As a person of young age, you have the stamina to endure such a long trip in a passenger coach. Personally, I would need some kind a sleeper arrangement.
Nice review. On Nov 26, I left Miami on the Floridian bound for Chicago on coach and it actually arrived at Chicago Union Station 15 minutes ahead of schedule. As my train arrived at its final destination on the morning of Thanksgiving, it was sold out with holiday travelers. Yet, the Amtrak crew rose to the occasion and did a great job keeping things moving. The coach seats were very comfortable even for the 46-hour trip. I understand that because it’s a new route, they been having some equipment glitches which hopefully will be sorted out. Overall, a great trip, especially if you like train travel.
Great video. It was nice seeing you mention Palatka because that is my home station. I have made the trip between NYC and Florida several times in coach - always enjoyed the trip. I do bring my own snacks instead of the overpriced options on the train. As far as sleeping in coach, I do not have a problem with it, and I am a senior citizen. Yes, since Tampa is a termination point for the tracks, the train must turn around and leave the way it came so it uses the wye and backs into the station.
That could be my next Amtrak trip, The Floridian... Thanks for sharing your experience, I took a lot of Amtrak long distance destinations, but I haven't seen the experience of no one on the Floridian. Yes at the dinner car food is excellent, but at the cafe it is always not that good. THANKS!
"Newest Train" is really their "newest repackaging". Because of the work starting on the East River railroad tunnels in New York, Amtrak needed limit the number of trains using them. Their "solution" was to reroute the Miami-to-Chicago "Silver Star" to and from Chicago (instead of going to and from NYC) at Washington D.C. It also replaces the Capitol Limited, which ran between Washington D.C. and Chicago. To create excitement (rather than just calling it a "rerouting") the Silver Star and Capitol Limited names were "mothballed" and the now-rerouted train was labeled "The Floridian". As a result, Amtrak now only has one train that runs intact the whole distance between NYC and Miami (the Silver Meteor). The upside: Chicago travelers can take one train all the way to Miami without changing trains in Washington and they now have access to the full traditional dining menu (they didn't on the Capitol Limited). The downside: It's a very long and circuitous trip and there is not as much sleeping car capacity between Chicago and Washington as there was on the Capitol Limited portion of the route (the Silver Star portion remains the same). Also, riders who would have normally taken the now-rebranded Silver Star to NYC have to detrain and catch other trains between Washington and NYC.
Yeah I did an overnight train in coach from Atlanta to Charlotte. Granted it was only about 5 hours but I could not sleep at all. Also that other train to Florida is 5 hours less because it does not deviate to Tampa.
@SoloTravelSolTube yeah I took that train from Kissimmee to Fort Lauderdale. Took 6 or 7 hours because of the deviation. I think it would have taken around 4 or 5 going straight through.
Thanks for the video and showing coach vs. sleeping car service. When I was younger I traveled on several overnight trains in coach. It is nice if you are traveling single and can get a seat by yourself. However if the train is crowed it is not as comfortable. With today’s much higher sleeping car fares trying coach can be ok. I do feel the cost they quoted for dinner was a little high especially if you did not order the steak dinner. In the past they charged different prices depending on what you ordered. I guess they just wanted simpler pricing but I do believe that that was why the dinning car was so empty. The sleeping cars must have been fairly empty since meals are included in your sleeping car fare. I also noticed how you said they were out of so many things in the snack bar lounge car. That is a problem they seem to have on all their trains even in the northeast. They need to find some place to replenish some of their more popular items enroute especially on their long distance trains.
Awesome video as always. The like quirks you had were all pretty much a part of the possible experience. I’m slightly saddened by the dining car service and I have been through that as well, with the exception of the steak not being cooked correctly. In someone else’s video where they went in coach from Miami to Chicago in coach, they too mentioned a large number of people getting off in Tampa, so it appears to be fairly popular for people to take this service there and sadly this is the only train that serves directly. I have little desire to take coach overnight due to back issues and the little annoyances (some of which you experienced) and for your destination it would have been better to have taken the Silver Meteor and have saved some time.
If I was traveling coach, I would make sure I carried all my own snacks. so much cheaper and less hassle than standing in line at the cafes. Plus I could pack better snacks than what they offer.
Since it's usually cool at night on Amtrak a knit cap turned down over your eyes will work, or a sleep mask like he mentioned. There may be an annoying bright light if you are near the end of the car.
when is amtrak going o require headphones or earbuds for all music or audio? interesting video. your trip was a little different and had way less pasengers than the first few days as well as the inaugaral Floridian journey.
I was surprised too because this was the very first weekend train following the inaugural few days prior to it! As far as headphones go, they are already required, but some people just don't🥲
Great video ! I feel that traveling by train is less expensive than air. If you get a roomette one can get your meals included. For me that depends on the price comparisons of coach vs. a room with food included. The train wins cost wise if the extra time doesn't matter
“Thank you for travelling with Transport for Wales” - except they actually held the 1650 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly for a few minutes, maybe because the 1659 Cardiff Central to Taunton was stated as cancelled (it in fact wasn’t, it left at 1705).
You can bring food and also buy cheaper (but fairly mediocre) individual food items in the cafe car. Usually the dining car would be full of people who bought a room and get meals included. But $55 is indeed too much.
I can’t figure out why the Café Car payment system involves the attendant entering each purchased item on an iPad using a selection tree system (look at the item to be purchased, go through a menu until the class of item is found, then tap through that until the correct item is found) instead of just using a scanning wand for each item, like just about every other retail outlet in the country does. I’ve sometimes been behind a party ordering six or seven items, and checkout seems to take forever. Other than that, I’m a huge Amtrak fan for the most part.
Also, here is the issue with that. Not everyone is going long distance, or overnight. Some people might only need to be on the train for a few hours. For example, you only take it from Miami to Tampa. They would loose money because those people would drive instead because what is the point of spending hundreds of dollars on that.
I did the Meteor from Trenton,NJ to Ft.Lauderdale and the Star, now Floridian, back. IN coach both ways... the smell is the bathrooms, st home, if you have public sewage, you have never smelled this, if you have a septuc tank, you've experienced this. It is what it is on a train or plane. I did the metoer again in 2021, Phila to Ft.Lauderdale, in a roomette. MUCH Better. Private, quiet... You are allowed to ask your car attendant to ask other passengers to turn down thier noise or wear earphones.
In the 1930s the Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini did ONE positive thing. He got the trains to run on time! Well let's see if The Dictator on Day One can get Amtrak trains running on time.
As a person of young age, you have the stamina to endure such a long trip in a passenger coach. Personally, I would need some kind a sleeper arrangement.
Nice review. On Nov 26, I left Miami on the Floridian bound for Chicago on coach and it actually arrived at Chicago Union Station 15 minutes ahead of schedule. As my train arrived at its final destination on the morning of Thanksgiving, it was sold out with holiday travelers. Yet, the Amtrak crew rose to the occasion and did a great job keeping things moving. The coach seats were very comfortable even for the 46-hour trip. I understand that because it’s a new route, they been having some equipment glitches which hopefully will be sorted out. Overall, a great trip, especially if you like train travel.
Great video. It was nice seeing you mention Palatka because that is my home station. I have made the trip between NYC and Florida several times in coach - always enjoyed the trip. I do bring my own snacks instead of the overpriced options on the train. As far as sleeping in coach, I do not have a problem with it, and I am a senior citizen.
Yes, since Tampa is a termination point for the tracks, the train must turn around and leave the way it came so it uses the wye and backs into the station.
That could be my next Amtrak trip, The Floridian... Thanks for sharing your experience, I took a lot of Amtrak long distance destinations, but I haven't seen the experience of no one on the Floridian. Yes at the dinner car food is excellent, but at the cafe it is always not that good. THANKS!
"Newest Train" is really their "newest repackaging". Because of the work starting on the East River railroad tunnels in New York, Amtrak needed limit the number of trains using them. Their "solution" was to reroute the Miami-to-Chicago "Silver Star" to and from Chicago (instead of going to and from NYC) at Washington D.C. It also replaces the Capitol Limited, which ran between Washington D.C. and Chicago. To create excitement (rather than just calling it a "rerouting") the Silver Star and Capitol Limited names were "mothballed" and the now-rerouted train was labeled "The Floridian". As a result, Amtrak now only has one train that runs intact the whole distance between NYC and Miami (the Silver Meteor). The upside: Chicago travelers can take one train all the way to Miami without changing trains in Washington and they now have access to the full traditional dining menu (they didn't on the Capitol Limited). The downside: It's a very long and circuitous trip and there is not as much sleeping car capacity between Chicago and Washington as there was on the Capitol Limited portion of the route (the Silver Star portion remains the same). Also, riders who would have normally taken the now-rebranded Silver Star to NYC have to detrain and catch other trains between Washington and NYC.
Great video! The Floridian is the best train! I want to take a ride on it sometime! It’s the blast
Liked how clean it all was.
Hey man, nice video! We were actually on the same train!!!
Oh, the exact same train! That's so cool! I see your steak was cooked very good haha 😂
Good review. Thanks for the info.
Yeah I did an overnight train in coach from Atlanta to Charlotte. Granted it was only about 5 hours but I could not sleep at all. Also that other train to Florida is 5 hours less because it does not deviate to Tampa.
Yea, I could see myself taking this train again to Orlando or Tampa, but I don't think to Miami because of that in-and-out deviation to Tampa.
@SoloTravelSolTube yeah I took that train from Kissimmee to Fort Lauderdale. Took 6 or 7 hours because of the deviation. I think it would have taken around 4 or 5 going straight through.
Thanks for the video and showing coach vs. sleeping car service. When I was younger I traveled on several overnight trains in coach. It is nice if you are traveling single and can get a seat by yourself. However if the train is crowed it is not as comfortable. With today’s much higher sleeping car fares trying coach can be ok. I do feel the cost they quoted for dinner was a little high especially if you did not order the steak dinner. In the past they charged different prices depending on what you ordered. I guess they just wanted simpler pricing but I do believe that that was why the dinning car was so empty. The sleeping cars must have been fairly empty since meals are included in your sleeping car fare.
I also noticed how you said they were out of so many things in the snack bar lounge car. That is a problem they seem to have on all their trains even in the northeast. They need to find some place to replenish some of their more popular items enroute especially on their long distance trains.
5 hours i could do coach
Awesome video as always. The like quirks you had were all pretty much a part of the possible experience. I’m slightly saddened by the dining car service and I have been through that as well, with the exception of the steak not being cooked correctly. In someone else’s video where they went in coach from Miami to Chicago in coach, they too mentioned a large number of people getting off in Tampa, so it appears to be fairly popular for people to take this service there and sadly this is the only train that serves directly. I have little desire to take coach overnight due to back issues and the little annoyances (some of which you experienced) and for your destination it would have been better to have taken the Silver Meteor and have saved some time.
My family of 3 will be taking this in Spring of 2025 to Florida. Glad to know that seats are somewhat assigned.
Good review. I'll be riding the Floridian in March 2025.
If I was traveling coach, I would make sure I carried all my own snacks. so much cheaper and less hassle than standing in line at the cafes. Plus I could pack better snacks than what they offer.
Since it's usually cool at night on Amtrak a knit cap turned down over your eyes will work, or a sleep mask like he mentioned. There may be an annoying bright light if you are near the end of the car.
Love to see that people still tip well.
Strange that there were so few passengers. Good to know.
I love Amtrak awesome people.. Amtrak is awesome
the old Floridian went straight from Chicago to Florida, not via the East Coast.
when is amtrak going o require headphones or earbuds for all music or audio? interesting video. your trip was a little different and had way less pasengers than the first few days as well as the inaugaral Floridian journey.
I was surprised too because this was the very first weekend train following the inaugural few days prior to it!
As far as headphones go, they are already required, but some people just don't🥲
Muy buen video Excelente estimado amigo 😊
Great video ! I feel that traveling by train is less expensive than air. If you get a roomette one can get your meals included. For me that depends on the price comparisons of coach vs. a room with food included. The train wins cost wise if the extra time doesn't matter
“Thank you for travelling with Transport for Wales” - except they actually held the 1650 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly for a few minutes, maybe because the 1659 Cardiff Central to Taunton was stated as cancelled (it in fact wasn’t, it left at 1705).
Excellent 💯
I would definitely need a roomette. 55 dollars for dinner is quite costly.
You can bring food and also buy cheaper (but fairly mediocre) individual food items in the cafe car. Usually the dining car would be full of people who bought a room and get meals included. But $55 is indeed too much.
The food price is included in sleeper prices. That's why sleeper room prices seem so outrageous
wow I'm happy to see you grow
We got this 👍👍
I can’t figure out why the Café Car payment system involves the attendant entering each purchased item on an iPad using a selection tree system (look at the item to be purchased, go through a menu until the class of item is found, then tap through that until the correct item is found) instead of just using a scanning wand for each item, like just about every other retail outlet in the country does. I’ve sometimes been behind a party ordering six or seven items, and checkout seems to take forever. Other than that, I’m a huge Amtrak fan for the most part.
I would love an semi empty train for coach but i always do rooms when long distance
amtrak needs more FUNDING...no more coach, instead all private sleeper cars
Why?
Also, here is the issue with that. Not everyone is going long distance, or overnight. Some people might only need to be on the train for a few hours. For example, you only take it from Miami to Tampa. They would loose money because those people would drive instead because what is the point of spending hundreds of dollars on that.
I did the Meteor from Trenton,NJ to Ft.Lauderdale and the Star, now Floridian, back. IN coach both ways... the smell is the bathrooms, st home, if you have public sewage, you have never smelled this, if you have a septuc tank, you've experienced this. It is what it is on a train or plane.
I did the metoer again in 2021, Phila to Ft.Lauderdale, in a roomette. MUCH Better. Private, quiet...
You are allowed to ask your car attendant to ask other passengers to turn down thier noise or wear earphones.
You are very generous with tips lol...
All of my previous sleeper trains had dinners included so I kind of developed the habit of tipping a little extra from there haha
Don’t know how you can coach my body can’t handle that. Give me a sleeper bed yet put me on a plane.
I could not do that long in coach would just play with dates for cheap rooms but for time being they alot because route is new and also holiday time
Asian guy picks up salad bowl an eats Asian style 8:55. I'm not Asian, but sometimes on a plane or train that's the safest move.
5:35 WTF LOL
What was it supposed to be?
You're hilarious
In the 1930s the Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini did ONE positive thing. He got the trains to run on time!
Well let's see if The Dictator on Day One can get Amtrak trains running on time.
Unnecessary crude comment. Be polite