Auto Train Good or Bad Idea? (Orlando, Lakeland: transfer, buy, closing)

[burnw005]

We have been toying with the idea of taking the Auto Train from Sanford to Virginia, and then driving the rest of trip to Boston. Has anyone taken this excursion, and any pro's and con's would be appreciated. Do they provide actual sleeper cars or is it all coach type seating. THANKS

[GloryB]

Here's some good information on it:
On Track On Line - Amtrak Auto Train Tips Intro

I looked it up because I didn't even know it was available. What a great vacation idea. Thanks for your post.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by burnw005

We have been toying with the idea of taking the Auto Train from Sanford to Virginia, and then driving the rest of trip to Boston. Has anyone taken this excursion, and any pro's and con's would be appreciated. Do they provide actual sleeper cars or is it all coach type seating. THANKS

I used the Auto train before and was pleased. You can get a sleeper but they are expensive(costs extra) and small and not worth the cost imho. I just did the coach and thought it was pretty cool. They serve you a meal that is included in the price of the ticket. The meal was okay and they even served wine with it (although it is was really cheapo wine). You can also buy alcohol on the train and there is a small smoking room for those who want to smoke. There is a lounge to play cards or just hang out.

The train is safe and has a lot of older snowbirds but it is a long boring ride. The auto train is a great way to save wear and tear on your vehicle though. It leaves at 4PM Sanford/Lorton and usually hits Sanford/Lorton at around 9 AM. You have to wait until your car is unloaded from the train which could take a couple hours depending on where your car is at. You also have to arrive early so they can load your car.

I'd rather just drive since it doesn't eliminate the horrible Washington DC traffic which is the worst part of the Northeast to Florida or vice versa travel imho.

pros
saves wear and tear on your car
relax and enjoy the scenery
cheap if you don't get a sleeper
sleep and arrive at your destination the next morning
serves a meal
sells alcohol
safe
no transfers
families are usually seated in a family section of the train (away from the adults with no children and the elderly)
Lorton terminal is nice

cons
long boring trip
hard to sleep in the uncomfortable seats
noisy drunk people walking by your seat at night
noisy train doors opening and closing
driving yourself is much faster
driving yourself is cheaper
tiny tiny bathrooms
trains are bumpy
Sanford terminal is run down

ps- try to get a seat away from the train doors (it is hard to sleep as people keep going through them at night)

-bring sleeping pills(prescription or Tylenol PM) or a bottle of liquor (their alcohol is overpriced) to help you sleep at night.

All in all I would do it again if I wanted to save wear and tear on my car but I prefer to just drive I-95 myself since it is not bad once you are away from Baltimore/ Wash DC area. Basically it is just a really long regular train that takes your car with you. If you rode a regular train before you know what to expect. It is nothing special and it is NOT as great as Amtrak makes it out to be. They really way over-hype the auto train. I'd rate the experience 7/10- average.

Hope this helps.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask me.

[annerk]

I don't believe there is a smoking car any longer. I think the entire Amtrak system is now non-smoking.

Auto-train is great--when it doesn't get delayed.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by annerk

I don't believe there is a smoking car any longer. I think the entire Amtrak system is now non-smoking.

Auto-train is great--when it doesn't get delayed.

It was a very small enclosed room on the bottom level just on the auto train. No other Amtrak train allows smoking.

Their site still shows that it is available on the auto trains but they could have ended it.
Amtrak - Traveling With Amtrak - Onboard - Smoking Onboard

[aneftp]

Auto train is GREAT idea! When we moved from Fairfax, VA to Orlando we took the auto train and it took so much stress off of us. It was a 17 hour ride and we got to Sanford early. The food was good and it was a fun trip. Of course we didn't sleep all that well, because it was bumpy at times, but it was much better than driving. I most definitely recommend it!

[Geri205]

Hi We took the auto train a few years ago..The great thing about it is that your car is all packed, no need to carry luggage around. We had coach seats, I found them comfortable, husband didn't. Meals were good and the staff was very nice. The train was really empty..I think it was about the beginning of October.. Lakeland Yankee has given good info. We have also driven from NJ to Orlando, liked the ride until we hit bad weather coming home...This year we took Amtrak passenger train from Newark to Orlando..We had a roomette, yes, it is expensive, but all your meals are included. Room is very small. I would recommend the auto train because you are going all the way to Boston, that would be an long drive from Florida. The auto train is a 17hr trip, then you would have another 8 or so hours to Boston.
Have a good trip