Silver Star (Amtrak train)
Overview | |||
---|---|---|---|
Service type | Inter-city rail | ||
Status | Operating | ||
Locale | East Coast of the United States | ||
First service | 1947 | ||
Current operator(s) | Amtrak | ||
Former operator(s) | Seaboard Air Line (1947–1967) Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (1967–1971) Pennsylvania Railroad (1947–1968, haulage agreement) Penn Central (1968–1971, haulage agreement) | ||
Ridership | 368,518 (FY18)[1] | ||
Route | |||
Start | New York City | ||
Stops | 38[2] | ||
End | Miami, Florida | ||
Distance travelled | 1,522 miles (2,449 km) | ||
Service frequency | Daily | ||
Train number(s) | 91–92 | ||
On-board services | |||
Class(es) | Reserved Coach and First-class Sleeper | ||
Seating arrangements | Airline-style coach seating | ||
Sleeping arrangements | Viewliner Roomette (2 beds) Viewliner Bedroom (2 beds) Viewliner Bedroom Suite (4 beds) Viewliner Accessible Bedroom (2 beds) | ||
Catering facilities | Lounge car, Dining car | ||
Baggage facilities | Checked baggage available at selected stations | ||
Technical | |||
Rolling stock |
| ||
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge | ||
Electrification | On the Northeast Corridor | ||
Operating speed | Northeast Corridor: 125 mph (201 km/h) Outside NEC: 79 mph (127 km/h) | ||
Track owner(s) | Amtrak, CSX, NS, SunRail, Tri-Rail | ||
|
The Silver Star is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 1,522-mile (2,449 km) route between New York City and Miami via Washington, D.C., Richmond, Raleigh, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Tampa.[2] The Silver Star and its partner in the Silver Service brand, the Silver Meteor, are the descendants of numerous long-distance trains that operated between Florida and New York for most of the 20th century.
During fiscal year 2019, the Silver Star carried nearly 389,995 passengers, an increase of 5.9% from FY2018.[3] In FY16, it earned a total revenue of $29,261,496, an 11.6% decrease from FY2010.[4]
History[]
The Star was originally a service of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, running from New York to Miami and later also St. Petersburg (beyond Tampa). It was inaugurated December 12, 1947, to replace the Advance Silver Meteor. In early years it was winter-only and did not appear in summer timetables.[5] By 1949, however, it was a year-round train.[6] Its main Miami-bound route went through the interior of Florida, via Ocala and Winter Haven. In peak winter service in the mid-1950s it had a section that went to St. Petersburg via Tampa. Another section went to Port Boca Grande via Tampa.[7] The Pennsylvania Railroad carried the train between New York and Washington, D. C. under a haulage agreement, similar to the arrangement with its sister train, the Silver Meteor. The agreement was maintained when the Pennsy was folded into Penn Central in 1968, a year after SAL merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad as the Seaboard Coast Line. Between Washington and Richmond, Virginia, the train operated on RF&P rails. Amtrak took over the train in 1971.
Except for a brief period from 1994 to 1995 and from 1996 to 2004, when service to Tampa was provided by the Palmetto (known as the Silver Palm from 1996 to 2002), the Silver Star has served both Tampa and Miami during the Amtrak era. Originally, Amtrak operated the Silver Star with Tampa and Miami sections that split in Jacksonville, with the Tampa section continuing on the old Atlantic Coast Line route through Orlando, and the Miami section traveling through Ocala and Wildwood over most of what was the original Seaboard route to Miami. After November 1, 2004, the Silver Star resumed service to Tampa, and now travels intact all of the way, backing out of Tampa and retracing its route 40 miles (64 km) east to Auburndale, where it heads south to Miami or north to New York.[8][9] The detour occurs at Lakeland; the train stops there to discharge passengers before going to Tampa and to receive passengers after it returns from Tampa.
In the January 2011 issue of Trains magazine, this route was listed as one of five routes to be looked at by Amtrak in FY 2011 as the previous five routes (the Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, California Zephyr, Capitol Limited, and Cardinal) were examined in FY 2010.[10] With the discontinuation of the Silver Meteor's former Tampa section (a descendant of the Champion, a longtime rival of the Silver Star and Silver Meteor) in 1988, the Silver Star is now the only passenger train serving Tampa.
On February 4, 2018, Silver Star train number 91 collided with a CSX freight train in Cayce, South Carolina; the engineer and a conductor of the Silver Star were killed, and 116 passengers were injured.[11][12]
On July 6, 2020, Amtrak reduced the frequency of this train to three times per week as opposed to daily.[13] Southbound Silver Star trains departed New York Friday through Sunday, while Silver Meteor trains departed Monday through Thursday. Similarly, northbound Silver Star trains departed Miami on Thursday through Saturday, while Silver Meteor trains departed Sunday through Wednesday.[14] Both trains resumed daily services on June 7, 2021, after additional Amtrak funding was included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[15]
Rolling stock[]
Like Amtrak's other long-distance routes that operate to and from New York City, the Silver Star is restricted to single-level Amfleet and Viewliner cars due to low tunnel clearances in Baltimore and New York. Between New York Penn Station and Washington Union Station, the Silver Star is pulled by one Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotive. South of Washington, one or two GE P42 diesel locomotives pull the train. Since July 2015, the Silver Star has operated without a dining car.[16] Passengers must buy their meals from the lounge car, which serves hot and cold food, albeit from a more limited menu.
A typical Silver Star consist as of June 2021 is:
- 1 ACS-64 engine (New York–Washington)
- 2 P42DC engines (Washington–Miami)
- 2-4 Amfleet II coaches
- Amfleet II Cafe
- 1 Viewliner Diner
- 2-3 Viewliner sleepers
- Viewliner Baggage car
During the winter months, additional cars are sometimes added to the Silver Star to accommodate increased demand; these longer trains have delayed Amtrak's long-planned move to a larger station in Miami.[17]
Route details[]
The Silver Star operates over a combination of Amtrak, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern Railway trackage:[citation needed]
- Amtrak Northeast Corridor: New York–Washington
- CSX RF&P Subdivision, Richmond Terminal Subdivision, North End Subdivision, and South End Subdivision: Washington–Selma
- NS Piedmont Division, East Carolina Business Unit, Goldsboro to Greensboro district: Selma–Raleigh
- CSX Aberdeen Subdivision, Hamlet Terminal Subdivision, Hamlet Subdivision, Columbia Subdivision, Savannah Subdivision, Nahunta Subdivision, Jacksonville Terminal Subdivision, Sanford Subdivision, Lakeland Subdivision, and Tampa Terminal Subdivision: Raleigh– Tampa
- Central Florida Rail Corridor: DeLand–Poinciana.
- CSX Auburndale Subdivision and Miami Subdivision: Auburndale–Mangonia Park
- South Florida Rail Corridor: Mangonia Park–Miami
The Silver Star uses the same route as the Silver Meteor – the other train in the Silver Service brand – excepting two segments, Selma–Savannah and Kissimmee–Winter Haven.[18][2] Between Selma and Savannah, the Silver Star takes an inland route to serve the Carolinas' state capitals of Raleigh and Columbia, while the Silver Meteor stays closer to the coast and services Fayetteville, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina. Between Kissimmee and Winter Haven, the Meteor takes a direct route with no intermediate stops, while the Star takes a detour through Lakeland and Tampa. In addition to these diversions, between Sebring and West Palm Beach, Florida, the Meteor makes no intermediate stops, while the Star makes an additional stop at Okeechobee.[18][2]
Prior to October 1986, the Silver Star ran between Petersburg, Virginia, and Raleigh via the CSX (Seaboard Coast Line) Norlina Subdivision, stopping only in Henderson. CSX abandoned the Norlina Sub between Norlina and Collier Yard in Petersburg in 1986, and the Silver Star was shifted to the "A Line" between Petersburg and Selma, then to NS's "H Line" between Selma and Raleigh. The train is expected to resume operating via its former route when tracks between Collier Yard and Norlina are restored as part of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor project.[19]
Like other long-distance trains, passengers are not allowed to travel only between stations on the Northeast Corridor on the Silver Star. Northbound trains only stop to discharge passengers from Alexandria northward, and southbound trains only stop to receive passengers from Newark to Washington.[2] This policy is in place to keep seats available for passengers making longer trips. Passengers wanting to travel locally must use the more frequent Northeast Regional or Acela trains. Additionally, the Silver Star, like the Silver Meteor, does not allow local travel between West Palm Beach and Miami. Southbound trains only stop to discharge passengers, while northbound trains only stop to receive passengers bound for points beyond West Palm Beach. This is due to the availability of Tri-Rail, South Florida's commuter rail system.
Since Amtrak ended rail passenger service over the CSX Clearwater Subdivision between Tampa and St. Petersburg in 1984,[20] it has provided dedicated Amtrak Thruway bus service at Tampa Union Station for trainside transfer of passengers and their baggage to/from Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Other points on Florida's west coast, such as Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers, are also served by Amtrak Thruway service connecting with the Star at Tampa.[21]
Station stops[]
State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
---|---|---|---|
New York | New York City | Penn Station | Amtrak: Acela, Adirondack, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter LIRR: Main Line, Port Washington Branch NJ Transit: North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, Gladstone Branch, Montclair-Boonton Line, Morristown Line NYC Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, B, D, F, <F>, M, N, Q, R, and W trains NYC Transit buses: M7, M20, M34 / M34A Select Bus Service, Q32 PATH: Hoboken–33rd Street, Journal Square–33rd Street, Journal Square–33rd Street (via Hoboken) |
New Jersey | Newark | Newark Penn Station | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter NJ Transit: Newark City Subway, Newark Light Rail, North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, Raritan Valley Line, 1, 5, 11*, 21, 25, 28*, 29*, 30*, 34, 39, 40, 41* 62, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 76, 78*, 79*, 108, 308*, 319, 361*, 375*, 378*, go25* *Limited service PATH: Newark–World Trade Center Coach USA: 31, 44 |
Trenton | Trenton | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line, River Line, 409, 418, 600, 601, 604, 606, 608, 609, 611, 619 SEPTA Regional Rail: Trenton Line SEPTA Suburban Transit Division: 127 | |
Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | 30th Street Station | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter NJ Transit: Atlantic City Line SEPTA City Transit Division: Market–Frankford Line, SEPTA Subway–Surface Trolley Lines (Route 10, Route 11, Route 13, Route 34, Route 36), 9, 12, 21, 30, 31, 42, 44, 49, 62, LUCY SEPTA Suburban Transit Division: 124, 125 SEPTA Regional Rail: Airport Line, Warminster Line, Wilmington/Newark Line, West Trenton Line, Media/Elwyn Line, Lansdale/Doylestown Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Manayunk/Norristown Line, Cynwyd Line, Trenton Line, Chestnut Hill East Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Fox Chase Line |
Delaware | Wilmington | Wilmington | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter Greyhound Lines DART First State: 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 28, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 47, 52, 301, 305 (seasonal) SEPTA Regional Rail: Wilmington/Newark Line |
Maryland | Baltimore | Penn Station | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter MARC Train: Penn Line MTA Maryland: Light RailLink, 3, 11, 61, 64 Charm City Circulator: Purple Route, Artscape Shuttle |
District of Columbia | Washington | Washington Union Station | Amtrak: Acela, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter, Thruway Motorcoach to Charlottesville, Virginia MARC Train: Brunswick Line, Camden Line, Penn Line VRE: Manassas Line, Fredericksburg Line Metro: Red Line Metrobus: D3, D6, D8, X1, X2, X8, X9, 80, 96, 97 DC Circulator: Georgetown, Navy Yard DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line MTA Maryland: 903, 922 Loudoun County Transit: Loudoun County PRTC: Dale City |
Virginia | Alexandria | Alexandria | Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor VRE: Fredericksburg Line, Manassas Line Metro: Blue Line, Yellow Line Metrobus: REX, 28A, 29K, 29N DASH: AT2, AT5, AT6, AT7, AT8, AT10 |
Richmond | Richmond Staples Mill Road | Amtrak: Carolinian, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Thruway Motorcoach to Charlottesville, Virginia GRTC: Route 18 | |
Ettrick | Petersburg | Amtrak: Carolinian, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor | |
North Carolina | Rocky Mount | Rocky Mount | Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor Greyhound Lines Tar River Transit: all routes |
Raleigh | Raleigh | Amtrak: Carolinian, Piedmont GoRaleigh: R-Line, inbound 13, outbounds 7, 11 GoTriangle: outbounds 301, 303, 305 | |
Cary | Cary | Amtrak: Carolinian, Piedmont GoCary: 3, 4, 5, 6 GoTriangle: 300, 301 | |
Southern Pines | Southern Pines | none | |
Hamlet | Hamlet | none | |
South Carolina | Camden | Camden | none |
Columbia | Columbia | none | |
Denmark | Denmark | none | |
Georgia | Savannah | Savannah | Amtrak: Palmetto, Silver Meteor |
Florida | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Amtrak: Silver Star, Thruway Motorcoach to Waldo, Ocala, Gainesville, The Villages, Wildwood, Dade City and Lakeland, Florida JTA Bus: 3 |
Palatka | Palatka | Amtrak: Silver Meteor The Ride Solution | |
DeLand | DeLand | Amtrak: Silver Meteor, Thruway Motorcoach to Daytona Beach, Florida | |
Winter Park | Winter Park | Amtrak: Silver Meteor SunRail LYNX: 9, 102, 443 | |
Orlando | Orlando | Amtrak: Silver Meteor, Thruway Motorcoach to Lakeland, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers, Florida SunRail LYNX: 40 | |
Kissimmee | Kissimmee | Amtrak: Silver Meteor SunRail Greyhound Lines LYNX: 10, 18, 26, 55, 56, 57, 108, 208, 407, 441, 632 | |
Lakeland | Lakeland | Amtrak: Thruway Motorcoach to Dade City, Wildwood, The Villages, Gainesville, Ocala, Waldo Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers, Florida Citrus Connection: Purple Line/12, Silver Line/22XL Greyhound Lines | |
Tampa | Tampa | Amtrak: Thruway Motorcoach to Dade City, Wildwood, The Villages, Gainesville, Ocala, Waldo, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers, Florida HART: 9, 12, MetroRapid | |
Winter Haven | Winter Haven | Amtrak: Silver Meteor | |
Sebring | Sebring | Amtrak: Silver Meteor | |
Okeechobee | Okeechobee | none | |
West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach | Amtrak: Silver Meteor Tri-Rail Palm Tran: 1, 2, 20, 31, 40, 41, 43, 44, 49, 60 Tri-Rail Commuter Connector: WBP-1 West Palm Beach Downtown Trolley: Green Trolley Greyhound Lines | |
Delray Beach | Delray Beach | Amtrak: Silver Meteor Tri-Rail Palm Tran: 2, 70, 81, 88 Downtown Connector | |
Deerfield Beach | Deerfield Beach | Amtrak: Silver Meteor Tri-Rail Broward County Transit: 48, Deerfield Beach Express I Tri-Rail Commuter Connector: DB-1, DB-2 | |
Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Amtrak: Silver Meteor Tri-Rail Broward County Transit: 9, 22, 81, Broward Breeze Metrobus: 95 Sun Trolley: Neighborhood Link, NW Community Link Tri-Rail Commuter Connector: FL-1, FL-2, FL-3 | |
Hollywood | Hollywood | Amtrak: Silver Meteor Tri-Rail Broward County Transit: 7 Hallandale Beach Community Bus: 3 | |
Miami | Miami | Amtrak: Silver Meteor Metrobus: 42, 112 |
References[]
- ^ "Amtrak Sets Revenue and Earnings Records Delivers Best Operating Performance in Company History" (PDF). Amtrak. November 16, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Atlantic Coast Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. March 4, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ^ https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FY19-Year-End-Ridership.pdf
- ^ "Amtrak FY16 Ridership & Revenue Fact Sheet" (PDF). Amtrak. April 17, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
- ^ Seaboard Aire Line Railroad Timetables, June 15, 1948
- ^ 'Official Guide of the Railways, August 1949, Seaboard Air Line Railroad section, Tables 1, 3, 6
- ^ 'Official Guide of the Railways, December 1954, Seaboard Air Line Railroad section, Condensed Table and Tables 1, 3, 6, 7
- ^ "April 6, 2004 (System Timetable) Page 71". The Museum of Railway Timetables.
- ^ "Atlantic Coast Service Timetable - Effective November 8, 2010" (PDF). Amtrak.
- ^ "Amtrak's Improvement Wish List". Trains. January 2011. pp. 20–21.
- ^ Fedschun, Travis (February 4, 2018). "Amtrak, CSX train collision in South Carolina leaves 2 dead, over 100 injured, officials say". Fox News. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ Joseph, Yonette; Bolon, Anne-Sophie (January 31, 2018). "Amtrak Train Collision Kills at Least 2 and Injures Nearly 70 Others". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ Tate, Curtis. "Amtrak to reduce New York-Florida trains starting July 6, with more cuts coming Oct. 1". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Silver Star and Silver Meteor Schedule Changes effective July 6, 2020". Amtrak. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "With Increased Demand and Congressional Funding, Amtrak Restores 12 Long Distance Routes to Daily Service". Amtrak. March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Kennedy, Thomas L. (September 8, 2017). "Tampa's Silver Star not a fallen star but needs work". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ Chardy, Alfonso; Viglucci, Andres (October 31, 2013). "Long trains, short platforms at new Miami airport train station won't force permanent street closure". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Silver Service / Palmetto Train". Amtrak. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- ^ "Southeast High Speed Rail: Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement, And Final Section 4(f) Evaluation, Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC" (PDF). August 2015. p. 122. Retrieved September 6, 2022. Check date values in:
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(help) - ^ Luisi, Vincent (2010). Railroading in Pinellas County. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-8550-5.
- ^ Amtrak Website
External links[]
- Media related to Silver Star (Amtrak train) at Wikimedia Commons
- Silver Service / Palmetto – Amtrak
- Amtrak routes
- Passenger trains of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
- Railway services introduced in 1947
- Passenger rail transportation in New York (state)
- Passenger rail transportation in New Jersey
- Passenger rail transportation in Pennsylvania
- Passenger rail transportation in Delaware
- Passenger rail transportation in Maryland
- Passenger rail transportation in Washington, D.C.
- Passenger rail transportation in Virginia
- Passenger rail transportation in North Carolina
- Passenger rail transportation in South Carolina
- Passenger rail transportation in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Passenger rail transportation in Florida
- Night trains of the United States