes, a power brick can come in handy so you can charge while at a station or as you travel.
Check out my “Entertainment on Amtrak” articles for ideas of things to do on the train as you travel.
If you plan to sleep on the train, I suggest you bring an eye mask, earplugs (if you need things quieter), a pillow, and a blanket. There are some inexpensive versions of these out there. Amtrak does offer a comfort kit in the cafe car, but there is a chance they could sell out.
You will not have access to a shower in coach class, but a pack of wet wipes can help keep you fresh.
Amtrak Cardinal coach car layout
Sleeper Car (Rooms) Accommodations on the Cardinal
Learn about the advantages of getting Amtrak sleeping accommodations.
What Cardinal Rooms Include
- Fresh linens and towels
- Complimentary meals
- Lounge access in Chicago, New York, Philidelphia. and Washington DC
- Dedicated car attendant
- Access to showers
- The windows in each car have curtains that block out light and give you privacy.
- These rooms have seats by day and beds by night.
Room Options On Amtrak’s Cardinal
- Roomettes
- Smallest of accommodations
- Suitable for one cozy for two
- Bedroom
- It is about twice the space of a roomette.
- There is a bathroom, sink, and shower in the room.
- Accessible Room
- This accommodation is for passengers with mobility issues.
- There is a bathroom, sink, and shower in the room.
Amtrak Cardinal sleeper car layout
The layout below is of the older Viewliner sleeper, but the new one is similar. This train also uses a dorm baggage car with half roomettes and half baggage. Those cars still have a shower and bathroom.
Wi-Fi
This train has free Wi-Fi that supports general web browsing activities. Learn more about Amtrak Wi-Fi, such as how to log in and the do’s and don’ts.
Pets and service animals
- Amtrak allows dogs and cats
- The max combined weight of the pet and carrier is 20 pounds.
- For trips up to seven hours
- You need to fill out paperwork before you get to the station.
- Learn more about Amtrak’s Pet policy and get the needed paperwork.
If you have a service or comfort animal, read Amtrak’s service animal policy before booking to ensure your critter qualifies and is appropriately on your reservation.
Carry-on & checked bags on the Cardinal
Not all stations can handle checked baggage. Click the station links below to see if they offer checked baggage service. Your beginning and ending stations must both offer checked bag service.
- Amtrak checked baggage allows:
- Two bags up to 50 lbs.
- Seventy-five linear inches per person for free.
- Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
- You are permitted two for free and two extra for a fee.
Each passenger may carry on:
- One personal item, 25 lbs. (12 kg) and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
- Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each
If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at some point along your journey, the baggage size for that train is up to 28 x 22 x 11 inches each.
Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage; check out Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.
Bikes on the Cardinal
- Space is available for standard, full-size bicycles
- Up to 50 lbs, 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches.
- Amtrak stores bikes in designated bike racks/areas inside the baggage car (if available).
- More information on bringing bikes is here.
The Amtrak Cardinal food options
One food car on this train serves double duty; while the cafe is open to all, some choices are only available for sleeper passengers. The cafe has a similar layout to the car below.
The Amtrak cafe offers a variety of hot and cold meals and snacks, as well as hot, cold, and adult beverages.
The car hours are from early morning until late at night but may be closed for breaks, sleeper meal times, and at the Washington DC station stop. The cafe is between the coach cars and the sleeper cars.
You can consume your purchase in this car; coach passengers usually sit closest to the coach cars.
While you can bring your food and drink, Amtrak cannot store or heat your food. Additionally, you cannot consume alcohol you brought onboard unless you are in a sleeper.
Flex dining
Flex dining is a meal system for sleeping car passengers, and at this time, it is unavailable for coach passengers.
- More about Flex Dining:
- These meals are prepared ahead of time and warmed on the train.
- Complimentary dining for sleeping passengers.
- You can eat in private rooms or the cafe car.
- Meals include breakfast selections, while lunch and dinner share the same menu.
- Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.
- One complimentary adult beverage comes with dinner!
Meals offered to sleeper car passengers
This table will show you what meals you will get while you are on the Cardinal.
| DIRECTION | CITY SECTIONS | DAY OF TRAVEL | MEALS OFFERED |
|---|---|---|---|
| #50 Westbound | Chicago, IL – Indianapolis, IN | 1 | Dinner |
| Connersville, IN – New York, NY | 2 | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner | |
| #51 Eastbound | New York, NY – Maysville, KY | 1 | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |
| Cincinnati, OH – Chicago, IL | 2 | Breakfast |
Amtrak Cardinal Schedule
The Cardinal runs three days a week.
The information in this section comes from the official Amtrak website; they can change it anytime.
| Train 51 Westbound | Communities Served | Miles | Train 50 Eastbound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read Down | This train runs three days a week. | – | Last Stop |
| 6:45a Su-We-Fr | New York, NY Moynihan Train Hall (NYP) | 0 | 10:23p We-Fr-Su |
| R 7:05a | Newark, NJ – Penn Station (NWK) | 10 | D 10:03p |
| 7:42a | Trenton, NJ (TRE) | 58 | D 9:27p |
| 8:15a | Philadelphia, PA William H. Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL) | 91 | D 8:56p |
| 8:40a | Wilmington, DE (WIL) | 116 | D 8:30p |
| 9:28a | Baltimore, MD – Penn Station (BAL) | 185 | D 7:41p |
| 10:09a | 10:59a | Washington, DC – Union Station (WAS) | 225 | D 6:44p | 7:09p |
| 11:19a | Alexandria, VA (ALX) | 233 | D 6:27p |
| 11:52a | Manassas, VA (MSS) | 258 | 5:35p |
| 12:25p | Culpeper, VA (CLP) | 293 | 5:00p |
| 1:43p | 1:52p | Charlottesville, VA (CVS) | 340 | 3:35p | 3:44p |
| 2:54p | Staunton, VA (STA) | 379 | 2:38p |
| 4:13p | Clifton Forge, VA (CLF) | 437 | 1:09p |
| 5:05p | White Sulphur Springs, WV (WSS) | 472 | 12:01p |
| 5:36p | Alderson, WV (ALD) | 496 | 11:18a |
| 6:06p | Hinton, WV (HIN) | 517 | 10:50a |
| 6:43p | Prince, WV (PRC) | 540 | 10:18a |
| 6:59p | Thurmond, WV (THN) | 551 | 9:56a |
| 7:50p | Montgomery, WV (MNG) | 592 | 9:02a |
| 8:29p | Charleston, WV (CHW) | 619 | 8:31a |
| 9:44p | 9:51p | Huntington, WV (HUN) | 668 | 7:19a | 7:26a |
| 10:14p | Ashland, KY (AKY) | 683 | 6:45a |
| 10:57p | South Shore, KY Portsmouth, OH (SPM) | 712 | 5:55a |
| 11:52p Su-We-Fr | Maysville, KY (MAY) | 766 | 5:02a |
| 1:41a Mo-Th-Sa | Cincinnati, OH Union Terminal (CIN) | 828 | 3:37a |
| 3:36a | Connersville, IN (COI) | 893 | 1:31a |
| 5:15a | 6:00a | Indianapolis, IN (IND) | 951 | We-Fr-Su 11:49p | 12:15a Tu-Th-Sa |
| 6:58a | Crawfordsville, IN (CRF) | 998 | 10:30p |
| 7:36a | Lafayette, IN – Amtrak Station (LAF) | 1025 | 9:56p |
| 7:40a | Rensselaer, IN (REN) | 1072 | 7:45p |
| 8:29a | Dyer, IN (DYE) | 1118 | 6:45p |
| 10:00a Mo-Th-Sa | Chicago, IL – Union Station (CHI) | 1147 | 5:55p Tu-Th-Sa |
| Last Stop | Stations | Miles | Read Up |
- Su- Sunday; Mo-Monday; Tu-Tuesday; We-Wednesday; Th-Thursday; Fr-Friday; Sa-Saturday
- R = Receive passengers only; this means you can board the train, but you cannot buy a ticket on this train to this station.
- D = Depart only; you can buy a ticket to this station but not from this station. The train may leave early from this stop.
- * = Stations with Amtrak Connecting Services.
Printable Amtrak Cardinal Schedule
You can print out the PDF below or download it to your device. This document is longer because it includes most connection services, so feel free to print what you need.
You can also print route or customs schedules from Amtrak! Learn how to print your own Amtrak schedule from the Amtrak website.
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Thanks for this.
You are welcome!
Safe Travels,
Kev
Thanks especially for this timetable, Kev. Last spring, I mentioned to my wife that an Amtrak Cardinal T-shirt would be a nice Father’s Day gift. When my wife saw a picture of it, she wanted one too, so we bought two. Living in Alexandria, Virginia, at the time, I thought that a day trip on the Cardinal would be fun. I had done it some years before with a friend. I tried searching the booking thingy on the Amtrak website by train numbers, stations, range of dates, and found nothing. I couldn’t tell whether the train was even running. Since then we have moved to Pennsylvania, but maybe we will take a long ride later this year.
You are welcome, Steve! The Cardinal is still going, but three times a week. I hope you ride it again; it is one of my favorite trains.
Thanks for your post. In 1994, I took the Cardinal in October on a trip from Milford UT (Amtrak no longer runs there) to Atlanta GA. I booked the Cardinal because it was during the leaf change. It was a great trip!
You’re welcome! The Cardinal is one of my favorite trains, and I hope you get to ride it again soon