Auto Train discussion 2025

[pennyk]

From January 4, 2025 forward, please post comments discussing the Auto Train here. For previous posts regarding the Auto Train, please refer to this thread, which is currently locked:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/auto-train-discussion-2023-q4-2024.86128/page-10

 

[JWM]

Can anyone tell me if Amtrak has completed the upgrades and refurbishments of ALL the cars on the Auto Train per the link below? Also, are all the Superliners going through some kind of car wash either or both in Sanford and Lorton. I assume the track is still "rock and roll" in certain areas. My wife can't fly right now, and I want my car in New England, so this is the choice. https://media.amtrak.com/2025/01/image-gallery-auto-train-improvements/

 

[OBS]

No car wash in Lorton, just window washing.

 

[JWM]

No car wash in Lorton, just window washing.

At least they're washing windows! Thanks for the post.

 

[BlackDiamond]

According to this video by Danny Harmon (Distant Signal) the cars go through the wash at Sanford as part of the switching of the train. This video was from 3 years ago so things may have changed. It's a pretty impressive operation.

Switching the Auto Train

 

[b243923]

According to this video by Danny Harmon (Distant Signal) the cars go through the wash at Sanford as part of the switching of the train. This video was from 3 years ago so things may have changed. It's a pretty impressive operation.

Switching the Auto Train

Thank you for posting this very interesting video very informative.

 

[glensfallsse]

How do they work the car situation at Sanford or Lorton when the AutoTrain is excessively late? The Amtrak twitter account says they extended the drop-off time for today's northbound train until 5 p.m., but the southbound train didn't get there until 6:30. Do they have anyplace to hold all those vehicles for the next train, or does everybody sit in a line waiting to get in?
Also, I assume there's no dinner on a train that leaves at 11:30 p.m. Do they save the food and make it tomorrow's lunch?
I'm taking this train round-trip at the end of February.

 

[b243923]

I am the south bound train to Sanford. The previous train arrived in Lorton yesterday a little late. Was in the line up waiting to get in at 11:30. We had to wait till all the cars had been offloaded and gone out the gate before they would let any new cars in. An Amtrak employee was going down the line of cars checking them in and placing numbers on the cars. As soon as the last car came out the gate the employee stopped and cars were allowed to enter the property.

 

[disnycrayz]

We have been there when the train has been a bit late. As B243923 said, you wait in line on the side of the road since they cannot start loading until the previous train has been unloaded. An attendant will go down the line giving the cars a number and giving you an ETA. If you are in the driveway section of the line, they will allow you to leave your car and go into the terminal. They will make an announcement when they want you to return to your cars.

According to some YouTube videos I’ve seen they have served dinner into at least 11pm. If there has been dinner service the night before and your train was delayed (we had 6 hrs one time) they gave us a snack box around lunchtime which included non refrigerated/non heated items like nuts, hummus, brownie, and other small items. I always recommend bringing a few protein bars and your own selection of snacks just in case. In our 3 round trips, the one 6 hrs delay was the worst which was due to weather with trees on the tracks. In our experience, a few hours delay has happened, but the 6 hrs one was an outlier. I wouldn’t worry too much much, but bring snacks in case.

 

[Palmland]

On our very late Auto Train several years ago they provided Subway subs in the station. We had the 'emergency meal' (Dinty Moore on rice) for lunch the next day and pizza's for dinner that were loaded at a brief stop in Jacksonville.

We had a big lunch and got to the Lorton station around 2pm and were able to check in the car. So waiting in the station was more pleasant than in the car. But at some point that was stopped and cars backed up into the street, as is often the case even on a normal day. The inbound train arrived around 8:30pm, we boarded about midnight and left around 1am. This was not long after Covid so the subs in the station may have been replaced by a very late dinner on the train (which sounds very unpleasant) or, preferably, for lunch or dinner the next day. We arrived Sanford around 8pm.