Palmetto (train)

Palmetto
The southbound Palmetto at Fredericksburg station in 2018
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
LocaleNortheastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States
PredecessorPalmetto (Atlantic Coast Line Railroad)
First serviceJune 15, 1976 (original)
May 1, 2002 (current)
Last serviceFebruary 1, 1995 (original)
Current operatorAmtrak
Annual ridership357,200 (FY 25)  0%
Route
TerminiNew York City, New York
Savannah, Georgia
Stops23
Distance travelled829 miles (1,334 km)
Average journey time
  • 15 hours, 36 minutes (northbound)
  • 15 hours, 2 minutes (southbound)
Service frequencyDaily
Train number89, 90
On-board services
ClassesCoach Class
Business Class
Disabled accessAll train cars, most stations
Catering facilitiesCafé
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks, checked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Rolling stockAmfleet
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 12 kV AC at 25 Hz (New York–Washington)
Operating speed54 mph (87 km/h) (avg.)
125 mph (201 km/h) (top)
Track ownersAmtrak, CSX
Route map
0
New York City
10 mi
16 km
Newark Penn
25 mi
40 km
Metropark
58 mi
93 km
Trenton
91 mi
146 km
Philadelphia–30th Street
116 mi
187 km
Wilmington
185 mi
298 km
Baltimore
195 mi
314 km
BWI Airport
216 mi
348 km
New Carrollton
225 mi
362 km
Washington, D.C.
234 mi
377 km
Alexandria
334 mi
538 km
Richmond Staples Mill Road
362 mi
583 km
Petersburg
460 mi
740 km
Rocky Mount
476 mi
766 km
Wilson
502 mi
808 km
Selma
550 mi
885 km
Fayetteville
603 mi
970 km
Dillon
633 mi
1019 km
Florence
672 mi
1081 km
Kingstree
728 mi
1172 km
North Charleston
782 mi
1259 km
Yemassee
829 mi
1334 km
Savannah
              
1996–2004 extension
              
1996–2004 extension
977 mi
1572 km
Jacksonville
1035 mi
1666 km
Waldo
1081 mi
1740 km
Ocala
1107 mi
1782 km
Wildwood
1143 mi
1839 km
Dade City
1199 mi
1930 km
Tampa
1230 mi
1979 km
Lakeland
1247 mi
2007 km
Winter Haven
1288 mi
2073 km
Sebring
1330 mi
2140 km
Okeechobee
1391 mi
2239 km
West Palm Beach
1409 mi
2268 km
Delray Beach
1420 mi
2285 km
Deerfield Beach
1434 mi
2308 km
Fort Lauderdale
1442 mi
2321 km
Hollywood
1456 mi
2343 km
Miami

The Palmetto is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 829-mile (1,334 km) route between New York City and Savannah, Georgia, via the Northeast Corridor, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. The Palmetto is a shorter version of the Silver Meteor, which continues south to Miami, Florida. From 1996 to 2002 this service was called the Silver Palm. Although currently a day train, the Palmetto is considered a long-distance train by Amtrak and previously provided overnight sleeper service to Florida.

During fiscal year 2019, the Palmetto carried 345,342 passengers, a decrease of 11% from FY2018. The train had a total revenue of $27,208,372 during FY2016, a 61.4% increase over FY2015.