All about the Autotrain

[pwdebbie]

Hi everyone!

For those of you who have bid up from roomette to bedroom, would you share (in relative terms or percentages, if you don't want to post exact dollar amounts) how much you paid for the upgrade?

I don't remember what I paid, but I bid the minimum amount and was accepted.

Trying to collect data points for my trip this summer where my 3 early-20's DDs will be in 2 roomettes and whether they might want to bid to upgrade. Downside is that we then almost certainly wouldn't all be in the same car, but it might be worth it.

Read the reviews of people who have slept in the top bunk. Even if you upgrade, one of them will have to sleep in the top bunk. I'd rather have a third roomette than a bedroom.

Also, I read something recently about people putting locks on roomettes from the outside. Is this a thing!? We've taken the AT probably 8 times and I've never seen that. Though, I wasn't looking for it, either. But I do always feel slightly anxious going to dinner with my stuff in the bedroom/roomette. I know all about not bringing valuables on board, taking wallet/phone/etc. with me, closing the curtains, etc. but I still would prefer if I could actually lock it. So this intrigues me, and I wanted to ask if any here have done it. Then again, I'm not sure it's allowed, and I can see why in terms of safety hazard (what if someone gets locked inside accidentally? What if the key gets lost or the combination glitches? Amtrak isn't going to have bolt-cutters....). Anyone care to comment??

I read that somewhere too but can't find it now. I was uncomfortable leaving my items behind but figured that the Porter had a job to do and making sure the rooms are secure is part of his responsibility. Still, it's hard for me trust. I put my laptop under my coat.

 

[bdcp]

Hi everyone!

For those of you who have bid up from roomette to bedroom, would you share (in relative terms or percentages, if you don't want to post exact dollar amounts) how much you paid for the upgrade?

Has anyone who bid to upgrade NOT had it accepted?

Trying to collect data points for my trip this summer where my 3 early-20's DDs will be in 2 roomettes and whether they might want to bid to upgrade. Downside is that we then almost certainly wouldn't all be in the same car, but it might be worth it.

Also, I read something recently about people putting locks on roomettes from the outside. Is this a thing!? We've taken the AT probably 8 times and I've never seen that. Though, I wasn't looking for it, either. But I do always feel slightly anxious going to dinner with my stuff in the bedroom/roomette. I know all about not bringing valuables on board, taking wallet/phone/etc. with me, closing the curtains, etc. but I still would prefer if I could actually lock it. So this intrigues me, and I wanted to ask if any here have done it. Then again, I'm not sure it's allowed, and I can see why in terms of safety hazard (what if someone gets locked inside accidentally? What if the key gets lost or the combination glitches? Amtrak isn't going to have bolt-cutters....). Anyone care to comment??

I'm not even sure how you'd put a lock on a roomette door. We've never had an issue in over a dozen round trips. We're going again on Monday, in a bedroom. I do always take my valuables with me (wallet, passports-we cruise, cash) but never worry about laptops, kindles, etc. We used to do the same in coach and roomettes with zero problems. I'd be willing to bet that putting a lock on a roomette, if it's even possible is against Amtrak policy.

 

[erinch]

No external locks allowed. If you close the door and the curtains to your roommate, someone would have to be extremely bold to brazenly open up your room and go in.

 

[lovin'fl]

We have had a bedroom like 4 times now and always leave our stuff without an issue. I just hide things away so someone would really have to dig through to find.

Last time we won a bid to go from roomette to bedroom. Bid the lowest amount. Got an extra tight bedroom like none we had before where the bathroom was near the front door, in a corner like and was a pain to get in and out of. Rhe other times we had a bathroom near the back with a connecting door to the next bedroom....this up bid one did not have a connecting door and was tighter for some reason. For that, we may not bid again. We have a roomette in April and will probably stick with it.

 

[erinch]

Lovin'fl, you got the infamous A bedroom, which is smaller than the other 4. I've seen reports that it is often the one most available for bid ups.

 

[lovin'fl]

Lovingly, you got the infamous A bedroom, which is smaller than the other 4. I've seen reports that it is often the one most available for bid ups.

Yes, it was A.

Our next trip is train 5246 roomette 10.

 

[bdcp]

We just got into FL today on the AT. We were in bedroom B. The train wasn't completely full. We left Lorton on time yesterday and arrived in Sanford about 845. We were in our car before 930 as we had priority offload. There were only 18 priority vehicles. Going to dinner with my husbands cousin and aunt in a bit (Lakeland area) before getting a good nights sleep and heading to Canaveral tomorrow before our upcoming cruises. We made great time and got to Florence around 1130.

 

[teeeera]

I’ll be taking the auto train from Lorton to Sanford this summer. I’d like to check in in the morning and leave with my car, then check my car later around 2.

How early can I check in at the desk just to get the tickets and dinner reservations? Are they open at 9am?

 

[erinch]

We will be on the AT again in June!
If the train is running on time, they will open the gate at 11:30. People will start to line up up to an hour ahead of time. If you want to go in and get your boarding pass, and if riding in a sleeper, make your dinner reservation time, you will want to get there by 11 am to get in line, to get your preferred dinner time. If the train is full, there will be 3 seatings. 5, 7 and 9. For us, 5 is too early. 9 is too late , and 7 is Goldilocks Just right.

When you go through, tell the gate check-in person that you are going to go in to get your boarding pass, and you will be directed to a small lot on your left.

After you get your boarding pass, and your dining reservation, you can go back out for lunch. All vehicles must checkin by 2:30, and we generally get back by 2 so as to get seating in the waiting room.

There will be little luggage carts to pile your stuff on. We bring pillows, a lightweight big shoulder wrap that can drape my shoulders or legs if chilly. We bring a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers, grapes for our own happy hour. Bring cash to tip the dining car servers and your room attendant. We tip 10 for dinner, 5 for breakfast and 20 for the SCA (sleeping car attendant).

The reason you can’t check in earlier is that those who have arrived from Sanford have to detain and get their cars. So check the train status on the Amtrak app to see if they will be opening at 11 am.

Have fun! It is always the start of our vacation!

 

[teeeera]

We will be on the AT again in June!
If the train is running on time, they will open the gate at 11:30. People will start to line up up to an hour ahead of time. If you want to go in and get your boarding pass, and if riding in a sleeper, make your dinner reservation time, you will want to get there by 11 am to get in line, to get your preferred dinner time. If the train is full, there will be 3 seatings. 5, 7 and 9. For us, 5 is too early. 9 is too late , and 7 is Goldilocks Just right.

When you go through, tell the gate check-in person that you are going to go in to get your boarding pass, and you will be directed to a small lot on your left.

After you get your boarding pass, and your dining reservation, you can go back out for lunch. All vehicles must checkin by 2:30, and we generally get back by 2 so as to get seating in the waiting room.

There will be little luggage carts to pile your stuff on. We bring pillows, a lightweight big shoulder wrap that can drape my shoulders or legs if chilly. We bring a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers, grapes for our own happy hour. Bring cash to tip the dining car servers and your room attendant. We tip 10 for dinner, 5 for breakfast and 20 for the SCA (sleeping car attendant).

The reason you can’t check in earlier is that those who have arrived from Sanford have to detain and get their cars. So check the train status on the Amtrak app to see if they will be opening at 11 am.

Have fun! It is always the start of our vacation!

That’s super helpful, thank you!

 

[pwdebbie]

Planning a trip with my son and his family. One of his boys is terrified about flying so I am considering options. If he happens to absolutely refuse to fly back, I'm wondering about renting a car and taking the train back with him. Would rental agencies allow this? And would AutoTrain allow a rental car?

 

[erionm]

Planning a trip with my son and his family. One of his boys is terrified about flying so I am considering options. If he happens to absolutely refuse to fly back, I'm wondering about renting a car and taking the train back with him. Would rental agencies allow this? And would AutoTrain allow a rental car?

They have no way of knowing it's a rental car when you arrive at the train station (except for the tag on the keys which they would not see until they go to load the car onto the train. Not sure they would care.).

As for the car rental itself, you would need to specify if you are returning the vehicle to the same location or a different one.

 

[bdcp]

We just returned from a month away in FL and cruising. We were on the AT SB on 10 March which was on time leaving and arrived something like 1 hour late. We returned yesterday morning on the NB train that left Sanford on 09 April. The train had arrived 1.5 hours late from Lorton but even at 1230 when we arrived, knowing it had been delayed, we had to leave for a bit (traffic was backed up onto 1st St and they were making people leave because they were blocking the traffic lane. We returned at 130 and still had to wait about 25 min in line to get to the gate. The check in line in the terminal went all the way back to the doors near the bathroom. We did leave on time and got to Lorton about 830, so 1/2 hour early. Train was booking all the way back. Lots of snowbirds returning north.

 

[bdcp]

Planning a trip with my son and his family. One of his boys is terrified about flying so I am considering options. If he happens to absolutely refuse to fly back, I'm wondering about renting a car and taking the train back with him. Would rental agencies allow this? And would AutoTrain allow a rental car?

You would not be the first to do this. Amtrak seriously does not care. Rental agency probably won't either as long as you return it at the other end lol.