Summary

  • Orlando's Amtrak Station serves as a key transportation hub, connecting the Sunshine State to various locations in the eastern United States.
  • The station provides most expected amenities but lacks Amtrak Express shipping, ski bags, WiFi, and Amtrak ticketing kiosks.
  • The Silver Star and Silver Meteor are the two Amtrak trains that pass through Orlando Station, with the Silver Star being a popular option for traveling to NYC.

The Orlando Amtrak Station (a.k.a. Orlando Station or Orlando Health/Amtrak Station) sees the Silver Star and Silver Meteor Amtrak trains pass through on a daily basis.

Orlando's Amtrak Station, can, via these routes, connect the Sunshine State to Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, New York, Washington D.C., and other locations in the eastern United States. There are things to know about this station and its two Amtrak routes before embarking on a trip.

10 Orlando Amtrak Opened In 1926

Entrance to Orlando Amtrak Station with the word Orlando on the arched front and some plant life at the entrance
Via: DanTD, Wikimeda Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Entrance to Orlando Amtrak Station with the word Orlando on the arched front and some plant life at the entrance

Orlando Station opened for business in the mid-1920s to serve the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. In 1967, it joined the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Nowadays, Orlando Station is part of two Amtrak routes and Florida's SunRail route.

RELATED: Amtrak Coach Seating: 10 Benefits Of Booking A Coach Class Seat

9 Amtrak Express Shipping Is Unavailable

Amtrak Capitol Limited PO30 train pulling into Harpers Ferry Station, approaching the tunnel
Shutterstock / AJ Packer
Amtrak Capitol Limited PO30 train pulling into Harpers Ferry Station, approaching the tunnel
 

Orlando's Florida Station covers most features that commuters would expect from a popular Amtrak stop (e.g., checked baggage service, bag storage, parking, and payphones). However, unfortunately, unlike many Amtrak stations, it lacks Amtrak Express shipping. The station also lacks ski bags.

  • Baggage that is Available: Checked baggage service, checked baggage storage, bike boxes on sale, baggage carts, bag storage, shipping boxes on sale, and station staff baggage assistance available when inside

8 No WiFi Or Amtrak Ticketing Kiosks

Person holding a phone
Photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash
Passenger holding phone attempting to connect to WiFi

Two other aspects missing from Orlando's Health/Amtrak Station are WiFi and Amtrak ticketing kiosks. While the station lacks WiFi, passengers will be glad to know that each Amtrak train that covers this stop comes with free basic WiFi (there are, of course, many more things to know about traveling with Amtrak).

And, while there are no Amtrak ticketing kiosks, there is a ticket sales office.

  • Other Features Lacking: Elevator and high platform

7 Amtrak Orlando Is The 5th-Busiest In The Southeast

Lake Eola Park daytime with Orlando skyline, lake, and paddle boat
Photo 161687815 © Viavaltours | Dreamstime.com
Lake Eola Park during daytime with Orlando skyline, lake, and paddle boat

Along with being the second-busiest Amtrak station in the state, Orlando's Amtrak Station is the fifth busiest in the southeastern U.S. The Auto Train Station in Sanford with the Amtrak Auto Train service takes the first spot in Florida.

Arrive early to ensure a smooth trip!

  • Annual Amtrak Ridership of Orlando Station: 73,327 (as of 2021)

6 The Full Station Name Is Inspired By the Nearby Health Centers

Orlando Regional Medical Center with sign at the front and the glass building behind with many storeys along with some plant life and a few palm trees toward the front of the complex
Via: Miosotis Jade, Wikimedia Commons, Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Orlando Regional Medical Center with sign at the front and the glass building behind with many storeys along with some plant life and a few palm trees toward the front of the complex

The reason for the station's official name being 'Orlando Health/Amtrak Station' is the many health centers close to the station. These include Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando Health Hospital campus, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

  • Official Station Name: Orlando Health/Amtrak Station
  • Common Station Name: Orlando Amtrak Station

5 The Historic Building Was Restored In 2014-15

Orlando Amtrak Station Platform with a blue sky above and some clouds
Via: TampAGS, for AGS Media, Wikimedia Commons, Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
 
Orlando Amtrak Station Platform with a blue sky above and some clouds

There was an additional platform added to the station for SunRail in 2014. This year also saw the primary building of the station revamped. This included pavement repairs, exterior repainting, restroom upgrades, and fixing leaks and cracks in walls and the tiled roof.

This work took place between 2014 and 2015 before the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.

  • Estimated Cost of Restoration Project: $2 million

RELATED: 10 Of The Best & Top-Rated Amtrak Routes Everyone Should Travel At Least Once

4 The Lynx 40 Bus Connects To Amtrak Orlando

Lynx Bus parked at the side of a street.
Via: Asher Heimermann, Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Lynx Bus parked at the side of a street.

Commuters can take the Lynx 40 bus from stops in and around Orlando to reach the station. The bus route, which begins (coming from the north) on North Garland Avenue and West Amelia Street, is about an 11-minute journey from the Orlando Amtrak Station.

  • Taking the bus from its south to north route, the Lynx 40 starts at Backlot Drive and Universal Studio Plaza and takes about 47 minutes to reach the station.

Alternatively, passengers can take the Amtrak Thruway bus which connects Fort Myers to Orlando. This bus, which covers a 5-hour and 40-minute journey has stops at Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Brandenton-Ellenton, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Lakeland, and Orlando.

This bus runs in both directions once per day, seven days a week. The bus leaves Fort Myers for Orlando at 7am and departs from Orlando for Fort Myers at 1:30pm.

  • Average Lynx 40 Bus Fare: $2.00
  • Average Amtrak Thruway Bus Fare: Unknown

3 The Silver Star Provides Access To The East Coast

View of the cherry blossom trees in Washington DC
Photo by Andy He on Unsplash
View of the cherry blossom trees in Washington D.C.

The Silver Star is one of two Amtrak trains to pass through the Orlando Amtrak Station. The Silver Start begins in Miami, travels through both the Carolinas overnight, and stops in Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, before concluding its journey in New York City.

The Silver Star leaves Orlando for NYC at 7:25pm daily, while the reverse route begins its journey from NYC to Orlando at 11:02am each day.

Here are all 37 stops on the Silver Star route:

  • Penn Station, New York, New York
  • Penn Station, Newark, New Jersey
  • Trenton, New Jersey
  • 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Wilmington, Delaware
  • Penn Station, Baltimore, Maryland
  • Union Station, Washington, DC
  • Alexandria, Virginia
  • Staples Mill Road Station, Richmond, Virginia
  • Petersburg, Virginia
  • Rocky Mount, North Carolina
  • Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Cary, North Carolina
  • Southern Pines, North Carolina
  • Hamlet, North Carolina
  • Camden, South Carolina
  • Columbia, South Carolina
  • Denmark, South Carolina
  • Savannah, Georgia
  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • Palatka, Florida
  • DeLand, Florida
  • Winter Park, Florida
  • Orlando, Florida
  • Kissimmee, Florida
  • Lakeland, Florida (To/from Points North)
  • Union Station, Tampa, Florida
  • Lakeland, Florida (To/from Points South)
  • Winter Haven, Florida
  • Sebring, Florida
  • Okeechobee, Florida
  • West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Delray Beach, Florida
  • Deerfield Beach, Florida
  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Hollywood, Florida
  • Miami, Florida

The Silver Star is the perfect gateway to the U.S. east coast., covering a wide range of locations in several states. Among the standout examples that will appeal to many Floridians include the nation's capital city Washington D.C., Philadelphia (featuring a ton of awesome museums, historic sites, sports venues, and more), and, of course, the Big Apple with plenty to do for first-time visitors.

  • Average Duration of the Silver Star's Journey from Orlando to New York: 23 hours and 45 minutes

2 Commuters Can Take The Silver Star To NYC

New York City skyline at dusk with boats on the Hudson River
Photo by Pauline Bernfeld on Unsplash
New York City skyline at dusk with boats on the Hudson River

As touched on, the Silver Star is a great way to reach New York City. A coach ticket to NYC will cost you about $200 one-way. The Big Apple has a ton to offer tourists, from Broadway to its many skyscrapers (e.g. One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building) to Central Park and much more.

  • Average Duration of the Silver Star's Journey from New York to Orlando: 23 hours and 30 minutes

Tourists may also be interested in kayaking on the Hudson or in other areas of the state while visiting.

1 The Silver Meteor Covers Similar Stops To The Silver Star

The interior of the Moynihan Train Hall, an expansion of Pennsylvania Station, the main intercity and commuter rail station in New York City, USA
Shutterstock / Brian Logan Photography
The interior of the Moynihan Train Hall, an expansion of Pennsylvania Station, the main intercity and commuter rail station in New York City, USA

Alternatively, passengers can take the Silver Meteor. While passengers may opt for the Silver Meteor due to stops it covers that the Star does not or vice versa, there is not a huge difference between the lines. As a result, most will choose between the Silver Star and Silver Meteor based on the departure time.

The Silver Meteor covers these stops that the Star does not:

  • Fredericksburg, Virginia
  • Fayetteville, North Carolina
  • Florence, South Carolina
  • Kingstree, South Carolina
  • Charleston, South Carolina
  • Yemassee, South Carolina

On the other hand, the Meteor lacks the following stops that are covered by the Silver Star:

  • Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Cary, North Carolina
  • Southern Pines, North Carolina
  • Hamlet, North Carolina
  • Camden, South Carolina
  • Columbia, South Carolina
  • Denmark, South Carolina
  • Lakeland, Florida (To/from Points North)
  • Lakeland, Florida (To/from Points South)
  • Union Station, Tampa, Florida
  • Okeechobee, Florida

The Silver Meteor leaves Orlando for NYC at 1:36pm daily, while it departs from NYC for Orlando, Florida at 3:15pm each day.

  • Average Duration of the Silver Meteor's Journey from Orlando to New York: 21 hours and 45 minutes
  • Average Duration of the Silver Meteor's Journey from New York to Orlando: 21 hours and 45 minutes

Of all the things to know about Amtrak Orlando, the routes and departure times are probably most important, but as with all train stations, arriving early is every traveler's best bet for a stress-free trip.