The Cardinal connects New York, NY and Chicago, IL over a 1,147-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 21 stations across 12 states.
Quick Facts
- Operator
- Amtrak
- Service type
- Long-Distance
- Endpoints
- New York ↔ Chicago
- Distance
- 1,147 mi
- Frequency
- Three round trips per week
- Stations
- 21
- States served
- 12 (NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, KY, OH, IN, IL)
- Typical fare range
- $98 – $495
Route guide
The Cardinal is a long-distance service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Three round trips per week over 1,147 miles of mainline track between Moynihan Train Hall and Chicago Union Station, calling at 21 intermediate and terminal stations across 12 states.
What to watch for: New River Gorge in West Virginia, with cliffs, whitewater, and the New River Gorge Bridge — easily one of the most spectacular stretches of passenger rail anywhere east of the Rockies.
History & service notes
The Cardinal traces back to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s George Washington (1932). Despite repeated efforts to expand it to daily service, it has remained tri-weekly since 1981.
Equipment
Typical consist on the Cardinal includes viewliner sleeper, Amfleet II coaches, Amfleet I cafe-lounge. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.
Stops along the route
Stations are listed in geographical order from New York to Chicago. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.
- Moynihan Train Hall — New York, NY
- Newark Penn Station — Newark, NJ
- William H. Gray III 30th Street Station — Philadelphia, PA
- Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station — Wilmington, DE
- Baltimore Penn Station — Baltimore, MD
- Washington Union Station — Washington, DC
- Alexandria, VA — Alexandria, VA
- Manassas — Manassas, VA
- Culpeper — Culpeper, VA
- Charlottesville Union Station — Charlottesville, VA
- Staunton — Staunton, VA
- Clifton Forge — Clifton Forge, VA
- Charleston, WV — Charleston, WV
- Huntington, WV — Huntington, WV
- South Portsmouth — South Portsmouth, KY
- Maysville — Maysville, KY
- Cincinnati Union Terminal — Cincinnati, OH
- Connersville — Connersville, IN
- Indianapolis Union Station — Indianapolis, IN
- Crawfordsville — Crawfordsville, IN
- Chicago Union Station — Chicago, IL
Sample fares & travel times
Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.
| From | To | Distance | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Newark | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Newark | Philadelphia | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Philadelphia | Wilmington | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Wilmington | Baltimore | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Baltimore | Washington | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Washington | Alexandria | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Alexandria | Manassas | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Manassas | Culpeper | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Culpeper | Charlottesville | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Charlottesville | Staunton | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Staunton | Clifton Forge | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Clifton Forge | Charleston | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Charleston | Huntington | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Huntington | South Portsmouth | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| South Portsmouth | Maysville | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Maysville | Cincinnati | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Cincinnati | Connersville | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
| Connersville | Indianapolis | 57 mi | 1h 18m | $42 – $213 |
Connections & transfers
Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From New York, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Chicago. The corridor passes through cities including New York, Newark, and Chicago, each with its own onward service map.