Summary

Starting Nov. 10, Amtrak will launch the “Floridian” line, a new daily service from Chicago to Miami.

The route merges Amtrak’s Capitol Limited and Silver Star lines due to ongoing repairs on the East River tunnel damaged by Superstorm Sandy.

The journey spans nearly 48 hours, with stops in Cleveland, Washington D.C., Orlando, and Tampa.

Coach tickets start at just over $100, while private rooms with added amenities like dining car meals, turndown service, and showers begin at $700. Café snacks and a dining car with various meal options are available.

  • EndOfLine@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    23 hours ago

    The trip on the Floridian will take nearly 48 hours to complete, according to Amtrak.

    Coach seats start at just over $100 for the trip, with private rooms available starting at $700.

    Who is their target market?

    • ryathal
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      23 hours ago

      The market is people wanting a vacation experience of being on a train.

    • Pheonixdown@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      20 hours ago

      My family’s considered something similar, mostly because of one of my children’s allergies that make plane travel more risky. Helps that I have lots of PTO/work remote and we homeschool the kids though. It’s only like 26-30 hours for us.

    • TrueStoryBob@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      23 hours ago

      I guess… I am the target market… I take Amtrak from Savannah, GA to Washington DC (about 12 hours) to visit family at least once a year. This new route is basically the same service, but instead of terminating in NYC, it now goes to Chicago (two other trains still follow the route up to NYC). It’s much more comfortable than the bus and way cheaper than flying; it’s usually about $100-120 for a coach seat round trip. Now that I can get a one seat ride all the way to Chicago, because I’ve never been, right now I’m planning a trip there next spring once I get my tax return.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      23 hours ago

      Nobody except the few dedicated train fans. The government requires and subsidizes just enough that it exists, but hardly anyone actually uses it. If you can fly you do, if not you take a bus.