auto train will you still take it despite the recent event?

[disney_girl125]

I am booked for the auto train in December for my disney trip. I'll admit now i'm worried about taking it until I find out out what happened to the woman last week. Has it changed your plans?
I'm thinking about switching to a regular amtrak train down, just to put my mind at ease...lol. I know it may seem silly. Is the regular amtrak train as rough as a ride as the auto train? Sometimes I feel like the auto train is going to go off the tracks (it's that bumpy).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What recent event?

I would not take a train to Florida no matter what happened. So much faster and less expensive to fly.

 

[disney_girl125]

I don't fly! As to the event, well a woman went missing and then was later found dead near the tracks.

 

[deegack]

I don't see why it would change my plans. They don't know what happened to her. It was a sick woman. Its more likely she jumped off the train then someone pushed her.

 

[pandaroo]

How would you be safer on a regular Amtrak train?

 

[pandaroo]

What recent event?

I would not take a train to Florida no matter what happened. So much faster and less expensive to fly.

Not true. I priced the Auto Train and with my car being moved it was only $60 more than air. This was for two adults. If you add a sleep it gets pricier. The sooner you book the cheaper it is. They also refund your money if you cancel. Again better than a airline. If you fly and get a rental car it can be considerably more in price.

It does take longer but can be fun if you want it to be.

If those new seats get added to the plane I will take the auto train over air anytime.

 

[uva185]

If those new seats get added to the plane I will take the auto train over air anytime.

What new seats?

 

[ancestry]

Not true. I priced the Auto Train and with my car being moved it was only $60 more than air. This was for two adults. If you add a sleep it gets pricier. The sooner you book the cheaper it is. They also refund your money if you cancel. Again better than a airline. If you fly and get a rental car it can be considerably more in price.

Just as you disagreed with the other poster, I have to disagree with you. The train is WAY WAY more expensive for us than flying and renting a car (not to mention we don't usually rent a car).

Cost for the train depends on where you live. Train travel to Florida is WAY more expensive that airfare from where I am, not to mention that it takes nearly 4-5 times as long as it does for me to fly there.

 

[ancestry]

To the OP - I don't mean this in a harsh way so please don't take it like that but you mentioned you won't fly and now are questioning the safety of the Train because of a bizarre accident. It sounds like you may have a fear of traveling in general.

What about driving? Can you consider driving down if there are issues with flying and the train?

 

[pandaroo]

Just as you disagreed with the other poster, I have to disagree with you. The train is WAY WAY more expensive for us than flying and renting a car (not to mention we don't usually rent a car).

Cost for the train depends on where you live. Train travel to Florida is WAY more expensive that airfare from where I am, not to mention that it takes nearly 4-5 times as long as it does for me to fly there.

No it does not. The Auto Train only goes from VA to FL and back. The cost does not matter where you live. I would not drive a 1000 miles to get the Auto Train.

What new seats?

Those new airline seats. You have this thing between your legs and are sort of on a stool. They can jam more in and there is not need to recline as you would not stay in your seat. There is a tread with a photo on the DIS.

 

[AlexDurrani]

For those on the east coast the train is a more realistic idea but the thing with us west of the mississippi we have to take the most circuitous route to take the train. From Houston we go Houston by bus to somewhere outside of Dallas, then take a train from there to Chicago, change to a train to Baltimore, and then finally a train to Orlando. In all the price is about the same as a first class round trip to orlando or economy ticket and rental car while there. Also the time of travel is about 3 days each way.

 

[uva185]

Those new airline seats. You have this thing between your legs and are sort of on a stool. They can jam more in and there is not need to recline as you would not stay in your seat. There is a tread with a photo on the DIS.

Are you referring to this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...-allows-airlines-to-cram-more-passengers.html

You realize this is geared for Ryan Air with is an ultra low cost / fare European carrier that often has €0.01 fares. They are in a completely different game than any US based airline.

When you calculate the cost of the train do you account for lost time? Spending 18+ hours each way dealing with a train is not how I would choose to use my vacation time when I could fly and arrive in about 5 hours from home to hotel.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Not true. I priced the Auto Train and with my car being moved it was only $60 more than air.

So how is paying $60 more for the train not more expensive for you than flying?

Take the train if you like. I just prefer flying. Faster, cheaper (and I live very close to VA, so could easily take the auto train), no hours (or day long) delays, no chance of riding a bus for hours when the track closes down due to accidents, etc.

I think Amtrak is fine for short hops on the Acela on the east cost, but wouldn't consider taking a US train for a long trip.

 

[pandaroo]

Are you referring to this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...-allows-airlines-to-cram-more-passengers.html

You realize this is geared for Ryan Air with is an ultra low cost / fare European carrier that often has €0.01 fares. They are in a completely different game than any US based airline.

When you calculate the cost of the train do you account for lost time? Spending 18+ hours each way dealing with a train is not how I would choose to use my vacation time when I could fly and arrive in about 5 hours from home to hotel.

Those are the seats. What stops some US carriers from putting some of them in. They look horrible to sit in.

What lost time? I take the train and spend 10+ days in Orlando. The auto train is very relaxing. I don't take it every time but it is cost competitive with airfare especially now with checked bags and all the other fees.

People drive to Orlando too.

 

[uva185]

Those are the seats. What stops some US carriers from putting some of them in. They look horrible to sit in.

Nothing technically stops them however there are numerous things Ryan Air does and charges for that no other carrier charges for. The only US airline that came close to resembling Ryan Air was Sky Bus -- which ceased operations less than 11 months after initiating service.

What lost time? I take the train and spend 10+ days in Orlando. The auto train is very relaxing. I don't take it every time but it is cost competitive with airfare especially now with checked bags and all the other fees.

People drive to Orlando too.

If it takes 18+ hours to take the train and 5 hours to fly then you lose 13 hours each way by taking the train. You either lose time on vacation or lose time working or being productive at home. Either way its lost time. Same concept applies to driving.

 

[n2mm]

What recent event?

I would not take a train to Florida no matter what happened. So much faster and less expensive to fly.

I'm with you!!!

I wouldn't take the train if the tickets were FREE! A 2 hour flight out of Dulles to MCO is perfect! (My tickets for my trip the end of this month were $138 roundtrip).

OP, good luck on your decision. Bad things happen everywhere -- you can't let it run your life, but you can be more alert to your surroundings at all times. I spend 3 hours a DAY on a commuter train in and out of Wash. DC and I only have 8 more days until I retire -- I hope to never step on another train unless it's going around MK.

 

[ancestry]

No it does not. The Auto Train only goes from VA to FL and back. The cost does not matter where you live. I would not drive a 1000 miles to get the Auto Train.

Again, I respectfully disagree. I have to include in the cost the fuel and tolls it takes for me to get to and from Lorton, VA. If you live next door to Lorton then that is one cost. If you leave further away they there are more costs.

I see nothing wrong with the train -- auto train or regular passenger train and I have considered them both as options. From Maine no matter what time of the year we look to go the cost of the train (auto or regular) is always more expensive than flying for us.

 

[pandaroo]

Again, I respectfully disagree. I have to include in the cost the fuel and tolls it takes for me to get to and from Lorton, VA. If you live next door to Lorton then that is one cost. If you leave further away they there are more costs.

I guess you did not read what I wrote. I was comparing tickets to tickets only. Playing your game I have to include the tolls to drive to the airport, airport parking at $10+/day, cost of fuel to get to the airport. If I included all of that then our trip by the auto train is cheaper and we can use our car in FL, so we can go to the outlets, grocery store, off-site restaurants, Sea World, Universal and other things that all would cost more.

We drive, fly and take the Auto Train to FL. All three are great vacations and usually the one we fly on is the most costly $ wise and driving is the cheapest. We have the most flexibility driving or taking the Auto Train.

We never go for just a long weekend but 10+ days each time.

If I lived in Maine I would think Flying would be the only way I would go but the last time we took the Auto Train the people we shared the lower coach with were from Maine and they said they preferred the Auto Train as it was more relaxing.

 

[ancestry]

I guess you did not read what I wrote. I was comparing tickets to tickets only. Playing your game I have to include the tolls to drive to the airport, airport parking at $10+/day, cost of fuel to get to the airport. If I included all of that then our trip by the auto train is cheaper and we can use our car in FL, so we can go to the outlets, grocery store, off-site restaurants, Sea World, Universal and other things that all would cost more.

We drive, fly and take the Auto Train to FL. All three are great vacations and usually the one we fly on is the most costly $ wise and driving is the cheapest. We have the most flexibility driving or taking the Auto Train.

We never go for just a long weekend but 10+ days each time.

If I lived in Maine I would think Flying would be the only way I would go but the last time we took the Auto Train the people we shared the lower coach with were from Maine and they said they preferred the Auto Train as it was more relaxing.

Ah....now I can say I fully agree with you!

 

[pandaroo]

Ah....now I can say I fully agree with you!

Glad we are now on the same page.