All about the Autotrain

[vacationer1954]

Asked and answered on another forum:

That consist left Lorton April 29 on time, but endured delays due to flash flood warnings in the Carolinas. Arrived late into Sanford April 30. Left Sanford ALMOST on time April 30 with about 530 passengers. Stopped to inspect before Palatka, losing about an hour (it was a 50 car train). One diesel unit started having mechanical problems & the train lost time over the road. Picked up an extra diesel from #98 at Savannah. Train was then able to make road speed, but there were several delays due to traffic. At least one stop in the middle of the night was about 1-1/2 hour. T&E crew replaced at Yemassee due to hours of service. Arrived Florence about 7:00 AM, about 5 hours late. Got a fresh T&E crew for the north leg at Florence, but they ran out of time & had to be replaced at Richmond. A simple lunch was served to the 530 passengers, using available supplies, which were very limited. Finally arrived at Lorton around 3 PM May 1 (due 9:30 AM). I don't know what time that consist left Lorton southbound May 1, but it appears they were unable to recover the time & must have arrived late into Sanford May 2. If they couldn't shave time off during the Sanford turnaround, that would explain it. I have been told the train is now expected into Lorton about 3:30 PM, but that could change.

 

[Marshay]

Asked and answered on another forum:

Thanks for the update!

 

[darthminnie]

On May 1st we left lortob about 8pm and arrived in Sanford at 8pm. We were delayed in Richmond due to a "law enforcement" issue, word is there was a fugitive on the lose and the police had the train button down so the fugitive didn't hop on the train.
I do not understand that.

Then, in Georgia one of the engines broke down and we had to wait for it to be replaced.

They did add lunch but it was the nastiest dinty Moore stuff ever. ..Lol.

The problem is, all of the staff play dumb- they all claim to not know anything.....and they don't seem to keep the passengers enlightened.

By the end of the trip-60 people had called amtrak.

 

[huggiebear23]

On May 1st we left lortob about 8pm and arrived in Sanford at 8pm. We were delayed in Richmond due to a "law enforcement" issue, word is there was a fugitive on the lose and the police had the train button down so the fugitive didn't hop on the train. I do not understand that. Then, in Georgia one of the engines broke down and we had to wait for it to be replaced. They did add lunch but it was the nastiest dinty Moore stuff ever. ..Lol. The problem is, all of the staff play dumb- they all claim to not know anything.....and they don't seem to keep the passengers enlightened. By the end of the trip-60 people had called amtrak.

All these delays have me so nervous. We are going in august and my dh will be in Orlando. We are meeting up with him and the night we get there is his big work gala. Which we don't want to miss. Does this normally happen? Also how can a fugitive jump on a running train?

 

[ktrain]

As to the "law enforcement issue", an eight year old boy was beaten to death.

Two children, brother(8) and sister(12) were playing near tracks when a man attached the sister, trying to rape her, her brother tried to defend her and was beaten to death by the attacker. Since the incident occurred so close to the tracks it was a "law enforcement issue" and the Autotrain was not allowed to run through until the investigation was complete.

This info is from the Richmond, VA newspaper. Amtrak crews are not given details like this to pass onto guests.

As to engine problems, they are just that mechanical problems. Not sure how more details would be helpful? Again onboard crews do not know how long these thing take to fix and are not trying to be purposely obtuse.

They should however try to keep you as comfortable as possible during any delays. The stew is gross.

 

[vacationer1954]

Also how can a fugitive jump on a running train?

The train isn't able to maintain a constant speed throughout its trip. There are times when it slows and even stops for a few minutes to let other traffic through. It is easier to patrol around a long-distance train when you know exactly where it is than when you don't, or avoid the problem entirely by keeping the train out of the area where the fugitive is.

 

[huggiebear23]

Thanks. That poor child. How sad

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Off topic just a bit, but prayers for the boy, the girl, and their family. What a heroic act. An 8 year old boy tries - and apparently does - save his 12 year old sister from an adult. That's a brother, and a hero.

 

[darthminnie]

As to the "law enforcement issue", an eight year old boy was beaten to death. Two children, brother(8) and sister(12) were playing near tracks when a man attached the sister, trying to rape her, her brother tried to defend her and was beaten to death by the attacker. Since the incident occurred so close to the tracks it was a "law enforcement issue" and the Autotrain was not allowed to run through until the investigation was complete. This info is from the Richmond, VA newspaper. Amtrak crews are not given details like this to pass onto guests. As to engine problems, they are just that mechanical problems. Not sure how more details would be helpful? Again onboard crews do not know how long these thing take to fix and are not trying to be purposely obtuse. They should however try to keep you as comfortable as possible during any delays. The stew is gross.

What a horrible horrible event, there are no words. So so sad.


My point was that ALL amtrak employees from the delay at lorton station from the get go had the same exact answer .....

"They don't tell us anything"



We must have heard that a million times- and whether or not it is the truth- it is unacceptable in a customer service environment. Delays happen- no one could have foreseen the horrid circumstance as to what happened in Richmond , I certainly do not blame amtrak for that at all. I understand that engine failures happen all the time but inform the passengers. If the attendants aren't told what is going on - that's a HUGE problem.....

Amtrak needs to pass information on to their passengers, period. And they don't .

I certainly would not take this out on the attendants of the train- they were working and it was long for them too- they are a great bunch, but amtrak as a whole needs to change their customer service policies.

 

[vacationer1954]

I don't think we're going to see any improvement in customer service policies on Amtrak for a number of years to come. Sharing more information means having more people to pass the word to the attendants, or having more people so they can make other people's jobs include the responsibility to investigate and continually update the attendants, and that costs money. Amtrak just reduced customer service on the Auto Train to reduce losses.

 

[ktrain]

I believe they reduced customer amenities, not customer service.

 

[vacationer1954]

A distinction without difference.

 

[lindap1]

So reading through this thread (yes, some skipping)...they no longer have the free wine, cheese and crackers (which is okay with me since that was never important to me), but all passengers being able to go anywhere they want on the train...THAT bothers me. You pay higher prices for a sleeper car because it's more private, but if coach passengers can wander anywhere they want ...NOW i have issues with it (nothing against coach passengers). If Amtrak is going to allow this then they need to start charging coach prices for sleepers...it's only fair...right? Anyone hear anything else about menu changes? I'm just hoping they keep the chicken nuggets (choo choo chooies) since my daughter is a picky eater. If not then we'll be bringing our own food onto the train.

 

[ktrain]

Many amenities have been discontinued, however coach passengers are not permitted in sleeping cars. A lounge car for all guests divides the consist.

Sleeping car and coach passengers have separate dining cars. The menus are now the same. Chicken fingers are still on the menu at the moment, but that may change. Pizza may be the children's choice for summer.

 

[lindap1]

Thanks! We are not going until September and my daughter is a chicken nugget fiend...lol.

 

[huggiebear23]

Many amenities have been discontinued, however coach passengers are not permitted in sleeping cars. A lounge car for all guests divides the consist. Sleeping car and coach passengers have separate dining cars. The menus are now the same. Chicken fingers are still on the menu at the moment, but that may change. Pizza may be the children's choice for summer.

Fingers crossed for pizza. I have to bring food for her, she doesn't like chicken.

 

[lindap1]

My daughter doesn't eat any kind of sauce...so that means no pizza for her ( I sure hope this changes soon..lol). Hopefully the chicken tenders stay for our September trip, but I see no reason why they couldn't add pizza also.

 

[huggiebear23]

Does anyone know of any food places around the area? So I can plan to get something for my dd. I might just throw Mac and cheese in a thermos.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Does anyone know of any food places around the area? So I can plan to get something for my dd. I might just throw Mac and cheese in a thermos.

Yes, there are a few options. In the area near the AT, there are two grocery stores with delis that sell prepared food and sandwiches, a Glory Days restaurant that will fix a meal to go, a 24-hour IHOP, a Subway, a Burger King, a McDonald's and some independent restaurants.

If there is something in particular you have in mind, let me know and I can tell you if a place like that is around. I've lived about a 1- 1.5 miles (as the crow flies) from the Lorton AT station since 1994, so this is all practically in my back yard.

 

[monorailsilver]

So reading through this thread (yes, some skipping)...they no longer have the free wine, cheese and crackers (which is okay with me since that was never important to me), but all passengers being able to go anywhere they want on the train...THAT bothers me. You pay higher prices for a sleeper car because it's more private, but if coach passengers can wander anywhere they want ...NOW i have issues with it (nothing against coach passengers). If Amtrak is going to allow this then they need to start charging coach prices for sleepers...it's only fair...right? Anyone hear anything else about menu changes? I'm just hoping they keep the chicken nuggets (choo choo chooies) since my daughter is a picky eater. If not then we'll be bringing our own food onto the train.

I can tell you from just coming off it a few weeks ago that I didn't see a lot of foot traffic in the sleeper car other then people going to dinner, bathroom, ice fill up, visiting family in other rooms.

On our return we were downstairs in the family bedroom so I can't comment on the traffic but I did go to the lounge in the am, at about 7 or just before. Wifi was iffy/slow.

There was no one guarding the door to the sleepers so yes anyone could walk thru but if I was in coach, why would I walk thru them all? I'd have to take all my crap or most of it to walk the narrow halls.