Editing Auto Train (section)

=== Amtrak ===
[[File:Auto Train Platform.jpg|thumb|alt=Platform at Lorton station|Platform at Lorton station. [[Superliner (railcar)|Superliners]] are lined up at the left, with autoracks visible to the right.]]
[[File:Auto Train Autoracks Rear.jpg|thumb|alt=Autoracks lined up at their loading ramps at the Lorton station.|Autoracks lined up at their loading ramps at the Lorton station. The ramps are not visible in this photo.]]
Amtrak planned to introduce a Midwest–Florida auto train service called "[[AutoTrak]]" in 1974. Running between [[Indianapolis]] and {{amtk|Poinciana}}, it would have competed with Auto-Train's Louisville–Sanford service.<ref name=sanders>{{Sanders-Heartland|pages=86–87}}</ref> Amtrak built a terminal at Poinciana, acquired 20 auto-carrier cars, and ran a test train loaded with rented autos on April 30 – May 1, 1974.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fhpXAAAAIBAJ&pg=3969,4760646
|title=Amtrak Will Build Million Dollar Passenger Facility At Poinciana |date=January 17, 1974 |publisher=Lakeland Ledger |first=Peter |last=Fiero}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Railroad News Photos |page=12 |date=July 1974 |magazine=Trains |volume=34 |issue=9}}</ref> The test train damaged the autos; Amtrak delayed and eventually cancelled the AutoTrak service.<ref name=sanders />

Nearly two years after the Auto-Train Corporation folded, the Virginia–Florida service was revived by [[Amtrak]]. Amtrak acquired the terminals in Lorton and Sanford and some of the Auto-Train equipment. On October 30, 1983, it introduced a triweekly version of the service under the restyled name "''Auto Train''".<ref name=newsanford /> Daily service was introduced a year later.

Amtrak used Auto-Train's bi-level and tri-level [[autorack]]s. For passenger equipment, it initially used a mixture of former Auto-Train railcars and mid-century long-distance railcars from Amtrak's general fleet, all rebuilt to Amtrak's "Heritage Fleet" standards. In the mid-1990s, Amtrak replaced all these passenger railcars, which were of the conventional single-level type, with its newer, bi-level [[Superliner (railcar)|Superliner]] I and II equipment. In 2006, the aging bi-level, tri-level, and "van" [[autorack]]s were phased out and replaced with 80 new autoracks.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Warner |first1=David |last2=Sutton |first2=Harry |title=On Track On Line – Amtrak Passenger Equipment Roster – Rolling Stock |url=http://www.on-track-on-line.com/amtk-roster-cars.shtml#Auto |access-date=January 13, 2018 |website=www.on-track-on-line.com}}</ref><ref name=newsanford />

Amtrak operates two Auto Trains simultaneously each day: southbound #53 from Lorton and northbound #52 from Sanford, departing at 5 p.m. for a scheduled arrival the following day at 10 a.m.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Amtrak Advisory {{!}} Auto Train Departure Time Change |url=https://www.amtrak.com/auto-train-departure-time-change |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=www.amtrak.com |language=en}}</ref> In practice, however, the trains usually run late. In May 2021, for example, only 31 percent of Auto Trains arrived on time, mostly because of interference by freight trains that have preference over much of the route.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freight Delays and Your Amtrak Service |url=https://www.amtrak.com/on-time-performance |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=www.amtrak.com |language=en}}</ref>

The ''Auto Train'' was the last Amtrak service to permit smoking on board. Amtrak discontinued the practice on June 1, 2013.

''Auto Train'' operates on the same route it and its predecessor have always used; the entire route is owned by [[CSX Transportation]] except for the southern {{convert|16|miles}}, which are owned by [[SunRail]].