Autotrain?

[jetson]

Can anyone give me sone feedback on the Auto Train? I would like to know if the delux sleeper is worth the money and if the train usually run' on time? Also how long does it take for them to unload the car's? The train is due in at 8:30 am and I have to pick up people at Mco airport at 10:30 do u think I will make it ? Thank's Jetson

 

[DVC Chris]

Jeston,

We took the AutoTrain last August and just booked next trip for this Dec. The Deluxe sleeper is a nice accommodation, but for my taste a bit expensive for an overnight trip. If there are only 2 of you traveling, I would consider the standard sleeper. The Deluxe sleeper is a bit wider, has an extra chair and your own bathroom/shower. The Standard sleeper is two reclining chairs facing each other. In the evening, the 2 chairs make one bed, and the other folds down from the celing. I beleive the sizes of the beds in both sleepers (deluxe and sleeper) are pretty much the same give or take a few inches. The main difference is having your own bathrooms. I did not find this to be a problem. In each sleeper car, there are 4 bathrooms and one shower to serve the standard sleepers (about 10-15 per car). On our trip (both ways) we never had to wait for the bathroom or shower.

As far as unloading the car: On the trip south, it took about 20 mins to get our car. Coming back North, we were THE LAST car off the train and it took no more than an hour..and it would have been shorter except someone left their alarm on and the battery died... The guys had to push it out of the train (argh!!!)....

As far as ontime: Going south, the train left Lorton late becuase it got in late in the morning. We were all off the train and in the car by 10:30-ish.... Coming home, we were ahead of schedule and hit some bad rain and had to slow down... We got in about 2 hrs. late..... The train attempts to stay on time and has been known to come in early...but there are a lot of factors that affect it. It is riding on CSX rails and shares them with freight trains.. Sometimes that causes it to run a bit late.. If there are heavy rains, they have to run the train at 15 mph instead of the normal 70-80 mph... Obviously this will all affect the on-time performance.....

Overall, I think the Auto Train is a great way to get to Florida... I like the fact that you arrive totally rested and ready to vacation. The time on the train allows you to "wind down" to vacation mode.....

Please let me know if there is any other information that you would like...

Chris

 

[Luvdisney]

We used the Autotrain last August for my family of 4. We had coach going down and had a family room coming home. The trip home was much nicer. I have a hard time sleeping in a recliner, which is what you have in coach. Plus you have people walking up and down the isle at all hours of the night. But overall I would highly recommend it. I think it took us about 30 min. to get our car once we arrived in Florida. But on the trip home it took a bit longer. I think it was about 45 min before we got the car. I've heard that the longest anyone ever had to wait for there car was about an hour.

 

[JudithM]

Jetson, how long it takes for your vehicle to be unloaded from the Autotrain depends on how many vehicles are on the train. There is no correlation between when your vehcile went on the train & when it comes off - in other words first on is not necessarily first off. Also if you travel with other people, let them know & they will put your vehicles together, so they come off together. Also, the train does try to stay on schedule, but there are times when it is not.

 

[DC7800]

Auto-Train has a 92% on-time performance rating. I was on-board Sanford-Lorton last week and we arrived about 15 minutes early. Amtrak says to allow two hours to get your car, but it seldom (if ever) takes that long (and then only if your car winds up last off the train!).

If you have any questions at all, I'll be glad to answer them.

 

[jetson]

I would like to thank eveyone for your help. You answered all my questions. Thank's again jetson