JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A wildfire burning through northeast Florida forced major disruptions to Amtrak passenger rail service on Monday, with multiple routes canceled or rerouted due to safety concerns.
Officials suspended the Auto Train service that typically runs between Sanford, Florida near Orlando and Lorton, Virginia in the Washington area for Monday. This popular route allows travelers to bring their vehicles along for the journey.
The Silver Meteor line, which normally connects Miami with New York City, was modified to begin and end in Jacksonville rather than continuing to South Florida on Monday. Railway officials also scrapped one of the route’s two daily departures scheduled for Tuesday.
Similarly, the Floridian line that travels from Miami to Chicago through Washington was rerouted to start and finish in Savannah, Georgia, with one of its Tuesday runs also eliminated.
To assist stranded passengers, Amtrak arranged bus transportation between Jacksonville and Miami for those affected by the Silver Meteor and Floridian route changes on Monday.
The Florida Forest Service reported the wildfire has consumed approximately 2,700 acres along the boundary between Putnam and Clay counties, located south of Jacksonville in the state’s northeastern region.
