AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN ..... DISAPPOINTING!!

Amtrak Auto Train from Sanford FL to Lorton VA. What was supposed to be a 12 hour 900 mile train ride, turned into 24 hour 900 mile train ride from hell, with still a 8 hour drive to go.
Delays, Power outages, Running out of food and beverage, Crew changes, and trouble on the tracks, didn't help over 500 people. Amtrak has no contingency when all goes wrong, its poor management shows.
On a Separate note: I had a great conversation with a gentleman, who lives in Vermont and Florida as well. He was traveling back to Vermont, to see his daughter graduate from the, University of Vermont. His daughter was graduating, with the same degree, as my daughter. If he watches this video, I hope he made it back to Vermont without any issues, and he and his family celebrated a wonderful graduation with his daughter.

[@bevpempsell2943]

It was never 12 hours from Sanford to Lorton. We have taken it several times and its more like 17-18 hours

[@jaxkewl]

I also had a terrible experience, delayed by 3 hours plus due to their technical issues. I think for me, not being in control of moving or not was the most stressful. At least when u drive u are in control of your own car barring any major traffic. In a train u are at the mercy of some unknown delay that will never be explained to u.

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Thank you for watching the video, and sharing your experience.

[@mjam631]

Sorry you had a bad experience. I had a very good trip. I was traveling from NY to Miami to pick up my Neice flying in from St Kitts and drive her and her new puppy home. I drove from NY to VI and stayed at the Holiday Inn the night before. The hotel is 2 minutes away from the train. There is also a plethora of dining and food options near the hotel. Enjoyed a nice dinner and a great night's sleep, as well as a complimentary breakfast. Check out was at 11.00. Grabbed a meatball parm hero and a bottle of Irish Whisky from the nearby marketplace and was the first car to be in line for checking in at 11.30. I always travel with collapsible thermal bags as to keep foods warm or cold as well as a cooler with ice and plenty of water, soda and snacks. I also brought a dvd player and some favorite movies to pass the time on the train. I spent a few hours in the station, got my dinner reservation before boarding at 2.30. The bedroom was small! But I got used to it very quickly. I explored the train for a while before, settled back into my bedroom before departing at 4.00. Enjoyed a few drinks, (Irish Whisky), had a nice meal in the dining car with free wine, met a few great passengers as well as some of the fantastic staff. My bed was made for me when I got back from dinner. Settled in for the night with my movies, snacks and drinks. Maybe got 4 or 5 hours of sleep but can't complain. I never slept on a train before. Had a simple but filling continental breakfast before arrived in Fl on time and waited about an hour before getting my car. (First on does not mean first off). You can pay extra to get your car first off. On my way to visit my friend in Orlando then off to Miami.

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Thank you for watching and subscribing to the channel. I am glad you had a pleasant experience. I wanted to give the Amtrak Auto Train, the benefit of the doubt, after not hearing great things, but I ended up not being able to do so. Needless to say I still have a voucher for $100 dollars off my next reservation, that I just don’t see myself booking.

[@Iamjamesbond007]

First world problems! Too much of whining! Have some cheese 🧀 and don’t be a baby

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Well today the cancelled The train as 500 people pulled in the ticket. 500 people don’t want to go but to drive to their destinations cause the train are booked the next few days. If you don’t like it don’t watch the channel

[@lamegaming9835]

the train is late because we dont own the tracks. csx owns the tracks and thus controls the trains and is notorious for making amtrak wait. think if tesla bought up all the roads in the southeast and made non tesla users pay them a subscription for using the road. that would be crazy right? well thats how it is with trains here and its because the federal gov keeps pumping money in more cars, more lanes, and more highways. it would have never gotten this bad if we didnt treat non car owners like inferior people who are (literally) kicked to the curb. every other country with high speed trains own their tracks except us.

[@truthteller88]

Traveled from Fl to Va April 9th. Train was 45 minutes late bc they were waiting for fried chicken from a local place which we were told was dinner. Do food or drink to purchase. Very short staff. Had taken this trip twice before and had a nice sit down dinner with a free drink. Glad I brought a bottle of wine and some snacks. Arrived an hour late. Don’t do this now.

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Thank you for watching the video, and sharing your experience as well. Yup after a 24 hour ride, and then a cancellation as I pulled in the lot, told me never will I do that again.

[@philrogers8160]

The numerous times I have taken my mother to Florida and back on the Auto Train we only had 1 delay at the old Sanford station. That time we arrived by noon in a line by the station and they sent out a golf cart giving out bottled water and advising the train was late. By the time the train arrived and unloaded and was reconditioned ready for the trip north it was 7pm. the first dinner service was being served once train was underway. It was 6am when the train stopped to change crews. Many were irate at being so late and missing family events up north that evening. They did feed us something around lunchtime that was left from the previous nite dinner. When we deboarded in VA they offered us paperwork for a partial motel reimbursement if we lived far enough away. We normally stop at Pine Grove Pa that 1st nite ,but we didn't make that far. We live in NY up 81 by the Canadian border. Due to that trip I learned not to travel at the last minute to your destination in case of delays. Would still recommend the Auto Train.

[@albear972]

UGH! It would have been easier, cheaper and faster just to drive from Sanford to Hershey. Including staying in a hotel mid-way. I have driven by myself the 800 miles from Los Angeles to Albuquerque nonstop, well, only stopping for gasoline and restroom breaks. I packed a cooler with sandwiches and drinks. I've done that close to 12-hour drive nonstop about 5 times.

[@DonnaSauer]

On Wednesday, June 29, I was supposed to travel from Lorton to Sanford on the Autotrain with my daughter. Scheduled to leave at 5:00 pm and arrive at 10:00 am, the next morning. The last Time for vehicle check-in was supposed to be at 3:00. At 10:00 that morning (Wed.) I got an email saying Amtrak was soooo sorry but the train was going to be delayed until 7:00 departure-2 hours late. Car check-in was pushed to 5:00. So we arrived at the station at 3:30. At 4:00, the train finally arrived-the one that should have been there at 9:00 am! When the attendant came by our car to give us a magnetic number for our door, we were told it was going to be “a while.” We waited in our car until 6:45, when they finally let us creep forward and pull into the line for loading onto the Autotrain. At 7:15 we went through the gate, parked and went inside. We waited for boarding, which finally took place at 9:00. Once on the train, since we missed dinner service, they served us “canned beef stew “ (direct quote from the woman attendant for our train car). We pulled out of Lorton at MIDNIGHT! SEVEN HOURS LATE. I could go into all that happened on the trip, including the nearly sleepless night in our roomette, but it’s enough to say that we pulled into Sanford at 4:05 Thursday afternoon-6 hours late. Then we waited until 6:15 pm for our car to be offloaded. And I forgot to mention that my train from Baltimore to Alexandria, VA on Wednesday morning to meet up with my daughter to go to the Autotrain was over an hour late as well. I used to take the Acela from DC to NYC and never had such delays. Living in Florida now, I’ve taken my last Amtrak trip!!! We could have driven from Alexandria to FL AND BACK in the 36 hours that it took me on Amtrak!

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Thank you for sharing, and watching the video. Sorry you had an awful experience as well. I feel like they should have a better contingency plan for things, so no one else has to experience these unfortunate outcomes.

[@silverhawk24]

That sounds like hell! Never ridden on Amtrak

[@johncoonradtjr.5141]

If you complain to Amtrak they would understand and reward you in some way they are very fair and accommodating .

[@042452]

It is 17 hour Trip not a 12 hour trip that is if there isn’t a delay…..which happens sometimes

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Thank you for watching . Mine was 24hours long and then they cancelled on my return, as I pulled in their driveway. Never again.

[@squalli1297]

I've been riding trains since the '50's & have seen many changes thru the years. It's a bummer to be delayed for so long. Through my experience, I've learned to allow an extra day for travel in order to guarantee getting to my final destination on time. That means possibly staying at a hotel an extra day. If Amtrak passengers are late & miss a connection on another Amtrak train, Amtrak has been known to put their passengers up in a hotel overnight & book them onto another train the following day. There are no connecting trains in Lorton or Sanford-& all passengers have their cars on AutoTrains. Some long distance trains can be 10+ hours late due to derailments, equipment failure, unruly passengers, Auto or pedestrian vs. train accidents, & heavy freight train traffic-where they have priority. Many folks would rather drive or fly in order to skip the added aggravation. Glad you've made it safely.

[@ellieharan3760]

Omg I will never do that, thank you for reminding me to fly

[@justinprintup7210]

I have had positive things with Amtrak I would recommend trying them out

[@justinprintup7210]

Your video does not represent Amtrak in a good way you should not be posting this b******* Information I 100% disagree with everything you have said I have been an Amtrak all the train once so far and going on it again and have had no complaints

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

Thank you for watching. It is not intended to to represent Amtrak in a good way, that is the whole point of the video, iMy video is to inform people of what can occur. It totally represents my trips experience , and the other passengers that traveled with me that day. It also represents what happened on my trip or should say lack of trip as Amtrak cancelled it before we were all to board and return home. I’m glad you had a wonderful trip, however my information is spot on with my trip. As it appear you were not on it.

[@seanbyrne4356]

Sounds pretty credible to me . Sounds like this jerk justin works for Amtrak

[@albear972]

@@outdooradventureswithjason6275 Ooooh! There's an AMTRAK foaming fanboy in the house!

[@irmasoto9434]

Great video. Sorry you had a bad experience 😏New Subscriber

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

@@irmasoto9434 Thank you for watching and subscribing to the channel, it is much appreciated. Life still goes on, not all experiences are good or bad, it happens to all of us.

[@tomraney2711]

My worst nightmare fear, first time tomorrow!

[@outdooradventureswithjason6275]

@@tomraney2711 Thank you for watching. I hope everything runs smooth for you tomorrow, and it goes better than my first experience.

[@ErickMartinSucre]

Smart of you to bring some Publix food.