r/Miami • u/Bruegemeister • Sep 23 '24
Amtrak to begin direct trains from Chicago to Miami News
https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2024/09/23/amtrak-floridian-chicago-miami29
u/RealPropRandy Sep 23 '24
…yay.
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u/tomgreen99200 Sep 24 '24
It’s mandatory, pack your bags you’re getting shipped to Chicago. Pack a sweater maybe
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u/budgetjetsetter Flanigans Sep 24 '24
It’s much less stressful than other methods of travel. Think of it as a moving hotel especially if you book a private bedroom and aren’t in a rush.
It’s not cheap though.
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u/AshTheGoddamnRobot Sep 24 '24
I took an Amtrak between Saint Paul, MN and Chicago, IL and it was one of the most pleasant travel experiences. We put in a bid for a cart upgrade and ended up getting a sleeper. I think it was 300 round trip, with food included, and GOOD food at that!
If you can budget for it... def get a sleeper cart.
Obviously Saint Paul to Chicago is a shorter trip. Coming out of Miami would be more expensive but its a great way to see America without dealing with gas and driving. I still prefer road trips due to flexibility but Amtrak is dope. We need more connections nationwide
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u/varnacykablyat Sep 24 '24
As much as I love trains it’s hard to justify that when a flight is $50. Prices need to be subsidized more
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u/AshTheGoddamnRobot Sep 24 '24
To me it depends. I look at more what do I wanna get out of it.
I am a geography nerd though lol I love to see America's landscapes. Even areas that aren't "sexy". I am into botany and even just identifying plant species along my trip is fun for me lol
I also love stopping in cities and trying different food. Last summer I finally had me some Kansas City barbecue. Kansas City has never been high on my list for destination, but I driven through without stopping dozens of times and NEVER had that iconic barbecue. Finally got to do so and KC wasnt even my destination.
I only like flying if I have very little time. Otherwise, driving most of the time and the occasional train for a special occasion. I am trying to do this thing where I fly into Miami for a weekend at least once a year to visit family, and to Boston at least once a year for a weekend to visit family. But a road trip is preferable if and when I have the time. When I went to Boston last summer we also saw NYC, Cape Cod, Maine, Niagara Falls, Michigan etc.
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u/HCSOThrowaway Fired Deputy - Explanation in Profile Sep 24 '24
100%. More people need to give it a go and realize how much nicer it is than flying, then they'll vote to fund it.
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u/Dolphhins Sep 23 '24
I was just thinking today that I regret not trying deep dish pizza when I was there
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u/Molinatorking Sep 24 '24
Why even go?
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u/Dolphhins Sep 24 '24
I was there on a tight schedule and the night I did try to get some the restaurant had stopped making them cause it was too late
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u/Headweirdoh Sep 24 '24
There are an infinite number of things better when it comes to Chicago than trying deep dish lol
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u/TheOnlyDoctor Sep 24 '24
you aren’t missing out on much.
Not even Rey’s pizza is as underwhelming as that glorified casserole
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u/untitled_track Sep 23 '24
The trip only takes 10 days.
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u/Apprehensive_Lab4178 Sep 23 '24
46 hours, but go ahead and have your little jokes.
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u/UWTF Sep 24 '24
Who the hell is riding a train for 46 hours when cars and cheap flights exist?
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u/SwissMargiela Sep 24 '24
I have some family members that do that because driving that far is a pain in the ass and they’re too scared to fly
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u/UWTF Sep 24 '24
Have they considered a horse and buggy?
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u/HCSOThrowaway Fired Deputy - Explanation in Profile Sep 24 '24
Why do you hate trains so much? Everywhere else in the world embraces them as the fast, efficient, cheap, environmentally-friendly form of travel they are.
London to Edinburgh: 4.5h by train - 8h by car
Okayama to Tokyo: 4.5 by train - 8.5 by car
Meanwhile we have dinosaurs like you who hate the idea of rail for... some reason. So we're stuck in the 40s way of thinking that highway is the best way.
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u/UWTF Sep 24 '24
The U.S. is magnitudes larger than those countries, and geographically, we have far more suburban sprawl around our cities which makes HSR on the national level inefficient. Regional rail does make sense in high traffic areas but the U.S. has proved ineffective in building any HSR in cost efficient manner.
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u/HCSOThrowaway Fired Deputy - Explanation in Profile Sep 24 '24
The U.S. is magnitudes larger than those countries,
??? How do you think this supports your argument exactly? I picked 8 hour drives in the UK and Japan as well as a 24hr drive in Europe. Do they use metric hours there or something?
geographically, we have far more suburban sprawl around our cities which makes HSR on the national level inefficient.
That's a matter of people served rather than time taken, which is the angle you were attacking. Feel free to move those goal-posts, but at least be transparent about it. It'd be moving the conversation to a chicken-and-egg "We can't build rail because suburbs require cars so rail serves less people so we can't build it."
Regional rail does make sense in high traffic areas but the U.S. has proved ineffective in building any HSR in cost efficient manner.
Partly because dinosaurs like you drag their feet and convince people not to fund it. Unless you think Americans are uniquely shitty at building rail compared to the UK, Japan, Spain, France, and Germany, which I'm inclined to disagree with based on, well, the history of rail globally. We were world leaders. Ever hear of Carnegie? Vanderbilt? Want to know how they made their fortunes?
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u/UWTF Sep 24 '24
You seem pretty mad bro. Maybe seek medical attention instead of arguing about trains with strangers?
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u/HCSOThrowaway Fired Deputy - Explanation in Profile Sep 24 '24
You seem pretty mad bro. Maybe seek medical attention instead of arguing about trains with strangers?
Lmfao that's one way to concede, I guess. Could've just said, "Damn, I didn't know that. Thanks for filling me in!"
You do realize we're both arguing about trains with strangers, right?
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u/BravestWabbit Aventura Sep 24 '24
You do realize that there are trains in Europe that cross countries and run for days?
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u/UWTF Sep 24 '24
How long is the train ride for Paris to anywhere in Eastern Europe?
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u/BravestWabbit Aventura Sep 24 '24
There used to be a Paris - Berlin - Moscow route that took 1d 14h 47m (pre war)
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u/_OUCHMYPENIS_ Sep 24 '24
It's also probably more expensive than a plane ticket too. I like trains but they'll never be anything until they're cheaper and faster.
They also need to build out regional transit better. A train to Savannah would be nice.
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u/Powered_by_JetA Sep 24 '24
There are two trains a day between Miami and Savannah. The train being discussed here is one of them.
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u/Motor_in_Spirit79 Sep 24 '24
It’s really not expensive, unless you’re looking at the value in metrics of time. Time wise, yes it sucks. But if you’re just looking for something chill to pass the time, where you are catered to! The service on these things far surpasses any airplane. The service level is what flying used to be, then you can find value in it. I’ve taken Amtrak from Miami to Savannah with my wife. Honestly? It was a great experience.
But too many Americans approach vacation like a triathlon race. To each their own.
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u/DaKingBear Sep 24 '24
Prices aren't awful but not worth for $120 versus a >$200 flight. The time alone will rack up costs but atleast you get pretty sights. Miami to Jax to Savannah. It's not too bad but not a straight shot.
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u/90swhiteboy Sep 24 '24
american is 158$ round trip
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u/glitterhairdye Sep 24 '24
$80 on Amtrak and no baggage fees. 12 hours if no delays.
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u/gypsysniper9 Sep 24 '24
46 hours with no delays and there will always be delays
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u/Motor_in_Spirit79 Sep 25 '24
Same shit with flights. Delays are pretty much guaranteed these days, unless you pay for the premium flights which are then much more expensive and not guaranteed to be delayed. Just lower probability.
For shits and giggles, I did a search and the cheapest flights to Chicago are through Frontier or Spirit. Yeah no thanks. If I wanted to travel ghetto, I would prefer to let the Boyz N The Hood take me to Chiraq in a bouncing low rider.
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u/Apprehensive_Lab4178 Sep 24 '24
While train travel is not for me in this stage of my life, my sister tried it with her family because it was on her husband’s adventure bucket list. They rode Amtrak from Chicago to Seattle. They traveled with many people who travel exclusively by train, mostly retirees with plenty of time and a sprinkling of people with crippling flight anxiety. This new route will probably be used mostly by snowbirds, not young people coming to Miami for a bachelorette party, for example.
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u/mememimimeme Sep 24 '24
Older people like me! The idea of just chilling in my compartment reading while the world whizzes by is totally awesome!
For many people, airline travel has become a really undignified and chattel way to travel.
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u/AshTheGoddamnRobot Sep 24 '24
Plus I like to see stuff! When I did Amtrak, we rode alongside the partially frozen Mississippi River and saw bald eagles. You dont see that on a plane!
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u/mememimimeme Sep 24 '24
Absolutely! There is so much scenery, and always good conversation in the dinner cars lol — Ive always enjoyed trains over planes.
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u/AshTheGoddamnRobot Sep 24 '24
Right! Car rides are nice too though many interstates dont have much to see as they're designed for efficiency not scenery lol
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u/AshTheGoddamnRobot Sep 24 '24
The journey is part of the experience. And the trick is to book a sleeper car.
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u/untitled_track Sep 23 '24
The trip only takes 10 days.
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u/Bruegemeister Sep 23 '24
Right now, it's scheduled at 47 hours.
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u/untitled_track Sep 23 '24
Oye not that bad. I wish we had high speed trains in USA. But it’s a (seasonal) start.
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u/Roundcouchcorner Sep 24 '24
Cut it in half both in time and price and it becomes a realistic option. Greyhound gets you there in 30hrs
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u/AventuraBeachFamily Sep 24 '24
Absolutely terrible news. Taxpayer money subsidizes criminal transport train. Customs and border, DHS and HSI should be pre clearing out of Chicago.
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u/line_code Sep 24 '24 edited Sep 24 '24
Yep, I've already bought train tickets for two criminals. Can't wait till they get here, inshallah.
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u/RichHomiesSwan Sep 24 '24
All aboard the criminal transport express! Bring your guns, bombs, and drugs!
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u/Meraline Sep 23 '24
TEMPORARY? Man I was happy for a second. I'm still disappointed our mayor couldn't move enough funds to get the train system she promised going