Amtrak's Floridian makes inaugural trip

Amtrak’s first Floridian train between Chicago and Miami departed yesterday from Chicago Union Station.

The departure marked the first time since 1979 that Amtrak riders could board a train in Chicago and travel to Florida destinations without changing trains or switching seats.

Announced in September, the Floridian is a temporary route offering a direct round trip between Chicago and Miami with stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, Florida. The new route combines the Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes, which are not in service due to the upcoming East River Tunnel rehabilitation project happening in New York City.

The new combined route streamlines service while the tunnel is under construction, Amtrak officials said in a press release.