Editing Auto Train

{{about|Amtrak's automobile-carrying passenger trains on a route called "Auto Train"||Autotrain (disambiguation)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name               = ''Auto Train''
| image              = File:Amtrak Auto Train 52 Passing Through Guinea Station, Virginia.jpg
| image_width        = 300px
| caption            = The ''Auto Train'' in [[Guinea, Virginia]] in March 2024
| type               = [[Inter-city rail]]
| status             = <!-- Only use when line is non-operational -->
| locale             = [[East Coast of the United States|Eastern Seaboard]]
| first              = {{Start date|1983|10|30}}
| operator           = [[Amtrak]]
| formeroperator     = [[Auto-Train Corporation]]
| ridership2         = {{Amtrak route ridership|Auto Train}}
| website            = {{url|amtrak.com/autotrain}}
| start              = {{amtk|Lorton}}, Virginia
| end                = {{amtk|Sanford}}, Florida
| distance           = {{Convert|855|mi|abbr=out}}
| journeytime        = 17 hours<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Timetable Results |url=https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/schedule-results.html |website=www.amtrak.com |access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref>
| frequency          = Daily
| trainnumber        = 52, 53
| class              = Coach Class<br />First Class Sleeper Service
| access             = Train lower level, all stations
| sleeping           = {{Unbulleted list
   | Roomette (2 beds)
   | Bedroom (2 beds)
   | Bedroom Suite (4 beds)
   | Accessible Bedroom (2 beds)
   | Family Bedroom (4 beds)
   }}
| autorack           = 340 vehicle capacity
| catering           = [[Superliner (railcar)#Dining cars|Dining car]], [[Superliner (railcar)#Lounges|Café]]
| observation        = [[Superliner (railcar)#Lounges|Sightseer lounge car]]
| baggage            = Overhead racks
| stock              = [[Siemens Charger]] locomotives<br />[[GE Genesis]] locomotives (backup power)<br />[[GE Dash 8-32BWH]] locomotives (backup power)<br />[[Superliner (railcar)|Superliner]]
| gauge              = {{Track_gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| speed              = {{Convert|50.3|mph|abbr=on}} ({{Tooltip|avg.|average speed (including stops)}})<ref name="avg speed2" /><br />{{Convert|70|mph|abbr=on}} ({{Tooltip|top|top speed}})
| owners             = [[CSX Transportation|CSX]], [[SunRail|CFRC]]
| map                = {{Amtrak Auto Train}}
| map_state          = collapsed
}}
'''''Auto Train''''' is an {{convert|855|mi|km|adj=mid|}} scheduled daily train service for passengers and their automobiles operated by [[Amtrak]] between [[Lorton, Virginia]] (near [[Washington, D.C.]]), and [[Sanford, Florida]] (near [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]).  ''Auto Train'' is the only [[motorail]] service in the United States.<ref name=Decker>[http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=WSArticlePage&pagename=WhistleStop%2FWSArticlePage%2FFeature_Story&cid=1178294040660 One (REALLY) Big, Really Happy Family. The Auto Train—Where Relative Strangers Become Relatives.]</ref>

Passengers ride in [[Coach (rail)|coach]] seats or private [[sleeping car]] rooms while their vehicles are carried in enclosed automobile-carrying freight cars called [[autorack]]s. The train can carry up to 340 vehicles. The train also includes lounge cars and [[dining car]]s. ''Auto Train'' allows its passengers to avoid driving [[Interstate 95]] in [[Virginia]], [[North Carolina]], [[South Carolina]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and [[Florida]] while bringing their own vehicles with them. It has the highest revenue of any train in Amtrak's [[Amtrak Long Distance|Long Distance Service Line]].

The service operates as train number 52 northbound and number 53 southbound. The train operates non-stop between its Virginia and Florida terminals, except for a brief stop in [[Florence, South Carolina]], for servicing and a crew change of the [[Train driver|engineers]] and [[Conductor (rail)|conductors]].

Amtrak's ''Auto Train'' is the successor to an earlier, similarly named service operated by the privately-owned [[Auto-Train Corporation]] in the 1970s.

== History ==
=== Auto-Train Corporation ===
{{stack|[[File:Autotrain Lorton.jpg|thumb|The ''Auto-Train'' at Lorton, Virginia, in 1973]]}}
{{Main|Auto-Train Corporation}}
The original ''Auto-Train'' operated on [[Seaboard Coast Line Railroad]] and [[Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad|Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac]] tracks. It was operated by [[Auto-Train Corporation]], a privately owned railroad carrier founded by [[Eugene K. Garfield]]. Garfield had worked at the [[United States Department of Transportation|U.S. Department of Transportation]], which had funded a study of the practicality of an automobile-train service. He then resigned and later used the study as the blueprint for his enterprise. The company provided a service unique in the country: scheduled rail transportation for passengers and their automobiles between [[Lorton, Virginia]], near Washington, D.C., and [[Sanford, Florida]], near [[Orlando, Florida]].<ref name="Ely2009p5">{{Harvp|Ely|2009|p=5}}.</ref>

The Auto-Train Corporation used its own [[rolling stock]], painted in red, white, and purple. The typical train was equipped with two or three [[General Electric]] [[GE U36B|U36B]] [[Diesel–electric transmission|diesel-electric]] [[Locomotive|locomotives]]; {{convert|75|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} [[Bilevel rail car|double-deck]] auto carriers; [[Streamliner|streamlined]] [[Passenger car (rail)|passenger cars]], including coaches, [[Dining car|dining cars]], and [[Sleeping car|sleeping cars]]; and {{convert|85|ft|m|2|abbr=on}} full-[[Dome car|dome cars]]; and a [[caboose]], then an unusual sight on most passenger trains. The engines were [[Cargo|freight]] types, purchased at much lower cost than passenger types. But they lacked [[Steam generator (railroad)|steam generators]], so heat to the passenger cars was supplied by steam-generator cars. Passengers rode in wide [[Passenger car (rail)#Coach|coach]] seats or private first-class [[Sleeping car|sleeping compartments]], and meals were served in dining cars. Their vehicles were carried in enclosed [[Autorack|autoracks]]. The company's first autoracks were acquired used, and started life in the 1950s as an innovation of the [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] (CN) Railroad. The CN cars were huge by the standards of the time: each 75-footer (23.86 m) could carry eight vehicles, which were loaded through doors at each end.<ref name="Ely2009p52">{{Harvp|Ely|2009|p=5}}.</ref><ref name="lukasiewicz2">{{cite book |last=Lukasiewicz |first=Julius |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lii3rcEBG30C |title=The Railway Game |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-7735-8307-8 |pages=198}}</ref>

The ''Auto-Train'' began running on December 6, 1971. It was immediately popular with the traveling public and at first enjoyed financial success as well.<ref name="life">{{cite magazine | title=All Aboard! Cars and People | magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life]] | volume=72 | issue=11 | pages=54–57 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=elIEAAAAMBAJ | date=March 24, 1972 | access-date=October 11, 2012 | first=Mary | last=Leatherbee}}</ref> In [[fiscal year]] 1974 the company turned a profit of $1.6 million on revenues of $20 million. In May 1974, service began over a second route between Florida and [[Louisville, Kentucky]], and the company was mulling additional service between [[Chicago]] and [[Denver]].<ref name="lukasiewicz">{{cite book |last=Lukasiewicz |first=Julius |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lii3rcEBG30C |title=The Railway Game |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-7735-8307-8 |pages=198}}</ref> The Louisville extension proved to be the company's undoing. The decaying [[Louisville and Nashville Railroad]] track between Louisville and Florida (which also hampered Amtrak's ''[[Floridian (train, 1971–1979)|Floridian]]'') hindered operations, and a pair of derailments stretched the company's finances to the breaking point. Service ceased in April 1981.<ref name="Ely2009p5" /><ref name="JARRATT">{{Cite web|author=National Transportation Safety Board |author-link=NTSB |date=October 21, 1976|title=Railroad Accident Report: Auto-Train Corporation Train Derailment on the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Near Jarratt, Virginia, May 5, 1976 |id=NTSB-RAR-76-11 |url=http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=63795 |publisher=Transportation Research Board }}</ref><ref name="FLORENCE">{{Cite web|author=National Transportation Safety Board |author-link=NTSB |date=September 21, 1978|title=Railroad Accident Report—Derailment of Auto-Train No. 4 on Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, Florence, South Carolina, February 24, 1978 |id=NTSB-RAR-78-6 |url=http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=76346 |publisher=Transportation Research Board }}</ref>

=== 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]].

== Ridership ==
Ridership declined through 2019, then dropped 30.3% to 163,556 in 2020, the first year of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. It recovered somewhat in 2021 to 199,414 and then set a new ridership record in 2022 with 279,019 passengers. This figure rose slightly once more in 2023, with another new record set of 283,646 riders.

The ''Auto Train'' has the highest revenue of any Amtrak long-distance train.<ref name="FY2016">{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2017 |title=Amtrak FY16 Ridership and Revenue Fact Sheet |url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Amtrak-FY16-Ridership-and-Revenue-Fact-Sheet-4_17_17-mm-edits.pdf |access-date=January 13, 2017 |publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref> The train had total revenue of US$75,169,554 in FY2016, down 7.9% from FY2015.<ref name="FY2016" />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
|+ Traffic by fiscal year (October–September)
|-
! style="width:50px" | !! style="width:100px" | Ridership !! style="width:100px" | Change over previous year !! style="width:100px" | Ticket Revenue !! style="width:100px" | Change over previous year
|-
!2007<ref name="FY0709">{{cite web|url=http://trn.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/9/4/d/ridership-revenue_fy09.pdf|title=Amtrak Fiscal Year 2009, Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009|publisher=Trains Magazine|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=October 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030021244/http://trn.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/9/4/d/ridership-revenue_fy09.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|217,822 || - || $52,883,481 || -
|-
!2008<ref name="FY0709" />
|234,839 || {{increase}}{{0}}7.81% || $58,154,402 || {{increase}}{{0}}9.96%
|-
!2009<ref name="FY0709" />
|232,955 || {{decrease}}{{0}}0.8% || $58,589,872 || {{increase}}{{0}}0.74%
|-
!2010<ref name="FY1011">{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/968/399/ATK-11-133%20Record%20FY11%20Ridership%20and%20Revenue.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108035837/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/968/399/ATK-11-133%20Record%20FY11%20Ridership%20and%20Revenue.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }}</ref>
|244,252 || {{increase}}{{0}}4.84% || $61,012,324 || {{increase}}{{0}}4.13%
|-
!2011<ref name="FY1011" />
|259,944 || {{increase}}{{0}}6.42% || $68,618,768 || {{increase}}{{0}}12.46%
|-
!2012<ref name="FY1213">{{cite web| url=https://amtrakmedia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY13-Record-Ridership-ATK-13-122.pdf| title=AMTRAK SETS RIDERSHIP RECORD AND MOVES THE NATION'S ECONOMY FORWARD| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824125952/https://amtrakmedia.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY13-Record-Ridership-ATK-13-122.pdf| archive-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>
|264,096 || {{increase}}{{0}}1.59% || $72,518,200 || {{increase}}{{0}}5.68%
|-
!2013<ref name="FY1213" />
|265,274 || {{increase}}{{0}}0.44% || $73,505,625 || {{increase}}{{0}}1.36%
|-
!2014<ref name="FY1415">{{cite web| url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY15Ridership_Revenue_Fact_Sheet_11-5-15.pdf| title=Amtrak FY15 Ridership & Revenue| access-date=November 8, 2020| archive-date=August 30, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830212820/https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY15Ridership_Revenue_Fact_Sheet_11-5-15.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref>
|274,445 || {{increase}}{{0}}3.45% || $78,831,501 || {{increase}}{{0}}7.24%
|-
!2015<ref name="FY1415" />
|271,622 || {{decrease}}{{0}}1.02% || $81,607,535 || {{increase}}{{0}}3.52%
|-
!2016<ref name="FY16">{{cite web|url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Amtrak-FY16-Ridership-and-Revenue-Fact-Sheet-4_17_17-mm-edits.pdf|title=Amtrak FY16 Ridership & Revenue|date=April 17, 2017|publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref>
|238,448 || {{decrease}}{{0}}12.21% || $75,169,554 || {{decrease}}{{0}}7.88%
|-
!2017<ref name="FY1617">{{cite web| url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY17-Ridership-Fact-Sheet-Final.pdf| title=Amtrak FY17 Ridership| access-date=November 8, 2020| archive-date=November 19, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119033231/http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FY17-Ridership-Fact-Sheet-Final.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref>
|229,000 || {{decrease}}{{0}}3.96% || - || -
|-
!2018<ref name="FY1819">{{cite web| url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/FY19-Year-End-Revenue-and-Ridership.pdf| title=Amtrak FY19 Ridership}}</ref>
|224,837 || {{decrease}}{{0}}1.81% || - || -
|-
!2019<ref name="FY1819" />
|236,041 || {{increase}}{{0}}4.98% || - || -
|-
!2020<ref name="FY1920">{{cite news|url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/high-performance/amtrak-releases-fy-2020-data/|title=Amtrak Releases FY 2020 Data|last=Luczak|first=Marybeth|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=February 18, 2020|newspaper=Railway Age|publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc.|location=New York}}</ref>
|163,556 || {{decrease}}{{0}}30.3% || - || -
|-
!2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Route Ridership FY21 vs. FY19 |url=http://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FY21-Year-End-Revenue-and-Ridership.pdf |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>
|199,414 || {{increase}}{{0}}21.9% || - || -
|-
!2022<ref name="FY2122">{{Cite web|url=https://media.amtrak.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FY22-Year-End-Revenue-and-Ridership.pdf|title=Amtrak Route Ridership: FY22 vs. FY21|date=November 29, 2022|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref>
|279,019 || {{Increase}}{{0}}39.9% || - || -
|-
!2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Kyle |date=2023-11-30 |title=Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023: Ridership Exceeds Expectations as Demand for Passenger Rail Soars |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2023/11/amtrak-fiscal-year-2023-ridership-exceeds-expectations-as-demand-for-passenger-rail-soars/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=Amtrak Media |language=en-US}}</ref>
|283,646
|{{Increase}}{{0}}1.7%
|
|
|-
!2024<ref name="FY24">{{cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/monthlyperformancereports/2024/Amtrak-Monthly-Performance-Report-September-2024.pdf |title=Amtrak Monthly Performance YTD September FY 2024 |access-date=December 3, 2020}}</ref>
|266,586|| {{Decrease}}{{0}}-6.0% || $119,900,000 || -
|-
|}

== Operations ==
[[File:Auto TrainAutoracks Front.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 train operates every day. At 12:30&nbsp;pm, the station gates are opened to allow the vehicles into the vehicle staging area.<ref name=":0" /> Here, each vehicle is assigned a unique number, which is affixed to the driver's door magnetically. The vehicle is typically videoed to document existing dents and other damage, in case a damage claim is later filed. The passengers leave their vehicles here and take their carry-on bags with them into the station to await boarding. The vehicles are then staged near the autorack ramps by size and length for optimal loading order and are then loaded onto the autoracks. Motorcycle owners help tie their bikes down to a motorcycle carrier that is then loaded into the autorack. Passengers cannot access their vehicles during the trip.

Vehicles and passengers are accepted up until 3 p.m.,<ref name=":0" /> after which the autoracks are closed and coupled together, the passenger cars are coupled together in the case of Sanford departures, and the autoracks are coupled to the rear of the [[consist]]. At 5&nbsp;p.m., the train departs the station.<ref name="Timetable">{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2016 |title=Auto Train Schedule |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Auto-Train-Schedule-092017.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114073950/https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Auto-Train-Schedule-092017.pdf |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |website=Amtrak }}</ref> 

About 1&nbsp;a.m., the train makes its sole scheduled stop, at the [[Florence station (South Carolina)|Florence, South Carolina, station]], where a new engineer and conductors take over and the train takes on fuel and water. No passengers embark or disembark here.

The schedule calls for the trains to arrive in Lorton and Sanford about 10&nbsp;a.m. the next day. When the trains arrive on time, they have covered the 855-mile (1,376 km) journey in about 17 hours, at an average speed of about 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).<ref name="Timetable2">{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2016 |title=Auto Train Schedule |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/timetables/Auto-Train-Schedule-092017.pdf |access-date=January 13, 2018 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref><ref name="avg speed2">The timetable gives about 17 hours between the two termini. Dividing that into the distance traveled, {{convert|855|mi|km|abbr=on}}, gives an average speed of {{Convert|50.3|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.</ref> 

Passengers cannot immediately leave the train, as the autoracks are first decoupled from the consist, and in the case of the Sanford station, the passenger cars are split into two sections to fit on Sanford's shorter platforms. At this point, the passengers are then allowed to disembark and move to the auto claim area. Cleaning crews move into the train after passengers leave, and the train is re-supplied with food and water. The passenger car seat backs are flipped to allow everyone in coach to ride facing forward.

The autoracks are further split into three to six sections and each section is aligned with a loading ramp (see picture). The doors between each are opened, and connecting ramps are lowered to allow vehicles to move between cars. At this point vehicles begin to roll off the autoracks and to the claim area, where they are identified and announced by the vehicle number that was attached to the vehicle at the origin station. Vehicles are not unloaded in the same order they were loaded.<ref name="WDW">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wdwinfo.com/transportation/auto_train.htm|title=Disney World Transportation Information – Auto Train|website=www.wdwinfo.com|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> It normally takes one hour to unload all vehicles from a full train. 

The first 30 vehicles off belong to passengers who have paid an extra fee,<ref name="Timetable" /> a service Amtrak has offered by the name Priority Vehicle Offloading since April 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auto Train Priority Vehicle Offloading |url=https://www.amtrak.com/route-content/auto-train-priority-vehicle-offloading.html |access-date=January 13, 2018 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2013 |title=Amtrak Auto Train Launches Priority Vehicle Offloading |language=en-US |work=Amtrak Media |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2013/04/amtrak-auto-train-launches-priority-vehicle-offloading/ |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513184411/https://media.amtrak.com/2013/04/amtrak-auto-train-launches-priority-vehicle-offloading/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The fee has risen from $50 in 2016<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amtrak |date=2016-07-17 |title=Family Fun on the Auto Train |url=https://blog.amtrak.com/2016/07/family-fun-auto-train/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Amtrak |language=en-US}}</ref> to $60 in 2017<ref name="Timetable" /> to $95 in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=Amtrak - Reservations - Trip Summary |url=https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/trip-summary.html |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=Amtrak|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119155756/https://www.amtrak.com/tickets/trip-summary.html |archive-date=November 19, 2023 }}</ref>
[[File:Auto Train Autoracks.jpg|thumb|A look inside the autoracks]]
=== Lorton Terminal ===
{{Main|Lorton station}}
[[Lorton, Virginia]], is about a half-hour drive south of Washington, D.C., near Interstate 95 in [[Northern Virginia]]. Amtrak's new Lorton terminal opened in early 2000 as a replacement for the original station built during the 1970s, and features a large, modern waiting area with high glass walls.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/sanford-auto-train-fl-sfa/|title=Sanford – Auto Train, FL (SFA)|work=Great American Stations|access-date=January 13, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> The station was designed by architect Hanny Hassan. The suspended sculpture in the lobby was designed by Patrick Sheridan.<ref>[http://www.patsheridan.com/ Patrick Sheridan]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060109110530/http://www.patsheridan.com/ |date=January 9, 2006 }}</ref> The platform is {{convert|1480|ft|m|0}} long.

Lorton was selected as site of the northern terminal because the {{convert|20|ft|2|in|m|2|adj=mid|-high}} [[Autoracks#Latest innovations|autoracks]] were [[Loading gauge|too tall]] to pass through the [[First Street Tunnel#Structure gauge|First Street Tunnel]] into Washington, D.C.<ref name=newsanford>{{cite press release |title=NEW AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN STATION IS OPEN IN SANFORD |date=October 18, 2010 |publisher=Amtrak |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/476/43/ATK-10-137%20SFA%20station%20event.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002134942/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/476/43/ATK-10-137%20SFA%20station%20event.pdf |archive-date=October 2, 2012}}</ref>

=== Sanford Terminal ===
{{Main|Sanford station (Amtrak)}}
[[Sanford, Florida]], is the southern terminus and is about a half-hour drive north of [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. The original facility was older and smaller than the terminal at Lorton. At Sanford, the ''Auto Train'' loads passengers on two tracks, as no one track is long enough to accommodate all the passenger railcars. Sanford's operation is unique in that a railroad crossing runs through the middle of the rail yard. This complicates some switching procedures and also requires a three-man yard conductor crew – conductor, assistant conductor, and a utility conductor – while operations at Lorton require only a conductor and assistant conductor. Both yards operate with one engineer. Sanford serves as the main mechanical and maintenance location for ''Auto Train'', with diesel and car shops to service the fleet. The city of Sanford provides a shuttle bus to the historic district departing every 20 minutes between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm free of charge on all days except Sundays and certain major holidays.<ref name="Timetable" />

=== Consist ===
The ''Auto Train'' operates using Amtrak's fleet of bi-level [[Superliner (railcar)|Superliner]] equipment. A typical [[consist]] includes two or three locomotives, followed by a [[Superliner (railcar)#Transition sleepers|transition sleeper car]] for crew use, six [[Superliner (railcar)#Sleeping cars|sleeping cars]] for first-class passengers, a [[Superliner (railcar)#Lounges|sightseer lounge car]] and a full-service [[Superliner (railcar)#Dining cars|dining car]], both for first-class passengers, four [[Superliner (railcar)#Coaches|coach cars]], a café/lounge car for coach passengers, and more than 23 [[Autorack|autoracks]] for transporting vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otte |first=Steven |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Ask MR: Modeling the Amtrak Auto Train |url=https://www.trains.com/mrr/beginners/ask-trains/ask-mr-modeling-the-amtrak-auto-train/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Trains |language=en-US |quote=Today, the typical Amtrak Auto-Train consist is a transition sleeper for the crew, six sleepers for passengers, four coaches, one diner, one lounge, one café car, and upwards of 23 auto racks. Depending on its length, the train is pulled by two or three General Electric Dash-9 P40DC diesel-electric locomotives, standard for the Amtrak fleet.}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Amtrak's Auto Train {{!}} Reviews, Photos & More {{!}} TrainReview |url=https://trainreview.com/train/auto-train |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513184458/https://trainreview.com/train/auto-train |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |access-date=March 1, 2021 |website=trainreview.com}}</ref> 

Superliner sleeping cars contain a mix of accommodations, including deluxe bedrooms on the upper level, roomettes on both levels, a family bedroom, and an accessible bedroom. Coach cars are equipped with reclining seats on both levels. The sightseer lounge car features wrap-around windows on the upper level and a café on the lower level.<ref name=":1" />

At approximately {{Convert|3/4|mi|km ft}} in length, the Auto Train is among the [[Longest trains|longest passenger trains in the world]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robbins |first=Jenna Rose |date=2021-07-16 |title=Amtrak Auto Train: Pros & Cons |url=https://jennarobbins.com/2021/07/amtrak-auto-train-pro-cons/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Jenna Rose Robbins |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Britton |first=Jerry |date=February 1, 2022 |title=Amtrak Auto Train |url=https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php/post-pennsy/other-railroads-articles-blog/latest-articles-blog-postpennsy/593-amtrak-auto-train |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=The Pennsy Modeler}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Car shuttle train]]
* [[Motorail]]
* [[Eurotunnel Shuttle]] (for cars and trucks)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite book|last=Ely|first=Wally|year=2009|title=Auto-Train|series=Images of Rail|edition=1st|publisher=[[Arcadia Publishing]]|isbn=978-0-7385-6785-3}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Auto Train}}
*{{amtrak web|route=yes}}
{{Amtrak routes}}
{{Amtrak rolling stock}}

[[Category:Auto Train| ]]
[[Category:Amtrak routes]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1983]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Virginia]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Florida]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Night trains of the United States]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Long distance Amtrak routes]]