On several occasions during the 1970s, the "Silver Meteor" was combined with its old rival, the "Champion". In the summer of 1972, Amtrak split the trains in Savannah, with the "Champion" continuing to St. Petersburg and the "Meteor" continuing to Miami. They were combined again for the summers of 1975, 1976 and 1977, splitting in Jacksonville. Finally, in 1979, the "Champion" was permanently folded into the "Silver Meteor" as a St. Petersburg section. Although the "Champion" name was preserved for a time, it disappeared with the October 1, 1979 timetable.