Work on Amtrak’s East River Tunnel in New York will allow Cleveland rail enthusiasts to ride to Florida starting in November without changing trains.
As a result of the work, Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains to create the Floridian, which will run between Chicago and Miami via Washington, D.C., beginning Nov. 10.
“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 Jim Mathews, president & CEO of the Rail Passengers Association. “This move will free up badly needed equipment while taking pressure off Northeast Corridor infrastructure during the renovation of the ERT Project. We believe riders will flock to this new service.”
Because it is, in a sense, an extension of the current Capitol Limited line through Cleveland, passengers here will still be catching it in the middle of the night. Still, Ohio rail enthusiasts say it’s a welcome addition.