Amtrak's Auto Train
Review by Marcy Gessel
August 5, 2009
www.Amtrak.com
1-877-SKIP-I-95
Amtrak’s Auto Train between Washington, DC, and Florida is not for everyone. It’s noisy. The aisles are cramped. Beds come at a premium.
And yet, on a recent trip returning from Orlando, not once did a pair of Our Kids parents hear, “When are we going to be there?” What it lacks in superior comfort, the Auto Train makes up in friendliness and fun.
The Auto Train proved an ideal mode of transportation for the parents and three boys, aged 11, 9 and 5. The family had ventured to Florida by car, stopping in North Carolina and Georgia before reaching Orlando (and the splendid Nickelodeon Hotel). Even with stops along the way, driving was tedious, so the family looked forward to taking the overnight train from Sanford, Fla., near Orlando, to Lorton, Va.
The cost of the one-way ride was comparable to flying five people roundtrip. The price is significantly lower if a family sleeps in coach seats. On the recent Wednesday northbound trip, it seemed that most of the families were in coach, while the first class sleeping cars were dominated by retirees. One of the families traveling in first class had packed both cars aboard the Auto Train to relocate from Florida to central Virginia.
Beyond the obvious advantage of sleeping lying down rather in a reclined seat, first class offers a snack of vegetables and cheese and crackers in the lounge car before dinner. The family spent the late afternoon in the lounge having a snack, visiting with other passengers and playing Uno.
All passengers receive a sit-down dinner, offered in three seatings. Choices included steak, fish and a vegetarian entrée, as well as pasta or chicken fingers for the kids. Meals are served on real plates with real silverware, all with the Amtrak logo. Adults are offered complementary wine (though take note that the wine before dinner is not free).
Both the coach and first class lounges show a film in the evening. The July offerings were family movies recently released on DVD (in this case, The Tale of Despereaux). The film was displayed on large-screen televisions in several locations of each lounge car. Hearing the movie was difficult, because other passengers in the lounge were talking and because whenever someone moved to another car, the doors opened loudly and let in the even louder rumble of the train section between cars. Still, the movie helped pass the time and made getting the kids to bed easy.
Sleeping Cars
Not even the family bedroom can accommodate a family of five, so the three boys shared a regular bedroom (accommodates two adults and includes a bathroom) and the parents slept in a roomette (two adults, no bath) a few rooms away. Each car also has one family bedroom that accommodates two adults and two small children but does not have a bathroom.
Transforming the cabins’ seats into bunks takes a bit of skill. Thankfully, each car is assigned a steward who handles the job for passengers. The stewards are very friendly and helpful. The OK family’s steward had the unenviable task of dealing with a problem with the toilet in the private bathroom. He responded quickly and took care of the problem in a short period of time.
The common bathrooms in the sleeper cars tend to be cleaner than in coach because fewer people use them. It’s unlikely anyone uses the in-room showers, however, because the shower stall and bathroom are one and the same. A sign recommends using the shower while staying seated on the toilet.
A small breakfast of cereal, bagels and muffins is served from 6am to 8am in anticipation of a 9:30am arrival. Shortly after 6am, however, all passengers were awakened by an announcement over the loudspeaker that the train would be arriving early - at 8am. Passengers were encouraged to get to breakfast quickly.
Getting up and out was a difficult task for the children, who suffered from the effects of their late nights in Florida and their noisy, bumpy and chilly snooze on a sleeping car bunk. Not as comfortable as home, but still leagues better than a catnap in the car.
The trip isn’t over once passengers arrive at the station. Although the people all had left the train by 8:15am, they had to wait longer for their cars to be unloaded. The OK family’s wait was a reasonable 30 minutes. The staff member who greeted the group explained that one of the van’s tires was flat. A worker had pumped enough air into the tire to get it off the freight car and to a service station about a block from the Lorton station. Thankfully, the puncture was fixed quickly. The parents noted they probably should have paid more attention when the tire pressure light came on as they drove to the Sanford station. In any case, the family was traveling on I-95 at 9:15—15 minutes before the train had been scheduled to arrive.
The Stations
Passengers must arrive at least an hour before the 4 p.m. departure time to load their cars, and must load their minivans and SUVs two hours early. Those who arrive much earlier to the Sanford station can take a bus to Sanford’s historic downtown. The station itself is under renovation and offers a small gift shop and not much else.
Lorton’s station is more like a one-room airport terminal. A small play area is located outside. Inside, television screens display CNN. The gift shop is larger, but like Sanford, its selection of food is limited to candy, ice cream bars, chips, soda and scary-looking sandwiches.
Bottom Line
Train travel adds to the adventure of a family vacation when the families arrive prepared and don’t expect the luxury of the Orient Express. The Auto Train is a great option for families who want to use their own cars in Florida, who like to share the ride with strangers, and who have kids who would rather walk around than sit for hours in the car. The Auto Train is particularly ideal for families who want to make stops along the way to Florida but who want a quick and enjoyable ride home.
Auto Train Do’s
Do…note that you pay an additional fee to transport your vehicle above the cost of the tickets. Minivans and large SUVs are considered oversized vehicles and cost extra.
Do…book early, particularly if you plan to reserve a family bedroom.
Do…consider traveling on weekdays to find lower rates—and smaller crowds. Look for discounts through AAA membership, other memberships and Amtrak promotions.
Do…pack a small overnight bag and leave the rest in the car. There’s not a lot of room for luggage on the train.
Do…bring a sweater if you tend to get cold. As with many means of public transportation, the air conditioning can get chilly.
Do…remember to bring small games, playing cards, books and whatever else you need to entertain yourself and your kids.
Do…feed the kids before going to the station.
Do…carry some small bills to tip waitstaff and your attendant.
Do…get to the lounge car/dining car early to get a good seat, especially if you have a large family. Early check-in ensures first choice in the timed seatings for dinner, important if your kids don’t want to wait for dinner at 7 p.m. or even 9 p.m. (Early dinner is at 5 p.m.)
Do…plan to take a shower before or after your trip, even if you have a “shower” in your sleeping car.
Do…take advantage of the opportunity to meet fellow passengers. Train travelers are a friendly lot and sharing a table is part of the fun.
Do…follow your route on GPS. A map works too, but it’s a lot of fun to check that old PDA and let the satellite tell you what little town you’ve just passed through.
Do…recognize that like all travel, departure and arrival times vary wildly. Be prepared for long waits in case a problem arises.
Do…stay realistic about the journey. It can be loud, bumpy and cramped, but at least you can move around!
