Amtrak Auto Train: A brutally honest look at my ride from VA to FL
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 май 2023
- This is my unique, mostly enjoyable, occasionally frustrating experience riding overnight on the Amtrak Auto Train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL. The 855-mile train got a late start, dinner was after midnight, and we rolled into Sanford several hours after the scheduled time. But, I was in a bedroom, the highest-class accommodation that had its own private bathroom and shower. The sleep was good, the company was pleasant, and the food, when available, was superb. Plus, my car made it safe and sound.
Ignore the hype - this is what the Amtrak Auto Train experience is really like.
• Trip cost: $1,060 (two people in a bedroom, plus the car; meals included)
BG Report: www.t1dwanderer.com/bg-report...
🔔 SUBSCRIBE → ruclips.net/user/t1dwanderer?sub_confi...
👉 PATREON → / t1dwanderer
🌍 EMAIL NEWSLETTER → www.t1dwanderer.com/subscribe
Compare this to a Japanese train I recently rode: ruclips.net/video/C-f3Q6XzB0g/видео.html
I mean that's not really fair, you know as well as I do the autotrain is a specific service that will take longer given the cars. That's not to say the Japanese train wouldn't also be superior to regular Amtrak long haul routes, but at least compare apples to apples.
Get your feet off the furniture.
@johnbigelson7471 eh doesn't mean amtrak can't make it better particularly the loading phase. Maybe they can go over to the UK and see how theirs is handled.
@@The_Lone_Aesir Oh for sure, there's lots of room for improvement. I just didn't feel this specific comparison was fair.
I would just drive
I am a freight conductor with NS out of Virginia, Amtrak uses our tracks to navigate most of the area, which means that they are subject to the delays caused by NS dispatchers and lack of maintenance on NS equipment. 9/10 days for the last 6 months it has taken 12 hours to travel just 150 miles even with "Better trains" as a result of our most senior and experienced employees quiting even with a decade or more of experience. This results in the company hiring people that are unqualified for all positions and giving them an unsafe amount of time to train to become proficient. This is exasperated by many layoffs 2-3 years ago of maintenance personel so those that are still here are overworked and equipment consistently breaks down as a result. When these trains break down they may take up to a whole day to get moving again. Which usually means that tracks are blocked for an extended period of time. Hope this helps anyone with confusion as to why there are so many delays.
Thanks for the inside info
I wish more people were aware of how corporate greed is hurting us as workers (both paychecks and overall health) and hurts us as consumers (delays, lack of availability, health, etc).
@@sweetestpotato4392 Sorry to burst your Marxist bubble but the greed is squarely on government bureaucrats who demand total control at massive tax payer cost to provide pennies on results.
The Pacific North West needed a train route to connect to the East. Two competitors undertook the task, one with private funds and one with public money (taxes).
Private guy developed a brilliant plan and beat Public guy like a big base drum. He not only built the rail connection faster and cheaper but made a nice profit in the bargain.
Taxpayers lost millions spent on Public guy but Private guy did it for so much less that travelers immediately enjoyed faster access and much lower train fares in the bargain.
Bureaucrats have only ONE goal: GET MORE BUREAUCRACY!
I was listening to a news report that there is pressure from investors to economize the
NS railroad an even greater extent. This situation reminds me of Boeing management after the merger with Mcdonald Douglas and the subsequent grounding of 737-800 MAX after a design flaw downed two of the aircraft. Now it had happened again with door flying off in mid-flight.
I believe that corporate mergers place megacompanies with little or no competition in a "too big to fail" business environment. It is at this point that there is a merging of government and corporate powers which is fascism and a subsequent hands off approach to enforcing safety regulations or weakening these regulations. For example, Federal regulators fumbled around after that NS train wreck and to this day people in the area are still displaced. It is like "nothing to see here".
Last week tonight w/ John Oliver
I did this a few years ago when I moved from Maryland to Florida by myself. I am disabled and can’t praise the experience more! I had a little roomette, my food was brought to me, and when I woke up I was in Florida! I had none of the issues that this person experienced, thankfully.
The question I would have is how many years ago?
@@truckingwithatablet4489 “a few”
Ty, for your input. I moved from Maryland to Florida last yr. I'd like to have my mom ride the train down to visit.
@@sunkissed4261 If she has issues with walking, she might find the train just the ticket. Flying is quicker for me, but involves a lot of walking( or being pushed), being very uncomfortable on the plane, and being very stressed out. I’d much rather take the train where I have enough room and can spend my time relaxing or sleeping.
@@sunkissed4261 Tell her to pack snacks. Often I have been hungry on Amtrak because dining room was closed when I got on and cafe car is not 24 hours. A few times the train was cancelled causing me to buy a last minute ticket to make my overseas connections. His experience is typical. My only other advice is the stairs to upper deck are steep. Toilets are on lower deck. Must climb up to go to meal car and cafe car. You can reserve regular seats on lower level or get a room on lower level. I enjoy Amtrak and take it as much as possible. Once I took Greyhound from DC to Tampa in the early 90's. Greyhound was too rough!
Wow! I have taken the Auto Train five times in the last year. The worst experience was waiting 2 hours for my truck. You got the worst of the worst. It is scary to think that could happen to us. Thanks for sharing your travel experience.
I've traveled all around the US by train, and had great experiences and awful experiences. Trains are notoriously late. If you want a better experience, bring a food bag with whatever you might want to eat in an emergency. Plus water. Bring a sleeping mask, reading material, backup cell charger (i.e. Anker), toilet paper, your medicines, a change of underwear, some small plastic trash bags, and anything else that might make your life easier if there's an unexpected delay. I love train travel and always try to control what I can control.
So in other words, in order to survive the train ride you need to handle it like an expedition into a foreign and hostile country.
Facts
How in gods earth would anyone take amtrak when its actually cheaper to fly, for an hour or two,instead of a day or two for more money! Makes no sense. Even for the frightened flyers. Flying over USA land is safe. If something happens ,they simply land the plane.
@Artificialintelligentle There are times when I just want to get from point A to point B. There are other times when I look forward to the journey more than the destination. Train travel gives me time to myself to read and write. It's very therapeutic to see the parts of a country that you don't see while flying or driving. Once while traveling coast to coast, I watched the sun rise across Ohio. A woman in some random rural community walked toward the clothesline carrying her full laundry basket with her dog excitedly running and jumping behind her. The train was just moving following a brief unexpected stoppage and as we started past the woman and the clothesline, we caught each other's eye. I put my hand up in greeting. Her hands were full, but she smiled back and followed the train with her eyes until I couldn't see her anymore. That was 30 years ago and I still remember that sunrise and connecting with another human like that. I could write a book about the incredible experiences I've had during my train travels.
seems like a third world railway
One thing to remember when traveling Amtrak is NEVER plan on arriving at your destination on time. Have a VERY flexible schedule and just enjoy the ride.
You are correct. Arrived 5 hours late, they ran out of food and water and they didn't clean the toilet either Never Again, meanwhile in China.... What happened to build back better???
This applies to daily commute as well.
You telling me there's no one who can make the train run on time? 😂 😂 😂
@@banshong3997 Public Transpo in this country is barberic....
By Design..between the racism and the Oil companies it is what it is..
@@Miafunfactory so you're saying the US is controlled by corporations. The US is a government of the corporation by the corporations for the corporations and you're all Serfs, to serve them. 😂😂😂. Freedom anyone 😂😂😂
My sister took Amtrak from Sanford Fl to VA. She paid $600 to load her car and a sleeping car a must. She could have dinner in her sleeper or in the dining car. It was a pleasant experience and will do it again.
I’m a disabled veteran. I take Amtrack because it’s easier for me. I have nothing but great experiences!
Amtrak, not Amtrack
$1,000 is chunk of change for the low level of service Amtrak provided. You sure are a relaxed and patient man.
With the price of a bedroom birth and your car charge it can get pricey, of course who knows when this guy booked his ticket.
It was more than that if you listened. How much more is obviously self censored.
His accommodation is the higher price compartment (vs smaller roomette) and is meant for two people
For that amount of cash, could fly down two people, rent a nice car and get a decent hotel room, plus save two days transit ! Did it once years ago when it was more affordable, and it is worth the experience (once) if you are interested.
@@davefromflorida I have begun to hate flying in the last 30 years, and have always found a nice, leisurely drive, stopping to sniff the roses and look around, talk to people to much more fun.
Do I really need to fly 400 mph to get someplace just to be dumped in a horrible airport, and to be angry, tired and depressed all the same time?
We did this once about 10 years ago. At the time we did it because of my fear of flying (air fare was considerably cheaper !). Even the standard “sleep-in seats” (which are terribly uncomfortable) were exorbitantly expensive; there was no way we could have afforded a sleeper car. Trying to sleep amidst crying babies and international guests calling their spouses overseas on speaker phone was impossible. We spent 17 sleepless hours. Never again. Never, never, never. Amtrak can keep this. Even driving all the way was better.
Thus concludes your secret initiation😢
"Even driving all the way was better."
Just fly, much cheaper, much faster. The flight is only two hours. 🙂
@@neutrino78x And statistically safer, too!
@@Claudia-lq3ns
" And statistically safer, too!"
Flying is by far the safest way to travel, yes. 🙂
@@neutrino78x smh
I went from Fullerton CA to Syracuse NY (and return ) in a bedroom. Great experience, I could have bought a car (used), but was worth every penny. Having grown up riding the train (pre Amtrak) a compartment trip was on my bucket list. My Dad worked for the Great Northern Railroad. We used to ride the "Fast Mail" train, between Whitefish Mt and Minot ND. It had just 1 passenger coach, mainly used by railway personal, deadheading home. Was great for us kids (5) as we each got our whole seat, and since it was a night train we could stretch out and sleep. There was a little confectioner stand in the corner where could purchase snacks and sodas. Mom always brought sandwiches and cookies. Great memories. Never minded delays as it meant more time on the train. Our greatest train adventure was one Christmas vacation from Whitefish Mt to Great Falls Mt to Bismarck ND, on the way home was a blizzard, and the snow reached the top of the train, and a snowblower engine preceeded the train to clear the track. Speeds were extremely slow and the iced up undercarriage of the coach creaked. We made the cover of either "Look" or "Life" magazine showing the snow to the top of the train.
Loved reading your very cool story. Thanks!
Wow, did you ever get screwed by Amtrak! Did they ever explain exactly what delayed the train so much?
My uncle, while attending high school, (in his mid-teens during early/mid 1940's) worked part-time after school (evening, weekends) for Great Northern at their Klamath Falls, Ore. freight hub. He was a tough, money-hungry high school kid (sober, with huge! work ethic). His job was to help unload, reload, and otherwise help manage the freight loads.. -Needless to say, he had great success with the railroad, and some great stories! Apparently the railroad operation there was having a lot!! of trouble with on-job (employee) alcohol consumption.
Great story, thanks!
The arriving train had been late, and that pushed us back too
When I have used the Amtrak sleep cars going from Seattle to Michigan, I had a concierge the whole way. Took my luggage. Knew my name. Had a lot of quality service. But this was about 10 years go. Plus, they gave me the option to have dinner in my room or in the dining car. All in all it was a relaxing several days.
Was this before "ME FIRST", Woke, DEI employees?
I bet it was. We rode the Zephyr cross-country back in May, and our car attendant didn't even empty the trash cans. @@crimestoppers1877
Corporate greed has changed a lot of industries in the last decade
@@sweetestpotato4392 Deep State greed is what affects the US population. A corporation looks at its bottom line. They hire only the folks they need for the price the staff will accept.
Bureaucrats serve one function only: to feed the bureaucrat. Every single damn year they get raises and benefits that WE have to pay for even as service degrades and costs go up.
Like the government? Three letters for you: T. S. A.
I have taken the auto train twice and absolutely LOVED the entire experience. I had a roomette. On my return trip I stopped at a supermarket, picked up lovely fruit salad (it was August) and a four pack of wine,then settled into my seat listening to music and read my book. No stress, no hassle. If only all travel could be like this!
I learned one very important thing from this video. Never have anything planned at the end of an Amtrak trip. At least nothing that you have o be there for at a certain time.
I’ve taken the Autotrain a few times and it has never been on time. The last trip to Florida was my last one on the Autotrain. We were delayed a total of 18 hours, leaving Lorton 6 hours late, at close to Midnight, and arriving 12 hours late at around 10:00 pm the next night. It was the single most miserable trip I had ever taken. We felt like we were being held hostage aboard this never moving train. Because they were late leaving Lorton (due to the train being delayed coming from Florida), we missed our meal and they gave us a half of a Subway sandwich while waiting in the lobby for the NB train to arrive. The following day, we got a free breakfast, but because we still had not arrived, we had to buy lunch. An overpriced hotdog and a $3.00 can of soda. Dinner comes around and we are still on the train and there is no food to buy, so they break out and give us small “snack boxes”, which consist of some crackers, pretzels, a slim jim and a packet of processed cheese. Disgusting. After traveling about 40 hours, (drive to train station, the train ride with all the delays, and then driving home in Florida, I was done. I could have driven back and forth by car twice in the time it took Amtrak to travel 900 miles. Oh, and instead of some monetary compensation, they gave us vouchers to use on Amtrak in the future. Are they effing crazy? I’m never stepping foot on an Amtrak again.
I had a similar experience 25 years ago (my wedding anniversary is in two days!) I only remembered it because we took Amtrak in a sleeper car down from Philly to Miami for our cruise honeymoon. Never did that before and we thought it would be a cool experience to do together, newly married. No matter how overjoyed we were to be married and look forward to our trip, somehow I still remember that "cool Amtrak experience" as being one of the most frustrating and angering experiences of my life, totally eating up our whole "beach day" we had planned between the train and the cruise. Like you, we felt more like hostages. We flew home after the cruise. Never again. Glad to see nothing's changed in 25 years.
Same happened to me. I wanted to scream to get off that train . No one was dressed nicely as if the lowest of the low was traveling. A crappy disappointing experience.
Never again.
Sounds like you weren’t 18 hours late, but rather had 18 total hours of your time wasted (6 waiting to get on, 12 waiting to get off)
Sorry you had a bad experience, that is the the normal. Watched the RUclips channel called Grounded Life Travel with Rob and Alie
May I ask when this was? I think things have improved in the last few years, including the food offered on long-distance trains. Amtrak has been systematically de-funded over the years and uses 40+ year old equipment. I've found the Amtrak customer service is the best, better than airlines by far. However, it doesn't do them any favors to be so late.
Amtrak needs to own their own tracks. Being at the mercy of the freight train companies schedules and paying them millions of dollars for use (since they actually own the overwhelming majority of rails in the US) is what's crushing passenger train service in this country.
Excellent point.
The Government can't run the trains efficiently. Owning the tracks would be a catastrophic and poorly run. No thanks.
That is not how it works.
For decades, the popularity of passenger rail had been in decline. Air travel was becoming faster and cheaper, while cars were more convenient (since most trains don't bring your car for you, leaving you without one when you get to your destination), though with more effort, since you had to drive.
Many of the major railroads had requested to end most or all of their passenger service. The combination of the reduced popularity and crushing government regulation (price controls) and the same kind of bad union deals that bankrupted Chrysler (twice) and GM once made it impossible to turn a profit on passenger rail. If the railroads were not obligated to keep providing passenger service as a condition of the right of way to build the track in the first place, they would have stopped, and they were pressuring the government to let them stop throwing money at passenger rail service that few wanted.
Passenger rail was in trouble, so Amtrak was created to save it. Railroads that carried passengers could either join the system, partially funding Amtrak initially and allowing Amtrak to permanently use their trackage, with the maintenance burden on the railroads, or they could continue to offer passenger rail service. Nearly all railroads joined the system up front, and eventually all of the long distance railroads had joined the system and ceased their own passenger operations.
Long-distance passenger rail is in a bad state in the US because few wanted it when it was offered by the railroads themselves, and because few want it now. The government keeps Amtrak around because discontinuing it would be like selling off America's national parks (their words), not because we have any special need for passenger rail as a mode of transportation. If there was enough demand for it, the railroads would still be doing it and making money.
Now going Amtrak is a choice people make because they want to have a train ride experience, not because it is a cost-effective or time-efficient way to get anywhere. Plane tickets are cheaper, and you get there in hours instead of days. Riding for a multi-day trip in coach would be terrible, and while it would be a great deal of fun to get a roomette or the big room, it's more expensive than taking a plane. Planes are for when you just want to get there... Amtrak is for the experience.
That's what makes shortcomings in Amtrak's service like shown in this video unfortunate... many people are willing to accept limited or no meal service on planes, because they just want to get to the destination cheaply, but taking a train instead of a plane is a conscious decision to slow down and enjoy the scenery, and things like the dining fiasco here just take the appeal out of it. But with Amtrak failing to break even every year since it was created 50 years ago, even though it was promised to be self-supporting, the level of funding to provide a solidly good experience is not there either. The prices, while already high compared to flying, have to be even higher to pay for a better experience. That is a hard sell when it is already perceived as overpriced.
There’s never been a passengers rail service that made money! Just like the Airlines and Bus Lines, they are partially funded by the government !
On a normal Amtrak passenger train for the bedroom patrons, they make lunch and dinner reservations !
Breakfast in the dining car is first come first served!
If you prefer, you can have your dinner delivered to your bedroom, so you don’t even have to leave your room!
That frikin bizarre 😮
The auto train will go down as one of my favorite experiences in my kids childhoods. We had so much fun and felt very well taken care of.
My wife and I had similar experience. The employees on and off the train were exceptionally helpful, and whole operation was well organized.
My kids thought it was fun and exciting too. At least for the first ten hours... Hubby put his foot down. If I wanted family vacations in Orlando, we were flying or skipping it.
Same! Fun memories for our boys!
Clearly you and the other commenter haven't been on AutoTrain for years.
I've been on the auto train many, many times. Sometimes, it can be like this. The tracks are owned by freight companies who get priority on the tracks. I've experienced major delays worse than depicted here, where we were provided box meals for dinner before we even boarded because we departed around 10 pm. Lunch was served the next day since we did not arrive in Sanford until late afternoon. NOTE always bring snacks with you just in case.
I've also had smooth travel experiences where departure and arrival went off without a hitch. It has never been the fault of the amtrak personnel. They do the best they can with the circumstance they are given.
What has changed through the years are the amenities offered. They used to have a wine and cheese gathering in the sleeper car lounge before departure, as well as movies in the lounge, etc. That's all a thing of the past. I agree that the most of the cars are showing their age.
My late husband and I took an amtrak train from Springfield IL to Chicago, it wound up being a 9 1/2 hour trip! Delay, delay, after delay. We got to Union Station and there were cops everywhere just down the block cause some lawyer had been shot.
Interesting. My dad had an experience on Auto Train even worse than this a few weeks before this trip, but then a problem-free one last week. And my train didn't arrive until late afternoon but we definitely didn't get any lunch. Couldn't even buy one. Weird
😱
It's funny, but the major complaint from passengers on that trip that I recall was the fact that amtrak could not serve alcohol. 1) because the lounge never opened because we left too late. And 2) because alcohol could not be served the next day with lunch because Amtrak could not be responsible for a bunch of people getting in their cars and possibly driving under the influence when we arrived in the afternoon.
Partly correct, the rail lines are owned by other railroads and maintained by them but 90% of the time or more Amtrak will always have priority.
I make the drive from Fredericksburg (about 30 miles south of Lorton) to Ocala a couple of times a year. It’s usually quite seamless. I generally leave early in the morning (0500) and get there about 12 hours later (1645). After watching this expensive, uncomfortable and untimely cluster, I’m confident I’ve made the right call. Holy smokes.
Yes, this blew my mind! It’s asinine 🤦🏼♀️🤣. And in the Army we do call it a clusterf@*k
I do the same trip from Roanoke. Thought about doing this but after watching this vid. No way.
I've driven from DC to Orlando at least a dozen times and while it's a full day --- I'd much rather save a bunch of money than drive this Train from Hell
@@MoosefromCanada we call it that too in the Marine Corps. 😂
@@teddyvincent4833and Air Force
Several years ago my parents (live in Northern VA) were in Florida and had a medical issue. The AutoTrain was key to getting them home safely with their vehicle. A+ in my book!
A rare occurrence was your case!💥💯
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. This is not a trip for the person who gets stressed easily.
36 hours late from New York to Miami is typical on Amtrak and even before they eliminated the dining car and the snack car the food choices were extremely limited
The snack car had only a few cans of beer and soda and a few Frozen sandwiches and even from New York to Albany they would run out of food before they even reached Albany and by Saratoga there was no food or drink left on the train to buy.
When you contrast this with what we used to have with Penn Central and New York Central and Reading Railroad and Delaware and Hudson, they had full dining cars with full menus and they would pick up food in each City and have fully stocked snack cars and dinning cars
And they lost a lot of money, went bankrupt. Even now, Amtrak is highly subsidized. So is auto travel. We love to complain.
Not like it used to be, huh
We really do. Re: food, I usually eat ahead of time and then just bring sandwiches/wraps/snacks on the train. Even when the train was packed, I had a system where I put my piece of fruit and wrap in my bigass purse and pulled it out when I was ready.
I traveled Amtrak every week half of 2022, and I never once considered hitting up the dining car. Maybe if I had a longer trip, as my ride was only 2.5 - 3 hours... but I can still see myself bringing my own food.
We have taken the Auto Train several times. I pack a really nice lunch and plan to arrive before the gate opens. I find a nice seat, read a book, eat my lunch, walk around, and stay relaxed. But I did some research before my first trip, so I was prepared. No sweat. And I don’t put my shoes on the seat. The trick is to manage expectations.
expectations are set by what is communicated. what you say is to accept unreliability which is a BIG BIG NO ...
"....and twenty-five sacks of mail..."....very nice Arlo tribute....
I took three trips (two northbound, one southbound) on the Auto Train several years ago. I didn't experience any of the major delays of this video. Then again, I'm a pretty easy-going guy and I roll with the punches as they come. In all, I really enjoyed the experience.
I have ridden the AUTO TRAIN five times and never experienced the lateness you did. Each AutoTrain is approximately 50 cars long (15 passenger cars and 35 auto carriers). There are two sets of trains. When there is a delay caused by extreme weather or freight train interference, the trains get out of sync time wise. Sometimes, if
they are so late, a train can be cancelled to get back in sync time wise or on their regular schedule. I will take it again many times rather than drive on crazy I95. Remember, outside of the northeast, Amtrak doesn't own the tracks, They rent space on the tracks and freight train interference is common. Of all the times I have ridden the AutoTrain, only once was I an hour late. Several times we left ahead of schedule. Unlike other passenger trains, once they are fully loaded they can leave because there are no station stops between Lorton and Sanford..
Thanks for the helpful post, Mr. Amtrak 🤣
The mega train construct explains part of the delays.
I love trains, I regularly use one to get to facilities to inspect, as well as for international summits. The Auto Train may not have been perfect for your trip, but when the journey is smooth, it's a good alternative for snowbirds! The most famous motorail train is definitely the Eurotunnel Shuttle between Folkestone, UK and Calais, France. A LeShuttle train is about 775 meters (2,540 ft) long and is made from constructive stainless steel. If all nine Eurotunnel passenger shuttles were parked end-to-end, they would stretch for over four miles. The carriages used for the shuttle have a larger loading gauge than either British or French railways. As a result, they cannot travel outside the tunnel and the two terminals onto the national railways.
The only trains that travel through the tunnel that can go onto the national railways of the two countries are of course Eurostar trains. The speed limit for trains through the tunnel is 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph). For the tunnel itself, it is 37.9 kilometers (23.5 mi) long. Nine million cubic meters of chalk was excavated from the tunnel during construction, and this was used to enlarge the British Isles by 30 hectares to create Samphire Hoe Country Park which is situated two miles west of Dover in Kent. Since it opened, the equivalent of six times the population of the UK has crossed through the Channel Tunnel. More than 80 million vehicles have boarded Le Shuttle since it opened (cars, trucks, motorcycles, coaches, etc)
Really interesting, thanks
@@T1DWanderer A homogenous society is alot more orderly, efficient, prosperous and safe. There is none of that in the USA.
The European experience in train travel, management, and efficiency is light years ahead of the US. There is simply no comparison. Trains in India have a better arrival/deprture record than American trains. I went everywhere by train in Europe, not speaking any languages except english and a bit of german. No problems. I needed no direction to my seating or help with when to get off. It seems that American AmTrak is just a public works project first, a passenger service second.
@@OutnBacker comparing Europe to the US is a futile exercise. The high population density of Europe (or India) makes train travel feasible, the high population density also makes traveling around destination cities affordable there. In the USA, even if you travel by train, you have no mode of transportation when you get to your destination train station to get to your end point unless you are a commuter in a metropolitan area and have it prearranged on a regular basis.
@@skapur Those are factors, for sure.
We did it years ago and loved it. We actually had an attendant that prepared the room when we went to dinner for the night and then again in the morning while at breakfast.
Well your video has helped us decide to continue driving as we have done many times in the past. Thank you for your review.
My daughter and I took the Amtrack from Santa Ana to Seattle. We had 36 hours and 6 meals. We ate everything we could. The wait crew was great and joked around with us. Beautiful scenery. Wonderful trip.
I have a friend, older retired gentleman, who goes to Florida once or twice a year and stays 3 to 6 weeks each time. He drives from northern Ohio to Virginia and takes the auto train. He seems to enjoy doing so. For him, driving the entire way would be difficult. As he is not in any hurry, delays don't really bother him.
Oookkk
Bryan, super comment. &&. Nice positive 🎉❤😊 review!! I don't believe it's necessary to trash USA/Amtrak.. (so 😕horribly)
What a shame. I rode it with my Ex-wife about 12 years ago, Sanford to Lorton. No room, but large seats. They kept the families with the kids in separate cars away from the adults. So we didn’t have to walk through the blanket forts. Diner was wonderful and we enjoyed the bar car afterwards. We were going opposite direction than the Snowbirds and it was very reasonably priced.
Sounds great. I'm taking a long-distance Amtrak ride in a few days, in a coach seat. That's really interesting about the families with kids being put in a different car; I'm traveling alone and would really appreciate that. Hope they do that still!
Commenting from Sweden, I took the Amtrak train in 1989 from Savannah to Philly and a year later from L.A to San Francisco. The ride went smoothly both times. Apparently, judging by many of the comments here, things have deteriorated since then. When I retire I will buy a state of the art camper van and travel all over Europe and never have to deal with the hassle with delayed flights and trains.
Sounds great. I drove across northern Sweden last year; always wanted to return and see more of Lapland!
You were lucky. It was also a gamble in the 1980s whether a cross-country Amtrak train would arrive on time, or even on the same day as originally scheduled. Don't ask how I know.
Have taken train from Copenhagen to Karlskrona. Always good experience.
My parents did this for years to travel to and from FL for the winter. I don’t recall them having big problems with it. As they were retirees, they were pleased not to have to make the long drive all the way from NY and, later, from NJ. This was some years ago, my mom passed in ‘05, but my father did his last trip in the winter of 2010-11. On the trip back, he was quite fragile. My brother traveled back with him, in a room made for disabled people. They needed assistance several times, and the staff were extremely helpful. I think doing the trip just once may not be representative of the experience.
We're going to start charging you for the amount of commas that you use
@@SupaEMT134 😂🤣
2011 was 12 years ago....
Its become very common.
AMTRAK HAS NEVER BEEN GOOD. THEY HAVE REPUTATION TO KEEP UP
My sister goes to fla every year via the auto train. She loves it! She has been using them to go to fla so often, she actually goes free with travel miles. She takes all her food and she has a sleeper so she's super comfortable. It's a long drive from penna to Lorton but she does it by herself. She would never fly or drive, takes her car and she saves a ton of money by not renting a car.
Glad it works for her!
How long does she stay in FL? I ask as that would effect car rental cost. I would guess that for a stay of less than one or two weeks, airfare and car rental might be about the same as the prices this gentleman quoted.
Re: renting a vehicle: even if it was beneficial to rent a car while in FL, I would prefer to take my own vehicle anyways. That way I can do whatever the (bleep) I want and not have to worry about damage, etc. When we visit beachy areas, we come back with my Jeep looking like a sandbox and smelling very much like ocean...and not in the good way 😂
@@Claudia-lq3ns The upside to renting is that you wouldn't be the person cleaning the sand and fish smell out of car. I suppose if you really trashed the car, and returned it that way, the rental car company might charge you for the cleaning. But, sand and ocean smell has got to be really common in rental cars in Florida.
@@BryanTorok No kidding! I thought you would get "dinged" for that.
Regardless, I am a smoker and smoking in the rental is usually frowned upon. This is actually my biggest reason for wanting my own vehicle ☺️
Back in 1987 ( I was 18)I ended up at the station in Sanford, FL. I had planned on taking the train(no trains left that night) back home but instead took the plane. While at the station one of the Amtrak lady employees brought me some KFC for dinner which was a very nice gesture. A moment in my life that I will never forget. I don't remember her name but thank you. Seeing this video and obviously the station has changed a lot. Something I find very interesting.
Wow that's a cool story. Free KFC from the staff, can't beat that!
I remember hubby and I traveling way back when tolls were everywhere. This was before ATMs (yeah, WAY BACK). We left home too late and there were no banks open on a Friday evening so we missed picking up some travel funds.
Too bad we didn't count up our available cash.
We realized we wouldn't be able to pay the toll on I-95 at a rest stop called The Maryland House. In those days they only had a rather pathetic buffet which we could hardly afford. We didn't even have a check to write.
We were starving and poor, enough so that I went to the manager. He was a young man on the night shift who likely was even poorer than us but I had the audacity to ask him for a loan.
I don't know how I convinced him but he gave us a twenty and wrote his address on a card to send the money back. We not only got through the toll but had a damned decent plate of meatloaf and mashed.
As soon as we returned I sent him the amount plus extra and accompanied by a fulsome note of gratitude for helping strangers who lived two whole states away. I've never forgotten how good people can be because of him.
I love the way this video starts. When I lived in the DC area, one thing that I noticed again and again, was the lack of signs. I found it odd, since there are lots of visitors that would be helped by having a few signs. I remember one time looking for a metro station, and I knew from looking at the map a few hours earlier, that I was on the right road at the right location. Not a single sign to show the turn I was supposed to take. However, on the other side of the street, across 4 lanes of traffic, there was a little sign about 3' off the ground, not lite up and not in reflective paint, a little sign that said "kiss and ride" and it pointed in the right direction. Problem is, that sign couldn't help anyone going the other direction, as I was.
Another experience was an area some locals know as the "mixing bowl". It's like a bowl of spaghetti, and when I lived there, you would occasionally be forced to take a ramp based on your best guess, since there was no sign. You'd finally see a sign after you were 50 yards further committed to the ramp. If you guessed wrong (as I did once), you'll find yourself on the express way, and will have no idea where you're going. When you get off, you'll have no idea where that was either.
Also, something I never could figure out: Every street that had a real name, also had a sign with a number. A 4 digit number like 4837. Every little street in every neighborhood had these signs. When a drunk would drive over the sign with the real name, it might take 3 months before that sign gets replaced. When a drunk drives over a sign with a 4 digit number that has no meaning to anyone, the crew would be out before the end of the week and there would be a new sign with 4 numbers on it and not a single person would know what it was good for. These numbers were not listed on any map, but someone at VDOT must have thought they were real important.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union published maps that were intentionally wrong. They showed cities and roads in incorrect locations..
They also had Street signs around Moscow that were intentionally wrong.
This was to confuse enemies so they could not easily get into the city or move around inside.
I had a Russian college professor who had recently fled from Communism who taught a course on Soviet life. He described many things like that those of us in the Western world did not know.
I think Washington DC has done the same. I grew up there and could not get around in the city without years of experience doing so in childhood. The multiple traffic circles and one way streets also make it difficult.
Wouldn't want our own citizens to know how to get around in our Capital city. Nobody in their right mind would want to go there.
We’ve traveled many many times on the Autotrain with our child and never had a problem. We did learn things along the way. Always get there early and get group 1 dinner and ask for room service breakfast. This gets you off the train fast and should your car be one of the first ones off then bonus! Bring a book and snacks. Don’t forget there is a movie and games to play for entertainment. I mean, there wasn’t wi fi in the past!
I didn't know you could request a dinner group. I didn't even know that's how it worked - they just gave me a ticket with "3". I found out what that meant! Thanks for your comments
@@T1DWanderer with the sleeper cars you have an attendant who will get the dinner or breakfast for you, but you have to ask them. Normally they tell you, but it sounds like so much went wrong on your trip. They’ll also fetch coffee and tea and will offload your luggage and place them in a carrier to make your exit faster. 💕🐝💕🇺🇸
@@T1DWanderer If you check in early enough you get to choose your dinner seating. You checked in so late that the third seating was probably the only one available.
I took this train in April 2010 and loved it. Left VA around 4pm and got into Sanford early the next morning around 730am. It was a comfortable ride with lots of friendly people and good service. I would do it again without hesitation.
Things functioned in 2010. That’s along time ago now.
@@daveshore8671😂 I was thinking the exact same thing!
@@jackieyoung3359@daveshore2641 EXACTLY! In 2010 things still worked, well enough. On the bright side, at least we have access to trains, planes, and automobiles!
So here in the UK our government passed the delay repay scheme where train operators are required to compensate passengers on late arriving trains with a percentage refund based on the length of delay. It certainly incentivizes train operators to do everything possible to run to schedule. It's a pity the US doesn't have something similar in place. Interesting video none the less 👍
I agree with you but, since Amtrak is run by US Government they will never pass a law like that.
I am absolutely embarrassed by the primitive trains we have in America. You guys do it much better.
This is because Amtrak doesn’t own or control the railways. Private freight train companies do. They prioritize their own trains versus passenger ones. The only exception is the Northeast Corridor, which is between Washington, New York and Boston. Amtrak owns those tracks and the service is fast, frequent and on time.
I just barely remember the heyday of passenger trains here in the US. My father rode them a lot. They were privately owned by various railway companies and a through passenger train had priority over freights. I know why that changed but I do not know why the change was allowed to happen. I remember the era of change. Sad. Wish we could go back to the luxury of train travel as on the great trains.
Does the UK have auto trains ?
I’ve NEVER seen this happen. I’ve been on it 2 different times and it was always a breeze for me and my family. It’s a shame you had so many problems.
Thanks. It is indeed often much smoother than this
same here
plenty of other comments by people who had miserable experiences
yeah a lot of the delays Amtrak auto train experiences are not even of Amtrak's doing, it takes days to recover from a delays the way it is timed and if the train is full
The last time our trip took a total of 31 hours, never again!
So sorry this train was so delayed. We have taken the Auto Train back and forth for many, many years. It’s not the same as the old wine tasting upon boarding days, and the cars are showing their age. But the staff remains top-notch and the dining car experience is quite good. Far better than driving down Rt. 95!
Right, thanks!
Sorry to hear about all the issues you experienced on the auto train. Two years ago, my wife and I went across country (Norfolk, VA - Salem, OR) and absolutely loved it! Yeah, there were delays, but we found it very relaxing, met some wonderful folks and had some great views of our country. We don’t plan on ever taking the auto train though. Thanks for the great review!
Appreciate you doing this
Amtrak Autotrain only has enough equipment for 2 consists daily. If you have late arriving trains that is why this backs up. Be lucky they just didnt cancel the whole train all together. I have traveled the Autotrain at minimum 4 times with no problems. When winter storms, hurricanes or the almighty freight congestion happens that really screws up the works. The attendants usually are very nice and friendly. remember they may be on there second leg heading back home so if they are late getting in and dealing with disgruntled passengers there life is just as miserable.
The staff on board was one of the definite positives
Took the car train from Sanford in 2021 and it left and arrived on time. Booked a coach seat and it was very comfortable with plenty of leg room. I brought my own food and drinks, a blanket and pillow, a phone charger and some Tylenol pm for a good nites sleep.
Nice to hear!
Thanks for doing that for me. I will definitely cross it off my list and definitely the bucket list. I would probably end up in the bucket with all the setbacks of that trip.
This is so helpful! What I love about your videos is it is like I am actually on this trip with you. You make it so honest and real. I also like the way you describe your meals. Great delivery and video you deserve an A plus
Thanks! Happy to hear that it feels like you're traveling there too
I took this once and enjoyed the trip. I didnt get a private room but the train was not crowded so i had a row of seats to myself. I hung out at night in the bar and had a nice time. It was an enjoyable ride that saved me driving from NY to FL.
Excellent, honest, and well-presented video! It is really nice having someone do a review who isn't promoting a service as opposed to reviewing it.
Thanks very much
Agree; this was great. Very informative 😊
Yes it was ok at best. I hope you enjoy as much as you could and thank you for sharing.
Thank you for doing this video. It's a nice overview of a trip like this which I have thought about doing at some point.
We just took the Auto Train north and then south on our return. We were coach going north and had a roomette coming home. First and foremost, this was a great alternative to driving I95 which is truly horrible in the Carolinas in particular. It is not a luxury experience. We hardly slept in coach but I did get a decent nights sleep in the roomette. With the roomette came the dining car. We had good time talking with the young couple moving to Florida who were seated across from us. I drove DC to central Florida as a younger man when traffic was less. I won’t do it any longer. The trip was much more casual than flying which is a very stressful way to travel these days. Happy travels to you!
Thanks for the comments! People sure seem to hate I-95 ;)
I have traveled the auto train frequently. 1ST ALWAYS BRING YOUR OWN FOOD DRINK AND BLANKETS. As anyone who travels delays occurs. I happy you made it safely. The trainride forces you to relax and take in tje experience. Enjoyed you video. Safe travels.
We took it and also got a cabin years ago 14 years ago and overall it was expensive but considering that I didn’t have to drive the entire way was worth it i literally drove 4 hours from NYC to the Train ate went to sleep and woke up in Florida with just enough time to take a quick shower dress grab a bite and was on the road southbound for another 4 hours and done so compared to driving it was way better and easier
We have been mulling over using this service when going to my families condo in Florida. This video was all I needed to see that spending a little extra flying to Florida and renting a car is well worth it.
Took the Auto Train on Apr 25 and had no issues. Boarded about 3:30 PM and we actually pulled out of the station half hour early. Dinner at 6:00 PM was right on time and good conversation with fellow passengers. I only got a Roomette but it was fine for just me. Breakfast was simple and I took mine back to the room to watch the passing landscape. Would definitely do it again.
Sounds great; my Amtrak experience before this one was about the same, all good and on time
I love the auto train and use it twice a year going and coming from Florida. I travel alone and at 66 years old I enjoy not having to do the drive. Yes the accommodations are a bit dated but I find all the Amtrak personal to be very nice and helpful overall. There can be delays and you really got delayed but usually it runs along within an hour of the posted schedule. The roomettes are a bit expensive, but just going with a seat is very reasonable at about $95 per seat each way. My car, an SUV, costs $285 each way. So total is $380 each way. If you consider I do not have to drive 900 miles at an average cost of car ownership of 50 cents per mile, I am ahead. I also need to stop overnight because I can not drive straight through. So $380 on Amtrak verses $$550 to $600 (car cost plus a room rental) I do the train and am happy. I agree it would be nice to have newer trains, but that would come with a higher cost. Everything in life is a trade off.
Exactly this. Even as a 20-something, I probably wouldn't do a 10-hour drive in a single day so with a room, it seems like Amtrak would be money ahead. Plus it would be way more pleasant not having to drive (and safer as a woman driving alone).
17 hours is a bit long for an optimal train journey--we really need high speed rail in the US--but up to 10-12 hour journeys are totally doable, even if you get a bit delayed, and better than flying for a lot of people.
Very nice comment..and it sounds very practical and frugal for your needs. It's nice to see a positive post.
@@emma70707I have been saying this for awhile.. all other modern countries have great rail systems...we really need an upgrade.. but then so do all our major cities 😏
@@emma70707 I have done the long drive thing many times. I even pissed my mother off when we went to Oklahoma years ago, I was going to drive straight through and when she wanted to stop at a hotel for the night (and we couldn't find a room due to a convention in the area) she was pissed off. Thing is, my father was driving that night (I was known to imbibe in copious amounts of booze at that time, drove in that condition regularly and that practice pissed her off, too) and he was as sober as most judges. Also, we were traveling in my motorhome so it wasn't like she was crammed in the back of a car.
Sounds good to me.
One thing to remember when traveling by rail in the US…Amtrak does not own the tracks so they must yield to freight trains. Also, high temps can warp the tracks and there will be speed restrictions - typically no greater than 50mph. I travel by train frequently and delays, especially in summer months, are just a given.
This is untrue - law says Amtrack is supposed to have priority - but we'd need the gov't to actually enforce it - currently the freight carriers just ignore the law - because we (as a country in general) don't respect Amtrack.
@@xThemadpoetThe law may say it, but it is true. Freight companies pay fines, but the fines are low, and much lower than penalties for being late with the freight.
Well put together and informative
Just came back from Europe yesterday. Almost exclusively rode rail to get everywhere I wanted..What a night and day difference. I love riding Amtrak, but it's embarrassing.
That said, I get the reality of our rail system in this country and why.
I'm British so this isn't a patriotism thing: I actually think that Amtrak is a good service in context of how it's used. I've taken a few trains in different parts of the US and considering the overwhelming car culture you have they are if anything over-servicing it. Maybe I just got lucky with my journeys though.
There is a stark difference between trains in the USA and those in Europe, for sure
Now I know why I'd take a plane or drive. Your assessment of the trip was pretty fair overall despite the logistical hurdles you faced. I admire your patience.
As long as Americans can cope with the arrogance of TSA screening, having to wait patiently in an endless queue, before every flight, that's ok with me. Even in Russia, a rather poor country, more people cover the long distances by rail.
@@PeterNGloor Russians must use rail to cover long distances because the ground conditions don't support an extensive road network due to the extreme freeze/melt cycles. Mud in the spring, for instance, gets very deep in Russia - and Ukraine for that matter.
Flying sucks and it way too dangerous .
Thanks for relating your trip.
You have effectively dissuaded me from attempting the trip
Thank you so much for this trip report! Entertaining and informative watch. My husband and I live in Richmond, Virginia, and had been considering taking the Auto Train to Florida for our annual holiday visit to my father. We decided to pass due to the necessary cost and time commitment at that time of year, but thanks to your video, we will probably take the train sometime in the next year just for the experience!
Believe it or not, I'd recommend it. It's generally on time, and even early, as I understand it. Thanks for watching!
This guy spent a bloody fortune to get a third rate travel experience but at least he got to lie down overnight. I took the Amtrak Lorton to Sanford with our family and our car. It was HIDEOUS! The trip was many hours behind schedule, the bathrooms were revolting, and sitting up all night with our kids was tension filled to say the least. But the return trip a week later was WAAY WORSE! The train was stopped in Georgia for many hours and the passengers were in open revolt. Orient Express it was NOT!
Sounds like a particularly bad one. Thanks for the comment
@T1D Wanderer I've had similar experiences. It's late pretty often. I go to the Naples area, which is about 5 hours farther than Sanford. If I was on your train, then I'd have to spent the night in Sanford.
Looks like we had the same experience 😂
If I were you I would have pooped on the floor and then blamed it on the captain of the train.
Oh for Christ's sake, you sound like the most entitled Karen. What do you mean when you say revolting? I took a sleeper car from Denver to San Francisco and it was a really nice experience. Everything was clean, the staff made up the bed.
The passengers need to calm the fuck down. It's a train. it's not like you're all stuck on a bus, a plane, or on the highway. There bathrooms and a cafe car. The delays are a direct result of the lack of funding towards rail.
I'd rather take the train any day than have to fly. Flying=hell on earth.
It looked as if most of those traveling were long retired. I enjoyed watching and was pleased to see you stay positive and honest about your experience. Thank you.
He was in line at 3 PM and got his car back more than 24 hours later, for a trip that would take 12 hours driving (not even considering the time to get to the station which may be out of your way should you be driving), so unless you want to try this for the experience, the market for this service must be older people with money to spare who are not comfortable driving long distances anymore.
Thank you for this content. Very informative.
Fantastic, just what I needed to know. Very comprehensive.
Great, thanks for watching
Last year I took Amtrak from the SF Bay Area to Westchester County NY. I did it first class, all the. way, in a room just like yours. We ran something like 12 hours behind, but I didn't mind it. I was enjoying the amazing view, seeing wild buffalo and antelope. The food was good. The service from the staff was amazing (of course, I have a policy of tipping - and tipping very well - upon first meeting the crew member assigned to me) and the bed was super comfy.
The tipping thing works.....I found out back in 80s when flying to order a drink, tip the flight attendant a $20 ( which most folks never do) and all the following drinks were free and service and attitude were impeccable....I always amazed any fellow travelers with this. I don't anymore except once every couple years as now retired so I don't know if this still works in post 911/coof times...😮
I took it FL to VA about 11 years ago. I was traveling alone and figured it was better than driving from Miami to DC - about 19 hours. I booked a roomette and when I checked in, asked how much it was to upgrade to cabin and it was only $200. I had a great trip, great service and in time. Looks like I was lucky.
Thank You for
Autotrain Video
Nicely Done!
Take Care/Godspeed!
this video may seem ordinary but for me not being on a train in 45 years it was very interesting. it kind of felt like I was right there with you. good job.
We made this "memorable" trip in the 70's. No sleepers, no showers, and certainly no wifi 😂. Dinner wasn't a cattle call like that, and after dinner they showed a movie in the dining car. The temperature in our car could not be regulated and we spent the entire night adjusting the thermostat as one end of the train car would be freezing cold while the other end was sweltering hot. I'm glad we did it - so I know to never ever do it again.😅
I took that train many years ago. From your video it has improved in terms of food and the sleeper. I would have enjoyed the trip. thanks for the video.
Excellent video, thanks to the gentleman recording. Terrible over all trip with the delays and constant waiting. I hope this experience will 100 times better for everyone one else.
The service personnel all seemed pleasant and professional.
Our family traveled by auto train in 2006 and in 2014. Both trips were on time, the food was delicious and the train was clean.
I could be on a train for days , I love train travel .I love train travel so much,that I watch the sleepy train travel here on RUclips .
I’ve done Amtrak 4 times cross country. Bring your own edibles, some books, a journal. It’s a great place for thinking and writing.
The staff was great.
Nice video and very informative!
Interesting clip ,thanks for sharing
Thank you for the warning. Your patience is admirable.
Well thanks for saying so!
So sorry to hear about everyone’s bad train experience. I traveled from SC to NYC and it was always on time and comfortable ride. The train conductors were polite and funny. I also ride the NYC to PItt station same thing. Beautiful people and great sights. I have been riding for decades it’s my preferred mode of travel if I can’t drive. Never had mean conductors. I have experienced delays but not enough to make me say that’s it, never again.
If the train was this late in Japan, the crew would kill themselves 😊
He never said anything negative about the conductors or others working on the train. If you are fine with the delays and possibility of not having a meal when you're hungry then great.
You had such a nightmare travel on the Amtrak, I'm so sorry you had to experience that. When I took it back in 2012 it ran perfectly on time and I loved every minute of it.
We have traveled Amtrak numerous times. Sometimes pretty good, sometimes downright awful. But there’s no denying there’s a bit of magic every time you settle in and you start to roll.
Agreed!
Wow, what an embarrassment in the global railroad industry! I’ve taken shorter Amtrak journeys to avoid holiday auto traffic and have been horrified by the lateness of the schedules. Your video is well done! You are a patient man.
Patient! Yeah right.
Thank you!
In the last 6 months in 2022, I took Amtrak to NYC round trip every week for work. There were certainly bumps in the road, but there's a couple reasons why Amtrak seemed to be so disorganized:
There was a rail worker strike. I'm not sure when this video was taken, but that made things pretty unpleasant to an already mildly annoying experience.
Amtrak tends to pack their trains stupid. They run a pretty tight ship in Penn Station (most of the time), but it can be confusing to new folks who aren't used to the quirks.
You handled this beautifully. Just trying to find the turn-off and waiting to pull into the train station that long would have given me major anxiety.
Agree that there should be more signs and more guidance. If they are going to pack their auto train to the brim, then they should provide resources accordingly.
Something I'm surprised that they don't do is send more meaningful and up-to-date text messages or app alerts to passengers. It might make things a bit easier.
Thank you for sharing this. My husband and I are very interested in trying out the auto train as he is not a flyer, and we would love to bounce around in our own vehicle in Florida.
Embarrassment? By Amtrak standards this was first class.
The US didn't get destroyed in World War II, which was great as civilian lives were preserved. However, we never built passenger rail lines (we share the freight) and President Eisenhower wanted to advance the interstate system (and for strategic reasons: our country is vast and every so many miles, the Interstate has a straightaway so planes can be landed--strategy. Also the oil industry had influence and the rail industry was in a bind with the unions demanding jobs be preserved that were no longer extant--"firemen" were obsolete as the US moved to diesel from coal locomotives. So our train experience is shabbier than Europe and since the more crowded (and potentially profitable) corridors like Maine to Florida are also densely built up, it's unlikely we'll ever develop rail lines.
I can’t speak for Auto Train but I have ridden half a dozen long distance trips on Amtrak. I consider Amtrak the railroad equivalent of the Greyhound bus only with rest rooms and food service. I’m old enough to have ridden the Sante Fe Super Chief before Amtrak. The day of excellent food and service are long gone.
Thanks for the perspective. I quite enjoy the food still though
30 years ago it was a nice experience. You drove your car right up to the loading dock in Lorton and could watch the ops. I have no recollection of either terminal. Driving from NY to VA, I got pulled over by a NJ State Trooper on the turnpike. I apologized to the officer and told him I was trying to catch a train. He did a double take and I explained it was the auto train. Television ads for the same were prevalent back then. Everyone knew the jingle. He laughed and let me quickly go with a verbal warning. Likely never heard that excuse before. It was a a good trip.
Interesting. Wonder if he'd let you off nowadays...!
Enjoying your vlog. Addicted now
In 1952 when I was 5 years old I took my first and only American train trip, from Birmingham Ala, to Champlain Il. and back with my mother. That was probably the most impressive trip of my life. I remember every bit of it like it was yesterday. I have since lived in several countries, and traveled extensively, but that train ride thru the heart of America still sticks in my mind and I am thankful for the memory.
Sounds great. Amtrak can still be like that too, even if it's a bit more worn and slightly chaotic
This is what the Amtrak Auto Train experience is really like. On this ONE trip. On this particular day.
True. It is also often on time and smooth
Thank you a lot for this info. I have never traveled on a train and now I will reconsider.
I say try it! This is only one experience; it's often smooth and normal
Excellent report and thank you for the review. I always wondered what it would be like to take the Amtrak Autotrain. I am not surprised to ses the mdeiocre-to-poorservice that I always suspected it would offer. You have FAR more patience than I do, so I don't think I would ever attempt it myself. The Autotrain has been in operation for over 40 years. One would think they would have it figured out by now. Obviously they have not. Thanks for the heads-up.
We ordered a carry out Greek food from a local Greek restaurant before boarding Amtrak. After our Amtrak attendant introduced himself, we closed the door and enjoyed our dinner 🙂
That's how to do it! If you even a little concerned about meals, bring your own food. If I had to wait hours and hours for dinner, I would be so hangry that I'd probably get myself in trouble for being mean and obnoxious. I've got low blood sugar issues, so don't play with me and my food 😂
At least take food that doesn't stink up the car for everyone else.....jeez
You just can't go wrong with Greek food. I ate train fare, but I did bring my favorite snacks.
@@whiskeywhiskeyromeo3730 I love it when people do that on a plane
@@vmmurphy3918 arseholes for sure!!!
We went from VA to FL and back a week later. We’d booked in coach but the conductor offered us a half price upgrade for one of the rooms. While I don’t know if they still offer this ad hoc upgrade, it worked for us.
Two hours into the southward trip, we had a 2 hour stop because someone had put a washing machine on the tracks. We got into Sanford 3 hours late, and our car took 3 hours for them to unload, so they gave us an ‘Auto Train Last Car Frisbee’ as we were the last car unloaded.
On the way back, we did the upgrade again, and this time, it took almost 4 hours for them to get our car unloaded so, as we were again the last car off we got another frisbee.
We did note that most passengers were snow bird senior citizens going south for the winter. Coming back to VA there were a lot fewer passengers, but I cannot explain the even longer time to get our car.
That frisbee is almost worth it!
fantastic review
Great video.
coming from Europe, the sluggishness, innefficiency and antiquated system of the few passenger train operations there are in North America (that includes Canada) are just amazing to me. It's railroad nostalgia. Imagine - freigtht have precedence over passengers.
There's a reason for that. freight train service in the U.S. is the world's largest and has paid for most of the tracks all over the country- nearly ALL of it private. So they mainly own the tracks. It's only right that passenger trains wait for them. Besides if the passenger trains competently ran on time, half the trouble would be avoided.
@@paulbriggs3072 In case you haven't noticed, the tracks aren't that great either. I live in NY along CSX's Hudson Valley corridor. Amtrak is usually smooth going between New York City and Rensselaer because there are between two and four tracks in that region and most of the freight traffic runs on the west side of the river along the River Line. Once you get past Rensselaer when the line turns westward, it becomes hell on earth. There's only one track between Rensselaer and Buffalo and it's not in the best of shape. The freight companies are too cheap to use modern concrete ties like every other nation in the civilized world. They still use wooden ties which decompose regularly and need to be replaced. So much for the quality of private ownership.
I rode from Jackson, MS to Chicago to D.C. to Orlando because there wasnt an East West route. It wasnt a bad ride but it was a cluster. I cant believe my bags made it.
There is hope. See the Brightline trains that run in FL. Soon it will go from Miami to Orlando.
@@paulbriggs3072 unfortunately as the East Palestine disaster demonstrated the freight companies do not maintain their rail track in good shape
My family did a round trip on the Auto Train back in the 80s. The wait to board wasn't that bad, but I remember we did pull out of the station about 30 minutes late. We checked in without drama, we were in the general seating (not a private compartment) and there wasn't any more confusion than what I've seen boarding planes. On the way south, we would catch an occasional slight whiff of diesel exhaust from the engines at the front of the train, but in general it was a pleasant trip. I don't really remember the food clearly, but vaguely remember it being OK. Our "nonstop" train stopped in what looked like the middle of nowhere during the wee hours of the morning in what a passing steward said was South Carolina... because a number of the train crew (several of whom I clearly saw walking off into the darkness) lived in the town we were passing through. After about 40 minutes, the same figures came back out of the darkness and the train was once again moving. Upon arrival in Sanford, it didn't seem like there were any real problems unloading although we had to wait around 30 minutes to retrieve our car (not bad, actually). Heading back north, we sat a bit farther back in the train so there were no passing whiffs of diesel... but most of the population of our car was truly geriatric and began arguing loudly over whose turn it was to use one of the two bathrooms around 4:00 o'clock in the morning despite several reminders that they were not the only ones in the car and some of us were trying to sleep. Overall, we were so impressed with our trip on the Auto Train that we never again used it for a number of other trips between the DC area and the Orlando area via car, train, or airplane.
Thanks.. always wondered about this trip..
Thank you for sharing! it sounds like it’s pretty slow & expensive!
The Northeast Regional is actually Amtrak's most profitable service, but the AutoTrain is the most profitable LONG-DISTANCE service! Though it is indeed the only motorail in the US! But not the only one in North America as the Ontario Northland Railway in Canada has a thing called the Polar Bear Express that connects Cochrane with Moosonee in northern Ontario. There are no roads to Moosonee, so drivers there very much rely on the train. It operates five days per week year-round. During the summer months there is an additional train on Sundays and the train often includes a full-length dome car.
I'm glad you acknowledged freight being a factor, because Amtrak gets a lot of smack for being late when most of the tracks in the US are owned by freight companies and thus freight companies have priority and final say. Not to mention most tracks are also not electrified. Amtrak owns the electrified Northeast Corridor between DC and Boston, which is why service is most reliable in the Northeast. Amtrak owns the Keystone Corridor between Philly and Harrisburg as well, which is also electrified.
Just curious, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that indeed, Amtrak works at an enormous financial deficit for all trains except for those in the Northeast corridor. This is the reason Amtrak gets massive federal funding and has for ages now.
Thanks for the comments. I'm intrigued about those Canadian trains!
No such thing as a profitable passenger train. They are abject wastes of taxpayers money
@@drewschumann1 Could not agree more.