All about the Autotrain

[CynJ]

Thanks! I had figured it should be pretty good as Verizon is so pervasive with its coverage. That'll keep me connected

 

[bdcp]

I know my countdown says 3 weeks, 3 days, but we actually leave for FL in 13 days and are going on a cruise before we to go WDW. Being off work for 2.5 weeks for the furlough gave me a chance to get more organized, but I was glad to go back yesterday.

 

[BeastsFlower]

I'm on here now!! It's great. Any questions?

 

[jwboucher]

I'm on here now!! It's great. Any questions?

Do you have a room?

 

[BeastsFlower]

Yes. The Family Bedroom. It's great! The train is sold out tonight. 268 cars and almost 500 people.

 

[bdcp]

Yes. The Family Bedroom. It's great! The train is sold out tonight. 268 cars and almost 500 people.

Pretty typical heading south in the fall. We've always had full trains heading south in Oct/Nov. All those snowbirds

 

[lpizzuro123]

We are heading down in two weeks on a Saturday. Can't wait.

Linda

 

[Ngwira]

Fares are still high northbound for next august.

 

[jwboucher]

Fares are still high northbound for next august.

Yup....I am going 9/14... I refuse to pay more than the way down. We will drive first.

 

[Vickie1016]

Yup....I am going 9/14... I refuse to pay more than the way down. We will drive first.

Same with us - booked the southbound train for July '14, but the return northbound train is still more $$.

 

[pmso2]

Has anyone had any experience with bringing a vehicle with a cargo box attached to the top (ie. Thule)? Amtracks web site seems to give some contradictory information on what is and is not allowed, mentions signing a damage waiver. This will be our first time using the AT, making the return trip (northbound) on November 17.

thanks

 

[WDWLODGE]

Has anyone had any experience with bringing a vehicle with a cargo box attached to the top (ie. Thule)? Amtracks web site seems to give some contradictory information on what is and is not allowed, mentions signing a damage waiver. This will be our first time using the AT, making the return trip (northbound) on November 17.

thanks

I am sure someone else can give you an exact answer, but I am pretty sure they are not permitted. At least that used to be the case. Last year they had the guy in front of us pull off to the side and he had to take the box off of the roof of his minivan.

 

[ruddydvc]

You will definitely need to remove the cargo box. We used one this past February on a Chevy Traverse. You will be able to pass through the security gate with the cargo box attached; once you get past the gate there are short term parking spots where you can remove the cargo box and place inside your vehicle. Then you get back on line to have your vehicle placed on the train. As long as you are driving down in a minivan, SUV or crossover this should not pose a problem.

Have fun.

ruddydvc

 

[shafke]

Has anyone had any experience with bringing a vehicle with a cargo box attached to the top (ie. Thule)? Amtracks web site seems to give some contradictory information on what is and is not allowed, mentions signing a damage waiver. This will be our first time using the AT, making the return trip (northbound) on November 17.

thanks

This is from the Amtrak website...

Empty, factory-installed ski and luggage racks are okay; temporary luggage and bicycle racks are not. Luggage and bicycles may not be attached to the roof (unless with passenger-signed damage waiver).


The luggage racks part is fairly clear and straight forward.
Reading this I would say that luggage/bike tied to the luggage rack but not in a carrier would be ok with a signed waiver.
I would plan on the carrier being put in the temporary luggage rack category.

 

[shafke]

Yup....I am going 9/14... I refuse to pay more than the way down. We will drive first.

Fares are still high northbound for next august.

Same with us - booked the southbound train for July '14, but the return northbound train is still more $$.

How much more are you seeing for the return trip. I think for us the return is about 50% more than the trip down. I am hoping the price drops but if it doesn't there are other options.

1. drive home
2. fly... waiting for Jet Blue or Southwest to release August dates and when they do chances are I could fly and rent a car for less that the round trip on the train. This is taking in to account the cancellation charge for the southbound trip.

 

[CynJ]

It's funny how the day of the week changes the price as well. I was playing around with a comparable Nov 2013 trip to our planned 2014 dates. If we depart VA on a Sat (and then then depart FL on a Sat a week later) the northbound cost is $440 more than if we did Sun/Sun. That's more than the cost of staying one more night at our WDW resort.

 

[dalspot]

You can also call Amtrak and they will advise you on what days/dates you can modify your trip and get cheaper fares.

 

[CynJ]

Good to know, dalspot!

I need to book my trip through an Amtrak agent anyway (I'm traveling with folks with mobility issues and need to be sure to get bottom level roomettes and hopefully across from each other), so I'll be sure to mention that I can move my travel days around a little to accommodate lower fares.

I will say that I had called the Amtrak 800 number and was really surprised at how pleasant the agent was on the phone- she was very informative and really easy to work with in answering all my, lol, "stupid" questions. I don't remember Amtrak being this friendly the last time we used them (2002). It bodes well for the upcoming trip.

 

[jwboucher]

How much more are you seeing for the return trip. I think for us the return is about 50% more than the trip down. I am hoping the price drops but if it doesn't there are other options. 1. drive home 2. fly... waiting for Jet Blue or Southwest to release August dates and when they do chances are I could fly and rent a car for less that the round trip on the train. This is taking in to account the cancellation charge for the southbound trip.

It's been running $200 more... The weird thing is that I priced the trip back for next week and it was cheaper than 11 months out.

 

[pmso2]

You will definitely need to remove the cargo box. We used one this past February on a Chevy Traverse. You will be able to pass through the security gate with the cargo box attached; once you get past the gate there are short term parking spots where you can remove the cargo box and place inside your vehicle. Then you get back on line to have your vehicle placed on the train. As long as you are driving down in a minivan, SUV or crossover this should not pose a problem. Have fun. ruddydvc

Thanks for the replies, I called Amtrack and they said as long as the vehicle and box are less than 88" tall it was ok, however the lady didn't sound all that sure of herself. Ruddy do you mind if I ask what size your cargo box is? Our's Is 17 cu ft and we have a Town n Country minivan. I'm not sure how well it will fit inside our van. Thanks again