Amtrak #53 auto Train 9 hours late/Auto Train delays and cancellations Dec 2019

Question... does this kind of stuff happen across all their trains/routes, or it is mainly an Auto Train issue??

I have the dilemma of having $1,100 in credit to use, but that means giving them a third chance. If I took it again round trip in a bedroom, I'd surely be reaching into my pocket for the difference (throwing additional $ their way), so I'm considering driving one way.

By the way, one of my sons decided to drive back to Florida after learning of the delay on the return trip - not wanting to put up with the uncertainties we experienced on the trip up. Darned if he didn't get back to Orlando twelve hours before we did yesterday !!

Are you really that unlucky to experience a third major delay of your train in a row? If you even think your that unlucky, and do try it again. Please be sure to post your dates of travel so the rest of us can avoided that day.

You have the credits might as well use them.

Traveling can be adventure, by auto, bus, plane, boat, or train. You just don’t know when or were things will go south on you.

Just-Thinking-51 said:

Are you really that unlucky to experience a third major delay of your train in a row? If you even think your that unlucky, and do try it again. Please be sure to post your dates of travel so the rest of us can a voided that day.

You have the credits might as well use them.

Traveling can be adventure, by auto, bus, plane, boat, or train. You just don’t know when or were things will go south on you.

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Perhaps it's just a rail thing with us, lol... We have 100 cruises to our name. We've missed our share of ports, encountered a couple of hurricanes (TWICE on one sailing and coming back a couple days early thanks thanks to another), but all-in-all very predictable. Other than the one hurricane diversion, we've never left or returned to our port of embarkation more than an hour or two off schedule - and those were rare occurrences. There was one odd Celebrity cruise where we were in Key West for the day. The Carnival ship which was scheduled to port there near us decided to skip that port of call, due to windy conditions. Later that day, Celebrity dropped the ropes for our departure and started to power away from the pier, but the wind pushed us back. We did this perhaps 3-4 more times before we tied back up and stayed the night!! I was thinking "Great, a rare overnight port of call in Key West!", unfortunately, we were docked at the Navy pier, and there was no security in place to get guests back/forth through the base, so we were stuck on the ship. What really blew my mind was that the casino opened up at 7 pm that evening, while tied right up to the pier. Gotta wonder if they asked for some waiver/clearance to do that, or not !!

I recall a couple we met at dinner the first night of one sailing. It was their first cruise and the next couple days saw the worst seas we've encountered. By the end of that cruise, they made it clear that they were never cruising again !!

OK, just on a lark today I asked an older gentleman (79) I was chatting with if he'd ever taken an Amtrak trip (thinking that if he replied in the affirmative, that it could make for interesting talk). He replied "yes". I then asked how his experiences were and he took his hand and rocked it, essentially saying "so-so". He said that it was "Ok, except for the derailment". I kid you not - I thought I'd easily be able to top him in the "this is what happened to us" department, but no !!! He said he was in a derailment in Alabama some decades ago (70's). I asked, "just part of the train, and not your car?" He said The Whole Train. Perhaps someone is trying to tell me something here... !!

-- as a follow up, I looked up Amtrak (Alabama) derailments, and the only one which I found was one with fatalities in a swamp in the 90's.. he said his had no fatalities... so, dunno!

I’m a new member here. Today’s auto train from SFA to LOR is delayed about 5 hours; any thoughts on the ripple effect a delay such as this may have over the next few days? Thanks!

Jeff Branzburg said:

I’m a new member here. Today’s auto train from SFA to LOR is delayed about 5 hours; any thoughts on the ripple effect a delay such as this may have over the next few days? Thanks!

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You are lucky with only a "delay". Over the years I've had 4 trains Cancelled! And, I've left SFA at 10:00PM. Last week our Xmas Eve train was cancelled! Glad for the AGR card...got on the next day (many didn't). They can make up an hour or two per day to get back...but at the 10-12 hour delay = cancelled the next day to start clean 2 days later.

53 (12/30) is 9 hours late again wouldn't be surprised if they cancelled the trains again.

Amtrak57 said:

53 (12/30) is 9 hours late again wouldn't be surprised if they cancelled the trains again.

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Yep - I was watching that. Guess we'll never know why, unless someone from this board posts the info... unless there's a site where this is "reported"??

FWIW - I called Amtrak yesterday regarding our delayed 12/28 southbound and cancelled dinner... was pleased with the $400 future credit they gave me for three of us, in two roomettes. I wonder what percentage of people take the time to call, and at what point they opt to throw out compensation/appeasement money.

Here's a screenshot of the actual start-to-stop time for our 12/28 trip. They did get us out of Lorton faster than I thought owing to a quick turnaround. Is that about an average duration (17 hours) and speed? I think we got off the main rail perhaps one time (to allow for another train to pass), whereas our trip up saw us step aside 5 or 6 times!

RichieRich said:

You are lucky with only a "delay". Over the years I've had 4 trains Cancelled! And, I've left SFA at 10:00PM. Last week our Xmas Eve train was cancelled! Glad for the AGR card...got on the next day (many didn't). They can make up an hour or two per day to get back...but at the 10-12 hour delay = cancelled the next day to start clean 2 days later.

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Thanks. We’re going on the AT Friday; hoping there are no (or minimal) delays!

Amtrak57 said:

53 (12/30) is 9 hours late again wouldn't be surprised if they cancelled the trains again.

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It is the same set too. Once it gets back on schedule, it takes a dive.

BLNT said:

Yep - I was watching that. Guess we'll never know why, unless someone from this board posts the info... unless there's a site where this is "reported"??

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This had less to do with the actual Auto Train. 91(30) was disabled so they decided it would be a good idea to snatch an engine from a 45+ car train. That took time but a major portion of the hit was waiting for an engine to appear from CSX along with the recrew.

lordsigma said:

l it means having to accommodate a lot of people and cars on an alternate date...

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Ummm...no...you are on your own!!! They don't accommodate. The Email they sent me: "We wanted to let you know that train #53, the Auto Train, from Lorton, Virginia on Tuesday, December 24th, has been CANCELLED due to a service disruption. Unfortunately, we don't have other transportation available."

BLNT said:

.. was pleased with the $400 future credit they gave me for three of us, in two roomettes..

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I always have 2 Bedrooms. For my cancelled train = $200 to the credit card.

RichieRich said:

Ummm...no...you are on your own!!! They don't accommodate. The Email they sent me: "We wanted to let you know that train #53, the Auto Train, from Lorton, Virginia on Tuesday, December 24th, has been CANCELLED due to a service disruption. Unfortunately, we don't have other transportation available."

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So they don’t try to find you another day and just give you a refund? You may be able to call the call center and try. It’s unfortunate the auto train has had a rough couple weeks around the holidays. It really is a great service most of the time. Most of my trips have gone well.

Thirdrail7 said:

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This had less to do with the actual Auto Train. 91(30) was disabled so they decided it would be a good idea to snatch an engine from a 45+ car train. That took time but a major portion of the hit was waiting for an engine to appear from CSX along with the recrew.

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Interesting - thanks.

lordsigma said:

So they don’t try to find you another day and just give you a refund? .

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Refund and you're on your own! But beware. The refund is what you paid when you booked. It could be twice-as-much when you rebook. Soooo...you want to call and have an agent "reschedule" as the price you paid transfers. 'Course, if your re-schedule day cost less...ya'think you'll get a refund for the difference doing it that way?!? LOL We tried to get out of Florida for the hurricane...i.e., reschedule 2 days Earlier and they wanted an extra $1,500 to do that! LOL For $1,500, we rode out Dorian. Just Do Your Research.

Off to a great start for the New Year. 52 is currently 8 hours late.

RichieRich said:

'Course, if your re-schedule day cost less...ya'think you'll get a refund for the difference doing it that way?!? LOL

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It's worth asking. I've hit that button many times over the course of my career.

Most businesses would rather give a customer the newly discounted ticket price than have the customer cancel their trip altogether. The cancellation is a greater loss because there's no guarantee someone will fill that spot so close to departure. I know some forum members have successfully "modified" trips to take advantage of a lower price.

It's the same reason hotels will often give you a great deal if you call them at the last minute (i.e. the afternoon/evening you plan to stay there). They'd rather take part of the room cost than let a room sit empty. A friend of mine manages a large hotel in a major city and said it costs them approximately $25/day per room, once all of the costs are spread out. If someone calls him and he gives them a $250 room for $150, the hotel just made $125 instead of -$25.