Amtrak Auto Train interest?

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

So Amtrak offers a popular service between Washington DC and Orlando FL, where they transport you and your vehicle (Car, Boat (smallish), or Motorcycle) from A to B.. So I call and I asked if they have thought of Expanding. They said they get calls but have not gotten enough requests.. So I say it is time to start flooding their e-mail.. I would envision a program where we can go from Major Metro to Major Metro via Train, like me from L.A. to Pittsburgh or Closer to Carlisle or Columbus or Detroit and back.

If any of this sounds good, E-Mail
[email protected]

YY1 · Aug 21, 2019

Did you check the price?

It's thousands of dollars.

I've tried calculating every which way to get that trip to be cost effective from FL
(I'm about 45 min to an hour away from the FL station), and either the Nats or Carslile, yes I know it's only half way, and every time either just driving and staying in nice hotels or flying and renting a nice car while also staying in a nice hotel, comes out WAY cheaper.

Too bad, as I'm a train guy and would love the experience plus would love to have my own car at the destination.

I have compromise solution for Amtrak, though-

Motorcycle pallets or racks that could slide into regular baggage cars.
That would at least permit bikers to take their rides anywhere Amtrak serves without adding specialized cars to every train and auto loading facilities at every station.
All that would be necessary would be "high level" platforms for loading and unloading.

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

YY1 said:
Did you check the price?

It's thousands of dollars.

I've tried calculating every which way to get that trip to cost effective from FL
(I'm about 45 min to an hour away from the FL station), and either the Nats or Carslile, yes I know it's only half way, and every time either just driving and staying in nice hotels or flying and renting a nice car while also staying in a nice hotel, comes out WAY cheaper.

Too bad, as I'm a train guy and would love the experience plus would love to have my own car at the destination.

I have compromise solution for Amtrak, though-

Motorcycle pallets or racks that could slide into regular baggage cars.
That would at least permit bikers to take their rides anywhere Amtrak serves without adding specialized cars to every train and auto loading facilities at every station.
All that would be necessary would be "high level" platforms for loading and unloading.

Just checked price, and 500 each way isn't to bad.. Thinking what Gas, Food, and Lodging to get just my fat *** from point A to B.

aeon280 · Aug 21, 2019

Derwud said:
So Amtrak offers a popular service between Washington DC and Orlando FL, where they transport you and your vehicle (Car, Boat (smallish), or Motorcycle) from A to B.. So I call and I asked if they have thought of Expanding. They said they get calls but have not gotten enough requests.. So I say it is time to start flooding their e-mail.. I would envision a program where we can go from Major Metro to Major Metro via Train, like me from L.A. to Pittsburgh or Closer to Carlisle or Columbus or Detroit and back.

If any of this sounds good, E-Mail
[email protected]

Outside of the eastern seaboard the issue with Amtrak is usually time. For slightly less than a round trip flight to El Paso from Dallas, Amtrak 1 way takes the better part of 2days to get you to your destination. I can only imagine how long it would take to get from LA to PA or OH.

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

aeon280 said:
Outside of the eastern seaboard the issue with Amtrak is usually time. For slightly less than a round trip flight to El Paso from Dallas, Amtrak 1 way takes the better part of 2days to get you to your destination. I can only imagine how long it would take to get from LA to PA or OH.

Since a Plane is not going to transport me and my Charger, not really an option..

Dennis H · Aug 21, 2019

Derwud said:
Since a Plane is not going to transport me and my Charger, not really an option..

Wanna go to the Nats in 2021? I’ll meet you in SLO and drive there with you.

MarPar · Aug 21, 2019

YY1 said:
Did you check the price?

It's thousands of dollars.

I've tried calculating every which way to get that trip to cost effective from FL
(I'm about 45 min to an hour away from the FL station), and either the Nats or Carslile, yes I know it's only half way, and every time either just driving and staying in nice hotels or flying and renting a nice car while also staying in a nice hotel, comes out WAY cheaper.

Too bad, as I'm a train guy and would love the experience plus would love to have my own car at the destination.

I have compromise solution for Amtrak, though-

Motorcycle pallets or racks that could slide into regular baggage cars.
That would at least permit bikers to take their rides anywhere Amtrak serves without adding specialized cars to every train and auto loading facilities at every station.
All that would be necessary would be "high level" platforms for loading and unloading.

I know a guy that goes from Orlando to somewhere in PA with his C-body on the Amtrak every year. Let me see if I can dig up some info fer ya.

YY1 · Aug 21, 2019

It's $408 just for the vehicle.

For the Thursday departure I selected, there is only one coach seat available for $140.

There are several upper level coach seats for $240.

A roomette is $480.

So if you want to sleep in a bed and not a coach seat, we're looking at $888 before any taxes.

Actually looks like it's come down a bit.

Last time I checked (around 2010) it was over $1100 just for a decent coach seat and the vehicle.

These are round trip prices.

68Moparmaniac · Aug 21, 2019

If you say it real fast it doesn't sound like much... :poke:

Darter6 · Aug 21, 2019

I drive Vegas to Pittsburgh and back pretty much every year. For me (the older I get the farther it gets, so it seems) ruffly 2300 miles. 3 to 3 1/2 days one way. With food, fuel (car gets about 24 MPG) and lodging I spend about $800 to $1000 one way. I've gone cheap staying at flea bag filthy joints and taking food with me and found I only save about 2-300 bucks. I really try to do a different route when I can to see the USA.
Dennis, Keep me in mind for 2021.I just did the drive and went to the Nats a few weeks ago.

69a100 · Aug 21, 2019

YY1 said:
I have compromise solution for Amtrak, though-

Motorcycle pallets or racks that could slide into regular baggage cars.
That would at least permit bikers to take their rides anywhere Amtrak serves without adding specialized cars to every train and auto loading facilities at every station.
All that would be necessary would be "high level" platforms for loading and unloading.

In theory, yes. In practically, no, this won't work at all! Passenger trains are set and run on a time table, with a set amount of time spent at each stop. Now what happens when there's a major problem with uploading or downloading of cargo? That time table get all screwed up and screws up every others train's schedule and where their supposed to be at a set time to accommodate a stupid idea that may seem brilliant. Just ain't goin to happen!

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

Darter6 said:
I drive Vegas to Pittsburgh and back pretty much every year. For me (the older I get the farther it gets, so it seems) ruffly 2300 miles. 3 to 3 1/2 days one way. With food, fuel (car gets about 24 MPG) and lodging I spend about $800 to $1000 one way. I've gone cheap staying at flea bag filthy joints and taking food with me and found I only save about 2-300 bucks. I really try to do a different route when I can to see the USA.
Dennis, Keep me in mind for 2021.I just did the drive and went to the Nats a few weeks ago.

My Car or my truck towing my car, is not going to get 10MPG, so that kind of kills it.

Darter6 · Aug 21, 2019

Yes !! When I take the motorhome pulling my car trailer,,,,6 MPG.

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

Yeah, gotta be cheaper then this:
To ship six cars from one location in Pasadena to Deadwood in an enclosed car carrier and return a week later is three thousand dollars each!

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

Darter6 said:
Yes !! When I take the motorhome pulling my car trailer,,,,6 MPG.

Yep, drove a 32 MoHo from Pasadena to Orlando (I did not keep track or I would have CRIED)...

Derwud · Aug 21, 2019

Dennis H said:
Wanna go to the Nats in 2021? I’ll meet you in SLO and drive there with you.

Yes.. We can meet somewhere in NV.. Man that would be a blast going through the Rockies in our cars!!

YY1 · Aug 22, 2019

It absolutely would work.

You pre-load the bike onto the rack, then when the train arrives, "simply" wheel the rack into an existing baggage car that's been fitted with a number of standardized hold downs that match the racks.

This has already been done to box cars for things like appliances and auto parts.

It's even been done to airplanes!

To quote Darth Vader- Your lack of vision disturbs me.

This is simply applying existing technology to a new problem.

Amtrak Auto Train interest?

Derwud

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YY1

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Derwud

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aeon280

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Derwud

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Dennis H

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MarPar

If it weighs, it pays

YY1

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68Moparmaniac

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Darter6

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69a100

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Derwud

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Darter6

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Derwud

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Derwud

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Derwud

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YY1

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