All about the Autotrain

[labdogs42]

If I tend to get motion sick, should I take Bonine before going on the Autotrain? I can usually ride in a car just fine, but I can't read in the car, KWIM? I always take Bonine before flying because if there is turbulence, I start to feel really sick to my stomach. I'll probably take it just to be safe, but I wondered what other people experienced with motion sickness on the train. Thanks!

 

[chartle]

If I tend to get motion sick, should I take Bonine before going on the Autotrain? I can usually ride in a car just fine, but I can't read in the car, KWIM? I always take Bonine before flying because if there is turbulence, I start to feel really sick to my stomach. I'll probably take it just to be safe, but I wondered what other people experienced with motion sickness on the train. Thanks!

I don't get motion sick but certain sections of the track shake you so much you would think you are on a carnival ride.

 

[Marshay]

If I tend to get motion sick, should I take Bonine before going on the Autotrain? I can usually ride in a car just fine, but I can't read in the car, KWIM? I always take Bonine before flying because if there is turbulence, I start to feel really sick to my stomach. I'll probably take it just to be safe, but I wondered what other people experienced with motion sickness on the train. Thanks!

Take it ... just to be safe!

I don't get motion sickness either but as PP said, there were some times that it got shaky. Also, when I was walking down the aisles/through the cars to get to the lounge/dining cars, I really noticed the movement. I imagine if you get motion sick easily, that this could be an issue...hopefully, just a small one for you!

 

[lucyem]

If I tend to get motion sick, should I take Bonine before going on the Autotrain? I can usually ride in a car just fine, but I can't read in the car, KWIM? I always take Bonine before flying because if there is turbulence, I start to feel really sick to my stomach. I'll probably take it just to be safe, but I wondered what other people experienced with motion sickness on the train. Thanks!

I am similar that I can ride in a car but not read. I also get sick on cruise ships. I can handle bumps, I love teacup rides But the motion upstairs in the train gets to me. It is the smooth sway that makes me sick. Downstairs you do not get so much sway so I am fine. I had not thought of taking anything but I might just try it on our next trip.

 

[NJRRK]

I am also going to the Lorton Amtrak station, by going S on I-95. At the exit I turn left. But like you, Google tells me to go past Amtrak, then U-turn and come back. Here is a Bing map screen capture of the intersection. I have highlighted the route in pink. You can see there are two left turn arrows on the roadway, and I have circled a signal light. I think Google is incorrect. I am going to trust the photo.

I have made that left many times. Google maps isn't always accurate, it will never map you to make a left turn onto my street from the main road. I think it does that because you can't do that turn during rush hour (M-F 7-9 a.m.). I don't know why it wouldn't let you do the left turn into Autotrain, there's even a traffic light!

 

[spima3]

I am also going to the Lorton Amtrak station, by going S on I-95. At the exit I turn left. But like you, Google tells me to go past Amtrak, then U-turn and come back. Here is a Bing map screen capture of the intersection. I have highlighted the route in pink. You can see there are two left turn arrows on the roadway, and I have circled a signal light. I think Google is incorrect. I am going to trust the photo.

Thanks for the map, your's was better than the one I looked at. I kept looking at what seemed to be a left turn and thinking why can't I take it? Good to know that Google is wrong and there is a turn into the station there.

 

[spima3]

If I tend to get motion sick, should I take Bonine before going on the Autotrain? I can usually ride in a car just fine, but I can't read in the car, KWIM? I always take Bonine before flying because if there is turbulence, I start to feel really sick to my stomach. I'll probably take it just to be safe, but I wondered what other people experienced with motion sickness on the train. Thanks!

I can't even sit the the back seat of a car w/o getting motion sickness, so I wasn't going to take any chances and took a packet of Bonine with us. We took it on the drive down, and then I gave it to everyone for the train, figured it couldn't hurt. We had no problems w/ motion sickness at all.

I know some people say the upper level rocks more, but it didn't bother us. I actually felt the lower level was more claustrophobic, and I don't think there is a pill for dealing with that one , so I was so glad we chose the upper level, even with the rocking, which really isn't that bad and once you develop that "train sway" walk, your good to go.

 

[spima3]

double post

 

[labdogs42]

Thanks for the advice on the Bonine. I'll take one just in case. Way better to be safe than sorry on that one!

 

[spima3]

From what I'm remembering, we should try to be at the station by around 2 pm, before it starts getting too crowded and we can pick our dinner time.

I elected not to have the tickets mailed, so after we check in, do we go in to the terminal and they just let us know where we are sitting?

Would it be the same on the return?

Also, with the storms building in the Atlantic, I started wondering if we need to worry about traveling on the autotrain? Do they cancel for weather? If so, is it an automatic refund?

We will be heading to the autotrain in about 2 weeks.

 

[christinou]

they do cancel for bad weather, the train was cancelled last february when we were scheduled to go down, they did reimburse us with no problem, the drove down, and came back on the autotrain, they just cancelled our way down, gave us the money and we kept the way back.

 

[BonnieA]

I know they cancel in heavy snow. We were stuck in FL an extra week because the train was cancelled during that time. We ended up driving home.

 

[spima3]

they do cancel for bad weather, the train was cancelled last february when we were scheduled to go down, they did reimburse us with no problem, the drove down, and came back on the autotrain, they just cancelled our way down, gave us the money and we kept the way back.

Well, I figured if it were cancelled we would just drive down; not that I would want to with the 3 kids, who do NOT like road trips.

How much notice did they give you?

 

[chartle]

Well, I figured if it were cancelled we would just drive down; not that I would want to with the 3 kids, who do NOT like road trips.

How much notice did they give you?

We got a call the morning we were set to go home at around 9:30 on our way to Boma for a last breakfast. Tropical Storm Fay put a ton of debris on the track and the train we were supposed to take back didn't get into Fl until 7:30 that night. Yes 11 hours late.

At the time we weighed our options:

• try to leave later - not possible kids had to get to school the day after we got back
  
• fly home but realize that a car is not a carry on nor can be checked
  
• set the GPS to home and start driving we called ahead for a hotel and stayed some where in NC. We also went to the Amtrak station in Kissimmee(?) to refund our tickets. Before we started to head home

 

[lucyem]

How much luggage, well how big a bag, can I take on the auto train?

There are two of us and will be in coach. I am planning a lockable wheeled carryon sized bag and a soft bag with pillows/blankets.

 

[NJRRK]

In coach I wouldn't bring much more than that, all you need is for overnight plus any meds and toiletries you need or want. For other luggage you can bring as much as will fit in the car.

 

[spima3]

I was thinking about driving down the night before the train leaves, just so I'm not so stressed about getting there on time. DH, who isn't going, has been pushing for this. ( He was recently on a business trip to MD, and was delayed 1 1/2 with road contruction. )

We have to leave after the kids get out of school on Fri, so we won't be leaving until 3:30 pm. I plan on taking US 15 all the way to I-66 and then getting a hotel in Manassas. I am thinking I won't encounter too much traffic on this route?

also, check out is noon, so by the time we load up, grab some lunch,etc, we should get to Lorton station around 1 pm. Is this too early? I don't want to sit around for several hours before boarding if I don't have to.

 

[Marshay]

I was thinking about driving down the night before the train leaves, just so I'm not so stressed about getting there on time. DH, who isn't going, has been pushing for this. ( He was recently on a business trip to MD, and was delayed 1 1/2 with road contruction. )

We have to leave after the kids get out of school on Fri, so we won't be leaving until 3:30 pm. I plan on taking US 15 all the way to I-66 and then getting a hotel in Manassas. I am thinking I won't encounter too much traffic on this route?

also, check out is noon, so by the time we load up, grab some lunch,etc, we should get to Lorton station around 1 pm. Is this too early? I don't want to sit around for several hours before boarding if I don't have to.

You will encounter traffic ... just know it and go with the flow. It shouldn't be as bad though as 95/495, so just keep saying that to yourself! If you can pull the kids out just one hour early w/o any penalty, you may want to consider that b/c your drive should be much smoother, less traffic, and quicker. However, if you can't, don't fret. You have all night to get there, right?!

Another idea would be to get a lunch 'to-go' on Saturday and then eat your lunch at the train station. For our first trip, we arrived at 1pm and found that we had lots of time (i.e., too much time). There is a playground (small) that will be fun for the kids at Lorton but if you plan to eat lunch on one of the benches/seats, then play on the playground, and walk around the building, look at the train, etc., this will help make the time go quicker.

Good luck with it all!

 

[spima3]

You have all night to get there, right?!

Well, hopefully, it won't take that long!

 

[spima3]

We are here now in Florida!

I was worried about driving down the day of departure, Sat, so I picked the kids up after school and we headed to Manassas, VA.

Driving from PA, we ended up taking US-15 South all the way toI-66. I took about 5 hours but that included a pit stop, ,a short stop for some dinner, slight backup of traffic around Harrisburg and some slow moving traffic due to contruction on I-81. So all in all not that long and it was a really pleasant road trip.

We arrived in Lorton on Sat, nicely refreshed after our stay at the hotel and got logged in around 1:45 pm. We started boarding around 3 pm and left around 4, I think?

There were several seats open near us, so we grabbed them right away, once everyone seemed to be loaded. There was a large family that boarded very late, they must just have hit the cut off, but luckily they were behind us, so we didn't have to move.

We only had choice of 5 or 9 pm for dinner. I heard the one clerk ask about it and the guy said coach was 5 or 9, so maybe 7 pm was gone? Either way, we were hungry so the 5 pm worked well. It was delicious.

We got back to our seats and settled in watching the scenery, reading, etc.
We were all really tired for some reason, so ended up going to bed early, around 9 pm. My
DS didn't sleep well at all, but the rest of us did ok, it's not like sleeping comfortably in your own bed, but we did get enough sleep and the night passed quickly, so that works for me.

They announced fairly early that we were ahead of schedule and would be getting into the station around 7:30. Only one problem, the station wasn't even open yet, so by the time they opened and had there early morning set up, we didn't actually start into unloading until 8:45. BUT, it was still earlier than we would have gotten in, so we were happy to be on our way by 9:45 am.

It was a great trip, and I'm very glad we didn't fly this time around.