All about the Autotrain

[jwboucher]

I got info from a forum on autotrain. There are now 4 dinner seating for sleepers 4:30 6:00 7:30 & 9:00 coach times didn't change. The lounge car will be for both coach and sleepers.

 

[Henlady]

We use the AutoTrain often, mostly in the sleeper accommodations. It does not bother me that there is no longer a wine & Cheese reception in the Lounge car. The wine was not that great anyway. And the way some people descended on the cheese, it looked like a bunch of vultures attacking.
HOPEFULLY
they are wise enough to put the remaining lounge car in the center between the sleeper accommodations and the coach seating so that it is easily accessible to both groups.

 

[jwboucher]

Looks like the new car line up is
Dorm
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper diner
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Lounge
Coach
Coach
Coach
Coach
Coach
Diner
Diner
Car carriers

Which makes sense. But the lounge may get crowded.

 

[Marshay]

Most things are being economized and cost-reduced. Americans are getting used to lower quality in the interest of lower costs.

But the costs are definitely not lower! We've been taking the train for 6 years now and 2014 costs are the most we've ever paid. In fact, I just decided to use all our points and get one way on points since it was so high on the south bound route.

So if you said Americans are getting used to lower quality with higher costs then you'd be right.

 

[Marshay]

I got info from a forum on autotrain. There are now 4 dinner seating for sleepers 4:30 6:00 7:30 & 9:00 coach times didn't change. The lounge car will be for both coach and sleepers.

Thanks for that info!

Wow, 4:30 seems really early but I can guess the snow birds might like that more.

 

[Marshay]

Looks like the new car line up is Dorm Sleeper Sleeper Sleeper Sleeper diner Sleeper Sleeper Sleeper Lounge Coach Coach Coach Coach Coach Diner Diner Car carriers Which makes sense. But the lounge may get crowded.

Once again, thanks for that info!

Guess we will just head straight to the lounge car before even checking into our room, since this is important to us!

 

[vacationer1954]

But the costs are definitely not lower!

The costs are definitely lower than they would have been. Before they were paying for the extra lounge car to be there; after they won't be paying for the extra lounge car to be there. That's definitely a cost savings.

 

[Marshay]

The costs are definitely lower than they would have been. Before they were paying for the extra lounge car to be there; after they won't be paying for the extra lounge car to be there. That's definitely a cost savings.

Oh, I understand now.

You are talking about Amtrak's costs and saying they will go down.

I am talking about passengers' costs and saying they have not gone down. They have increased since last year. I priced out my trips this fall, now that the value has gone down with less services and the actual costs are not lower. They have stayed the same as when I purchased tickets with the knowledge that there would be a reception, separate lounge car and wine with dinner.

So Amtrak is now operating under lower costs but still charging us, the passengers, the higher costs.

 

[vacationer1954]

You are talking about Amtrak's costs and saying they will go down.

Correct. Amtrak made the decision we're talking about here. And we see this same thing going on everywhere.

Incidentally, we just booked our return trip for next February. It's about $80 less than this past February. We feel quite fortunate.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

With all the talk about the reconfiguration of the cars, I neglected to mention this story in the Washington Post from March 9. Occoquan is a quaint little town very close to the Lorton Auto Train station. The Mayor of Occoquan is now offering a shuttle service from the train station to Occoquan where train riders can spend about an hour, visiting some of the shops, stretching their legs and getting a bite to eat after they've checked in for their train. I live just a few minutes from Occoquan and it really is a charming little place to visit. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html?wprss=rss_local

 

[Marshay]

Correct. Amtrak made the decision we're talking about here. And we see this same thing going on everywhere. Incidentally, we just booked our return trip for next February. It's about $80 less than this past February. We feel quite fortunate.

Yay! Maybe we will see the same lower costs soon!

 

[Marshay]

With all the talk about the reconfiguration of the cars, I neglected to mention this story in the Washington Post from March 9. Occoquan is a quaint little town very close to the Lorton Auto Train station. The Mayor of Occoquan is now offering a shuttle service from the train station to Occoquan where train riders can spend about an hour, visiting some of the shops, stretching their legs and getting a bite to eat after they've checked in for their train. I live just a few minutes from Occoquan and it really is a charming little place to visit. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/mayor-offers-amtrak-auto-train-passengers-whirlwind-tours-of-occoquan/2014/03/07/7a6c5898-a624-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html?wprss=rss_local

Thanks for sharing!

 

[dromio42]

Does anyone know -
Now that there is no smoking, is there an upper level and lower level lounge?

Also do tyhey pre assign your sleepers or can you request a location?

Thanks

 

[Breezy_Carol]

OK, so today I called Amtrak to talk about redeeming points and while on the phone I asked them about the wine tasting being discontinued on the Autotrain.

Amtrak assured me they still have it and the very helpful employee actually read the official announcement of the wine tastings that said, "The Autotrain is not changing." Only the Co-starlight, Empire, Lake Shore Limited lines, etc are discontinuing the wine and cheese reception ... but NOT the Autotrain.

So I asked her to double check and she put me on hold for a while and confirmed with Customer Service that the Autotrain is still supposed to have the free wine and snacks according to what was announced.

Then I shared with her your experience on Sat/Sun and she said that according to the official announcement and customer service, that they should have still served the free wine for the sleeper cars.

She asked me to double check with you that you were sleeper (I know you were since you were roomette) and that you knew where to go (I assume you did since you mentioned it here).

I asked her what we can do to make sure that Amtrak personnel are all on the same page and she said that you would have to call.

Would you be willing to call them?

Amtrak Customer Relations: 800/307-5000 and tell them about your experience.

You were right. I was in a sleeper and I did go to the lounge. The bartender is the one who told me the wine tasting was discontinued.

The husband of a person I work with confirmed that the tasting was discontinued.

Announcement by email today - no more lounge for Sleeper cars. seriously! They are adding an extra coach car instead. They are also discontinuing free wine with dinner. And I guess snacks too for the Sleeper car.

I wonder where they will show the movie. And I know once the dining car was full so the overflow ate dinner in the lounge car.

So does that mean there is no more movies since they took away the lounge car for sleepers? Wonder where they are going to sell all these snacks that use to be free??

I wondered that too.

When we went March 8, there was a lounge car but no free wine. There was cheese and snacks.

I got info from a forum on autotrain. There are now 4 dinner seating for sleepers 4:30 6:00 7:30 & 9:00 coach times didn't change. The lounge car will be for both coach and sleepers.

We had 4 dinner seating times. I thought it was because of the crowd, not a permanent change.

 

[princessklw]

Question: when taking the auto train from Sanford to Lorton at the end of vacation, what time would we need to leave WDW in order to get to the station on time for a 4:30 departure? Trying to decide how ambitious we can be, activity-wise, on that last morning . . .

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Cars must be loaded by 3 and you need to give yourself a safety net for traffic and flat tires. We wanted to be there close to Noon. I wouldn't leave any later than 1:00, actually, I wouldn't leave that late. Noon is the latest I would leave. But I like to play it safe. I think they can be pretty hard about the 3:00 loading limit. Any later and you aren't going even though the train doesn't leave until 4 or after. They must move the cars and attach them to the train.

 

[DJFan88]

Cars must be loaded by 3 and you need to give yourself a safety net for traffic and flat tires. We wanted to be there close to Noon. I wouldn't leave any later than 1:00, actually, I wouldn't leave that late. Noon is the latest I would leave. But I like to play it safe. I think they can be pretty hard about the 3:00 loading limit. Any later and you aren't going even though the train doesn't leave until 4 or after. They must move the cars and attach them to the train.

We like to be checked in before that, but then again we are cautious too. I made sure I was in the area, actually the street before around noon and ate at the Cracker Barrell then, and then were there by 1 pm.

I'd say the ride must be at least 1/2 hour, probably closer to 45 with traffic, right?

 

[Marshay]

Obviously we aren't as cautious! We start to leave a park around 12noon, 12:30pm at the latest. Then we get gas, stop at Fast food and get food to go and are at the station by 1:30pm, 2pm at the latest. It's about 45 min drive and we've never encountered traffic that doesn't move, although anything can happen. We then eat our meal in the play area and kids enjoy the playground. We've always been offered our prefer dining time (early).

One time we left at 1:45 due to a delay at the park and arrived at 2:45pm. They warned us we were cutting it close but at least we know it can be done, assuming you don't get in accident/traffic.

For a first time, I would be cautious ... But once you do it, you may find it all goes pretty quick and it allows some time to do something fun at WDW before leaving.

 

[MinnieGi]

Question: when taking the auto train from Sanford to Lorton at the end of vacation, what time would we need to leave WDW in order to get to the station on time for a 4:30 departure? Trying to decide how ambitious we can be, activity-wise, on that last morning . . .

We usually leave WDW by noon. Usually no traffic, but one time we had terrible torrential rain to drive through which slowed us down but still got there with no problem. On our last morning we have often done a character meal at a resort followed by some mini-golf. We then head to Sanford and stop there for fast food that we take into the station. They have tables right on the train platform outside that are nice to eat at if the weather is nice.

 

[lynz421]

BAD NEWS a friend taking the train in late June...


Dear Auto Train Passenger,

In an effort to be good stewards of the federal funding received to operate our Amtrak service, a number of steps are being taken to eliminate losses in our Food and Beverage department over the next five years. Some of the changes being made to accomplish this include the discontinuation of select amenities offered on Auto Train.

Effective March 14, 2014, the Sleeping car lounge will be removed from Auto Train and replaced with an additional Coach car to allow greater seating capacity for our passengers. Additionally, complimentary wine served with dinner will be discontinued as well as the on-board wine and cheese tastings for Sleeping car passengers. Passengers will continue to receive all regular meals in the dining car at no additional charge, and passengers may purchase cheese and cracker trays and other snacks, as well as liquor, wine and beer, in the Lounge car.

While it is never easy to tell you, our valued customers, that we are eliminating some of the amenities, these changes are necessary in order to reduce costs, increase revenues and preserve passenger rail service across our country. If you have any questions or comments about these changes, feel free to contact me using the “contact us” link on the Amtrak.com home page.

Thank you for traveling with Amtrak. We appreciate your patronage.

Sincerely,

Mark Murphy

General Manager, Long -Distance Services