All Aboard

Aside from commuters in large cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, few Americans travel by train.  Railroad service has been largely obviated by the airplane--which is able to move people more quickly and efficiently across the country.  The lack of a true high-speed rail system puts it at a distinct competitive disadvantage.  Time is scarcer, schedules are fuller and lives are busier than ever before.  People want and need to get to their endpoints faster.  Simply put, nobody has time to enjoy the ride.

Given the decline of the locomotive, not many know about Amtrak's Auto Train, a hidden gem in the national transport system.  The Auto Train is a unique train that transports both passengers and their automobiles along the Eastern seaboard for 855 miles.  The route extends from Sanford, Florida which is north of Orlando to a station in Lorton, Virginia, half an hour south of Washington DC.  The train travels in both north and south directions, not so far from the busy Interstate Route 95.

Passengers bring their automobiles or SUVs (and can stuff them to the brim with their belongings) to the Amtrak station at either terminus, where they are  loaded into dedicated auto carrier cars.  Passengers then proceed to their roomy coach seats that recline quite nicely, or if desired, private first-class sleeping compartments.  The train departs at 4PM and arrives the next morning at 930AM at the opposite station.  Average speed is 49mph with a single stop in South Carolina for refueling.

Advantages are plenty--avoiding the long, and often boring drive on I-95 and potentially affiliated speeding tickets; ability to bring a large amount of luggage that would be impossible by air; a relaxing train ride; and a very different perspective on seeing the country.  Most importantly, you have your car at your final destination.  Hassles of rental cars are eliminated and this is can be quite cost-effective if the trip is long-term. In addition, if moving from Florida to the Northeast or vice versa, it is a dependable of way of transporting your vehicle.  Much more so than a shipping company--most of whom lack credibility and have more complaints than you can count, on the Better Business Bureau.  So the next time you are headed for the Magic Kingdom or the serenity of the Keys, hop on to the Auto Train, have the conductor punch your ticket, sit back, and savor the journey.

Interesting facts about the Auto Train:

Original service under Auto-Train Corporation opened in 1971
Bankrupted in 1981
Acquired by Amtrak in 1983
Current service re-opened in 1983
52 trains Northbound
53 trains Southbound
18 passenger cars
33 auto carriers
2 engines
Lone stop in Florence, South Carolina
200,000 passengers annually
$50 million revenue annually
Amtrak's most profitable service
Longest passenger train in the world--3/4 mile in length*
Track owned by CSX Transportation
Maintenance and mechanics performed in Sanford, FL
Capacity of 370 vehicles per train
Significant reduction in greenhouse gases--equivalent to taking off 3478 cars off the road for a full year

*Mix of passengers and auto cars