Changes to check in times (Auto Train) ?

[BLNT]

In the past (our few experiences) I thought that they wanted people to have their cars checked in by 1:30. We board today in Sanford, and I just looked at our tickets:

Allow plenty of time to get there. All passengers and vehicles must be checked in by 2:30pm on the day of travel.

Has this always been the case?

THANKS

 

[cocojacoby]

It's been 2:30 for years.

 

[BLNT]

It's been 2:30 for years.

I've wasted some hours it would appear! lol

THANKS

 

[tgstubbs1]

maybe, but have you ever missed boarding? Has your vehicle always been safely loaded? Maybe not really a waste of time to be a little early if you ask me.

 

[Dakota 400]

maybe, but have you ever missed boarding? Has your vehicle always been safely loaded? Maybe not really a waste of time to be a little early if you ask me.

My philosophy is always try to be early for any appointment. In January, my hotel's check-out was Noon. I arrived at the Sanford station shortly after Noon and the check-in was quick and easy. Very short lines of cars that did grow as the afternoon went on.

 

[BLNT]

We arrived (SFA) at 2:05. Received our auto # (29) and went inside to check in. We went outside to wait near our sleeper - and boarding began at about 2:15-20.

Train departed around 3:40. We pulled into Lorton about an hour early this morning, and were on the road by 8:40.

Without a doubt, the most flawless trip we've had with Amtrak!

-----

BTW - we had planned on getting to the Sanford station at 2 (we live an hour away), and the only delay was two houses down from ours right after we pulled out of the driveway!! A yard waste truck was parked in the middle of the road for nearly 10 minutes (no turning back) picking up debris. Not the type of delay I had considered, but that's the nature of many glitches! We'll shoot for arrival a good 30 minutes earlier next time... next Saturday in fact (our trip time to LOR is ~ 3 hrs).

 

[RichieRich]

I always arrive early (12:30 to 1) and set up a picnic. Mainly 'cause I want an early dinner seating (ahhh, the ol' daze). We luv to watch the entry gate close at 2:30 exactly, and the cars doin' 60 down the drive. Many don't make it. It could be a good week for the next opening! I do it enough to have seen it all from the 9:00pm fried chicken in the station, to downright cancellations.

 

[cocojacoby]

Were there any food trucks there?

 

[BLNT]

Were there any food trucks there?

I didn't see any (none were obvious... though I could have been oblivious)!

 

[BLNT]

First time seeing this (upon check in):

 

[Skyline]

First time seeing this (upon check in):

We can say what we want to about Amtrak today, but I can say one really nice thing after viewing that order form. It's nice to see them supporting a struggling small business with superior products like Beekman 1802.

 

[flitcraft]

Supposedly the Beekman products were going to be part of the "new amenities" rollout. I love them myself, and really hope that this truly is the beginning of the rollout they promised us earlier.

 

[railiner]

Couldn't it be possible that the supplier of the products gives them gratis to Amtrak, as a form of advertising?

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

When the door tag says "exclusively with our Bedroom customers", do they really mean only bedroom and not roomette customers? Yea, I know, I can read, but Amtrak seems to be have a more loose definition of some sleeper class terms at times.

 

[BLNT]

When the door tag says "exclusively with our Bedroom customers", do they really mean only bedroom and not roomette customers? Yea, I know, I can read, but Amtrak seems to be have a more loose definition of some sleeper class terms at times.

I can ask them on Saturday

 

[Chatter163]

Heck, it was 2:30 twenty years ago, when I took my first AutoTrain ride.

 

[BLNT]

Heck, it was 2:30 twenty years ago, when I took my first AutoTrain ride.

Well, alternate realities are all the rage of late...

 

[erinch13]

We are traveling from LOR to SFA on Sept 15. Taken lots of trips in the past. In the Before Times, we would arrive at the Lorton Ststion around 11:30, check in, get our preferred rrred dinner seating, leave to go get lunch, and then arrive back at 1:30 or so. What is check in like these days? Are there dining delivery time options? (have a bedroom). Any reason to get there earlier to check in?