Amtrak auto-train??
- Thread starter Jon NFL
- Start date
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jayl1
Member
Jon,
There were sliding doors on the compartments and a "curtain" for privacy. Food is a bit fancier with a compartment too. Get to Sanford early. There is a cut off on loading. First on does NOT mean first off though. A movie is also shown. We had "Get Smart". I believe dinner was at 5 & 7 but that may have changed. You will be called at your selected time (& you have a meal choice). Breakfast is whenever after it is announced in the morning. You may want to bring your own snacks. They are a bit pricy onboard.
As for arrival times, we were close to on time in Lorton on 1 of 2 trips. CSX sometimes causes delays. It is their track - & shaky at spots.
There is a CSX station just past the Amtrak entrance as well as a Conrad Yellington stone(?) loading facility. When I rode last October there was a CY GP30 parked & very photograpic! (Cross the Amtrak tracks & look for an overgrown service road on the right.)
The Sanford station is fairly easy to find - it's before the town. Lorton is right off an exit to I-95. Traffic north on 95 can be a pain & there was road construction for north bound traffic (and more than one crazy driver).
Overall it is a nice trip. In October it was cheaper for me to take the train than to drive - gas @ $4. Now cost would probably be more on the train BUT then there is no motel, gas or food cost. I used coach on that trip.
If you ever use coach, bring your own pillow. The loaners are about 1'X1' in size.
Would I do it again? Yes. They used to run a commercial to avoid I-95 traffic. It is nicer to arrive in D.C. fresh & fed.
Have a safe trip.
Jay
There were sliding doors on the compartments and a "curtain" for privacy. Food is a bit fancier with a compartment too. Get to Sanford early. There is a cut off on loading. First on does NOT mean first off though. A movie is also shown. We had "Get Smart". I believe dinner was at 5 & 7 but that may have changed. You will be called at your selected time (& you have a meal choice). Breakfast is whenever after it is announced in the morning. You may want to bring your own snacks. They are a bit pricy onboard.
As for arrival times, we were close to on time in Lorton on 1 of 2 trips. CSX sometimes causes delays. It is their track - & shaky at spots.
There is a CSX station just past the Amtrak entrance as well as a Conrad Yellington stone(?) loading facility. When I rode last October there was a CY GP30 parked & very photograpic! (Cross the Amtrak tracks & look for an overgrown service road on the right.)
The Sanford station is fairly easy to find - it's before the town. Lorton is right off an exit to I-95. Traffic north on 95 can be a pain & there was road construction for north bound traffic (and more than one crazy driver).
Overall it is a nice trip. In October it was cheaper for me to take the train than to drive - gas @ $4. Now cost would probably be more on the train BUT then there is no motel, gas or food cost. I used coach on that trip.
If you ever use coach, bring your own pillow. The loaners are about 1'X1' in size.
Would I do it again? Yes. They used to run a commercial to avoid I-95 traffic. It is nicer to arrive in D.C. fresh & fed.
Have a safe trip.
Jay
mike8693
Member
not sure it will help but here is what some ppl had to say about it http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10894&highlight=auto+train
UPDATE - We enjoyed the AutoTrain trip. Good service, food and departed a half hour early. (Thats good because we arrived an hour and half late 
The only downer is my height and the short upper bunk in the roomette.
Prices go up as you get closer to departure date. We booked 2 months early and the week before departure the price had gone up over $200. They say that the north bound is always full whereas the south bound is often available for last minute and at better rates.
We may do it again, sometime
)
The only downer is my height and the short upper bunk in the roomette. Prices go up as you get closer to departure date. We booked 2 months early and the week before departure the price had gone up over $200. They say that the north bound is always full whereas the south bound is often available for last minute and at better rates.
We may do it again, sometime
)
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