Amtrak to offer temporary Chicago-Miami service

Amtrak will launch a temporary daily direct round-trip route between Chicago and Miami, starting Nov. 10.

The new Floridian route will combine Amtrak's existing Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains while construction begins on the upcoming East River Tunnel (ERT) rehabilitation project in New York. The project construction will require one tube to be closed at a time, which impacts Amtrak's Capitol Limited Silver Star routes, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

The Floridian will run on a similar schedule to the existing Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes, with stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, Flordia.

“This move will free up badly needed equipment while taking pressure off Northeast Corridor infrastructure during the renovation of the ERT Project,” said Jim Mathews, president and CEO of the Rail Passengers Association.