Traveling on the Amtrak Cardinal – Things You Need to Know

The Amtrak Cardinal provides service from Chicago to New York City. Here are some of the things you need to know before you book a ticket.

Introduction to the Amtrak Cardinal Train

Cardinal is an intercity rail service offered by Amtrak. It first started service in 1977. The Cardinal is responsible for taking over 80,000 passengers per year to their final destinations.

The Cardinal operates along the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States between Chicago, Illinois, and New York City.

What to Expect on Amtrak Cardinal?

The Cardinal runs a total of 1146 miles between its starting point, Chicago, Illinois, and its point of termination, New York City.

This Intercity Rail travels at an average speed of 41 miles per hour. The overall trip from start to finish takes about 28 hours. The Cardinal runs trips 3 rounds of trips per week.

Accommodations provided by the Cardinal

Cardinal offers seating for 225 passengers.

This train also has a roomette, bedroom, bedroom suite, and accessible bedroom sleeper car due to its long trip duration.

The Cardinal provides food options in cafe/dinette combined car.

What are the Major Stops on the Cardinal?

The Cardinal starts in Chicago, Illinois, and terminates in New York City. In between, Cardinal makes the following stops at these major locations.

  • Chicago, Illinois – Chicago Union Station. This is where the Cardinal service begins.
  • Indianapolis, Indiana – Indianapolis Union Station
  • Cincinnati, Ohio – Cincinnati Union Terminal
  • Ashland, Kentucky – Ashland Transportation Center
  • Charleston, West Virginia – Charleston Station
  • Washington, DC – Washington Union Station
  • Philadephia, Pennslyvania – 30th Street Station
  • New York City – New York – Penn Station. This is where the Cardinal service ends.
Amtrak Cardinal Route Map
Amtrak Cardinal Route Map

How Much Does it Cost to Ride on the Cardinal?

A normal fare onboard the Cardinal will cost you between $144.00 and $740.00, depending on which type of seat you decide to purchase.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_(train)

https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train

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