Auto Train discussion

[user 32479]

What's the normal consist for Auto Train?

2 P40s, 17 coaches/sleepers/lounge cars, 33 auto racks

 

[Shanson]

So, no diner or lounge?

 

[jis]

So, no diner or lounge?

There is a Sleeper Diner and a Coach Lounge AFAICT. I don't know if they still carry the Sleeper Lounge or not. Things have changed and gone somewhat downhill under the tender loving care of the Flyboys. But they may be looking up again.

 

[MARC Rider]

There is a Sleeper Diner and a Coach Lounge AFAICT. I don't know if they still carry the Sleeper Lounge or not. Things have changed and gone somewhat downhill under the tender loving care of the Flyboys. But they may be looking up again.

They had the sleeper lounge when I rode it last month. In fact, they needed the sleeper lounge for overflow seating from the dining car.

 

[CdSull502]

Curious to know—have the seats and the berths on the Auto Train been refurbished? Will be taking it at the end of May.

 

[user 14106]

Has 3 food service cars. Sleeper diner is a regular superliner diner. Coach cafe/lounge is a diner lounge/CCC car. Sleeper lounge is a lounge car captive to the auto train - they were converted from regular diners. Has a food/drink service area on the upper level.

 

[user 14106]

Another quirk of the auto train is that it’s the only place coach passengers can buy flexible dining meals in addition to the more typical cafe car selections offered. The coach cafe on the Auto Train offers the beef short ribs, the pasta and meatballs, and Thai noodle bowl flexible dining meals for purchase - they cost $16. Additionally usually the sleeper lounge also has an attendant on most trips. The sleeper lounge service area is mostly used for snack and alcoholic beverage purchases for passengers using the lounge (many patrons call it the bar car) or to bring back to their room but they do offer a small selection of hot cafe car meal items - the basic hot stuff noodles, hot dogs, burgers, pizza (currently a Stromboli), and grilled cheese for those who’d prefer that to the full dinner menu served in the diner.

 

[user 32479]

There is a Sleeper Diner and a Coach Lounge AFAICT. I don't know if they still carry the Sleeper Lounge or not. Things have changed and gone somewhat downhill under the tender loving care of the Flyboys. But they may be looking up again.

They do. In fact, it is part of the standard consist.

 

[user 32479]

Curious to know—have the seats and the berths on the Auto Train been refurbished? Will be taking it at the end of May.

They refurbish the seats after every trip that they finish. They do it with every Amtrak service.

 

[user 32479]

So, no diner or lounge?

They do have diners and lounge cars. They have it on every train. It's the usual consist.

 

[joelkfla]

They refurbish the seats after every trip that they finish. They do it with every Amtrak service.

I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

[user 32479]

I do not think it means what you think it means.

They replace the seats after every trip while they clean the others.

 

[RebelRider]

They replace the seats after every trip while they clean the others.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

They replace the seats after every trip while they clean the others.

Why would they replace seats after every trip?

 

[dlagrua]

Why would they replace seats after every trip?

The poster who made this comment may mean to imply that the the seats are cleaned after every trip and the ones with torn seat cushions replaced. That could be the case if they maintain a repair staff and storage for extra seat parts at Lorton and Sanford. Perhaps the Amtrak employees that post here can provide the answer.

 

[Fenway]

This video blogger did not have a good experience

 

[CdSull502]

Why would they replace seats after every trip?

The intent of my original question was to find out if the seats and berths on the Auto Train had been replaced with new fixtures. I had seen a post that said Amtrak was removing the old seats. etc. on the Superliners and replacing them with new equipment, similar to what was done on the single level coaches some time back.

 

[jis]

The intent of my original question was to find out if the seats and berths on the Auto Train had been replaced with new fixtures. I had seen a post that said Amtrak was removing the old seats. etc. on the Superliners and replacing them with new equipment, similar to what was done on the single level coaches some time back.

No seats were removed. They were basically reupholstered in place. All the seat frames and fixtures remained the same. It’s like getting ones Sofa reupholstered at home.

I don’t know to what extent this has been completed for the Auto Train consists at this time.

 

[Palmland]

This video blogger did not have a good experience

Hard to have a good experience on a 7 hour late train. But, to his credit, that problem aside he seemed to enjoy the experience.

But do not understand why dinner was such a disaster. Sounded like the food was ok but no excuse for taking so long to get to the 3rd seating. Perhaps they should have just canceled dinner and gone with Subway in the station as we had on a 10’hour late train.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

I don’t know to what extent this has been completed for the Auto Train consists at this time.

I will be riding AT in about two weeks, and I plan to document the full consist with video and photos

 

[Mystic River Dragon]

This video blogger did not have a good experience

Thanks for posting this—I enjoyed the video presenter but did not catch his name — does he do train videos in general?

After watching it, I don’t think I’m missing anything by not having a car. That line at Lorton would have driven me nuts, having the crew choose your dinner seating time would be annoying, and (unless the SCA offered and he said no) the attendant not making the bed is not good service.

The scenery was nice, but I will gladly look forward to that on the Silvers instead. And maybe someday a Waffle House breakfast.

I will still get a thrill watching trains at FBG and seeing the Autotrain go through—it is pretty impressive!

 

[niemi24s]

I don't view any YouTube video that features the creators face in the preview. To me, that's a sure sign of an egotistical blowhard.

 

[pshukla1955]

Hello,

Is it possible to transport a 10ft U-Haul cargo van on an autotrain (between Maryland and Orlando)?

Thanks

Peter

 

[tgstubbs1]

If you are talking about the 10ft Chevy box van I don't think you can transport it. I don't know for sure, because I've never compared the online Auto Train information with the U-Haul web site info directly, but from what I remember the Auto train won't accomodate much more than standard sized American vehicles, without exterior attachments. I think the 10ft box is too big. I don't know if they can accomodate you on a flatcar or not, you could call them.

 

[PVD]

https://www.amtrak.com/route-content/auto-train-boarding-and-vehicle-requirements.html