Cardinal — Schedules, Fares & Stops

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. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

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. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

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.

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. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.

Trip planning tip. The Cardinal's lowest fares typically appear when booked 14 days or more in advance, and on midweek departures. Same-day "walk-up" fares are usually closer to the upper end of the range shown. Saver and Value buckets sell out first.