Amtrak launches direct Chicago to Miami route with Jacksonville stop (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Travelers out of Jacksonville can soon ride Amtrak to and from Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and about a dozen other locations in the Midwest and Northeast without having to change trains.
Amtrak has started ticket sales for the Floridian, a new temporary route offering a direct round-trip between Chicago and Miami with intermediate stops in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C. and many other smaller cities and towns in-between.
Previously, travelers going from Chicago to Miami would’ve transferred trains in D.C., but that won’t be the case while the Floridian is running.
The limited-time route is set to make its inaugural trip on Nov. 10.
The rail service temporarily combines Capitol Limited and Silver Star due to the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York.
The Rail Passengers Association, representing more than 40 million riders, said the route will “take pressure off” the Northeast Corridor’s infrastructure during the rehab.
“Our members have had a long-standing dream of restoring a one-seat ride from the Midwest to Florida, and we’re thrilled that a new generation of American passengers will be able to experience this service for themselves,” said Rail Passengers Association president and CEO Jim Mathews in a statement.
Photo courtesy of Amtrak Media