{"id":"de1f8147-244e-4462-899f-d06d35f46350","name":"Cardinal","slug":"cardinal","links":{"human_path":"/experiences/cardinal","machine_capability":"experience.get"},"media":[{"role":"hero","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","alt_text":"Cardinal: Amtrak \"The Cardinal\"   Clifton Forge, VA","position":1,"media_type":"licensed_photo","credit_line":"Photo: NovaWolce — CC BY-SA 4.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","ai_generated":false,"external_url":"https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Amtrak_%22The_Cardinal%22_-_Clifton_Forge%2C_VA.png/3840px-Amtrak_%22The_Cardinal%22_-_Clifton_Forge%2C_VA.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail","rights_owner":"NovaWolce","storage_path":"experience-media/support/wave3/cardinal-fb014cf3a0.png","rights_verified_at":"2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00"},{"role":"gallery","license":"CC BY 2.0","alt_text":"Amtrak’s Cardinal at Prince station in West Virginia.","position":2,"media_type":"licensed_photo","credit_line":"Photo: jpmueller99 — CC BY 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/","ai_generated":false,"external_url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2633/4217037770_30973ebfd2_b.jpg","rights_owner":"jpmueller99","storage_path":"experience-media/support/wave3/cardinal-1c708f9a80.jpg","rights_verified_at":"2026-09-12T10:28:00+00:00"},{"role":"gallery","license":"CC BY-SA 2.0","alt_text":"Amtrak Cardinal train 51 stopping at Staunton, Virginia, on its westbound journey.","position":3,"media_type":"licensed_photo","credit_line":"Photo: Ben Schumin / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/","ai_generated":false,"external_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Redirect/file/Westbound_Cardinal_train_in_Staunton_-01-_(9719979867).jpg","rights_owner":"Ben Schumin","storage_path":"experience-media/hero/cardinal.jpg","rights_verified_at":"2026-09-09T08:10:31.95933+00:00"}],"route":{"name":"Cardinal: Chicago–New York","slug":"cardinal-chicago-new-york","stops":[{"lat":41.878611,"lon":-87.640278,"name":"Chicago Union Station","role":"origin","country":"United States","sequence":1,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":39.763056,"lon":-86.159444,"name":"Indianapolis Union Station","role":"via","country":"United States","sequence":2,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":39.11,"lon":-84.537806,"name":"Cincinnati Union Terminal","role":"via","country":"United States","sequence":3,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":38.34629,"lon":-81.63828,"name":"Charleston station","role":"via","country":"United States","sequence":4,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":37.785306,"lon":-80.305611,"name":"White Sulphur Springs station","role":"via","country":"United States","sequence":5,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":38.031389,"lon":-78.492111,"name":"Charlottesville Union Station","role":"via","country":"United States","sequence":6,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":38.897222,"lon":-77.006389,"name":"Washington Union Station","role":"via","country":"United States","sequence":7,"country_code":"US"},{"lat":40.750556,"lon":-73.993889,"name":"New York Penn Station / Moynihan Train Hall","role":"destination","country":"United States","sequence":8,"country_code":"US"}],"direction":"Chicago → New York","journey_id":"9bb5ab23-3e08-4f25-8b10-b84ff4790ba1","geometry_semantics":"representative_stops; no exact track geometry implied"},"operator":{"name":"Amtrak","slug":"amtrak","official_url":"https://www.amtrak.com/"},"countries":[{"iso2":"US","name":"United States","slug":"united-states"}],"editorial":{"tagline":"The Appalachian long way between New York and Chicago.","why_take_it":"It trades frequency and speed for landscape: the Blue Ridge, New River country and Ohio River make this a much more scenic crossing than its city pair suggests.","short_summary":"Amtrak’s Cardinal runs three days a week between New York and Chicago via Washington, Virginia, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, with a full overnight and some of the East’s strongest mountain-and-river scenery."},"archetypes":[{"key":"scenic","name":"Scenic","slug":"scenic"},{"key":"epic","name":"Epic","slug":"epic"}],"provenance":{"sources":[{"url":"https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train","name":"Amtrak","authority":"primary","last_observed_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"}],"source_count":1,"accepted_fact_count":1,"latest_fact_observed_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},"data_rights":{"note":"Commercial eligibility is a separate governed flag; public machine readability does not grant unrestricted commercial reuse.","public_read":true,"commercial_reuse_eligible":false},"entity_type":"TrainExperience","publication":{"tier":"premium","checked_at":"2026-09-14T07:51:37.710272+00:00","machine_publishable":true,"publication_contract_version":"v1"},"canonical_id":"urn:train-experience:de1f8147-244e-4462-899f-d06d35f46350","decision_data":{"price":{"currency":"USD","confidence":0.86,"price_from":null,"price_basis":"Amtrak uses dynamic pricing by date and accommodation; verify live booking.","pass_accepted":null,"dynamic_pricing":true,"last_observed_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00","last_verified_at":"2026-09-11T16:46:29.193+00:00","typical_price_max":null,"typical_price_min":null,"pass_supplement_max":null,"pass_supplement_min":null,"reservation_fee_max":null,"reservation_fee_min":null},"scores":{"food":3,"notes":"Hybrid editorial scoring grounded in Appalachian scenery, Viewliner sleepers and limited frequency.","value":4,"family":3,"scenic":5,"comfort":4,"romance":4,"confidence":0.78,"uniqueness":4,"bucket_list":5,"photography":5,"evaluated_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00","accessibility":4,"score_version":"editorial_v1","train_character":4,"evaluation_method":"hybrid"},"booking":{"notes":"Reserved coach and sleeper accommodation are sold by Amtrak; three-times-weekly frequency makes date flexibility important.","confidence":0.96,"difficulty":2,"pass_accepted":null,"last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00","booking_window_days":null,"reservation_required":true,"same_day_feasibility":null,"direct_online_booking":true,"recommended_advance_days":null,"pass_reservation_required":null,"multiple_bookings_required":false},"seasons":[{"month":1,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":2,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":3,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":4,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":5,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":6,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":7,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":8,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":9,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":10,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":11,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"month":12,"notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date.","confidence":0.95,"availability":"operates","last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"}],"highlights":[],"price_band":null,"traveller_fits":[{"key":"photographers","name":"Photographers","reason":"Appalachian and river scenery makes this one of Amtrak’s strongest eastern routes.","confidence":0.84,"suitability":5},{"key":"slow_travellers","name":"Slow travellers","reason":"Three-times-weekly overnight route prioritises journey over speed.","confidence":0.84,"suitability":5},{"key":"rail_enthusiasts","name":"Rail enthusiasts","reason":"Unusual route and Viewliner long-distance operation provide strong rail interest.","confidence":0.84,"suitability":4}],"duration_minutes":1648,"onboard_features":[{"key":"food_service","name":"Food service","notes":"Flexible Dining is offered.","state":"yes","quality":3,"confidence":0.94,"last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"key":"cafe_bar","name":"Cafe / bar service","notes":"Cafe Service is offered.","state":"yes","quality":3,"confidence":0.94,"last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},{"key":"sleeper_cabin","name":"Sleeper cabin","notes":"Viewliner roomettes/bedrooms are offered.","state":"yes","quality":4,"confidence":0.94,"last_verified_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"}],"discovery_intents":[],"reservation_requirement":null},"contract_version":"train-experience-graph/v1","operational_status":"active","agent_context":{"contract_version":"far-by-rail/journey-v1","id":"de1f8147-244e-4462-899f-d06d35f46350","slug":"cardinal","name":"Cardinal","summary":"Amtrak’s Cardinal runs three days a week between New York and Chicago via Washington, Virginia, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, with a full overnight and some of the East’s strongest mountain-and-river scenery.","operator":{"name":"Amtrak"},"countries":[{"slug":"united-states","name":"United States"}],"archetypes":[{"slug":"scenic","name":"Scenic"},{"slug":"epic","name":"Epic"}],"primary_family":"scenic","landscapes":[],"routes":[{"slug":"cardinal-chicago-new-york","name":"Cardinal: Chicago–New York","role":"primary","direction_label":"Chicago → New York","duration_minutes":1648,"stop_count":8,"origin":"Chicago Union Station","destination":"New York Penn Station / Moynihan Train Hall"}],"duration":{"minutes":1648,"unit":"minutes","precision":"typical","scope":"route_variant","route_name":"Cardinal: Chicago–New York","route_slug":"cardinal-chicago-new-york"},"overnight":{"status":"unknown","basis":"none"},"pricing":{"status":"dynamic","currency":"USD","basis":"Amtrak uses dynamic pricing by date and accommodation; verify live booking.","scope":{"payer":null,"travel_class":null,"trip_type":null,"season":null,"supplements_included":null},"components":[],"dynamic_pricing":true,"observed_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00","verified_at":"2026-09-11T16:46:29.193+00:00","is_current_offer":false},"booking_action":{"kind":"official","url":"https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train","label":"Official journey information, Amtrak","note":"We link to the operator's own journey page. No direct booking channel has been verified for this service, so availability and fares must be checked there.","verified_direct_booking":false,"reservation_required":true,"checked_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00"},"seat_side":[],"onboard_features":[],"seasons":[{"month":1,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":2,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":3,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":4,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":5,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":6,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":7,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":8,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":9,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":10,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":11,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."},{"month":12,"availability_state":"operates","notes":"Year-round Amtrak route operates three days per week; verify travel date."}],"scores":{"values":{"food":3,"value":4,"family":3,"scenic":5,"comfort":4,"romance":4,"uniqueness":4,"bucket_list":5,"photography":5,"accessibility":4,"train_character":4},"method":"hybrid","version":"editorial_v1","confidence":0.78,"notes":"Hybrid editorial scoring grounded in Appalachian scenery, Viewliner sleepers and limited frequency.","evaluated_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00","scale":"1-5, editorial"},"sources":[{"url":"https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train","name":"Amtrak","authority_level":"primary","source_type":"official_html","last_checked_at":null}],"media":[{"role":"hero","url":"https://uverfsaplaxkodwxrnrv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/experience-media/support/wave3/cardinal-fb014cf3a0.png","alt":"Cardinal: Amtrak \"The Cardinal\"   Clifton Forge, VA","credit":"Photo: NovaWolce · CC BY-SA 4.0","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","source_url":"https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Amtrak_%22The_Cardinal%22_-_Clifton_Forge%2C_VA.png/3840px-Amtrak_%22The_Cardinal%22_-_Clifton_Forge%2C_VA.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail","ai_generated":false,"rights_verified_at":"2026-09-13T00:00:00+00:00","rights":{"license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","license_permits_commercial_reuse":null,"catalogue_commercial_eligibility":false,"note":"The catalogue record is published for read access only. Each photograph is governed by its own licence and credit, which may permit uses the catalogue flag does not cover."}},{"role":"gallery","url":"https://uverfsaplaxkodwxrnrv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/experience-media/support/wave3/cardinal-1c708f9a80.jpg","alt":"Amtrak’s Cardinal at Prince station in West Virginia.","credit":"Photo: jpmueller99 · CC BY 2.0","license":"CC BY 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/","source_url":"https://live.staticflickr.com/2633/4217037770_30973ebfd2_b.jpg","ai_generated":false,"rights_verified_at":"2026-09-12T10:28:00+00:00","rights":{"license":"CC BY 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/","license_permits_commercial_reuse":null,"catalogue_commercial_eligibility":false,"note":"The catalogue record is published for read access only. Each photograph is governed by its own licence and credit, which may permit uses the catalogue flag does not cover."}},{"role":"gallery","url":"https://uverfsaplaxkodwxrnrv.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/experience-media/hero/cardinal.jpg","alt":"Amtrak Cardinal train 51 stopping at Staunton, Virginia, on its westbound journey.","credit":"Photo: Ben Schumin / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0","license":"CC BY-SA 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/","source_url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Redirect/file/Westbound_Cardinal_train_in_Staunton_-01-_(9719979867).jpg","ai_generated":false,"rights_verified_at":"2026-09-09T08:10:31.95933+00:00","rights":{"license":"CC BY-SA 2.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/","license_permits_commercial_reuse":null,"catalogue_commercial_eligibility":false,"note":"The catalogue record is published for read access only. Each photograph is governed by its own licence and credit, which may permit uses the catalogue flag does not cover."}}],"links":{"human":"https://farbyrail.com/experiences/cardinal","machine":"https://farbyrail.com/data/experiences/cardinal.json","legacy_machine":"https://farbyrail.com/api/v1/experiences/cardinal","self_web":"https://farbyrail.com/experiences/cardinal"},"record_updated_at":"2026-09-14T07:51:37.630611+00:00","canonical_contract_version":"v1.5","rights":{"public_read":true,"commercial_reuse_eligible":false,"note":"Public read access. Machine readability does not grant commercial reuse of editorial text or photography; each media item carries its own licence."},"provenance":{"contract_version":"farbyrail-public-claims/v1","claim_count":1,"exported_value_count":0,"claims":[{"id":"urn:farbyrail:fact:8461bfe4-5be7-42ad-ae5d-10fd6bfb59db","property_key":"official_product_summary_2026","review_state":"accepted","value":null,"value_exported":false,"confidence":0.98,"observed_at":"2026-09-09T04:12:50.541357+00:00","source":{"id":"urn:farbyrail:source:17e5c9f6-6d15-428b-9742-1a1c1c440a08","name":"Amtrak","url":"https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train","authority":"primary"}}],"profile_evidence":{"booking":{"fact_id":"urn:farbyrail:fact:8461bfe4-5be7-42ad-ae5d-10fd6bfb59db","property_key":"official_product_summary_2026","scope":"profile_reference_not_all_fields","source_url":"https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train","caveat":"Evidence association only. This source supports the linked observation, not every booking or price field on the record. Match property, value, validity and product scope before citing a specific field."},"price":{"fact_id":"urn:farbyrail:fact:8461bfe4-5be7-42ad-ae5d-10fd6bfb59db","property_key":"official_product_summary_2026","scope":"profile_reference_not_all_fields","source_url":"https://www.amtrak.com/cardinal-train","caveat":"Evidence association only. This source supports the linked observation, not every booking or price field on the record. Match property, value, validity and product scope before citing a specific field."}},"policy":{"read_only":true,"scope_note":"An accepted observation is not proof that all current profile fields or all route variants match it. Check property, value, validity and product scope before citing a field. A profile reference alone does not support every profile field.","unknown_is_not_no":true,"published_experiences_only":true,"raw_source_content_included":false,"profile_evidence_is_not_field_proof":true,"withheld_values_are_not_absent_facts":true}}},"published_semantics":{"note":"Additive semantic view of this same record. Existing fields above are unchanged.","contract_version":"far-by-rail/journey-v1","duration":{"minutes":1648,"unit":"minutes","precision":"typical","scope":"route_variant","route_name":"Cardinal: Chicago–New York","route_slug":"cardinal-chicago-new-york"},"overnight":{"status":"unknown","basis":"none"},"pricing_status":"dynamic","booking_action_kind":"official","primary_family":"scenic","provenance_returned":true}}