All about the Autotrain

[disneymarie]

I had purchased auto train coach seats during the summer for September and it was I believe $800+, but a little later they were having a special so I was able to get trip a little cheaper. When we arrived in Lorton, hubby decided to upgrade to a deluxe room which cost another $600+ and on the return trip he upgraded again and it was an extra $500+ ( a little better). Now I see that a trip next November would be $1280 for a family room for 3 people! So, if I book a trip for next year it will be the same price as what we paid for just a room on our last trip Crazy!

The end of July I found the price went up for our planned return trip mid October, so I reserved. Three adults, two children in Two delux rooms and Van. $1050.00.The delux rooms were about $282.00 each.

I tried booking a trip for the holidays and price is prohibitive. I saw air flights were double and was taking a chance at the train. Never thought they would near triple.

 

[labdogs42]

I see there is an Amtrak rewards card, too. Anyone have that one?

 

[cop185]

Hi Train travelers, we are taking the trip south this Saturday with DD 7 & 4. We are going coach (yea I know the cheap way) and were wondering if there is Wi-fi on the train, and what kind of movies they show. We're going to bring the laptop, dvd player & ipods to keep the kids happy, but if I can leave sone movies in the car, then I will. Also can anyone recently make any seating suggestions about where to sit for the kids to have a good time, and not to be blasted out by those using their OUTSIDE voices? Doesn't need to be right next to a bathroom or stairs, just a good spot to enjoy our 1st Autotrain trip.

Thanks in advance!

 

[chartle]

Hi Train travelers, we are taking the trip south this Saturday with DD 7 & 4. We are going coach (yea I know the cheap way) and were wondering if there is Wi-fi on the train, and what kind of movies they show. We're going to bring the laptop, dvd player & ipods to keep the kids happy, but if I can leave sone movies in the car, then I will. Also can anyone recently make any seating suggestions about where to sit for the kids to have a good time, and not to be blasted out by those using their OUTSIDE voices? Doesn't need to be right next to a bathroom or stairs, just a good spot to enjoy our 1st Autotrain trip.

Thanks in advance!

Unless something has changed no WiFi. Also we were assigned seats. Now if there are empty seats I guess you can spread out.

 

[famouschinesec]

Hi Train travelers, we are taking the trip south this Saturday with DD 7 & 4. We are going coach (yea I know the cheap way) and were wondering if there is Wi-fi on the train, and what kind of movies they show. We're going to bring the laptop, dvd player & ipods to keep the kids happy, but if I can leave sone movies in the car, then I will. Also can anyone recently make any seating suggestions about where to sit for the kids to have a good time, and not to be blasted out by those using their OUTSIDE voices? Doesn't need to be right next to a bathroom or stairs, just a good spot to enjoy our 1st Autotrain trip.

Thanks in advance!

If you want quiet, then I would re-book the lower level; by now it may be full already. When we came northbound on Monday night, everyone we traveled with said the Southbound trains were completely full. If you didn't or can't book the lower level, then I would ask to be seated in the very front of the first coach car ( this would be forward of the mid car break for the bathroom). The first class cars will be in front of you so no one from first class will be walking back, and all the other coach cars will be behind you, so no one from coach will be walking forward

 

[taurus8012]

We are going this year for Thanksgiving and are using Amtrak points. What I love about this is no matter how expensive your ticket is to go coach always used 5,500 each way per person and the car is 10,000 each way. The fares were very expensive the day we are going but we used points so it did not matter.

we have points left over also so I will have to see for our next trip - if the prices are inexpensive we might save our points and pay for our tickets.

Linda

Wow we are going for Thanksgiving too.....Nov.17th

 

[bdcp]

Unless something has changed no WiFi. Also we were assigned seats. Now if there are empty seats I guess you can spread out.

You can absolutely spread out. Our return trip two weeks ago, the train wasn't full and they assigned DH and I seats across the aisle from each other so we had two seats. Each car was about 1/3-1/2 full. Several times, the Amtrak employees walking through told people they could move to any empty seat they want. This has been our experience going North in Nov on all 5 of our trips.

As for Wi-Fi, it's only in the stations at Sanford and Lorton. I heard nothing about providing it on the train, even though there has been rumors for a while. We've used it on Acela 3 times and it works great except for tunnels, lol, which aren't an issue going to FL.

 

[chartle]

As for Wi-Fi, it's only in the stations at Sanford and Lorton. I heard nothing about providing it on the train, even though there has been rumors for a while. We've used it on Acela 3 times and it works great except for tunnels, lol, which aren't an issue going to FL.

I think they are putting wi-fi on those trains because they are commuter trains and are basically using it as perk to get you to take the train and not drive yourself.

 

[bdcp]

I think they are putting wi-fi on those trains because they are commuter trains and are basically using it as perk to get you to take the train and not drive yourself.

There have been reports on train forums that they are planning on putting it on Auto Train also. As for "commuter trains", Acela is the only east coast train that has wi-fi as far as I know. There are other east coast trains that people use to commute that don't have it yet. It's slowly being added, so hopefully on AT. Although, since we have smart phones, we can use those on the train. It was nice to have the GPS on them too so I knew where we were whenever I wanted to check.

 

[kittylady1972]

There have been reports on train forums that they are planning on putting it on Auto Train also. As for "commuter trains", Acela is the only east coast train that has wi-fi as far as I know. There are other east coast trains that people use to commute that don't have it yet. It's slowly being added, so hopefully on AT. Although, since we have smart phones, we can use those on the train. It was nice to have the GPS on them too so I knew where we were whenever I wanted to check.

Agreed...we did the SAME thing with our phones. I was constantly checking the GPS on my phone to find out where we were which was great! Of course it killed my phone battery too!

 

[Marshay]

Agreed...we did the SAME thing with our phones. I was constantly checking the GPS on my phone to find out where we were which was great! Of course it killed my phone battery too!

The first time we went we forgot to bring our chargers. Now we always do so never a dead battery. There are lots of outlets in coach and not as many for the Family Room, so we bring our own small extension cord! But it is great for the Leapster, 2 cell phones, dvd player, etc.

 

[mommaU4]

Hello! I have what might be a silly question, but one that's on my mind nonetheless. Has anyone ever become "train sick" while riding on a long distance train trip?
I know it's possible and fairly common to become sea sick while on a cruise, and some people have issues with long distance car trips, but is this an issue on the train? I've never been on one and I just wonder how much movement, or rocking is experienced while riding?

Thanks in advance for any info or personal experiences.

 

[famouschinesec]

I get sea sick, I get car sick. I don't have any problem with the motion of the train. I think park of it has to do with the fact that I feel very relaxed on the train. I'm not worried we are going to capsize, and I'm not worried some crazy driver is going to ram into us on the interstate. However, I do feel motion for a good long time after I get off the train; just like you would after being on a boat for a while.

 

[Marshay]

Hello! I have what might be a silly question, but one that's on my mind nonetheless. Has anyone ever become "train sick" while riding on a long distance train trip?
I know it's possible and fairly common to become sea sick while on a cruise, and some people have issues with long distance car trips, but is this an issue on the train? I've never been on one and I just wonder how much movement, or rocking is experienced while riding?

Thanks in advance for any info or personal experiences.

not silly at all ... it's asked frequently on here.

You will feel the train move and sway ...and sometimes it can be a bit jerky when you are walking such that you have to grab the seat/wall ... but for my family of 4 (2yo, 6yo, DH and I in our 40s), we don't mind it at all and in fact you sort of get lulled into the swaying motion.

I've been on planes and cruise ships and I think "at times" the train can be felt more than on a plane but it's not like the rockiness that being on a cruise ship can have like on upper deck during rough waters.

We love taking the train -- the movement of the train puts my kids to sleep right away!

Good luck!

 

[mommaU4]

I get sea sick, I get car sick. I don't have any problem with the motion of the train. I think park of it has to do with the fact that I feel very relaxed on the train. I'm not worried we are going to capsize, and I'm not worried some crazy driver is going to ram into us on the interstate. However, I do feel motion for a good long time after I get off the train; just like you would after being on a boat for a while.

Thank-you. That's good to hear. I also get sea sick, but I'm fine on long car trips, so I wasn't sure what to expect on a train.

not silly at all ... it's asked frequently on here.

You will feel the train move and sway ...and sometimes it can be a bit jerky when you are walking such that you have to grab the seat/wall ... but for my family of 4 (2yo, 6yo, DH and I in our 40s), we don't mind it at all and in fact you sort of get lulled into the swaying motion.

I've been on planes and cruise ships and I think "at times" the train can be felt more than on a plane but it's not like the rockiness that being on a cruise ship can have like on upper deck during rough waters.

We love taking the train -- the movement of the train puts my kids to sleep right away!

Good luck!

Thank-you for all the information. I appreciate it.
I'm glad I found this thread. Although we aren't planning a trip on the Autotrain, we are planning a trip from Kingman, AZ to Chicago, IL. on the Southwest Chief, and I'd imagine some of the info provided here would apply to that route as well.

I'm looking forward to our family's first train trip! We won't be booking roomettes, too pricey for our family of 6, so we'll be spending a lot of time sitting up in coach. That's the main part that's got me worried right now. But, I've been doing lots of research online, watching Youtube videos, etc. and now I will go back and skim through this thread for any additional info or tips as well.

 

[Marshay]

Thank-you. That's good to hear. I also get sea sick, but I'm fine on long car trips, so I wasn't sure what to expect on a train.

Thank-you for all the information. I appreciate it.
I'm glad I found this thread. Although we aren't planning a trip on the Autotrain, we are planning a trip from Kingman, AZ to Chicago, IL. on the Southwest Chief, and I'd imagine some of the info provided here would apply to that route as well.

I'm looking forward to our family's first train trip! We won't be booking roomettes, too pricey for our family of 6, so we'll be spending a lot of time sitting up in coach. That's the main part that's got me worried right now. But, I've been doing lots of research online, watching Youtube videos, etc. and now I will go back and skim through this thread for any additional info or tips as well.

Just make sure you get up and walk around...visit the lounge car...go to the dining car for your meals, etc. The best thing about taking the train IMHO is that you aren't strapped into a seat the whole time.

Take things to do/movies to watch and make new friends on the train. My DD6 always likes to play with the other kids on the train ... even if that just means walking through the train cars or playing a game in the lounge car.

 

[bdcp]

I get seasick, but I have never gotten motion sick on a train. It's a non-issue. I've never seen anyone on the train who appears to be having problems like I have on a ship.

 

[Pooh2]

I get sick on a plane EVERY flight. The train motion did not bother me at all.

 

[mommaU4]

I get seasick, but I have never gotten motion sick on a train. It's a non-issue. I've never seen anyone on the train who appears to be having problems like I have on a ship.

I get sick on a plane EVERY flight. The train motion did not bother me at all.

I'll probably bring along some ginger ale, and some Dramamine just in case. I always like to be prepared because with four kids, you just never know what can happen! lol

 

[lpizzuro123]

Heading to the Autotrain now. We are going on a cruise for thanksgiving and then to Disney for some holiday fun. Anyone else on the train today - Saturday?

Linda