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Auto Train North- April 1, 2015


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#1 howardj

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Posted 04 April 2015 - 01:38 PM

The Sanford Station is under heavy construction. They are working on the tracks closest to the usual boarding platform so they had the sleeper cars on the #2 track along with the crew car and the dining car and what they called the "Satelite Lounge" on that track and they had all of the coach cars on another track on the other side of the station. The communication was not very good and people were mostly in the wrong place and had to be re-directed to the right cars. They had a set of ramps set up stretching across the track to the platform for track #2 to reach the sleepers.

 

They started the boarding process at 2:35 PM and the train pulled out after hooking up with the coach cars and the auto carriers at 3:39 PM. The hookup portion was very smooth and really was done much more quickly that thought it would.  We were in Bedroom C on the 5241 car. The room attendant was Johnny. We hadn't seen him before and he really did a very fine job.  There were 577 passengers 348 in coach and 229 in sleepers. There were 323 vehicles and 1 motorcycle. There 33 auto carriers and 17 passenger rail cars.

 

We were well ahead of schedule but we were slowed by the commuter rail traffic. Still we pulled in to Lorton at 8:57 AM We were allowed to de-train at 9:03 AM and ours was the first car off the train at 9:20 AM.

 

Dinner was done in 4 seatings, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, and 9 PM.  Service was very rushed, food was not very good, food was not very hot.The cost cutting and loss of amenities from when we started taking the auto train 6 years ago is really dramatic. It's not nearly as pleasant as it was and the overall quality of the crews isn't what it was. If this is an example of the best that Amtrak has no wonder they're in trouble. The Sanford Station staff in particular were quite nasty. They were complaining to anyone that would listen that they were supposed to be " on lunch" instead of handling the arriving passengers that were leaving the station and the new passengers that were checking into the station. Long lines to check in to the sleepers and only one person on the counter.

 

We may rethink driving back north next year instead of using the auto train. As much I hate the 950 miles on I-95 that are saved with the train I'm not sure it makes sense any more. Amtrak certainly doesn't care about the passengers on this route any more.



#2 KevinKorell

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Posted 04 April 2015 - 02:18 PM

Howard,

 

I took a round trip on Auto Train last month, south on 3/15 and north on 3/20.  While nervous about timekeeping due to several incidents along the route including the Carolinian derailment in North Carolina, my trains both ended up being relatively close to schedule.  Unfortunately, most of the incidents that delay the Auto Train (as well as the conventional Silver Service and Palmetto) are not Amtrak's fault but rather their host CSX.  And there have been several incidents where nature delayed the train when trees decided to topple in front of the train, in at least one case doing damage to one of the engines.

 

When these delays occur, they result in a ripple effect that causes the delayed set of equipment to remain delayed for a few days until both lessened dwell times at the terminals and schedule padding allow the timetable to be followed once more. Thus a late southbound train into Sanford may get there after passengers and their cars have already arrived for their departure later that afternoon.  This obviously puts a strain on the station staff, as they have to handle all arriving passengers getting them and their cars on their way before accepting the outbound passengers. It does not allow much time for a break.

 

Regarding construction, yes the boarding and detraining lately is being done on a temporary platform on track 2, with bridges over the track closest to the station.   The splitting of the train has been done for as long as I can remember, with some of the coaches being put on a separate stub track east of the station building. I believe that this construction we saw is a means to fit the entire passenger section of the train on one platform, which will eliminate that extra switching and save some time upon arrival allowing coach passengers to detrain sooner.

 

My experience on the northbound run from Sanford was that despite the large "snowbird" type crowd, the boarding process was handled in a much better manner than I expected. Instead of a general boarding call at 2:30 whereby everyone is told to get on the train, the station staff announced one coach and one sleeper at a time. While the process took until 3:00, it was much more orderly than the single cattle call, and it was necessary because of the construction activities that limited access to the temporary platform and also required the coaches to be boarded from the driveway side rather than the normal platform.   By calling the cars individually, it allowed staff to direct people to the proper cars of the train, that is provided the customers were paying attention and complying.

 

My northbound trip also had 4 seatings for sleeper passengers, and I took the 4:30 PM one, which I did not feel was too early. Since I eat quickly I never felt rushed.  My chicken dish was very good, hot, and filling (and so was the beef brisket I had on the way down). 

 

I do suggest you make your feelings known to Amtrak Customer Relations. Usually I encounter excellent service in both terminals and aboard the trains. If they do have some bad apples among the otherwise decent staff, they should be told about it.

 

 



Kevin Korell


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#3 RichieC

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Posted 08 April 2015 - 10:32 AM

Howard & Kevin: being a regular for over 15 years, at least every other month year-round (Guest Rewards pays for many trips)...let's reminisce: the great Banana Debacle! LOL LOL Remember - they even discontinued bananas (for a few months) to save money! LOL Ahhh, the 1st Class Lounge car, the wine & cheese, fruit bowls, the wine with dinner, good food (think waaay back - steaks-to-order, crab cakes)... New customers have no idea what they've missed... I guess they aren’t so disappointed...consider todays service the (new) norm. I miss the 1st class lounge car as only one now for the entire train is over-crowded.

 

It's rare for for the AT to have major issues...but I was indeed caught by a derailment...didn't get out of Sanford till 10:00PM. Got to admit, the boxed fried chicken they delivered to everyone was actually good. Doing it so much, I just go with the flow (and pack a lot of liquor).

 

Even months I go alone, but odd months add sister & neice (that means 3 bedrooms each way - hey - I need my space! LOL). I'll keep doing it, taking a fully loaded Yukon XL..but still...miss the ol' daze on the AT!

 

Nostalgia: taking my '55 Tbird - was the LAST CAR OFF - awarded an AT sunscreen. Buying cars in Orlando and bringing them back - 1 down/2 back! If there's room - no problem - and cheaper then shipping.

 

There's not much a large shaker of Cosmos won't numb! LOL


Edited by RichieC, 08 April 2015 - 10:34 AM.





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