By Train in Miami

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By Train

Amtrak provides service from 500 destinations to the Greater Miami area, including three trains daily from New York City. North-south service stops in the major Florida cities of Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. For extended trips, or if you're visiting other areas in Florida, come via Auto Train from Lorton, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., to Sanford, Florida, just outside of Orlando. Tri-Rail, south Florida's commuter train system, offers daily service connecting Miami-Dade with Broward and Palm Beach counties via Metrorail (transfer at the TriRail/Metrorail Station at the Hialeah station, at 79th Street and East 11th Avenue). It also offers shuttle service to and from MIA from its airport station at 3797 Northwest 21st Street. Tri-Rail stops at 18 stations along a 71-mi route. Fares are established by zones, with prices ranging from $3.50 to $9.25 for a round-trip ticket.

Elevated Metrorail trains run from downtown Miami north to Hialeah and south along U.S. 1 to Dadeland, daily 5:30 AM to midnight. Trains run every 6 minutes during peak hours, every 15 minutes during weekday mid-hours, every 20 minutes on weekends, every 30 minutes after 8 PM. The fare is $1.50. Transfers, which cost 50¢, must be bought at the first station entered. Parking at train stations costs $4. Metromover has two loops that circle downtown Miami, linking major hotels, office buildings, and shopping areas. The system spans 4 1/2 mi, including the 1 1/2-mi Omni Extension, with six stations to the north, and the 1-mi Brickell Extension, with six stations to the south. Quite convenient, and free, thanks to a half-penny sales tax, it beats walking all around downtown. Service runs daily, every 90 seconds during rush hour and every three minutes off-peak, 6 AM to midnight along the inner loop and 6 AM to 10:30 PM on the Omni and Brickell extensions. Transfers to Metrorail are $1.50.

Contacts

Amtrak (8303 N.W. 37th Ave., Hialeah. 800/872-7245. www.amtrak.com). Metromover (305/770-3131). Metrorail (305/770-3131). Tri-Rail (1 River Plaza, 305 S. Andrews Ave., Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale. 800/874-7245).