Silver Star (Amtrak): New York - Miami - Replaced by the Floridain

Meaningful Service Change: The Silver Star has been temporarily discontinued and replaced with the new Floridian route. This change combines portions of the former Silver Star and Capitol Limited into a single service from Chicago to Miami.

Current Service: The Floridian

The Amtrak Floridian is a daily Viewliner train providing direct service from Chicago, IL, to Miami, FL. This 2,076-mile journey takes about 47 hours and includes traditional dining service throughout.

Key Route Details:

• Operates: Daily in both directions
• Equipment: Viewliner cars with traditional dining
• Major stops include: Chicago, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Orlando, Kissimmee, and Miami
• Notable change: There are no intermediate stops between New York and Washington, DC. See the next section for more information.

What This Means for Travelers

New York to Florida passengers: You can take Amtrak’s Northeast Regional, Acela, or other Northeast Corridor Services to reach Washington, DC, where you can then board the Floridian for your trip to Florida.

Chicago (Midwest) to Florida passengers: You now have direct service, removing the need to transfer in New York or Washington, D.C.

Service Duration

Amtrak has stated that this routing change is temporary, but it has not specified an end date. Industry speculation suggests the change may last up to three years, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Alternative: The Silver Meteor

Travelers seeking service between New York and Florida can take the Silver Meteor, which operates daily from New York to Miami, bypassing South Carolina rather than following the former Silver Star route to Tampa.

This information reflects current Amtrak service as of the date the route change is implemented. Service details may be subject to change.

Understanding the Silver Star’s delays and its on-time performance

Regardless of how you like to travel, and when it comes to rail travel, sometimes delays are not Amtrak’s fault.

The Silver Star route uses tracks owned, maintained, and dispatched by freight railroads, known as “host” railroads. The number one cause of delay for Amtrak customers is “freight train interference,” which occurs when freight railroads fail to comply with federal law requiring Amtrak trains to receive priority over freight trains.

• The Silver Star’s average passenger on-time performance is:
  • 40.3% from October 2023 to 2024, with an 80-minute delay.
  • 57.5% for October 2024, with a 62-minute delay.

Here are the miles of track used by the Silver Star on each railroad, along with the top two reasons for its delays. Only the host railroads that span at least 15 miles are listed.

• CSX
  • 1209 miles
  • Freight train interference and slow order delays
• NS
  • 28 miles
  • Sigal delays and freight train interference
• FL DOT
  • 68 miles
  • Commuter train interference and slow order delays
• FR
  • 61 miles
  • Sigal delays and slow order delays

The information for this section comes from the October 2024 Amtrak Host Railroad Report.

Accommodations on the Silver Star

When making reservations on the Silver Star, you have several accommodation choices. Below are brief explanations of each, along with links to more detailed information.

Coach Seating

• Amtrak’s Silver Star offers coach seating, which features:
  • Comfortable reclining seats with ample legroom
  • Foot and leg rests
  • A fold-down tray
  • Individual reading lights
  • 120V grounded (three-prong) electric outlets.
  • Each car has two restrooms on one end of the car
  • An accessible area.
  • Overhead luggage storage and storage shelves.

Kev’s coach class tips

If you plan to travel in coach on Amtrak, I can share some tips from my years of experience.

I suggest packing an extension cord. Pack it last so it is on top and easily accessible at your seat. An extension cord is handy because the outlet is on the wall by the window seat. If you end up in the aisle seat, the extension cord lets you access power without inconveniencing your seatmate. It’s also helpful to plug in multiple devices without monopolizing the outlet.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to bring a water bottle, snacks, and some cash for the café.

If you plan to spend the night on the train, consider bringing comfort items such as a pillow and blanket to improve sleep quality. For those sensitive to light and sound, please pack an eye mask, sleep aids, and earplugs to ensure a restful journey.

Lastly, if you plan to use electronic devices that make noise, bring a pair of headphones.

Amtrak Silver Star coach car layout

This diagram illustrates what a coach car looks like; you may notice some differences on your ride.

Sleeping accommodations

All rooms include:

• Fresh linens, towels, and pillows are provided.
• Traditional Dining
• Lounge access in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC
• Dedicated car attendant
• Install curtains on all windows to provide privacy and block light.
• Each room has a sink.
• Extra storage above the door.
• A place to hang clothing
  • Amtrak supplies hangers
• Access to a shower
• Storage above the door

Room types

• Roomette
  • Grand for one, cozy for two
  • Amtrak’s smallest room
• Bedroom
  • Twice the room of a roomette.
  • There is also an in-room restroom and shower.
• Accessible room
  • This room accommodates people with mobility issues and their travel companions.

Kev’s sleeping car tips

Remember to pack light, but one great thing about these cars is the extra in-room storage above each door. You can store two larger suitcases or a few smaller bags there.

Although meals are included with your reservation, snacks are recommended if you get hungry, and the food service train cars are closed. A water bottle is also helpful, even though the rooms have single-use bottles and a sink is available.

Consider bringing an extension cord. Depending on the age of your room or car, there may be only one outlet available. This way, you have power where you want it, especially from the top bunk.

It’s always a good idea to bring some entertainment.

Amtrak Silver Star Viewliner Sleeper Car Layout

Amtrak offers two versions of this car, so your experience may be slightly different; newer cars feature a bathroom at the end and do not have toilets in the roomettes.

Luggage on the Silver Star

Knowing what to expect before you go will help you plan, so here are some tidbits to help you plan a trip aboard the Silver Star.

Check bag service

• You can check bags
  • Up to two bags up to 50 lbs.
  • Seventy-five linear inches are allowed per person at no charge.
  • Charges apply for additional and oversized luggage.
    • You can check up to 4 bags.

Not all locations can handle checked baggage; you can check bags only if your starting and ending stations offer this service.

Carry on

Each passenger may carry on:

• One personal item, up to 25 pounds (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

Charges apply to additional and oversized luggage; see Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

The Silver Star offers Amtrak Wi-Fi.

Amtrak offers free Wi-Fi that supports general web browsing.

Due to limited onboard bandwidth, our Wi-Fi does not support high-bandwidth activities such as streaming music or video or downloading large files.

Add-ons for this train.

This train offers several features to enhance your next trip.

Bring your bike

• Space is available for standard, full-size bicycles
  • Bikes up to 50 lbs, 70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches
  • Amtrak stores bikes in designated bike racks in the baggage car
  • Before you book your bike, check Amtrak’s bike policy.

Pets and service animals on the Silver Star

• Amtrak allows dogs and cats
  • Max weight up to 20 pounds, with a combined weight of the pet and carrier
  • Trips up to seven hours
  • You must fill out paperwork before the train arrives.
    • You can find it in the Amtrak pet policy.
  • Before booking space for your furry friend, check out Amtrak’s pet policy.

If you have a service or comfort animal, please read the Amtrak service animal policy before booking.

Silver Star’s Café Car and bringing food on the train

• The café car offers:
  • A variety of hot and cold meals
  • Snacks
  • Hot, cold, and adult beverages
• Available for all passengers
• This car closes at night, for breaks, and while the train is in Washington, DC.
• You will find the café between the coach and the dining cars.

Listen for announcements; the car is open most of the day and closed overnight.

Bringing food on the train

You can bring food and drinks on the train, but Amtrak cannot store or heat your food, and FDA regulations prohibit personal food in the café car.

Additionally, you can bring alcohol on the train, BUT you cannot consume your stash in coach class. You can drink in your sleeping car.

If you get caught drinking alcohol that you brought with you in any car other than in your sleeper car accommodation, or if you get out of hand, Amtrak can remove you from the train at a stop that is not on your ticket. You could get a reservation at the local Slammer Hotel and wake up with new friends.

The Silver Star’s Dining Car

Sleeper and coach passengers can enjoy traditional dining in the dining car or their rooms.

• These are chef-prepared meals.
• Flowers on the table
• Menus include breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, along with a separate kids’ menu.
• Meals include add-ons
• Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.
  • The dining car sells various wines, beers, and spirits
  • Your first adult beverage with dinner is on Amtrak!
• Coach passengers pay a flat rate for meals.
  • For coach passenger prices, click the blue button below.

Entrée meals include sides and beverages; you also receive a complimentary adult beverage with dinner.

The dining car is in front of the sleeper cars; if you walk through this car, you will end up in the café car. If you go the wrong way, you will find the baggage car. In that case, do the hoky poky, turn yourself about, and walk the other way.

Silver Star offered meals.

Below is a chart of traditional meals served in the Silver Star dining car based on your day of travel. If you depart from Miami or New York, your first meal will be lunch. Please ensure you have something to eat before boarding the train.

The Silver Star’s dining car meal times

These times can change at any time.

• Breakfast: Available 6:30 – 9:30 am.
• Lunch: Available 11:30 am – 2:30 pm.
• Dinner: Available from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.

Amtrak Silver Star Schedule

An alternative train with many stops is the Silver Meteor. This train passes through South Carolina but does not stop at Tampa.

Abbreviations

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 it. The train may leave early from this stop.

Printable Amtrak Silver Star Schedule

If you are connecting with another train or want a more customized schedule, you can print one directly from Amtrak. Here is an article with links to help you print Amtrak schedules.

The link below is to a downloadable, printable PDF containing the Silver Star schedule and a list of Amtrak Connecting Services. You can print only part of the document or the whole document.