Amtrak Autotrain (motorcycles OK)

[Tom]

Like taking a ferry by on land by train DC area to Orlando.  Has anyone done this?  Pax is $95 and motorcycle is $155.   

https://www.amtrak.com/route-content/auto-train-boarding-and-vehicle-requirements.html

[Dirk_S]

Ferries are way more comfortable.

I rode Amtrak once for 3 days from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania out west to Reno, Nevada in the early 2000s. By the end, I was ready to hop off and run the rest of the way.

[Tom]

How different would the trip had been if you rode back on your bike? 

[Tkelly]

Whats a pax?

[Tom]

Travel industry jargon for passenger.  

[Dirk_S]

How different would the trip had been if you rode back on your bike?

Certainly would’ve been more fun than both the train ride out and the visit.

The Auto Train has always piqued my interest. Every now and then I’ve considered doing it as a holiday trip, but the thought of riding a motorcycle in Florida typically leads me to reminisce the great quote from Eagles/49ers running back Ricky Watters—“For who? For what?”

[Gliderjohn]

If could do that on a cross country train or at least western routes with something like a two week or month pass where you and your bike can get off and on exploring different places for a couple plus days at each stop. I agree with Dirk_S. An unbroken ride of more than about 10 or 12 hours becomes a matter of determined endurance and then torture after that. Rode Amtrack from LA to Portland (33 hours). Didn't take enough whisky!
GliderJohn

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I wish this were available on other routes. The California Zephyr would be the jackpot for me as I take it a few times a year between Denver and Chicago.

[ridingron]

I guess my question is why Orlando?

That sounds like a fairly cheap way to get her but what are you going to do when you get here? I get the weather angle as it's been in the 80's all week. Or playing tourist. Going to Daytona Bike Week? The riding? My take on that is the good is you can ride year-around but the bad is the roads really aren't fun to ride. Most of our hills and curves are out on the Interstate.

[Tom]

Most of the load to Orlando would be cars w/tourists.    

[Kev m]

Like taking a ferry by on land by train DC area to Orlando.  Has anyone done this?  Pax is $95 and motorcycle is $155.   

https://www.amtrak.com/route-content/auto-train-boarding-and-vehicle-requirements.html

I've got two close friends who have done it, I think it was back when she was riding a 250 Rebel and he was on a Sportster. Though they may have gone l done it with a pair of Sportsters also.

It's been a number of years but do you have any questions for them? They were pleased with the first time to do it again.

[Bill W]

I would like to do this. Load my bike up to Virginia then come back to Atlanta via the Blue Ridge Pkwy. However, being a former Floridian I would dread the ride down to Orlando from Atlanta.

[sdcr]

I've got two close friends who have done it, I think it was back when she was riding a 250 Rebel and he was on a Sportster. Though they may have gone l done it with a pair of Sportsters also.

It's been a number of years but do you have any questions for them? They were pleased with the first time to do it again.

Kev,
Are there any restrictions on MC size/ equipment. IOW, same cost for a 250cc Rebel, as a full size dresser?
Along with saddlebags. can the walk on passenger stage a carry on, or other additional luggage?
Do you need a reservation made, far in advance, or could you get a spot within a weeks notice?
Thanks.
John

[elrealistico]

The Autotrain goes between Sanford, FL ( N of Orlando) and Lorton VA (S of DC) Theres no stops in between. Basically an I-95 bypass, only worse.  I did it in about 1989 and again in 2009, it was realistically about the same time driving between the two with delays and all. The sleeper cars were ok, felt like a 50s stainless steel time warp. Food was bad to nonexistent,  water was putrid, the train made several stops along the way for whatever reason, it wasn't to let people on or off. There was also somewhere in NC that they rearranged the train or something resulting in lots of noise and train cars being banged about. Didn't get much sleep.
Maybe if you are going to Daytona for bike week it would make a little sense, assuming you either ride to Lorton or trailer your bikes there and have someone take the trailer back, there's no place to leave a vehicle for your return. To get to any good riding in GA/NC, you have at least 6 hours from Sanford.

[Kev m]

Kev,
Are there any restrictions on MC size/ equipment. IOW, same cost for a 250cc Rebel, as a full size dresser?
Along with saddlebags. can the walk on passenger stage a carry on, or other additional luggage?
Do you need a reservation made, far in advance, or could you get a spot within a weeks notice?
Thanks.
John

Some answers (both riders, no passengers per se):

FROM HIM

Back when we went they charged the same for Janice's rebel as people with big dressers. I don't know about trikes. Not everyone on the train had a car or bike, so they must have let people on with luggage. When we took it with a car, we took our luggage to our sleeping car, but many people took the train with a seat not a sleeping car. No idea how long lead time you need for a reservation. The real problem we had was no place to park the car if you trailer there in the winter.

FROM HER

Price is the same, no one asked what kind of bikes.

We took a waterproof bag in as luggage so I assume additional luggage is fine, but we reserved a sleeping room so we had a little more room.

Definitely need reservations, but I don't know how far in advance it needs to be.  I made reservations long in advance

Buddy of mine took the regular seats and he said it wasn't bad.

[sdcr]

Kev,

Good info, thanks. We are considering this, and not sure if my aging Miata is better than my aging R1100 RS.
John

[Ncdan]

Tom, thanks for shedding the light on this opportunity to add a very interesting way to cross the country without the thousands of miles of in saddle time. I’ve got several ridding buddies that wants to go from the east coast to the west coast but don't want to spend 3 weeks to a month in the saddle.
Great thread!!

[LowRyter]

So bottom line, what is the costs, travel time and accommodations?   I've never heard good reports about the food even on the scenic trains.

I am curious if there are other routes than DC - Fla. 

thanks

[AJ Huff]

So bottom line, what is the costs, travel time and accommodations?   I've never heard good reports about the food even on the scenic trains.

I am curious if there are other routes than DC - Fla. 

thanks

Amtrak lists the DC to FL route as it's only auto train

-AJ

[Gliderjohn]

So bottom line, what is the costs, travel time and accommodations?   I've never heard good reports about the food even on the scenic trains.

I am curious if there are other routes than DC - Fla. 

thanks

Let's just the food quality is not on the same planet compared to the old days of the Super Chief and such trains. Back then the food was all grown and produced by the Harvey House people. The had a large facility and 80 acres of farmland in Newton, KS for decades. Even bottled their own Coke Cola.
GliderJohn

[jumpmaster]

Tom, thanks for shedding the light on this opportunity to add a very interesting way to cross the country without the thousands of miles of in saddle time. I’ve got several ridding buddies that wants to go from the east coast to the west coast but don't want to spend 3 weeks to a month in the saddle.
Great thread!!

Why not?  With a little research on routes and attractions along the way, a week or 2-week ride cross country (each way) can be pretty interesting.  Getting off the interstates can result in finding interesting towns and attractions to ride through even if you don't have time to stop and experience them in depth, and even many of the interstates have some extremely scenic sections.  One example of that would be the last hundred or so miles on I-90 west into Seattle, which has some spectacular (for an interstate) views that surprised me at the time.  Many "US" routes (US 30, US 50, US 66, etc.) have some pretty great scenery in spots and some interesting national or state parks, and interesting small towns, along the way.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Why not?  With a little research on routes and attractions along the way, a week or 2-week ride cross country (each way) can be pretty interesting.  Getting off the interstates can result in finding interesting towns and attractions to ride through even if you don't have time to stop and experience them in depth, and even many of the interstates have some extremely scenic sections.  One example of that would be the last hundred or so miles on I-90 west into Seattle, which has some spectacular (for an interstate) views that surprised me at the time.  Many "US" routes (US 30, US 50, US 66, etc.) have some pretty great scenery in spots and some interesting national or state parks, and interesting small towns, along the way.

This ^^^. On the way to the National Rally the end of June '24, it took us 7 travel days and we weren't pushing it. Two more days after the rally and we were on the Oregon coast. Two old Loopframes and a Cal III FF.

[Ncdan]

Why not?  With a little research on routes and attractions along the way, a week or 2-week ride cross country (each way) can be pretty interesting.  Getting off the interstates can result in finding interesting towns and attractions to ride through even if you don't have time to stop and experience them in depth, and even many of the interstates have some extremely scenic sections.  One example of that would be the last hundred or so miles on I-90 west into Seattle, which has some spectacular (for an interstate) views that surprised me at the time.  Many "US" routes (US 30, US 50, US 66, etc.) have some pretty great scenery in spots and some interesting national or state parks, and interesting small towns, along the way.

“Why not” simple answer is that some older riders may not have the endurance to make the ride and younger riders may not be able to come up with enough time. Therefore the train idea may work for certain segments of motorcycle enthusiasts.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Yep, exactly that. My last coast-to-coast ride involved having the motorcycle trailered to the East Coast to start, and then picked up on the West Coast after. I spent 15 days riding back roads and 1 day off for rest. This avoided me needing to take a more lengthy amount of PTO, or doing what I have done on prior long distance trips which has been to bring my work with me, hole up somewhere along the way during work days, and then resume travel on the weekend. If Amtrak offered this auto transport for any East-West travel I'd be planning a trip to utilize it right now. DC to Orlando isn't of much interest to me as it's out of the way of where I like to visit out East (Appalachian Mountains).

[bassa99]

I shipped my bike from Boston in early 2000's. I did not ride the train but flew to Florida to get bike. My advice is to use a VERY good cover as my bike covered with about an inch of railroad dust when I collected it. I had it covered with plastic cover provided by Amtrac.

[Perazzimx14]

Wife and I thinking about heading to the Gator Nationals in March and just looked at the Auto train and it crazy expensive and takes a long time. 

Lorton to Orlando is 17 hour train ride. We rode Chambersburg to Titusville a 110 miles longer distance than Lorton to ORlando in less time.

Roundtrip:

Coach seat is $39
Motorcycle is $310 Car is $510
Roomette (6'-6" x 6'-8" x 3' 6") is $697 

[Tom]

Yeah, not for everyone but who knows?  I used to do a lot of fly-n-rides, when adding to the herd.  I know that many don't like doing that.   

[Perazzimx14]

Yep, exactly that. My last coast-to-coast ride involved having the motorcycle trailered to the East Coast to start, and then picked up on the West Coast after. I spent 15 days riding back roads and 1 day off for rest. This avoided me needing to take a more lengthy amount of PTO, or doing what I have done on prior long distance trips which has been to bring my work with me, hole up somewhere along the way during work days, and then resume travel on the weekend. If Amtrak offered this auto transport for any East-West travel I'd be planning a trip to utilize it right now. DC to Orlando isn't of much interest to me as it's out of the way of where I like to visit out East (Appalachian Mountains).

The problem with Auto Train other than the cost is the speed. Based on it taking 17 hours to travel less then 900 miles esentially non-stop from Lorton to Orlando and East/West trip would take 4 or 5 days + as Im sure they would have many stops along the way to pickup/drop off then add in a roomettete at $697 per night it would be far less expensive and save travel days to ship/ride/ship or just fly and rent.

The mountains are callin and I must go!

[Tom]

Yeah....not for everyone but maybe someone would like the option.  🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️   

[Donk]

Took the auto train from FL to DC once.  Lots of downtime waiting to load and unload the bikes.  Food was school cafeteria quality at best.  Bathrooms were trashed by the time we got there.  I do not recommend it.  The cost would pay for a hotel and a meal and you could save 6 hours by riding.