Train to FL From CA?

[itzmehkristine]

Is there a train that goes from California to Florida? My mom doesn't really like to ride in airplanes, and the gas prices are pretty high now a days, they don't want to drive

 

[LeftCoaster]

You are looking at about 4-5 days travel time each direction. On top of that, fares are likely in the $500 plus range.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

My Mom and sister took the train from the SF Bay Area to Orlando in 1983, with a stop in Washington DC. I recall that even though they basically spent more than a month on the trip, they still ended up flying from Orlando to New Orleans becuase the train schedule between these locales really didn't work out well. Of course, that was years ago and the schedules have undoubtedly changed.

As already pointed out, it will be more expensive than driving.

They will also need to pack their patience. Significant delays are common. This summer, on the first leg of my Mom's train trip from St. Louis to Washington DC, they ended up being bussed up to Chicago because otherwise they would have missed their train east from Chicago. Mom told me that the bus trip was horribly cramped and uncomfortable.

-- Suzanne

 

[Jestocost]

I think the only way to do it as of today is from SF or LA, changing trains in Chicago and then again in Washington, DC. You're talking nearly four days of train time ALONE, not including substantial layovers to change trains and the inevitable multi-hour delays. Oh, and a coach ticket is close to $800 round trip.

There is an actual Orlando-LA route—the Sunset Limited—but it currently isn't serving the New Orleans-Orlando section due to track damage from the 2005 hurricanes and there's no timetable for reestablishing that leg of the trip.