Auto Train extension?

[west point]

That said, some of our group's Eastern US members do use it but a discussion subject this past winter was how useful a southern terminus somewhere near Pensacola or Mobile would be. Not everyone is headed to Orlando.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

This suggestion has merit. You caused me to ask someone just back from Panama City, Florida what his observations were for out of state autos. Many Midwest and Canadian cars surprised him.
There is plenty of real estate along the BAY line from Dothan, AL. to Panama City to build a very efficient Auto train terminal. Could be built somewhere near where BAY line crosses I-10, giving access to Pensacola, Panama City, Appalatchacoola, Fl, Tallahassee.

Dothan connects to CSX BOW line from Montgomery then on north to whatever location in Midwest. Another possibility for the future.

 

[jiml]

There is plenty of real estate along the BAY line from Dothan, AL. to Panama City to build a very efficient Auto train terminal. Could be built somewhere near where BAY line crosses I-10, giving access to Pensacola, Panama City, Appalatchacoola, Fl, Tallahassee.

Dothan connects to CSX BOW line from Montgomery then on north to whatever location in Midwest. Another possibility for the future.

Correct; the Bay Line (St. Andrews Bay railroad) parallels US-231 which, with US-331 through Defuniak Springs, are the primary access roads to the area. I remember in the early '90s thinking that it had likely had passenger service in the "golden age" of trains since the beaches had been popular for generations. Now it has only general freight.

 

[west point]

At one time there was a sleeper ar from Atlanta to Panama City. Not sure if it was C of GA to Dothan or the West point route.

 

[Alexandria Nick]

The way I look at it, the important bit isn't exactly the snowbirds or whatever. I don't care what the why is. I look at where people are paying to ship cars. There's a lot of car carriers going up and down 95 that are carrying NY and FL plates on their cargo cars. So obviously there's demand to move automobiles because people are doing it regardless of the Autotrain existing.

So if your question is "where, if possible, should a second route go," don't dabble in hypotheticals like a trucker bridge, ski traffic, or debating what snowbird destination. Figure out what corridor is the heaviest in over the road hauling for private vehicles.

My gut says Mid Atlantic to San Diego.

 

[zephyr17]

The way I look at it, the important bit isn't exactly the snowbirds or whatever. I don't care what the why is. I look at where people are paying to ship cars. There's a lot of car carriers going up and down 95 that are carrying NY and FL plates on their cargo cars. So obviously there's demand to move automobiles because people are doing it regardless of the Autotrain existing.

So if your question is "where, if possible, should a second route go," don't dabble in hypotheticals like a trucker bridge, ski traffic, or debating what snowbird destination. Figure out what corridor is the heaviest in over the road hauling for private vehicles.

My gut says Mid Atlantic to San Diego.

Virtually all private vehicle hauls by private individuals are people moving permanently, not going on vacations or business trips. People utilizing car shipping between NY and FL are still likely snowbirds, despite not using the Autotrain. Also note a significant number of hauls of plated cars on car carriers are used cars purchased by dealers at auto auctions. That pretty much leaves permanent movers, which isn't really a large traffic base nor one that generally would be a good target for rail travel. People permanently moving long distances just want to be done with the whole mess in the most expedient way possible.

So what does your digestive system suggest would be the traffic base/marketing target? In terms of basic demographics first, then maybe endpoints derived from the target group(s).

 

[Alexandria Nick]

You are actually describing who I'd target. I don't really care about repeat business (although there would be some), only capturing the numbers of people who are shipping or driving themselves across country. It could be a symptom of living in the DC area, but I know a remarkable number of people who have done exactly this multiple times. Military especially.

 

[zephyr17]

You are actually describing who I'd target. I don't really care about repeat business (although there would be some), only capturing the numbers of people who are shipping or driving themselves across country. It could be a symptom of living in the DC area, but I know a remarkable number of people who have done exactly this multiple times. Military especially.

I'd say for most of the country that is far too much of a niche market to support a service. And one where even the most enthusiastic train rider is likely not to use it unless it fits plans absolutely perfectly. The logistics of long distance moves are tough for most of us for whom it is a once or twice in a lifetime event. Personally, when moving from Southern California to Washington, I never once considered fitting the Coast Starlight into our plans, despite the fact I am an inveterate train rider and a couple of public transport shuttle runs proved necessary.

I don't think long distance movers are enough of a traffic base.

 

[jis]

I'd say for most of the country that is far too much of a niche market to support a service. And one where even the most enthusiastic train rider is likely not to use it unless it fits plans absolutely perfectly. The logistics of long distance moves are tough for most of us for whom it is a once or twice in a lifetime event. Personally, when moving from Southern California to Washington, I never once considered fitting the Coast Starlight into our plans, despite the fact I am an inveterate train rider and a couple of public transport shuttle runs proved necessary.

I don't think long distance movers are enough of a traffic base.

I agree with your assessment. As it turns out Northeast to Florida is one of few niches where a self standing exclusive Auto Train can be operated effectively, since it can be done with just two consists, and 2+2 sets of OBS crew, and 2 operating zones for T&E. This creates a very sweet spot when put together with the fact that this also happens to be one of the most traveled geographical region pairs in the US and the Western Hemisphere.

Now whether and how a tag on type of Auto operation can be made to work between select other locations is an open issue, and quite hard to guess how that will go down. My suspicion is until the highways systems get congested an order of magnitude more, they won;t quite work. But it is just a guess.

 

[tgstubbs1]

You are actually describing who I'd target. I don't really care about repeat business (although there would be some), only capturing the numbers of people who are shipping or driving themselves across country. It could be a symptom of living in the DC area, but I know a remarkable number of people who have done exactly this multiple times. Military especially.

I checked out some car shippers once. They were a lot more expensive than Autotrain and they ask for up to a week to deliver. They also prefer your vehicle completely empty.