Triley
Real Lead Service Attendant
For nearly $3k round trip, apparently too much!
During Covid, apparently so.
For nearly $3k round trip, apparently too much!
The last time I rode the AT, I did not take my car. A friend, who was traveling from NJ to visit his mother in Florida, allowed me to link my reservation to his car (which is permitted). I got my own room. Although I have a car, I do not drive very much and the last place I want to drive is in the DC area. I had not taken the AT in years and wanted to do so. It worked out well for me.I'd love to take the AT but I don't have a car, so I can't. I could easily get to Lorton via the VRE common connection points with WMATA. It's the AT rules that prohibit it.
I actually like traveling alone, so while this solution is good, it's unlikely to work for me. Most of my friends are in too much of a hurry to go someplace to enjoy the trip itself. It doesn't make for good travelling companions.The last time I rode the AT, I did not take my car. A friend, who was traveling from NJ to visit his mother in Florida, allowed me to link my reservation to his car (which is permitted). I got my own room. Although I have a car, I do not drive very much and the last place I want to drive is in the DC area. I had not taken the AT in years and wanted to do so. It worked out well for me.
You can always rent a car and just drop off at the other end. We have done that before.I actually like traveling alone, so while this solution is good, it's unlikely to work for me. Most of my friends are in too much of a hurry to go someplace to enjoy the trip itself. It doesn't make for good travelling companions.
Have you seen rental car rates lately? This would involve paying more than $100 a day extra for me to drive through the congested DC area traffic to pick up the autotrain (about 1.5 to 2 hours from Baltimore to Lorton), and then be dropped of in Sanford, not near anywhere I would want to go in Florida, thus requiring more driving in congested central Florida traffic. The alternative is to just take one of the Silvers directly from Baltimore to wherever I want to go in Florida, and then a short cab ride to the car rental agency if I need a car where I'm going (and given Florida, unless I'm just planning to spend the whole time in Miami Beach, I'm going to need a car.) If the messiah comes, maybe Amtrak will finally be able to use the new station at the Miami airport, and it will be even better, because one can get a rental car there, and a cab ride won't be necessary.You can always rent a car and just drop off at the other end. We have done that before.
Nobody said that everyone coming to Florida has to use the Auto Train you knowHave you seen rental car rates lately? This would involve paying more than $100 a day extra for me to drive through the congested DC area traffic to pick up the autotrain (about 1.5 to 2 hours from Baltimore to Lorton), and then be dropped of in Sanford, not near anywhere I would want to go in Florida, thus requiring more driving in congested central Florida traffic. The alternative is to just take one of the Silvers directly from Baltimore to wherever I want to go in Florida, and then a short cab ride to the car rental agency if I need a car where I'm going (and given Florida, unless I'm just planning to spend the whole time in Miami Beach, I'm going to need a car.) If the messiah comes, maybe Amtrak will finally be able to use the new station at the Miami airport, and it will be even better, because one can get a rental car there, and a cab ride won't be necessary.
I see 3 flex meals on the cafe menu.New Auto train sleeper dinner menu. https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...outes/Auto-Train-Dinner-Menu-Sleeper-1021.pdf
New auto train cafe car menu: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...us/routes/Auto-Train-Cafe-Menu-Coach-1121.pdf
Yes the old cafe menu offered two of them the braised beef and asian noodle bowl now they offer three - seems one of the main points of this menu update was to update those offerings to what's offered on the new flex menu. Couple other subtracts/adds - notably no more salads/fresh sandwiches but a few more items like chicken street tacos, mac and cheese, veggie tamale.I see 3 flex meals on the cafe menu.![]()
New Auto train sleeper dinner menu. https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...outes/Auto-Train-Dinner-Menu-Sleeper-1021.pdf
New auto train cafe car menu: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...us/routes/Auto-Train-Cafe-Menu-Coach-1121.pdf
New Auto train sleeper dinner menu.
Of course, I'm just commenting about taking the Auto Train without having a car to take along. Clearly, the main benefit of paying extra to take your car with you depends on the rental car rates at the destination, and how long you're staying there. If it's cheaper to not take your car, then, of course, one can ride the Silvers.Nobody said that everyone coming to Florida has to use the Auto Train you knowEveryone should use what works the best for them including flying or driving if it suites AFAIAC.
BTW, you could take Tri-Rail from Hollywood to Miami Airport, connection on the same platform from Silver Service and get your rental car there.![]()
And selling for 16 dollars each!!!!I see 3 flex meals on the cafe menu.![]()
I believe at one time, if the crew on the Silvers wanted to purchase a flex meal, it would cost them $25. I am guessing none of them did.And selling for 16 dollars each!!!!
I believe at one time, if the crew on the Silvers wanted to purchase a flex meal, it would cost them $25. I am guessing none of them did.
New Auto train sleeper dinner menu. https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...outes/Auto-Train-Dinner-Menu-Sleeper-1021.pdf
New auto train cafe car menu: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...us/routes/Auto-Train-Cafe-Menu-Coach-1121.pdf
DARN - they took off the kids chicken tenders --- my go to (with the honey mustard I bring along).
The "no riders without a car" policy is a holdover from when Auto-Train began as a private company in December, 1971...AFTER Amtrak started operations. Amtrak's enabling legislation and agreements with the railroads forbade anyone from competing directly with them. A-T Corp came up with the approach that this was not a passenger train, it was a freight train carrying autos, and that any passengers were merely incidental to its operation...as in back in the day when "drovers" used to accompany livestock shipments and "banana messengers" would ride along with fast freight shipments of fresh fruits.I'd love to take the AT but I don't have a car, so I can't. I could easily get to Lorton via the VRE common connection points with WMATA. It's the AT rules that prohibit it.
Is there an effective date for the new menu?New Auto train sleeper dinner menu. https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...outes/Auto-Train-Dinner-Menu-Sleeper-1021.pdf
New auto train cafe car menu: https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...us/routes/Auto-Train-Cafe-Menu-Coach-1121.pdf
This past Wednesday I thinkIs there an effective date for the new menu?
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