Autotrain

[Marcy Mouse]

Has anyone travelled on the autotrain in the last month or so. I have been watching the web site and it seems to be late at least 5 out of the 7 days each week. Also, in the last week I've seen it 10 hours late. This is really scaring me. We have ressies for Aug 13 and I have ADR for Aug 14 for dinner and I really don't want to miss them.

Anyone know why so late?

Thanks,

Marcy

 

[Henlady]

Judging if the AutoTrain is going to be on time, a little late or very late is at best an uncertain endeavor. We traveled on the AutoTrain on Saturday/Sunday June 3-4, 2006 from Lorton to Sanford. The train was just a little over an hour late, we had our car and were on our way by 11 am. It is not unusual for the train to be an hour or 2 late, but sometimes if there is a problem on the tracks/hold ups due to freight trains, etc... it can be very late. This problem is not unique to train travel, I'm sure you have heard of flight cancellations, bumping, oversold seats and such on airlines. I do not usually plan anything "special" on travel days as you never know what will happen. You can track travel times for a month and find them "OK", but on your trip there could be a delay/change and you wouldn't get there at an acceptable time. I would suggest to just "roll with it". If you can, plan a day of no time tables for your arrival day, then if things don't go as planned, it won't be a major disappointment.

Have a great trip.

 

[bdcp]

We took the auto train last Nov both ways and we were around 2 hours late or so on each end ( don't remember exactly). The best thing about the train is you are not restricted to your seat. We planned nothing for the day we arrived in FL except for dinner at a Ohana which could have been missed if we were that late. We were at SOG before 1:00, I think. We're going back on the auto train again this Nov (cruise only, no WDW) and will have a roommette and are arriving the day before our cruise in case there's a delay. There's a auto train faq thread on here that has lots of info and some short trip reports, including mine. Here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=402667
The schedule is totally out of Amtrak's hands. CSX owns the rails and the delays are usually because of CSX freight train issues. Our biggest delay was because a freight train had broken down and they had to move it to a location where they could take it off the main track. 2-3 hour delays are not unusual, but 10 hour ones are much less common.

 

[DC7800]

Has anyone travelled on the autotrain in the last month or so. I have been watching the web site and it seems to be late at least 5 out of the 7 days each week. Also, in the last week I've seen it 10 hours late. This is really scaring me. We have ressies for Aug 13 and I have ADR for Aug 14 for dinner and I really don't want to miss them.

Anyone know why so late?

Thanks,

Marcy

A previous days' northbound Auto-Train struck a tree blown down across the tracks, the lead engine had to be set out, and I think the train finally arrived Lorton 10 or more hours late. This made the next (southbound) train very late leaving Lorton, which is turn makes the next northbound late leaving Sanford, and so on. One days train was cancelled to get back on schedule.

That's not the sort of thing likely to happen again. Delays due to CSX aren't so bad, they just occur far more frequently than they should.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I rode the train in mid May, from Lorton to Sanford in a sleeper. It was a perfect trip - we arrived in Sanford early at 8:30 am, even! My car wasn't the first off the train, as it was sort of nearing the end, but that's OK. I was checking into All-Star Music before 11:30.

The worst delay I seen was an 8 hour delay, due to trees falling over the tracks down the line ahead of us. Reports said it was from a tornado! Another time there was track work and we were five hours delayed. It happens - I usually plan a quiet day that day in the parks, or just hang out at the resorts! I love the AutoTrain, it's part of the adventure!

By the way, how do you check train's schedules to know if they are late? I couldn't find a link on Amtrak's site!

 

[Marcy Mouse]

on the main page www.amtrak.com under the reservations in the area called train status where you can type in the train stations or train # for info on the time schedule.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

on the main page www.amtrak.com under the reservations in the area called train status where you can type in the train stations or train # for info on the time schedule.

There it is!!! Thanks so much! I been looking for the train status page for a long time! 10 hours late - yikes!!

 

[Marcy Mouse]

I know I Know!! That's scary 1 or 2 hours I'm ok with but I don't know what I would do if we were 10 hours late. Yikes!

Marcy

 

[PlutoPony]

Something else that slows down trains in general is HEAT! When it's really hot, the tracks expand and the trains have to go slower. We see this a lot in the DC area with the commuter trains in the summer. Anyone know if the AutoTrain schedule is different in the summer than the rest of the year - wonder if they allow for this in their schedule??

 

[DC7800]

Something else that slows down trains in general is HEAT! When it's really hot, the tracks expand and the trains have to go slower. We see this a lot in the DC area with the commuter trains in the summer. Anyone know if the AutoTrain schedule is different in the summer than the rest of the year - wonder if they allow for this in their schedule??

No, the schedule is the same all year - and the heat shouldn't make that much difference, unless of course there was a problem with the maintenance of your tracks or something.

VRE is pretty good about putting out notices when temperatures affect train schedules - but did you ever notice how when CSX has a slow order in place (due to excessive heat or whatever), Norfolk Southern is frequently unaffected...

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've taken the Auto-train many years ago but now just use the regular Amtrak from Ohio to Florida and after 14 trips we've been on time, few hours late and 10 hours late too. We never have anything planned at arriving day, not knowing when we'll come in. we do our shopping and grocery run and tour around and have no sit down dinner planned.

Being late ticks my wife off alittle, taking out her Disney time but it doesn't bother me. The trains do the best they can, try to make up lost time but freights have the right of way and Amtrak sits on the sidings. Nothing you can do other then skip the train and fly or drive. I'm in an A/C car, have a comfortable seat, a window to look out of, some drinks in a cooler and getting huffy over something you can't control or complaining to someone who can't improve the delay, just upsets people more. Sit back and relax, they are not even charging you extra for being on the train longer!

 

[vacationwoman]

We've taken the Auto-train many years ago but now just use the regular Amtrak from Ohio to Florida and after 14 trips we've been on time, few hours late and 10 hours late too. We never have anything planned at arriving day, not knowing when we'll come in. we do our shopping and grocery run and tour around and have no sit down dinner planned.

Being late ticks my wife off alittle, taking out her Disney time but it doesn't bother me. The trains do the best they can, try to make up lost time but freights have the right of way and Amtrak sits on the sidings. Nothing you can do other then skip the train and fly or drive. I'm in an A/C car, have a comfortable seat, a window to look out of, some drinks in a cooler and getting huffy over something you can't control or complaining to someone who can't improve the delay, just upsets people more. Sit back and relax, they are not even charging you extra for being on the train longer!

I'm with you "Pepe" - I love the train ride (DH not so much but he takes it for me )
We go from Philly to Orlando and always get a deluxe sleeper. Kind of pricey but it's a big part of my trip and I always budget it in. Love having private comfy room w/ private bath, couch, chair and free meals. If train is delayed (should say when and not if ) I relax and just enjoy doing "nothing". Hardly ever get the chance to do "nothing" as I'm on call for work 24/7 including when I'm on vacation.