On Sunday, November 10, Amtrak’s newest long-distance train route made its inaugural departure. In September, the U.S. railroad company announced it would temporarily resurrect the long-retired “Floridian” and its Chicago-to-Miami route.
The “Floridian” runs daily, hauling passengers across 2,076 miles in just under two days.
A now-defunct iteration once traveled from Chicago to Miami in the 1970s, crossing through Kentucky and Tennessee to reach the East Coast. Sunday’s excursion marks the first time Amtrak offered direct train service between the Midwest and Miami since 1979.
Frequent rail travelers will recognize the new route as a combination of existing Capitol Limited and Silver Star services. The travel itinerary takes passengers from Chicago to Miami via Pittsburgh and Washington, DC, bypassing New York City.
This eases some of the burden on Amtrak’s busiest route, the Northeast Corridor. Meanwhile, the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project adds significant upgrades and comprehensive rehabilitation to modernize critical New York sections.
America’s Most Iconic Long-Distance Train Routes
Although the new route is temporary, American train travel is making a comeback. More than 28.6 million passengers rode Amtrak trains last year, 24.6% more than in 2022. Last December, the Biden-Harris administration shared its plans to invest $8.2 billion in high-speed rail infrastructure, including upgrading and expanding existing lines.
Amtrak’s ambitious 15-year plan includes the addition of 39 new routes and connections in 160 new communities. The expansion will provide intercity service between the country’s 50 largest metropolitan areas and beyond.
However, travelers need not wait for the fully realized Amtrak expansion to board one of the iconic rail lines already traversing the country. The California Zephyr, Amtrak’s lengthiest long-distance route, runs from Chicago to San Francisco. The 2,438-mile journey takes 52 hours.
The train traverses breathtaking scenery and panoramic views. Riders observe the Great Plains on their way to Colorado, the Rocky Mountains into Utah, and the Sierra Nevada entering California. More than 328,000 passengers rode the California Zephyr in 2023, a 13.1% increase over the previous year.
The Southwest Chief is another iconic service that also departs from Chicago. This Los Angeles-bound train travels 2,265 miles across eight states on its journey from Illinois to California. Passengers are treated to 43 hours of stunning landscapes: rolling across plains, mountains, and deserts, crossing over the Mississippi River, and slicing through the Grand Canyon. Over one-quarter million travelers rode the rails of the Southwest Chief last year.
Other emblematic long-distance passenger trains include the Empire Builder (Chicago-Pacific Northwest), Sunset Limited (New Orleans-Los Angeles), the City of New Orleans (Chicago-New Orleans), Coast Starlight (Seattle-Los Angeles), and Texas Eagle (Chicago-San Antonio).
The World’s Most Iconic Long-Distance Train Routes
Despite 260 years of railroad history, the U.S. plays catch-up with the rest of the world. Passengers in Japan, France, and China travel along high-speed rail systems designed for fast, efficient, and frequent intercity and international travel.
High-speed rail trains in Europe and Asia can reach speeds exceeding 186 mph, offering long-distance riders a viable alternative to air travel.
Long-distance rail travel might seem old-fashioned to some Americans. However, it’s a common choice for travelers worldwide who regularly ride trains across borders and continents. These sprawling journeys afford up-close views of majestic scenery that no vehicle or aircraft can provide.
The Trans-Siberian Railway
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest train route in the world. It spans eight time zones from Europe to Asia. The journey from Moscow to Vladivostok lasts one week, nonstop, and crosses 5,772 miles of Russian landscapes, passing through the Ural Mountains, Siberian forests, and along Lake Baikal.
The Trans-Mongolian Railway
The Trans-Mongolian Railway follows the path of the Trans-Siberian Railway before branching off in Ulan-Ude, Eastern Russia. Passengers then traverse Mongolia, stopping at the capital, Ulaanbaatar, crossing the Gobi Desert. Riders finally arrive in Beijing, China, after traveling 4,735 miles.
The Canadian
The Canadian is a classic cross-country route that travels 2,775 miles from eastern Canada to the Pacific coast. Skyline cars provide riders sweeping views of untouched North American wilderness, including the Rocky Mountains, endless prairies, and dense forests.
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway
This high-elevation railway line connects China’s Qinghai Province with Lhasa, Tibet. The train traverses the Tibetan Plateau at 13,123 feet above sea level. Passengers enjoy stunning scenery like soaring mountain ranges and remote highlands as they pass some of the world’s highest railway stations. Journeys originating in Shanghai are some of the longest in the world, but passengers travel 2,717 miles in just 47 hours thanks to high-speed rail.
Indian Pacific
The Indian Pacific travels 2,704 miles from Sydney to Perth, connecting the Indian Ocean on Australia’s west coast to the Pacific Ocean on the east. Over four days, passengers relish “an all-inclusive train holiday” that offers glimpses of the vast Australian Outback.
The Vivek Express
The Vivek Express is the longest train route in India. It travels 2,655 miles along the eastern coast of the Indian subcontinent, taking four days to complete, from Dibrugarh in the northeast state of Assam to the southernmost tip of the country in Tamil Nadu.
The Ghan
Originally the Afghan Express, the Ghan derives its moniker from the Afghan camel drivers who first traversed Australia’s interior in the 1830s. Passengers journey 1,851 miles from Adelaide to Darwin over three days, slicing through the heart of Australia’s red heartland.
The Eastern and Oriental Express
The Eastern and Oriental Express is a luxurious train journey that runs 1,262 miles — from Singapore up through Malaysia and into Thailand, terminating in Bangkok. Passengers who splurge on the opulent journey’s $3,150 entry-level ticket enjoy fine dining, elegant cabins, and impeccable service while crossing Southeast Asia.
The Shongololo Express
Another luxury train option, the Shongololo Express, offers several routes across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Namibia. Travelers can explore iconic African landscapes — the Kalahari Desert, Victoria Falls, and Namibia’s Skeleton Coast — and complete excursions to some of southern Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves.
The Simplon Orient Express
Possibly the most famous train journey of all, the Simplon Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul, was immortalized through the works of Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming. Although Poirot’s Orient Express no longer exists, passengers can ride a modern reimagining of the legendary train beginning in 2025.
