Autotrain? Coach or Sleeping Compartment?

[Shercara]

I would appreciate any input from experienced travelers. We are planning to take the Autotrain next Nov 2002. We will be driving from New Jersey, to Lorton, VA to board the train, then spending a week at WDW, then surprising our children with a 7 day DCL cruise after that, and returing by Autotrain after the cruise. Do we spend the extra money for a sleeper, or go coach? Our boys will be 13 & 7. What are your experiences?
Thanks!

 

[DVC Chris]

Hi,

We (2 of us, adults) took AutoTrain last August and will be on it again on Nov. 30th for our next trip. We had a Standard bedroom and liked the privacy and quietness of the compartment. It was also nice to have access to the bathrooms and showers close by. Since you have 2 children, you will probably want to get a family bedroom. These rooms are on the lower lever of the car on each end. The lower levels also have 3 Bathrooms, 1 shower and a few standard compartments. I have heard great things about coach also, but it could be noisy depending on where they place folks. The compartments give you a much quieter and private ride. Also the passengers in sleepers have their own dining and lounge cars. There is a better menu for dinner and you get served on china and silverware.

If you have any other questions about the AutoTrain, please feel free to ask. You can also do a search on Auto Train and find lots of info from past travelers on this board.

Enjoy!

 

[CDavid]

I would generally recommend the Family Bedroom in the sleeper, as it accomodates two adults and two children. However, for your 13-yr old this would be a really tight fit. I have the dimensions for this room somewhere, so I'll post again when I find it. If the family room is not a good choice, you would need two standard or deluxe bedrooms. While this would mean literally traveling in luxury, it would be quite expensive.

Try these two websites for more information:

http://communities.prodigy.net/trains/amthints.htm#23

http://trainweb.com/crocon/sleeperplans.html

If you go with coach, Amtrak tries to group all those with children in the same car(s). So, children will have others to play with, and noise is reduced for childless passengers.

Have a Nice Trip!

 

[laurieny]

WE did coach this past summer with 3 kids 9,9,11. Going south the train was crowded but we had no trouble sleeping. Make sure you bring your own pillows. The kids had a blast in the lounge car. Coming North the train was much less crowded. We requested to sit in the lower level. We ended up with the whole 12 seats to ourselves. There is a door that closes the compartment off so it almost felt like a sleeping compartment. We found the seats to be comfortable enough. As my husband said, it is only for 1 night. My kids had such a great time.

 

[RustManFan]

We have taken the Auto Train to and from NJ about 6 times, using the coach every time. Generally if you arrive early for check in you get a quieter coach. They seem to place all the families with babies and toddlers in the same car so they do not disturb others.

We always get at least some sleep and do always bring our own pillows. My kids loved it from the first time (when they were 10 and 13) in 1992. They always meet other kids, enjoy the movie and lounge car and simply enjoy reading or playing cards.

We feel no need to spend the extra money on a sleeper....

 

[CPM]

I would never do it w/o a sleeper!! It's so fun! I have done this many times. I also find it cheaper to get two standard rather then a family suite, but I'm sure that varies so be sure to check it out. When we get the two standard sleepers we each get a bottom bunk & each child gets a top one.
When you get a sleeper you also get a nice meal served in the dining car (even wine!), then breakfast in the morning. It's a great way to travel with a family.

 

[Luv2Dream]

We had the family bedroom when we went down this past May and I would never do it again. It was too noisy. Next time I will definitely get two upper level bedrooms. Much quieter. Also, the 2 "child" beds are rather small as they run vertically up the side of the car rather than horizontally which is where the adult beds are. I really don't think a 13 year old boy would fit in that bed. Getting the two upper level bedrooms was only about $38 more than the family sleeper bedroom I was told when I inquired about changing our type of accommodation. Of course, I only inquired about it on the return trip so maybe that was a one-way price, not sure.

 

[RustManFan]

You get dinner (with wine) and breakfast in the dining car included when you travel coach also !!! And food is really pretty good too!

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

We did Amtrak in September. The trip was ok, but I would definatly get a sleeper next time (Although we'll probably drive). I had a very hard time getting comfortable in the seats and was exhausted by the time we reached WDW. If you decide to go coach, bring your own pillows and guard them with your life! We had our own, went to the dining car, came back and one of our pillows was borrowed by the young gentleman behind us. He thought they were from Amtak and took one, off of our seat, took the pillowcase off and put his feet in it and pulled it up over his legs because his legs were cold (he had on shorts), and laid down with the pillow. I was so shocked and grossed out and he was VERY embarrassed.

 

[Dumbo]

Keep in mind folks this tread is talking about the Auto Train and not the regular Amtrak Silver Service ( Silver Star, Meteor, Palm ) to Florida. The Auto Train uses Superliner coaches. They are much more comfortable than the Amfleet coaches you find on the Silver Service trains.

Also note that the Family Bedrooms on the superliner coaches are at the ends of the sleeper cars on the bottom level, right over the wheels. This makes for a noisy and bumpy ride. All other sleeping accomadations are on the upper level for a more comfortable ride.

Dumbo

 

[lookingforward]

We took the auto train with two boys ages 8 and 5. We booked the family compartment and really enjoyed it. I would agree that it was a bumpy ride but I don't remember any loud noises. If I did it again I would book two deluxe sleeping compartments because they come with private bath. The service is better when you travel in sleeper cars. Our room steward offered to bring us breakfast in our room and he provided the kids with games and coloring books. The dining car is seperate also and the food was actually quite good. I did not like the lounge because they allowed smoking in part of it.. Overall I would say it was a great time and the kids really loved it. Also, when you come back to your room from dinner the steward has the beds all turned down and the low lights on. It was very comforting.

 

[chrisney]

I've done the autotrain once, and thought coach would be just fine since I can sleep anywhere. Boy, was I wrong! I spent the entire night waking up every time anyone went by the seat. And this was an uncrowded train where I had the entire row for me. I wasn't/couldn't get comfortable at all. Coming home, I upgraded to a standard sleeper, and it worked much better, though it was really small. Travelled by train as a kid, and had forgotten that the romantic "rhythm of the rails" is just that....romanticized. Train travel is NOT a smooth ride. My daughter, in the upper bunk, thought what she was going to get thrown out!
On the positive side....it's a whole lot better to drive for 2 or so hours to get to Disney World than the alternative! And it's nice to have your own car while there. My son is in school in Tampa, and will be riding the autotrain lots over the next couple of years. His last trip, down to school in August was a disaster. From the crowded car, the crying kids, the late-night talkers, the couple behind him that REALLY should have booked a bedroom, and the emergency stop caused by running over a fallen off cargo door, he's not looking forward to his next trip in December! He'd rather drive, but Mom and Dad (the source of all money) say no because of potential bad weather. He's a Floridian at heart, already, and doesn't factor snow and ice into things anymore.

Chris in Md.

 

[JudithM]

Chris, I am glad to read I am not the only Autotrain passenger who felt the Autotrain was " NOT a smooth ride." WE took the Autotrain round trip in August this year. It was much bumpier/rocky/whatever than any of us remembered from past trips. We felt like the train would jump the tracks. Friends took the Aotrain north last month & said never again. I don't know what changed recently, but ...

 

[CDavid]

WE took the Autotrain round trip in August this year. It was much bumpier/rocky/whatever than any of us remembered from past trips. We felt like the train would jump the tracks. Friends took the Aotrain north last month & said never again. I don't know what changed recently, but ...

CSX track conditions are what happened, or rather, a lack of maintenance on CSX track has led to a rough-riding railroad. I was onboard in July, in standard sleeper, so I know exactly what you mean. What's more, this is a bigger problem for Auto-Train, as the Superliner cars used (nice as they are) have a reputation for not being the smoothest riding passenger cars ever built (that honor may belong to cars built in the 1920's!). It's hard to say if the greater problem is the car or the track. The other Amtrak trains to Florida (Silver Palm, Star, & Meteor) should be better riding.

CSX, the railroad which owns the tracks Amtrak operates the Auto-Train over, is working on this from what I've heard (and, there are far rougher railroads across the nation). It is in no way dangerous - the train is not going to jump the tracks. It's sort of like driving your car over a rough road - a jarring experience, but perfectly normal.

 

[Luv2Dream]

I have to agree about the ride. It really did feel that the train was going so fast that it felt like it was going to fly right off the tracks and the rocking of the car at the same time made me think I was going to tip over. Needless to say, we arrived ahead of schedule which was great, but I would have preferred less rocking and maybe a little longer ride. Just my opinion. That being said, I would ride again, with the only difference being that I would only book upper level.

 

[Shercara]

Thank you all for your input and opinions! I know right now we are not planing on flying, and the thought of driving is not an option - 13 yrs driving to Myrtle Beach SC for vacation, and a trip planned for there for next July make that out of the question - so it looks like the train for us.
If I book one sleeper (for 2) and 2 of us in coach - will we be able to sit together in coach when not sleeping? I thought my DH and youngest could use the sleeper and the 13 yr old and could "rough" it out in coach. Has anyone ever done this??

 

[laurieny]

I think it would depend on how crowded the train was. On our south bound trip, every coach seat was taken. Coming north, everyone had at least 2 seats. But this was in August and I'm not sure if it is more busier then. I do know they said the trains fill up in both directions when people move south for the winter and north for the summer. Have a great trip. We really enjoyed it!

 

[CDavid]

If I book one sleeper (for 2) and 2 of us in coach - will we be able to sit together in coach when not sleeping?

No, I'm afraid if two are in coach and two in first-class (sleeper) neither will likely be able to sit in the others accomodations. If the train is running with empty seats you might find some extras in the coach, but ordinarily sleeper passengers will not even see or have any interaction with coach passengers (seperate lounge and dining cars) on Auto-Train. You might be able to get together in the coach lounge car, though it can be crowded for the evening movie (and not comfortable for hours on end). You basically are left with putting everyone in coach or all in sleepers. The only sleeper accomodations which will accomodate four people are the Family Bedroom (dimensions to follow) and a suite (two deluxe rooms combined into one - very expensive!).

Coach isn't really "roughing it"; many people travel and sleep in coach for two nights on Amtrak's western trains. Coach seats recline, and (small) pillows are provided (many people bring a pillow of their own, and a small blanket). You might sqeeze three persons (one adult and two kids) into one deluxe room (has a couch and chair) for seating, but it sleeps only two.

Again, have a great trip!

 

[CDavid]

Although the bed sizes in the Family Bedroom are short , you may or may not find this an acceptable option. The adult beds are 6'2" to 6'3" in length, but the "child" berths are only 4'9".

 

[JudithM]

Sometimes they put the train car for train personnel in between the coach & the sleeper cars. so there may not even be a way for you all to get together.

David, thank yo ufor the information about CSX & the tracks. We'll probably wait until we hear reports about improved rides before we take the Autotrain again - just our opinion!