Axios Miami, 4/11/24
Little-known rail success: Riders flock to Amtrak's long-distance Auto Train
Ridership on Amtrak's Auto Train, the largest passenger train in the world, continues to grow.
Why it matters: The Amtrak Auto Train, which runs on a 900-mile southeast route, is a railway success story you've probably never heard.
- One of its three profitable lines, the Auto Train carries a comparatively small total of passengers, but appeals to snowbirds and families who want to bring their vehicles and belongings to and from areas near D.C. and Orlando, Florida.
By the numbers: Auto Train ridership has outpaced pre-pandemic levels — part of an overall boom for Amtrak ridership in recent years, the transit company said in a statement.
- In fiscal year 2019, Auto Train transported around 236,000 passengers, and by fiscal year 2022, that had increased to around 279,000.
