We are traveling on Tuesday 1/16 and have traveled via the Auto train many times. I will post after our trip and hopefully let you know how it is compared to previous trips. By the way, if you have an ECV, have you booked a handicapped accessible room?
FYI, we get a first floor room, the Attendant brings meals to the room when we ask (I do tip well for that) and leave our ECV in the car until we arrive. We take a walker or cane, but we also have used their wheelchairs when necessary on both ends.
Great - Lots of space and bathroom in room. My hubby can't do the stairs so attendant brings our dinner as well. The attendants at the station are good about bringing their AMTRAK transport chairs to take you to your train. Only one accessible room on each sleeper car so sometimes it is a long walk to your car. Take advantage of the transport chair.
Our last 2 trips were in Jan. 2023 and May 2023. Both times they were back to serving dinner (and breakfast) in the dining car for sleeping car passengers. You select your time when you check in. You can opt to pick up breakfast and carry it back to your room. Because of my husband's mobility issues we have dinner delivered but I go up and bring breakfast back. I think they expect you to go to the dining car for meals if you can.
That’s great! Thanks
I took the AT with my dd (she and I had a roomette) and my mom and disabled dad in 2022. I booked them a HA bedroom. I had Dad's transport chair in the car but when we checked in, they noted that we had a HA room and they met us at the car with an Amtrak transport chair and pushed him into the station (even though typically I push the chair) and also pushed him out to and onto the train before everyone else boarded (we all went). Same thing next morning-they had the chair waiting when it was time to exit and they got him off and in the station before others. They were really helpful, brought their meals to them also. I got their breakfast since I was going anyways, and I tipped the attendants well-they were good to my folks.
Thank you for the info!
Our trip on 1/16 was uneventful. We left Lorton on time. It was a chock a block full train. Our sleeping car attendant was terrific, (Taylor). He brought our dinner on time and all was correct. He also offered to bring us breakfast! And did so. I usually go up and do the carry out breakfast for the two of us, but he brought us the new breakfast with egg casserole (egg, cheese, ham) potatoes (yummy), and a croissant with coffee cake, banana, oj and coffee.
Thanks so much for the report! I wonder if I’ll have to wait for an attendant to push me in a transport chair or if my son can just grab one of the chairs and push me. I hope you have/had a wonderful trip!
With my dad, we/they had noted the HA reservation at the check in booth (we have a hanging ha placard also) and when we pulled up to go into the station they were right there with the chair-it suprised me actually as I was already getting his chair out! I didn't know they were going to do that. Then in the station, they told us 'wait here until we return to get you' and they came and took him (and us following) out before the boarding call, like 'pre-boarding'.
Maybe she was coming from a work business trip and hates to fly/needed her car there and figured she could easily change in her roomette or the changing room in coach once she got on the train?
It's probably not "fair" to compare with prices from covid or post-covid times. Lots of places had lower rates to get people back to traveling. I'm sure that recent inflation was a decent impact as well.
