Hello Reader,

ALL ABOARD for this week’s newsletter!

Have you ever taken Amtrak’s Cardinal?

Otherwise, you might miss one of Kev's favorite—and underrated—long-distance Amtrak routes. I might be biased, though.

The Cardinal operates between New York City and Chicago three days a week, traveling through the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

It’s a winding journey through mountains, valleys, cities, and small towns, and it holds a special place in my heart.

The Cardinal was the third long-distance Amtrak train I rode, and something about it just clicked with me. It might have been the scenery or the challenge of fitting it into my travel schedule. Whatever it was, the Cardinal left its mark and became one of my favorite routes.

🚞 Scenic Highlights

The Cardinal allows you to see many natural beauty, including the Blue Ridge Mountains, the stunning New River Gorge in West Virginia (a true highlight!), rolling hills, river valleys, and charming small towns.

In the fall, it’s a leaf peeper’s dream. In the winter, those snow-covered Appalachian views are magical. Honestly, though, this route is worth riding any time of the year—as I said, it’s hands down one of my favorites.

🛤 Rare Track for Rail Fans

If you’re into the nerdier side of train travel (no judgment—I’m right there with you), you’ll love that the Cardinal travels on the Class 3 shortline railroad, the Buckingham Branch. It brings back the old clickity-clack of jointed rail.

🛏 Accommodations

The train uses Amfleet II coach cars (with more legroom than regional trains!) and Viewliner I & II sleeping cars.

This train often uses a Viewliner II sleeper-baggage combo car in addition to the typical Viewliner sleeper. I’ve had the chance to ride in it. Since it’s at the end of the train, it's quieter than the other sleepers, making it a peaceful experience. Frequently, your fellow travel companions are the train staff.

🍽 Food Onboard

The café is the only food car on the Cardinal, serving coach and sleeping car passengers. If you are in a sleeper, you will receive Flex Dining, which features pre-prepared meals. The current menu is on the Flex Dining page.

When I started riding the Cardinal in 2013, the food was different, but it wasn't traditional dining. Amtrak used to offer a different style of prepared meals that were plated and served. Today, Flex Dining is the meal option for sleeping car passengers. Traditional dining has never been available on this route since I first traon it.

👍 Pros:

• Stunning scenery year-round with seasonal treats
• Access to smaller destinations like Maysville, KY, or White Sulphur Springs, WV
• Direct service to cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore without needing to transfer

👎 Cons:

• The Cardinal only runs three times a week in each direction
• If you are traveling from Chicago to NYC, this is Amtrak’s longest route of the two with those endpoints, taking nearly 28 hours.
• People often confuse the Charleston stop; this train stops at Charleston, WV, not South Carolina. (Conductors have informed me that this mistake occurs more frequently than you'd expect!)

Bottom line?

The Cardinal isn’t the fastest way to travel to DC or New York, but it’s one of the most memorable. If you want to slow down, enjoy the journey, and soak in some incredible views.

Learn More About Amtrak's Cardinal

New Flex Dining Choices

Love it or hate it, flex dining is still available on a few routes, but the good news is that they have new choices. To see the new menu, check out the flex dining page.

Correction!

I made a typo last week; the Hiawatha is now running with available passenger cars, and the route no longer uses bus substitutes.

Sorry about that. I try hard!

What has Kev been doing?

On Saturday, I played the organ for a silent film, which went well; about 15 to 20 people showed up. It was well received, and people seemed to enjoy it. This week, I relaxed for the first half because from today until Sunday, I will be busy playing the organ for services and editing videos and podcasts for work.

I have been talking with my sister and my eldest niece about what we might do while they are here. I would like to take Mackenzie on one or two train trips and plan an overnight trip. Where we go depends on the cost and what she is up for. She issix6 and loves to travel but does not like flying.

Looking at the Markers 🚂

Thanks for reading this newsletter and for contacting me! I also want to thank those who support my work, ensuring it will be available when you and others need it. If you want to help, visit my support page, join Patreon, or use the green button at the bottom of the newsletter.

Together, we’re inspiring more people to explore the world—one train trip at a time! 🚆✨

Until Next Week…

Happy planning and safe travels,
Kev Monteith