The Silver Meteor is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Miami, Florida.

Utilizing EMC E4 diesel locomotives originally purchased for SAL's flagship all-Pullman train, the Orange Blossom Special, it became the first diesel-powered streamliner to Florida.

Its introduction later prompted SAL's competitor, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL), to introduce its own New York-Florida streamliner, the Champion, on December 1, 1939.

[3][4] The train used seven new cars manufactured by the Budd Company: a baggage-dormitory-coach, a diner straddled by two coaches on either side, and a coach-lounge-observation.

At Wildwood, Florida, the train was split roughly in half into east and west coast sections.

The east coast section continued to Miami and retained the tavern-observation car, and after 1956, the train's Sun Lounge.

The west coast section continued to Tampa and eventually St. Petersburg, operating as trains 157 southbound and 158 northbound.

[14] Following this announcement, beginning on northbound train 92 on March 15, 2023, traditional dining was reintroduced to the Silver Star in the form of a 3-month pilot program gauged to test the success of the service.

Shortly after the formal rollout in another interview with the Rail Passengers Association, Amtrak's vice president of long-distance service stated that Coach Class access to the dining car was planned to be allowed by the end of 2023,[18] however by January 2024 coach passengers still did not have access.

On March 4, 2024, dining car access was finally expanded to coach passengers, mirroring service on Amtrak's western long-distance trains.

[19] Since 2012, issues have prevented Amtrak from moving from their current station to the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), primarily regarding the length of the platforms and lease agreements.

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner stated, "The company is evaluating technical and operational aspects of the move.

[29] Amtrak then unexpectedly reversed course in December 2024, sending a short letter to transportation officials negotiating the station lease's final details.

[32] On July 6, 2020, Amtrak reduced the frequency of this train to four times per week as opposed to daily due to the impact of ridership from the worldwide COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

[34] Both trains resumed daily services on June 7, 2021, after additional Amtrak funding was included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

[35] From January 24 to October 14, 2022, the Silver Meteor was suspended due to the Omicron variant surge of the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on staffing and equipment availability.

During this period, the Silver Star provided once-daily service to stations normally served by trains between New York and Rocky Mount, NC, and Savannah and Miami.

Between Kissimmee and Winter Haven, the Silver Meteor turns south to go directly to Miami at Auburndale, Florida, while the Floridian continues west to Lakeland, Florida and Tampa before coming back to Auburndale and turning south to Miami.

[44] In its present form, the southbound Silver Meteor leaves New York in mid-afternoon, arriving in Washington at dinner time and traveling overnight through Virginia and the Carolinas for arrival at breakfast time the following morning in Savannah, rush hour in Jacksonville, lunchtime in Orlando, and early evening in Miami.

Northbound trains leave Miami just before rush hour, arriving in central Florida at lunchtime and Jacksonville in the late afternoon and dinner time in Savannah, then passing through the Carolinas and Virginia overnight for arrival at breakfast-time in Washington, mid-morning in Philadelphia and lunchtime in New York.

Like other long-distance trains operating on the Northeast Corridor, local travel between NEC stations is prohibited on the Silver Meteor.

Additionally, the Silver Meteor, like the Floridian, does not allow local travel between West Palm Beach and Miami.