Auto Train discussion

[lordsigma]

We paid $3,100 to book 2 family rooms and bring our car on the Amtrak Auto Train. Next time, we'll save hundreds by reserving something else.

Our family of five took the Amtrak Auto Train from Florida to Virginia in two family rooms. The trip was OK, but I wish we'd booked something else.

www.yahoo.com

Harsh comments on food service. Thought rooms were over priced..

That trip was obviously a while ago. That menu hasn’t been in place on the auto train in quite a while.

 

[Rambling Robert]

The skills of Amtrak ticket agents vary considerably. I think the $3100 reservation should have been flagged and an override by a supervisor that approves the bookings that are out of whack. The good news is the family will travel again while others say never again.

In the article that was a miss quote that they would have to pay over $400 per seat and coach. I believe that includes the car. I saw a price of $79 for the AT Coach seat - not including car.

This little vacation from Florida to Pennsylvania was an ideal trip for the auto train. It was a straight shot from Virginia to their destination in Pennsylvania which pleased parents.

To summarize the cost differences I’d say driving was about $750 gas, war and tear - $1500 for three nights and two rooms which night $200 a day for meals or $800 for four days. Well what do you know $3050 by car $3100 by train and the next trip the train will be about $500 cheaper with Roomette instead of the extra family room. And they’ll be in like flint with priority boarding.

The convenience they will have with a family room and a nearby remote will make the trip and order of magnitude more comfortable.

 

[max_ellis74]

Whats the biggest lift I can put on my truck that will clear the Auto train car carrier. Possibly a lifted toyota tundra 16-21

 

[tgstubbs1]

Whats the biggest lift I can put on my truck that will clear the Auto train car carrier. Possibly a lifted toyota tundra 16-21

How many inches of lift?

 

[Palmland]

Apparently total vehicle height is the limitation. Appears it’s 85” but check out Vehicle Requirements.

Width could be a factor if you have oversized tires.

 

[max_ellis74]

How many inches of lift?

4 or 6

Apparently total vehicle height is the limitation. Appears it’s 85” but check out Vehicle Requirements.

Width could be a factor if you have oversized tires.

So is that a yes or a no

 

[UserNameRequired]

4 or 6


So is that a yes or a no

A stock 2020 Tundra appears to have a height of around 76.2" Used 2020 Toyota Tundra Specs & Features | Edmunds

For only the height restriction, this _should_ mean less than 8.8" lift is OK. Assuming everything else remains stock including stock wheels and tires otherwise you would need to add those up too.

What I see a problem with (and I have never tried to use the auto-train) is the length of a stock Tundra 4 door appears to be 228.9", but that is 12.9" longer than the maximum Amtrak "Extended Vehicles" length?

 

[lordsigma]

Amtrak appears to want to look into improvements at both stations. https://procurement.amtrak.com/sap/...-browserStandardURL=X&sap-wd-filedownload=XIt

 

[railiner]

What I see a problem with (and I have never tried to use the auto-train) is the length of a stock Tundra 4 door appears to be 228.9", but that is 12.9" longer than the maximum Amtrak "Extended Vehicles" length?

Surprised at that...Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillac Fleetwoods from the mid-seventies are both about 234" long...they used to be "frequent flyers" on the old A-T in that era....

 

[Palmland]

Amtrak appears to want to look into improvements at both stations. https://procurement.amtrak.com/sap/bc/webdynpro/SAP/ZWA_PP_BUSSOPP;sap-ext-sid=Go75LWkewWeIpd8Oz4Y5Nw--Krq6Ilf_22oc4tbgQCw0Jg--/~wd_key/AMTRAK LORTON-SANFORD EXPANSION PROJECT DESIGN SCOPE.PDF?sap-contextid=SID:ANON:saecapp89p_ECP_10:jGXdRg2TwkQR9ldV3-85Smco4HtGeulCWKi20eDg-NEW&sap-wd-resource-id=WD0117&sap-wd-browserStandardURL=X&sap-wd-filedownload=XIt

Good to hear! While I think the stations are adequate, more space for vehicles is definitely needed. I suspect Amtrak may be getting pressure from local government agencies as traffic frequently backs up onto city streets. If an inbound train is late it can be a real zoo. And in Sanford it requires two tracks to load/unload the train which requires additional switching.

 

[joelkfla]

Amtrak appears to want to look into improvements at both stations. https://procurement.amtrak.com/sap/bc/webdynpro/SAP/ZWA_PP_BUSSOPP;sap-ext-sid=Go75LWkewWeIpd8Oz4Y5Nw--Krq6Ilf_22oc4tbgQCw0Jg--/~wd_key/AMTRAK LORTON-SANFORD EXPANSION PROJECT DESIGN SCOPE.PDF?sap-contextid=SID:ANON:saecapp89p_ECP_10:jGXdRg2TwkQR9ldV3-85Smco4HtGeulCWKi20eDg-NEW&sap-wd-resource-id=WD0117&sap-wd-browserStandardURL=X&sap-wd-filedownload=XIt

What's a DOR? I looked it up and it says, "a large black dung beetle that makes a droning sound in flight and excavates burrows in which its young develop." I don't think that's what they mean.

 

[jis]

What's a DOR? I

"Designer of Record", as mentioned in the document in section 1.5. It is buried deep in it. It may be viewed as a test detecting whether the document was read thoroughly before commenting on it or not

 

[west point]

More Amtrak IT problems. Links in both posts 233 ad 235 gets a 500 internal server message.

 

[Exvalley]

According to Amtrak's website, my upcoming trip on the Auto Train is completely sold out.

My spouse and I are traveling in coach. Do we need to show up early to be assured of two seats together, or are the agents pretty good about keeping adjacent seats open to accommodate couples that check in closer to the deadline?

 

[Exvalley]

To answer my own question…. Our seats were pre-assigned. No need to show up early.

 

[tgstubbs1]

Did they text you or email?
Assigned seating in coach seems to be a new thing.

 

[b243923]

Did they text you or email?
Assigned seating in coach seems to be a new thing.

What if you booked several months ago, my ticket does not show any seating

 

[b243923]

To answer my own question…. Our seats were pre-assigned. No need to show up early.

I just checked with Amtrak and there is no change in seating in coach on the Auto Train.
They said seats are assigned at the station when you arrive

 

[Exvalley]

I just checked with Amtrak and there is no change in seating in coach on the Auto Train.
They said seats are assigned at the station when you arrive

In my case they were assigned before we arrived.

 

[tgstubbs1]

If there's one thing you can count on with Amtrak, things change. Or sometimes they are hard to guess.
Maybe when the train is very full they assign seats?

 

[PrduPete]

We just rode the Auto Train for the first time in June. When we showed up, they already had assigned seats for us. The coach seating was only about 50-60% full, and they spread everyone out in the 4 coaches. I was on the Zephyr once and they had 3 coaches but jammed everyone into two. We booked way back in November, and we were assigned a little over halfway back in the first coach, which led me to believe these were essentially assigned when I made the reservation (there were maybe one or two families forward of the stairs, and I think 3 or so families behind the stairs).

 

[BLNT]

Any recent Auto Train dinner menus available? It's been over a year since we've been on the Auto Train and wasn't sure if much had changed. We usually end up getting to the station near the deadline, and often all the early dinner times are gone.

 

[Palmland]

Don’t think much has changed. However the sleeper-lounge attendant is back so you can get drinks and munchies before (or after) dinner without having to trek to the coach cafe.

 

[BLNT]

THANKS

I miss the chicken tenders (I'd bring honey mustard along for the trip).

It does look like the dining car has had an upgrade (have not eaten in there since pre-pandemic).

 

[eackly]

I thought that I would update you all with my experience on the Auto Train and manual transmission car.

After having lunch at one of our favorite restaurants in Sanford, we drove over to the Auto Train station.

After waiting to reach the car check-in area, the first Amtrak car employee said, let me get another guy because I am not the best with manuals.

He called another guy over who said don't worry I have been driving manuals my entire life and I currently drive a Honda Civic SI with a manual.

He then said you have a very cool car, I have always wanted to drive one of these V10s and that was that, we got out, took our overnight bags and went inside to check-in.

The train ride itself was fine, the HVAC could have been a little cooler but other than that, it was perfectly fine.

On the return the car check-in was no problem, the guy could drive a manual and that was that.

It was a great vacation and being able to drive my car on the Skyline Drive was awesome.