Amtrak recently announced the Floridian, a train combining the Silver Star and Capitol Limited. This daily train offers a direct route from Chicago to Miami, covering Capitol Limited’s stops and most of the Silver Star route from Washington, DC, to Miami. The train will now use Viewliner and Amfleet II equipment throughout the route.
The Floridian takes you on a journey through the Midwest, over the Allegheny Mountains, and allows you to see the stunning views of Harper’s Ferry along the historic B&O line through the scenic Potomac Valley to Washington, DC. From there, the train heads south toward Florida’s sunny beaches, vibrant cities, and a host of family-friendly attractions like Disney World, Universal Studios, and more, ensuring everyone in the family has a great time.
This article contains the Floridian’s schedule, information on the train’s coach and sleeper accommodations, and details about the cafe and traditional dining cars.
Here is an article about my experience aboard the Floridian.
The cause of Floridian
Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains to create the Floridian due to the upcoming East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York. During this project, one tunnel tube will be closed at a time, minimizing service impacts, maximizing construction access and modernizing the tunnel infrastructure to serve customers for another 100 years.
The other advantage of this temporary move is that it frees up some Superline equipment that Amtrak can use on western trains as Amtrak works on rehabbing cars.
The Floridian offers a unique way to see the USA, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the journey leisurely.
Map of the Amtrak Floridian
Accommodations on the Floridian
The Floridian provides a range of comfortable travel options, from spacious coach seating to private Viewliner sleeping accommodations, ensuring a pleasant journey for every type of traveler.
Coach Seating
Coach seating provides a comfortable and economical way to travel. Amtrak’s Amfleet II cars offer reclining seats with:
- Foot and leg rests
- Fold-down trays
- Individual reading lights
- 120v grounded outlets
- Overhead luggage storage and accessible areas
- Two restrooms per car
Seats are assigned just before boarding, often on the platform, and you may sit by someone you do not know. In some cases, you may get assigned a car and not a seat; it depends on how full the train is and where you are on the route.
Kev’s Coach Class Tips
From my many trips, I’ve learned that packing an extension cord can be a lifesaver! Since the outlets are by the window, an extension cord will save you from disturbing your seatmate if you’re in the aisle seat. I also recommend bringing snacks, water, and a pillow and blanket for those overnight trips—you’ll thank me later!
Coach Car Layout
Sleeping Accommodations
The Floridian offers three types of sleeping accommodations—Roomettes, Bedrooms, and Accessible Bedrooms—where you can relax during the day and sleep comfortably at night. As a sleeper car passenger, you’ll enjoy complimentary meals, fresh linens, and exclusive access to Amtrak’s lounges in significant stations like Chicago and Washington, DC, where you can unwind before or after your trip.
Each room has seats for daytime comfort use that convert into cozy lower beds at night. A second bed conveniently folds from the ceiling.
Feel free to click the links below to learn more about each accommodation.
- Roomette: Perfect for one, cozy for two. Includes seats that convert into beds, a sink, and access to shared showers.
- Bedroom: More spacious, with a private in-room restroom and shower.
- Accessible Room: Designed for passengers with mobility needs and their companions
Kev’s Sleeping Car Tips
Pack light! The Viewliner cars have handy storage above the door for larger suitcases so that you can keep essentials within reach. An extension cord is necessary, especially in older sleeper cars with limited outlets.
And don’t forget your snacks, drinks, and entertainment—those little comforts go a long way on an overnight journey.
Floridian Sleeping Car Layout
This diagram is for the older Viewliner I cars; the “blue ones” and the Viewliner II are similar. There is a bathroom at the end, but the room numbers are the same.
Onboard Staff Change
When you travel by train, conductors and engineers change at various points along the route, but the onboard service staff usually stay with you for the entire journey.
On the Floridian, if you remain on the train through Washington, DC, the staff for the coach, café, sleeper, and diner cars will change there.
Luggage and Wi-Fi on the Floridian
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.
Wi-Fi On The Floridian
Wi-Fi is available, but due to limited bandwidth, it supports only basic web browsing. Streaming or downloading large files is not supported. If you need more information, check out my Amtrak WI-Fi page.
Please remember that there are parts of the route where you can connect to Wi-Fi, but there may not be cellular service. Since the Wi-Fi service is cell-based, there are sections where the train may not get a signal, which means your phone may also not have a signal.
Additional Features of the Floridian
- Bikes: Full-sized bicycles are permitted on the train and stored in designated racks. Be sure to check Amtrak’s bike policy before booking. Learn more about Amtrak’s bike policy.
- Pets: Small dogs and cats are allowed on board for trips up to 7 hours, with a combined pet and carrier weight limit of 20 pounds. Learn more about Amtrak’s pet policy; check with Amtrak to ensure your service or comfort animal qualifies.
Dining on the Floridian
Whether in coach or a sleeper, you’ll enjoy plenty of meal options during your journey. From quick bites to more substantial meals, the Floridian caters to various tastes, ensuring everyone stays well-fed and refreshed.
Café Car
The Café Car, open to all passengers, offers a selection of hot and cold meals, snacks, and beverages, including beer, wine, and cocktails. It’s a convenient spot to grab a coffee, sandwich, or snack while stretching your legs during the trip.
The Café Car is conveniently located between the coach and dining cars, making stopping by during your trip easy. It opens early and remains available throughout most of the day, with closures at night or for crew breaks. Keep an ear out for announcements about specific hours.
Bringing Food on the Train
Note: While you can bring food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard, Amtrak can’t heat or store your items. Also, per FDA regulations, you cannot consume the food you brought onboard in the Café Car.
The alcohol brought aboard must stay in your bag unless you are in a sleeper car—if you get caught drinking your alcohol in coach, you risk getting removed from the train.
Dining Car: Traditional Dining Experience
For a more formal dining experience, step into the Dining Car, where sleeper passengers enjoy chef-prepared meals included in their fare. Coach passengers can use the dining car; each meal has a flat fee, but seating is limited.
While in the dining car, you can enjoy hearty dishes like chicken, beef, or vegetarian entrees paired with fresh sides and delicious desserts.
Meals include non-alcoholic drinks, and for dinner, the first alcoholic beverage with dinner is on the house.
The Dining Car Meal Times
Meal times may vary, so please check with train staff. Sleeper car passengers must make dinner reservations, while coach passengers should listen for announcements regarding their entry times.
- Breakfast: 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Dinner: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Dining Car Meals Served on the Floridian
The meals offered can change based on the train’s on-time performance.
| Train | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 North/Westbound | Lunch & Dinner | Break, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast |
| 41 South/Eastbound | Dinner | Break, Lunch, & Dinner | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner* |
Breaking Down The Floridian Route By The Day
Not everyone travels the entire train route at once—not always for me—but some prefer knowing the daily breakdown of the trip.
| Train | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 North/Westbound | Miami, FL – Jacksonville, FL | Savannah, GA – Pittsburgh, PA | Alliance, OH – Chicago, IL |
| 41 South/Eastbound | Chicago, IL – Toledo, OH | Sandusky, OH – Camden, SC | Columbia, SC – Miami, FL |
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40 & 41 Amtrak Floridian Schedule
The Floridian operates daily, serving significant cities along the route. It is s always a good idea to double-check with Amtrak closer to your departure date.
The times listed below are departure times unless otherwise noted. Trains can arrive before the times listed below; the information below comes from Amtrak.com.
The section below can assist you if you want to track your train.
Floridian Printable Schedules
Amtrak did not have both schedules on one page, but I found a workaround. Here are the schedules separated into North/West and South/East. To ensure you have the latest info, check out my post on printing out Amtrak timetables.
Tracking The Floridian, where is it now?
If you’re interested in tracking the Amtrak Floridian along its route, my guide makes it simple to follow its progress from Chicago to Miami and beyond. Learn how to track Amtrak trains to stay informed and when to expect their arrival!
Some train tracking services may not show all the stops for this train. However, unless stated otherwise in Amtrak alerts, the train makes all scheduled stops between Chicago and Miami and does not terminate early. A technical glitch is currently preventing the complete list of stops from being displayed.
Taking the Floridian to Florida Attractions
If you are coming from the Midwest, this train is a great way to see the highlights of Florida. You can take this train to get to these Florida hot spots! I am sure there are more out there, but here are the highlights.
Walt Disney World Resort – Kissimmee
The easiest way to get to Disney World is to take the train to Kissimmee Station. You can take a rideshare or the 56 Linx Bus to the Ticket and Transportation area. This bus terminates at WDW, so you cannot miss your stop. Also, when going home, the train will meet you there to take you back to the train.
While you could get off at the Orlando station, Kissimmee is less busy and offers a direct bus. This station could also make getting rideshares easier.
More to come!
Kev’s Warp-Up
If you missed it. You can check out an article about my experience aboard the Floridian.
I am looking forward to this train because it is a more convenient way for those traveling from the Midwest to get to Florida and the several intermediate stops.
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Safe Travels and Happy Planning!
Kev
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don’t forget a blankie . it is usually chilly at night in coach
Oh, great point, I added that!