Amtrak Auto Train Discussion

From the above reviewers: https://retirementtravelers.com/our-rev ... s-and-cons

We recently took the Amtrak Auto Train and it was our first experience on the unique rail service. This Amtrak train allows passengers to transport their vehicles between Lorton, Virginia (just outside Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida (near Orlando). This service, launched in 1971, primarily caters to travelers who want the convenience of having their car or motorcycle at their destination without driving the long distance themselves. The Auto Train covers approximately 855 miles, offering an overnight journey that typically lasts 16 to 18 hours. It can carry up to 650 passengers and 330 automobiles with a full train.
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For those seeking more comfort, sleeper accommodations start around $500 to $900 for an Amtrak roomette and can go up to $1,600 for a family bedroom or full bedroom during the peak season. These prices include meals and more luxurious sleeping arrangements. The tickets were generally more expensive going south, except for the months of April and May. We saved some money by booking coach tickets and upgrading to a roomette for the minimum amount of $210. We could have also bid for a bedroom with a minimum bid of $450, but we wanted to try a roomette. Check the Amtrak site for exact costs on a specific date. This worked well for the slower season, but may not be available or at a higher bid cost during the peak season.
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I know that some here simply hold that, after twenty four "voyages", I've "gone negative" on Auto Train.

I really do not think this was the case, but after my last "voyage" on #52(the day Kobe Bryant was killed), I really started to apply "cost benefit analysis". Back then, during Jan 2020, my fare - me in a Bedroom, Lady Lex in a carrier, was $693. Today, that fare, during the same "window" would be $800 - really not outlandish considering inflation.

But considering my final destination is my home in the Chicago area, the AT would save me a "net" of 400 miles of driving ("raw cost" $ 168; gas .16mi, maint .26mi: fully allocated much higher; $2.35mi), and $175 for a "three star" major brand hotel - and absolutely no time whatever (Lorton to Chicago drive nonstop? that's "college stuff").

At my age, I'm simply "not interested" in meeting new people; so last trip, I had Dinner brought to me in the room. I was perfectly content to read my Times and sip away from my bottle of Chardonnay. Anything "experiential" from rail travel - here or overseas - belong to a "past life".

All told, if my destination was anywhere East of Harrisburg, the cost savings of the 850 miles they advertise would be there, but it's not, so "they ain't there". My "farewell to AT" was not as a result of a "bad trip"; just simply "cost benefit".

In short, whatever Amtrak's Auto Train may not do for people in California, Honduras, Tibet or Chicago, it remains a reasonable deal for its intended market -- people in a funnel that takes in Maryland, eastern PA, most of NY and everything north and east, flowing through DC.

idle curiosity here, but what does the AT do during the off months? It makes sense that NEC area snowbirds are booking trips to Florida Nov- April, but is anybody going to Florida in July or August? It is HOT.

The ridership is fairly stable ...

Monthly Ridership in Thousands
Aug-24 22.9
Jul-24 23.6
Jun-24 24.1
May-24 22.7
Apr-24 23.6
Mar-24 27.3
Feb-24 21.9
Jan-24 22.9
Dec-23 23.2
Nov-23 21.1
Oct-23 20.0
Sep-23 16.7

Doesn't matter if it's hot. It's Florida, and when the kids are out of school, that's a prime destination for families.

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

Have to concur with both Messrs. Dunvile and Olesen.

Regarding Mr. Dunville's point, I was once summoned "down below" during August '98 for a family emergency. It couldn't have been that much of an emergency as my Father was discharged before I got there. Of course no point trying to tell that to my Sister screaming at me to be on a plane NOW!

But all I know is at Ft. Lauderdale when the cabin door was opened, the only time I had felt such a "woosh" of hot humid air was deplaining at Saigon during July '67.

Regarding Mr. Olesen's point and supported by Mr. Lurker's compilation is that July is when all kids are out of school and are chanting away "I'm going to Disney World". Likely this means Coach travel is stronger at that time than is "Private Room".

Tadman wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2024 5:48 pm idle curiosity here, but what does the AT do during the off months? It makes sense that NEC area snowbirds are booking trips to Florida Nov- April, but is anybody going to Florida in July or August? It is HOT.

Except when a hurricane such as Milton that is headed that way then everyone wants a reservation out if auto train not full. Also 92 and 98

Yes the Florida trains do well in summer. It just isnt heavily concentrated in one direction like during snowbird season. As everyone said - kids out of school family trips. Summer is one of the busiest times for the Orlando theme parks. In fact this year they ran an extra coach in the summer on both the Meteor and Star.

Tadman wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2024 5:48 pm idle curiosity here, but what does the AT do during the off months? It makes sense that NEC area snowbirds are booking trips to Florida Nov- April, but is anybody going to Florida in July or August? It is HOT.

TD and Everyone: Does Amtrak market the Auto-Train in Florida as a northeastern destination service?

From May thru September there are those that want to escape the relentless heat and humidity of a FL summer
and travel to northeast destinations N and E of the Washington, DC area...Those that live in the North think of the
Auto-Train as a FL-oriented service-do FL residents consider the A-T service to the Middle Atlantic and Northeast
in a similar manner? This is just another thought about what makes the Auto-Train a year-round service option...

MACTRAXX

How do prices fluctuate on the auto train. Is it capacity constrained so ridership remains fairly constant but with lower demand, price goes down?

From
https://narprail.org/resources/ridershi ... 0ridership
The Auto Train (2022)
Coach/ Sleeper/ Total
Passengers 134,406/ 144,611/ 279,017
Average fare $140.00/ $410.00/ $280.00
Avg yld per mi 22.7 69.1/ 46.3
Miles 855 miles 100%

Silver Star data (2022):
Coach/ Sleeper/ Total
Passengers 376,431/ 58,297/ 434,728
Average trip 455 miles/ 848 miles/ 508 miles
Average fare $ 77.00/ $368.00/ $116.00
Avg yld per mi 16.8/ 43.4/ 22.8
0- 99 mi 9.3%
100- 199 mi 15.3%
200- 299 mi 24.3%
300- 399 mi 8.3%
400- 499 mi 6.0%
500- 599 mi 4.9%
600- 699 mi 5.3%
700- 799 mi 3.4%
800- 899 mi 2.3%
900- 999 mi 5.1%
1000+ mi 15.8%

Silver Meteor data (2022)
Coach/ Sleeper/ Total
Passengers 67,159/ 12,015/ 79,174
Average trip 471 miles/ 846 miles/ 528 miles
Average fare $ 86.00/ $406.00/ $134.00
Avg yld per mi 18.2/ 48.0/ 25.4
0- 99 mi 5.8%
100- 199 mi 14.7%
200- 299 mi 23.4%
300- 399 mi 7.4%
400- 499 mi 6.4%
500- 599 mi 5.9%
600- 699 mi 5.0%
700- 799 mi 5.2%
800- 899 mi 3.7%
900- 999 mi 4.7%
1000+ mi 17.8%

Check out the average revenue per mile statistic closely, the Auto train is over $46 while either Silver train is under $25. And people wonder why it almost breaks even or makes a profit most years?
Another data point I wish to point out are the differences between Silver Meteor and Silver Star ridership stats. I can not explain why Amtrak's creative accounting between the two trains are so different, by a factor of 5? Yes, less than 80,000 for the Meteor but more than 400,000 for the Star.

Has anyone seen stats for what percentage of Autotrain customers book round trip vs. one-way?

Do those stats exist for any long distance service?...

justalurker66 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2024 7:04 pm The ridership is fairly stable ...

Monthly Ridership in Thousands
Aug-24 22.9
Jul-24 23.6
Jun-24 24.1
May-24 22.7
Apr-24 23.6
Mar-24 27.3
Feb-24 21.9
Jan-24 22.9
Dec-23 23.2
Nov-23 21.1
Oct-23 20.0
Sep-23 16.7

Auto Train ridership 2016-2022
Passengers, 2016-2022 (in thousands)
2016 238.4
2017 228.9
2018 236.0
2019 224.8
2020 163.6
2021 199.5
2022 279.0
So, the Auto Train in 2022 had more riders than before the pandemic.