Are we getting a direct Chicago to Miami train?

There are rumors that Amtrak may combine their Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains into one long train that runs directly from Chicago to Miami, through Washington DC. This would start in November. Find out more by watching this video!

Trains Are Awesome!

[KTHH_KW]

8:03 I've been calling it the "Silver Limited" since I first heard about it. Sounds like a good name.

[damascus]

I have taken the Empire Builder twice from Chicago to Seattle and the Lake Shore Limited once from New York to Chicago. Flexible dining is simply awful and I will never take an Amtrak train that has it. The traditional dining on the western services, on the other hand, is simply outstanding. By the way, it is YouTubers such as yourself who motivated me to do these trips. I have also taken the Caledonian sleeper from Inverness to London, which was quite an excellent experience.

[daman]

I agree about the Texas Eagle. That train needs not only the observation car back, but it needs more coaches and an extra sleeping car at least. It used to have 3 sleeping cars, a dinning car, observation car and about 3 to 4 coaches. Then they would add a car between Chicago and St.Louis.

[khughes]

I really appreciate the thorough and detailed nature of this video. It's the kind of thing railfans really appreciate.

[michaelb]

I never knew it could possibly happen like that. I’d like for there to be a Chicago to Miami train that would stop in both Nashville and Chattanooga.

[ck]

Thanks for posting this interesting and well-investigated video. Chicago to Miami on Amtrak would be absolutely awesome!!!

[jonathankleinow]

Love the enthusiasm of the kid at 8:42! Looking forward to watching your Capitol Limited trip on Saturday!

[chicagolandrailroader]

I'd like a service between Chicago-Miami via Louisville & Nashville, less for Chicago-Miami passengers but moreso for Louisville and Nashville, because they don't have any Inter city rail.

[rikkichunn]

In the last days of passenger service on the Union Pacific, they combined all the western cities streamliners into one huge train that split apart into branches to Denver, Los Angeles, and so on. It was pejoratively nicknamed the "City of Everywhere." Seems like a good name for a train that goes from Chicago to Miami via Cleveland, Washington D.C., Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa!

[grahamo.]

I’m from North Carolina and the idea of a direct connection from Raleigh to Chicago is so exciting to me! I wanted to take this trip a few months ago but having to do an overnight “layover” in DC made the trip not feasible for me

[mattsaint]

I took the Capital Limited in 2017 and enjoyed the real food in the dining car. I was sad to hear about the menu change. Hopefully cooked food comes back to this route.

[Blank]

They should retain the Silver Star name. Capitol anything would imply that the Capital of the US is the terminus, which it isn’t anymore.

[chadamtrakrailfan]

It would be interesting to see the CL have amfleets instead of superliners if this becomes a reality. And yes, the westbound routes definitely need the superliners, so it would be a win win.

Looking forward to seeing your trip report on the CL this coming Saturday. I take the Pennsylvanian a few times a year out of Pittsburgh and always arrive at the station early to see the CL come in (as well as watch the CL on various railcams as well).

I am hoping that at some point in the future, the original Floridian route is restored, giving rail transportation to that much-needed corridor.

[tmcb_]

It's insane that Nashville has no Amtrak service...

[DaBigColinTheRailfanman]

I’m definitely gonna ride this sometime thanks for posting about this

[MrCrazycook]

Thom for President of Amtrak... He will get things running right!

[dianethulin]

This would mean that I could take the train to visit my brother in Tennessee! Awesome!

[gregorylparks]

That would be great to have a direct Train service from Chicago to
Miami, via Louisville, Nashville, Birmingham, and Montgomery, Alabama

[mariovieira]

Way before Amtrak Illinois Central connected Chicago and Miami in just 29, 5 Hours, by means of the 'City of Miami '. It had some sections of very fast running, reaching a top speed of 100 Mph

[JuanWayTrips]

I would argue they shouldn't. It could work Chicago to Florida (currently a 2 hour transfer), but not the other way as the schedules don't really match up (Tampa to Chicago right now can only be booked in 3 segments). Plus it negatively impacts those who take the Pennsylvanian and transfer to the CL in Pittsburgh (have known people who did that before). It would be better if Amtrak just went all-in on a dedicated Chicago to Miami train.