I've done the coach experience on that train before..... perhaps it's just me - but I hated it. The cars were divided by "families" and, shall we say... "silver hairs". The family car was like the circus train! Then at night... the "seniors" just roamed around - that train door.... opening... shutting...opening... shutting... The bathrooms smelled by the next morning... ugggghhh BUT.... we arrived on time and our car was with us when we got there - I guess the major benefit of the Auto Train.
Perhaps a bunch of us may end up on the same train in August 2009?!?! Though, at this point, we're holding out hope for "reasonable" air fare!