Love the idea and definitely see the benefits. Maybe summa those Superliners could find their way to Amtrak's OTHER bastard red headed stepchild, The Texas Eagle.
@toddinde Certainly for both food AND music, w/CHI, MEM, & NOL all on its route and each city's contributions to both, it oughta be lotta better, too, I agree. TE is my home road and it's dispiriting because of lots of reasons. Although: It DOES have FIVE Presidential Libraries on its route in addition to gliding past Dallas' Dealey Plaza on the triple overpass where JFK was killed.
I just found this video via the home page, and I found this quite informative! I didn't know about this potential _Silver_ _Star/Capitol_ _Limited_ combination. We'll see if it happens. Thanks for the video! I'll subscribe!
See Amtrak's release from Friday. This is all happening due to the Gateway Project beginning on 11/11/24 with East River Tunnel rehab work. The Silver Star is the long-distance train affected. The Capitol Star (Train 40/41) will be in effect for three years during the course of the tunnel work.
This would also mean that in future when Amtrak gets their next gen bi-levels, they could then use those on this route, since clearance wouldn't be an issue.
A few notes I have: Amtrak is notorious for experimenting with things on their reservation and then backtracking on them later, November is still super far out and usually they only finalize schedules about 1-2 months in advance. I use the Silver Star somewhat regularly (at least one round-trip a year) so this would be a bummer not having a one-seat ride between Tampa and NYC. Overall I think it would make sense for them to reschedule the Meteor somehow to connect with the Capitol Limited because the Palmetto serves all destinations between NYP and SAV with a one-seat ride and the Star serves the rest (except Jesup, GA) in Florida. With the Star being truncated to Washington, DC, Tampa, FL, Columbia, SC, and Raleigh, NC would lose a one-seat ride to the Northeast Corridor, though Raleigh still has the Carolinian. Having said this, I think it's a pretty good idea though given the Superliner shortage (thanks CN forcing the Illini, Saluki, and City of New Orleans to eat up 5 8-car superliner sets) and I'll definitely try to ride the Capitol Limited while it still has Superliners. Oh, and switching the Capitol Limited to Amfleet II/Viewliners would mean that they could add/remove through cars from the Pennsylvanian at Pittsburgh if they wanted, creating a one-seat ride from Philly and Harrisburg to Chicago that isn't the Cardinal.
I don't care about the through-route, but I would love to be able to take a Viewliner train between D.C. and Chicago. The current Capitol Limited is a dreary ride on a train without good food, without an observation car, *and without WiFi.* The only thing to do is to sit in the cafe car and chat with other passengers and/or the conductor, and that is only good until 10:00 pm (going westbound), when both the cafe and the cafe car are closed. Then you are forced to go back to your seats and scratch your nuts until you fall asleep. If you are a sleeper car passenger, your rooms will be smaller on the Superliner cars, which hardly makes them worth it for one night. Upgrade the experience, Amtrak!
This is a fantastic idea. I used to ride the Capitol to the Star often. This improves connections, equipment utilization, and provides a through Chicago to Florida train. The downsides are very few. Importantly, it shows creativity by Amtrak’s management. All in all, a fantastic idea.
I love the concept. I take at least one "Amtrak vacation" a year, and this offers a cool new alternative -- BOS to CHI on the Lakeshore, CHI-Miami on the new train, Miami to NYP on the Silver Meteor, and back to BOS on the NE Regional. Sounds like 4 nights and five days on the rails -- the perfect distance. Meanwhile, I loved the shots of Gaithersburg and Point of Rocks in this video. I grew up there, and I've watched many a train pass through. I think, though I may be mistaken, that there were also some shots of Brunswick. Did you know that there's still a turntable in the Brunswick yards? The scenery from DC to Cumberland is breathtaking. It would be cool if the westbound Capitol could depart a few hours earlier, especially during the winter.
You make this sound very practical, but . . . A train as you describe the Floridian traveling for such a long route presents more opportunities for delays, cancellations, and mechanical issues due to Amtrak’s poor maintenance record. In addition, the new schedule you presented indicates even worse service for Savannah. This new 😊Chicago to Florida train could better serve the eastern portion of the United States by running through Indianapolis,Nashville, and Atlanta. meanwhile, super liner or single level cars could and should be added to the capital Limited with full dining service like the kind they should’ve had all along what Amtrak is done to the capital Limited is uglier than what the Nazis did to Poland.
In addition, Amtrak doesn’t seem to use all of the equipment. They have probably because fewer seats fuel rates enable them to further gouge the American public, by charging outrageous fares and providing only overpriced snacks for coach passengers, and even higher prices for plastic encapsulated insulting unsatisfying pseudo food to the first class passengers. I refuse to travel unless I can travel by train. I have been an advocate for Amtrak for the last 50 years. Some of my favorite people work for Amtrak, too, but in all honesty, I must say that year by year I find the dining service😢,even when it was allegedly “improved” as in the Star to be disappointing to say the least.
I was an Amtrak On Board Service (OBS) employee in Washington, DC from the mid-1980s to 1999. I worked the Cap on and off over that time period, both single-level and Superliner as a Lead Service Attendant (LSA), but mostly I worked the corridor in cafe service. First, I don't think this move saves an engine change in DC. There is no good way to fuel engines on the train at Washington, so if they need to go to the house for fuel, they will probably just swap out power. Also, for a couple of years in the late 1980s there was a through coach on the Cap to the Star and vice-versa. I'm not sure how long it lasted, but it did happen. Mostly I think this means that the Washington Crew Base loses it's last long-distance train for OBS attendants, as I would imagine that the OBS crews will either come from Chicago or Florida. That could also mess with the crews for the Star, if the train is crewed out of NY, they've done it both ways over the years, but I've been gone for 25 years now so I don't know what they are doing these days. I do know that NS and CSX are going to have to quit screwing around with getting those trains over the road if the change is going to work.
Thank you for watching! So, you’re completely right about the inability to fuel in DC. Since posting this video, it has come to my attention that they are exploring the option or refueling and completely servicing the train in Richmond to avoid swapping locos. You’re also correct about the OBS crews. And I knew about the through coach too. Amtrak also used to run a few through cars to Chicago from NY that got tacked onto the Capitol at Pittsburgh if I’m remembering correctly.
@@RailWeekly A wrinkle in this story. An Amtrak official high up in planning told me directly today that they had not heard about this change, and that it couldn't happen without Congress approving it. So take it for what it's worth. I do not believe they were deliberately lying to me, I think they were being truthful to the best of their knowledge. It leaves the possibilities that the rumor is wrong, or it is only being discussed in another department, (Government Affairs is where the person who first told me about it got the story). It may not be firm, or it's only a proposal and they just decided to withhold reservations for the present service into November in case it does come to pass. I don't know about cars from NY being added to the Cap at PGH, but I didn't keep track of it for several years in the late '80s/early 's90s. That would not have happened after the train was converted to Superliners in '93.
If Amtrak is going to do this, then follow the route of the old Floridian or the South Wind. Why take the train to DC when you could take a more direct path to Chicago and give cities like Chattanooga and Nashville train service that they currently don’t have.
The Former route of Amtrak Discontinued Floridian isn't all there, some of that is Property owned for residential living, meaning some Tracks are no longer laid down. Plus it was a slow Restricted speed route, it would need much upgrade to finance that old route and can't run straight from Chicago to Florida anymore. The Carter Administration is to blame!!!
@@RailWeekly also the Floridian train ran on poor track conditions from different Railroad trackage rights back then , the ex- PC, L&N ex-Chicago & Eastern Illinois, ex-Monon RR. Those were poor train travel bad then , definitely Not in competition with Air travel or car travel 🧳.
Another possible confirmation is to check out the reservations for NEC trains (Acela or Regional) that would be be slotted into the Silver Star's slot, as Amtrak would not want a former long-haul slot (even if mimicking the old NYC-DC Metroliner service) to go to waste. Also, a new Chicago-Miami route would not only allow transfers to NYC at DC, but would also allow those that want to go to NYC, via Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, to get a Pennsylvanian train in Pittsburgh (subsidized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), of which Amtrak wants to expand that service as well (two trips each direction per day instead of the single trip each direction per day), although hopefully Amtrak, when the new dual-powered SC-42 locomotives and Airo trainsets are acquired, would restore full NYC-Chicago (Broadway Limited) service.
I live along the one of the Silver Star's route and the thing I wonder is would it change the time it passes through CLB as I would like to use it CLB-RVR without having to leave in the middle of the night from CLB like I'd currently have to do...
I do not think it will be a one seat ride between CHI and MIA. I do however see the Star and the Capital using the same consists for both trains to simplify operations. I know Amtrak is low on availability Superliner equipment in the national fleet. Converting the Capital Limited to single level equipment would free up 4-5 sets of superliners. Great video by the way, keep up the great work!
Clearly something is happening, but they could do it like the Lakeshore Limited or Empire builder where the consist splits along the route. Merging the Capitol Limited with the Silver Star in DC would avoid reducing service on the NYC to DC leg. The NYC to DC service would probably get a cafe car but no diner in this case. OTOH, it could be as simple as two unrelated changes: a consist change for the Cap Limited and a schedule/route change for the Star.
Just restore dining car service on all the overnight trains east of the Mississippi for crying out loud and will someone please teach the attendants in the "snack-cars" how to prepare a mixed beverage...
Spending mega-bucks to buy new Viewliner dining cars with expensive kitchens, and then deciding to not use them and offer only crappy food was STUPID policy. It's like someone in Amtrak wanted the eastern LD trains to commit suicide. Death by a thousand cuts. Yes, bring back full dining car service and offer it to ALL passengers. ATL to NO and NO to ATL on the Crescent are a full day trip. We loved the meals in the dining car back then, and as coach passengers were very willing to pay for them from the menu..
In the past there was also a proposal to extended the Amtrak City of New Orleans from New Orleans, Louisiana to Orlando, Florida. But unfortunately it has not happen yet.
I like that idea of the extension route. If Amtrak can rename something from Chicago to Miami, personally I would think the Silver Flordian would be my idea of that route name. Also have you heard anything about the new Amtrak route that they're talking about the one from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama?
I would think they might want to save the Floridian name just in case they ever bring back that route (although it’s unlikely). But I could totally see them calling the train something like that because it will be a Chicago to Florida service. And I don’t really know too much about the Gulf Coast train. But last I heard it seemed like it was going to happen.
@@RailWeekly and that goes the same for the extension of the route to Orlando on the Sunset Limited (since after Hurricane Katrina from 2005) to which New Orleans is as far as it goes from Los Angeles.
@@RailWeekly I wish you'd research and do a video on the proposed Gulf Coast train. I hear so many conflicting rumors. I think some towns have funded some stations maybe.
A couple of commenters have wisely suggested having a New York section. Whatever time the train arrives from Florida, the New York section could be attached to the next Northeast Regional.
I like the Amtrak Sliver Star and Amtrak Capital Limited merger. However, the Florida would only have one Florida to New York City train route being the Amtrak Sliver Meteor. My opinion, Amtrak should also consider extending the Amtrak Palmetto Train Route from Savanah, Georgia back to Florida and serve Ocala, Florida, and then terminate in Tampa, Florida or terminate in Miami, Florida. In addition, you have any updated when the Amtrak trains are going to finally serve the Miami Intermodal Center?
Those are all great ideas. Check out my video on the Silver Palm if you have a chance. I talk about some of that history in there. And no, I was just asking someone about the Miami terminal this month. I would also love to know what’s going on with that.
Now that we have Borealis, where are all these Superliners going? I'd like them on a overnight SF-LA train, probably the only eligible corridor service that makes sense. However, a private company is already planning to operate a "hotel" train on that route. Is Amtrak about to lease them out for refurbishment to this operator?
The thing I love about this idea is more Superliners for the western routes! I’m sure hoping they will make their way to the “Red Headed Stepchild” Texas Eagle!! This shadow of its former self train runs with ONLY 4 cars since Amtrak downgraded it in 2020!! No diner, No sightseer lounge, no transition car, no baggage car!!!
Well what they really should implement is this plus what they use to do on the Pennsylvanian…run a view liner on the Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh, it then hooks onto the capital limited to go to Chicago. But with the Capital limited there’s an extra sleeper/set of couches that will detach and run through to Miami when the train hits dc coming eastbound
Ive been saying that the cap should have had amfleets and viewliners bc of the shortage of Superliners. Just a couple months ago the train was 3 cars long+baggage car
Some of the tracks on that old route no longer exist, and there are other problems, too. As I live south of ATL I'd love it, but it won't happen in our lifetimes if ever, sadly.
At a minimum it's an idea that's isn't CUT CUT CUT services. For that alone it gets my vote. Btw, restore the Crescent's full dining service for all passengers.
I like the idea of bringing single level cars on the Capitol Limited, but i don't like the idea of combining the Capitol Limited & Silver Star. Personally I think Amtrak should combine the Capitol Limited & Pennsylvanian or some New York to Pittsburgh train, like between 1981-1986 Amtrak combine the Broadway Limited & Capitol Limited trains.
Would make more sense to have Amtrak increase the NUMBER of trains per day rather than increase the size of the consist for ONE trip. I'd rather see at least 2 trips each way per train in order to maintain the connectivity factors (or increase them for the connections in Washington, Chicago, Jacksonville, and/or Indianapolis). Let's see how this all pans out because I'm not holding my breath at this moment.
I would rather see the Floridian brought back, going through major southern cities which don't have service now. But as that is unlikely I believe your suggestion would be an excellent way to connect Florida and the mid-west with less capital cost and bureaucratic hassle. One note....I could just see Amtrak instituting a stupid, anti-passenger policy which you mentioned, i.e. making the through passengers get off the train in Washington and then reboarding the same equipment to continue their journey . The would probably be done for the convenience of Amtrak.
I live south of Atlanta and I'd love that, too, but it won't happen. Some of the tracks for that old route no longer exist and there are other problems with it, too. Sad. I give Amtrak kudos for trying something that doesn't involve stupid cutting of passenger-friendly services such as full dining service (after spending mega-bucks on those nice new Viewliner dining cars with full kitchens and then not using them). Some of that is changing, thankfully.
While the equipment may run between Chicago & Miami. The terminal for both trains will still be Washington DC. The Star will be DC to Miami. The Capitol will be between to DC & Chicago. I am sure passengers would love a six hour stop in DC.
The silver Star takes way too many people from the south to New York and vice versa. They would never cancel that train. Now they might do something where the train is split in half like the Lakeshore limited that splits in Albany I believe we're 1/2 goes to Boston and the other half goes to Manhattan.
I have been hearing rumors if the Amtrak Silver Star and Amtrak Capital Limted are merged they no longer serve Tampa, Florida. I currently live in Tampa, Florida. If that is the case Amtrak should definitely finally extended the Amtrak Palmetto from Savanah, Georgia back to Tampa, Florida again. Because, Tampa is or was Florida's third busiest Amtrak train station. Amtrak's Tampa Union Station has had a increase in passengers over the recent years. Amtrak would be very bad decision if they remove all Amtrak train service from Tampa, Florida. Especially since Brightline has not starting serving Tampa, Florida. Brightline trains are estimated to finally started serving Tampa, Florida starting in the year 2028 or later.
Who is this guy? This is a horrible idea - WILL NOT WORK! It is only being done to try and get better equipment utilization. Also you loose the second NY/PHL-Florida departure, one of their biggest long distance markets. The Florida trains do not have good on-time performance due to bad handling by CSX. One trip up in FL or NC and you loose the Capital. It it would not be an improvement.
No it's not, not any more than running the FAA, building airports, maintaining highways and bridges, etc. etc. Amtrak provides needed transportation between many smaller cities. It's a bargain compared to lots of things. Cut out the fraud in so many government programs.
![Amtrak's Capitol Limited - History, Triumph and Tragedy [S3: E05]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rnAGwVY-3fo/mqdefault.jpg)
Love the idea and definitely see the benefits. Maybe summa those Superliners could find their way to Amtrak's OTHER bastard red headed stepchild, The Texas Eagle.
People whine about the Eagle all the time. What about the City of New Orleans? That train should be a showcase.
@toddinde Certainly for both food AND music, w/CHI, MEM, & NOL all on its route and each city's contributions to both, it oughta be lotta better, too, I agree. TE is my home road and it's dispiriting because of lots of reasons. Although: It DOES have FIVE Presidential Libraries on its route in addition to gliding past Dallas' Dealey Plaza on the triple overpass where JFK was killed.
I just found this video via the home page, and I found this quite informative! I didn't know about this potential _Silver_ _Star/Capitol_ _Limited_ combination. We'll see if it happens.
Thanks for the video! I'll subscribe!
Thank you so much! I’m really hoping it happens!
@@RailWeekly, you're welcome!
Finally, a positive service change with benifits.
Love it! How long since Amtrak has really tried hard to make something work and resolve the several issues you outlined? Brava! Bravo!
See Amtrak's release from Friday. This is all happening due to the Gateway Project beginning on 11/11/24 with East River Tunnel rehab work. The Silver Star is the long-distance train affected. The Capitol Star (Train 40/41) will be in effect for three years during the course of the tunnel work.
YES! We need Superliners SO BAD. Especially on the Starlight.
Speaking of the Starlight, they’re now running with 8 superliners behind the baggage, but we need a few more
This would also mean that in future when Amtrak gets their next gen bi-levels, they could then use those on this route, since clearance wouldn't be an issue.
That’s cool! I can’t wait to see what those cars end up looking like.
A few notes I have:
Amtrak is notorious for experimenting with things on their reservation and then backtracking on them later, November is still super far out and usually they only finalize schedules about 1-2 months in advance.
I use the Silver Star somewhat regularly (at least one round-trip a year) so this would be a bummer not having a one-seat ride between Tampa and NYC.
Overall I think it would make sense for them to reschedule the Meteor somehow to connect with the Capitol Limited because the Palmetto serves all destinations between NYP and SAV with a one-seat ride and the Star serves the rest (except Jesup, GA) in Florida. With the Star being truncated to Washington, DC, Tampa, FL, Columbia, SC, and Raleigh, NC would lose a one-seat ride to the Northeast Corridor, though Raleigh still has the Carolinian.
Having said this, I think it's a pretty good idea though given the Superliner shortage (thanks CN forcing the Illini, Saluki, and City of New Orleans to eat up 5 8-car superliner sets) and I'll definitely try to ride the Capitol Limited while it still has Superliners. Oh, and switching the Capitol Limited to Amfleet II/Viewliners would mean that they could add/remove through cars from the Pennsylvanian at Pittsburgh if they wanted, creating a one-seat ride from Philly and Harrisburg to Chicago that isn't the Cardinal.
Great video! The Silver Star stops in my hometown in North Carolina, and having this direct route to Chicago will be a wonderful thing!
Totally. No more stressing about the connection in DC!
Same here. And the Piedmont connects to many other NC cities.
Amtrak also recently reintroduced the dining car on the crescent. Ik that's not a lot but still it's something
I don't care about the through-route, but I would love to be able to take a Viewliner train between D.C. and Chicago. The current Capitol Limited is a dreary ride on a train without good food, without an observation car, *and without WiFi.* The only thing to do is to sit in the cafe car and chat with other passengers and/or the conductor, and that is only good until 10:00 pm (going westbound), when both the cafe and the cafe car are closed. Then you are forced to go back to your seats and scratch your nuts until you fall asleep. If you are a sleeper car passenger, your rooms will be smaller on the Superliner cars, which hardly makes them worth it for one night. Upgrade the experience, Amtrak!
This is a fantastic idea. I used to ride the Capitol to the Star often. This improves connections, equipment utilization, and provides a through Chicago to Florida train. The downsides are very few. Importantly, it shows creativity by Amtrak’s management. All in all, a fantastic idea.
I love the concept. I take at least one "Amtrak vacation" a year, and this offers a cool new alternative -- BOS to CHI on the Lakeshore, CHI-Miami on the new train, Miami to NYP on the Silver Meteor, and back to BOS on the NE Regional. Sounds like 4 nights and five days on the rails -- the perfect distance.
Meanwhile, I loved the shots of Gaithersburg and Point of Rocks in this video. I grew up there, and I've watched many a train pass through. I think, though I may be mistaken, that there were also some shots of Brunswick. Did you know that there's still a turntable in the Brunswick yards?
The scenery from DC to Cumberland is breathtaking. It would be cool if the westbound Capitol could depart a few hours earlier, especially during the winter.
Hope you’re watching this Amtrak.
I agree. Hopefully, Amtrak is watching this.
You make this sound very practical, but . . . A train as you describe the Floridian traveling for such a long route presents more opportunities for delays, cancellations, and mechanical issues due to Amtrak’s poor maintenance record. In addition, the new schedule you presented indicates even worse service for Savannah. This new 😊Chicago to Florida train could better serve the eastern portion of the United States by running through Indianapolis,Nashville, and Atlanta. meanwhile, super liner or single level cars could and should be added to the capital Limited with full dining service like the kind they should’ve had all along what Amtrak is done to the capital Limited is uglier than what the Nazis did to Poland.
In addition, Amtrak doesn’t seem to use all of the equipment. They have probably because fewer seats fuel rates enable them to further gouge the American public, by charging outrageous fares and providing only overpriced snacks for coach passengers, and even higher prices for plastic encapsulated insulting unsatisfying pseudo food to the first class passengers. I refuse to travel unless I can travel by train. I have been an advocate for Amtrak for the last 50 years. Some of my favorite people work for Amtrak, too, but in all honesty, I must say that year by year I find the dining service😢,even when it was allegedly “improved” as in the Star to be disappointing to say the least.
Please forgive some of the awkward sentences. Unfortunately, this iPhone he hears, but does not listen.
No harm done, but seriously I really hope someone important in Amtrak is watching this.
Love the sound of this!
I would love this, So I, for one, am hoping that these changes happen
Makes to much sense. Which means it won’t happen. 😊
I was an Amtrak On Board Service (OBS) employee in Washington, DC from the mid-1980s to 1999. I worked the Cap on and off over that time period, both single-level and Superliner as a Lead Service Attendant (LSA), but mostly I worked the corridor in cafe service. First, I don't think this move saves an engine change in DC. There is no good way to fuel engines on the train at Washington, so if they need to go to the house for fuel, they will probably just swap out power. Also, for a couple of years in the late 1980s there was a through coach on the Cap to the Star and vice-versa. I'm not sure how long it lasted, but it did happen. Mostly I think this means that the Washington Crew Base loses it's last long-distance train for OBS attendants, as I would imagine that the OBS crews will either come from Chicago or Florida. That could also mess with the crews for the Star, if the train is crewed out of NY, they've done it both ways over the years, but I've been gone for 25 years now so I don't know what they are doing these days. I do know that NS and CSX are going to have to quit screwing around with getting those trains over the road if the change is going to work.
Thank you for watching! So, you’re completely right about the inability to fuel in DC. Since posting this video, it has come to my attention that they are exploring the option or refueling and completely servicing the train in Richmond to avoid swapping locos. You’re also correct about the OBS crews. And I knew about the through coach too. Amtrak also used to run a few through cars to Chicago from NY that got tacked onto the Capitol at Pittsburgh if I’m remembering correctly.
@@RailWeekly A wrinkle in this story. An Amtrak official high up in planning told me directly today that they had not heard about this change, and that it couldn't happen without Congress approving it. So take it for what it's worth. I do not believe they were deliberately lying to me, I think they were being truthful to the best of their knowledge. It leaves the possibilities that the rumor is wrong, or it is only being discussed in another department, (Government Affairs is where the person who first told me about it got the story). It may not be firm, or it's only a proposal and they just decided to withhold reservations for the present service into November in case it does come to pass. I don't know about cars from NY being added to the Cap at PGH, but I didn't keep track of it for several years in the late '80s/early 's90s. That would not have happened after the train was converted to Superliners in '93.
If Amtrak is going to do this, then follow the route of the old Floridian or the South Wind. Why take the train to DC when you could take a more direct path to Chicago and give cities like Chattanooga and Nashville train service that they currently don’t have.
The Former route of Amtrak Discontinued Floridian isn't all there, some of that is Property owned for residential living, meaning some Tracks are no longer laid down. Plus it was a slow Restricted speed route, it would need much upgrade to finance that old route and can't run straight from Chicago to Florida anymore. The Carter Administration is to blame!!!
Thanks for this info. I was unaware of what became of that route.
@@RailWeekly also the Floridian train ran on poor track conditions from different Railroad trackage rights back then , the ex- PC, L&N ex-Chicago & Eastern Illinois, ex-Monon RR. Those were poor train travel bad then , definitely Not in competition with Air travel or car travel 🧳.
How about using the names like Floridian or southern wind farm better than what only be assumed are tongue in cheek names that keep being presented
The old Floridian is being revived
No, not really. But it would be a one-ticket ride. The old Floridian route is no longer feasible.
Another amazing video ❤
Thank you so much 😀
Another possible confirmation is to check out the reservations for NEC trains (Acela or Regional) that would be be slotted into the Silver Star's slot, as Amtrak would not want a former long-haul slot (even if mimicking the old NYC-DC Metroliner service) to go to waste.
Also, a new Chicago-Miami route would not only allow transfers to NYC at DC, but would also allow those that want to go to NYC, via Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, to get a Pennsylvanian train in Pittsburgh (subsidized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), of which Amtrak wants to expand that service as well (two trips each direction per day instead of the single trip each direction per day), although hopefully Amtrak, when the new dual-powered SC-42 locomotives and Airo trainsets are acquired, would restore full NYC-Chicago (Broadway Limited) service.
I live along the one of the Silver Star's route and the thing I wonder is would it change the time it passes through CLB as I would like to use it CLB-RVR without having to leave in the middle of the night from CLB like I'd currently have to do...
I do not think it will be a one seat ride between CHI and MIA. I do however see the Star and the Capital using the same consists for both trains to simplify operations. I know Amtrak is low on availability Superliner equipment in the national fleet. Converting the Capital Limited to single level equipment would free up 4-5 sets of superliners. Great video by the way, keep up the great work!
Clearly something is happening, but they could do it like the Lakeshore Limited or Empire builder where the consist splits along the route. Merging the Capitol Limited with the Silver Star in DC would avoid reducing service on the NYC to DC leg. The NYC to DC service would probably get a cafe car but no diner in this case.
OTOH, it could be as simple as two unrelated changes: a consist change for the Cap Limited and a schedule/route change for the Star.
Just restore dining car service on all the overnight trains east of the Mississippi for crying out loud and will someone please teach the attendants in the "snack-cars" how to prepare a mixed beverage...
Spending mega-bucks to buy new Viewliner dining cars with expensive kitchens, and then deciding to not use them and offer only crappy food was STUPID policy. It's like someone in Amtrak wanted the eastern LD trains to commit suicide. Death by a thousand cuts. Yes, bring back full dining car service and offer it to ALL passengers.
ATL to NO and NO to ATL on the Crescent are a full day trip. We loved the meals in the dining car back then, and as coach passengers were very willing to pay for them from the menu..
In the past there was also a proposal to extended the Amtrak City of New Orleans from New Orleans, Louisiana to Orlando, Florida. But unfortunately it has not happen yet.
That’s a genius idea! Hopefully this is the first of many new positive changes.
I like that idea of the extension route. If Amtrak can rename something from Chicago to Miami, personally I would think the Silver Flordian would be my idea of that route name. Also have you heard anything about the new Amtrak route that they're talking about the one from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama?
I would think they might want to save the Floridian name just in case they ever bring back that route (although it’s unlikely). But I could totally see them calling the train something like that because it will be a Chicago to Florida service. And I don’t really know too much about the Gulf Coast train. But last I heard it seemed like it was going to happen.
@@RailWeekly and that goes the same for the extension of the route to Orlando on the Sunset Limited (since after Hurricane Katrina from 2005) to which New Orleans is as far as it goes from Los Angeles.
@@RailWeekly I wish you'd research and do a video on the proposed Gulf Coast train. I hear so many conflicting rumors. I think some towns have funded some stations maybe.
It's happening!
A couple of commenters have wisely suggested having a New York section. Whatever time the train arrives from Florida, the New York section could be attached to the next Northeast Regional.
I like the Amtrak Sliver Star and Amtrak Capital Limited merger. However, the Florida would only have one Florida to New York City train route being the Amtrak Sliver Meteor. My opinion, Amtrak should also consider extending the Amtrak Palmetto Train Route from Savanah, Georgia back to Florida and serve Ocala, Florida, and then terminate in Tampa, Florida or terminate in Miami, Florida. In addition, you have any updated when the Amtrak trains are going to finally serve the Miami Intermodal Center?
Those are all great ideas. Check out my video on the Silver Palm if you have a chance. I talk about some of that history in there. And no, I was just asking someone about the Miami terminal this month. I would also love to know what’s going on with that.
@@RailWeeklyOh, ok.
Love it!
It’ll be very interesting, if implemented
Now that we have Borealis, where are all these Superliners going? I'd like them on a overnight SF-LA train, probably the only eligible corridor service that makes sense. However, a private company is already planning to operate a "hotel" train on that route. Is Amtrak about to lease them out for refurbishment to this operator?
AMTRAK! MAKE THIS TRAIN A REALITY AND MY LIFE IS YOURS
The thing I love about this idea is more Superliners for the western routes! I’m sure hoping they will make their way to the “Red Headed Stepchild” Texas Eagle!! This shadow of its former self train runs with ONLY 4 cars since Amtrak downgraded it in 2020!! No diner, No sightseer lounge, no transition car, no baggage car!!!
Well what they really should implement is this plus what they use to do on the Pennsylvanian…run a view liner on the Pennsylvanian to Pittsburgh, it then hooks onto the capital limited to go to Chicago.
But with the Capital limited there’s an extra sleeper/set of couches that will detach and run through to Miami when the train hits dc coming eastbound
That would be awesome! Or they could really go all out and bring back the Broadway Limited too! One can dream.
Ive been saying that the cap should have had amfleets and viewliners bc of the shortage of Superliners. Just a couple months ago the train was 3 cars long+baggage car
Chicago to Miami!
What is the possability of connecting Chicago to Miami via Indianapolis, Nashville, and Atlanta?
They would have to bring back The Floridian. I have not heard any talk of this personally. But who knows?
There's an FRA study that considers these cities but that seems decades away.
Some of the tracks on that old route no longer exist, and there are other problems, too. As I live south of ATL I'd love it, but it won't happen in our lifetimes if ever, sadly.
At a minimum it's an idea that's isn't CUT CUT CUT services. For that alone it gets my vote.
Btw, restore the Crescent's full dining service for all passengers.
Capitol Limited prices are ridiculous compared to full western routes. Unless it reduces the cost, I don’t intend to ride.
I like the idea of bringing single level cars on the Capitol Limited, but i don't like the idea of combining the Capitol Limited & Silver Star. Personally I think Amtrak should combine the Capitol Limited & Pennsylvanian or some New York to Pittsburgh train, like between 1981-1986 Amtrak combine the Broadway Limited & Capitol Limited trains.
Would make more sense to have Amtrak increase the NUMBER of trains per day rather than increase the size of the consist for ONE trip. I'd rather see at least 2 trips each way per train in order to maintain the connectivity factors (or increase them for the connections in Washington, Chicago, Jacksonville, and/or Indianapolis). Let's see how this all pans out because I'm not holding my breath at this moment.
Yes, but that's a lot harder to do.
I would rather see the Floridian brought back, going through major southern cities which don't have service now. But as that is unlikely I believe your suggestion would be an excellent way to connect Florida and the mid-west with less capital cost and bureaucratic hassle. One note....I could just see Amtrak instituting a stupid, anti-passenger policy which you mentioned, i.e. making the through passengers get off the train in Washington and then reboarding the same equipment to continue their journey . The would probably be done for the convenience of Amtrak.
I live south of Atlanta and I'd love that, too, but it won't happen. Some of the tracks for that old route no longer exist and there are other problems with it, too. Sad.
I give Amtrak kudos for trying something that doesn't involve stupid cutting of passenger-friendly services such as full dining service (after spending mega-bucks on those nice new Viewliner dining cars with full kitchens and then not using them). Some of that is changing, thankfully.
silver capitol
While the equipment may run between Chicago & Miami. The terminal for both trains will still be Washington DC. The Star will be DC to Miami. The Capitol will be between to DC & Chicago. I am sure passengers would love a six hour stop in DC.
I feel like first we need to send some viewliners to be refurbished.
That’s supposed to be in the works. I have no idea if there has been any progress on this though.
The silver Star takes way too many people from the south to New York and vice versa. They would never cancel that train. Now they might do something where the train is split in half like the Lakeshore limited that splits in Albany I believe we're 1/2 goes to Boston and the other half goes to Manhattan.
But there are already many regional trains that run from DC to NYC. Star passengers could connect to any of those.
I have been hearing rumors if the Amtrak Silver Star and Amtrak Capital Limted are merged they no longer serve Tampa, Florida. I currently live in Tampa, Florida. If that is the case Amtrak should definitely finally extended the Amtrak Palmetto from Savanah, Georgia back to Tampa, Florida again. Because, Tampa is or was Florida's third busiest Amtrak train station. Amtrak's Tampa Union Station has had a increase in passengers over the recent years. Amtrak would be very bad decision if they remove all Amtrak train service from Tampa, Florida. Especially since Brightline has not starting serving Tampa, Florida. Brightline trains are estimated to finally started serving Tampa, Florida starting in the year 2028 or later.
Amtrak’s Palmetto used to serve Tampa. I did another video about Amtrak’s Silver Palm that covers that if you have the desire to check that out.
I doubt they would cut Tampa, but I'm just making a guess.
I would like to see it electrified
Sexy railfans are sexy. 🐻 Keep up the great work! 👍
Thank you very much!
I am underwhelmed. Though I am impressed with the FRA proposal for new Amtrak routes. I would like to see the private carriers get involved.
Who is this guy? This is a horrible idea - WILL NOT WORK! It is only being done to try and get better equipment utilization. Also you loose the second NY/PHL-Florida departure, one of their biggest long distance markets. The Florida trains do not have good on-time performance due to bad handling by CSX. One trip up in FL or NC and you loose the Capital. It it would not be an improvement.
Hey! It wasn’t my idea! Haha
What a waste of taxpayer dollars
Really this is a waste. How do you feel about homeless in hotels, EV s at taxpayers expense aw what's the use.
🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦
No it's not, not any more than running the FAA, building airports, maintaining highways and bridges, etc. etc. Amtrak provides needed transportation between many smaller cities. It's a bargain compared to lots of things.
Cut out the fraud in so many government programs.