Tell Me about the Auto Train Please !

[NADINENURSE]

Seeking info about the Lorton Va atuo train, can you actually sleep, how are the bathrooms ? Are the trains generally on time ? Any adivce is appreciated, THANX

 

[Olaf]

Do a search on the Autotrain. Tons of people on the boards have done it.

 

[MushyMushy]

If you go to the top of this page, there is a thread called "Popular Transportation Links" and within that thread you'll find a link for threads about the Auto Train. And here are two I saved from my own search. We're taking the Auto Train in June!

http://www.on-track-on-line.com/autotrain-tips.shtml

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=402667

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I LOVE the Autotrain! I have gone to Disney about 22 times in the last 10 years, and never flown once! I usually take the AutoTrain in one direction (the cheaper direction!) and drive the other. But I am a "train person" - I love everything about the train. I enjoy just relaxing and watching the scenery pass by. I see it as part the the adventure, and I look forwards to the ride!

I done sleeper and coach, and obviously prefer sleeper, but coach was do-able when I needed to save money. In the sleepers, I get the standard sleeper, and I always sleep OK. Sometimes when the train is going over a switch, it can really rock, though! In coach, it can be really tough to get comfortable, especially if there is someone next to you in the other seat! Fortunately, when I went coach, I got two seats together, so I could stretch out. I am barely five feet tall, so I managed OK, finding a comfortable position. But nowadays, I will find the money and get the sleeper, as it really is nice to have your own personal space.

I never had any problems with bathrooms. On the Autotrain, they seem to stay very clean, unlike I hear about other long-distance trains! The AutoTrain is one of the best (if not the best) long-distance train that Amtrak runs.

My last few trips, we were on-time, even early! I have had a couple of trips a few years ago where we were delayed for a few hours, usually because of track work or weather. But I accept that as a fact of life on the train, and plan accordingly (like we only plan an evening at a park on our arrival day; or plan the day to swim and eat a nice dinner).

But I love the train, can't wait for my next trip! Hope this helps - have a great time when you go!

 

[JMLBrats]

We've done the autotrain a few times and would do it again, but DH and I NEVER get any sleep-it's sooooooo bumpy and noisy and stuff. Fortunetly our 3 kids always sleep through the night. I guess it depends-if you are the kind of person who can sleep through anything then you might get some sleep-if not, don't count on it. For us though we would still do it if the price is right because it saves us some driving (since we come all the way from NE) but we have decided that for now we prefer to actually drive ourselves and be able to stop and SLEEP for the night if we want to. With the kids we need to get a sleeper compartment big enough for all of us and it's so expensive so for us it's not worth it. When you add up the cost and the lack of sleep it just doesn't make sense. But I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it-a lot of the experience is very positive and fun-it just stinks to get there and be totally exhausted.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

We are doing the Auto train in June also (June 10th). We did it last year. 2 things that really helped were that my online buddies told me to reserve seats in the lower level. The cost is the same but you need to actually request it. I enjoyed the lower level because we had privacy and the bathrooms were right there. There was also no traffic in our area.

I was also given the advice to ask for the seat with the outlet. There was only 1 seat with this on the lower level. Because of my online buddies I also knew to bring an outlet cord so it worked out really well.

Thanks to my online buddies.