Travel around America by Amtrak

[west point]

Have no idea how train savvy you are but please review with someone on trains how to walk on the moving train especially between cars. Walking between cars always use hand holds with each hand. Normally hand holds arranged to use right hand on present car and left hand on car entering. Understand some car have two hand holds to transit ? ? My main advice if you need to carry something between use a shoulder bag.

 

[FormerOBS]

"........whats the point of having a car for only part of the journey, and then not having it for the rest of the trip."

I don't understand your question. You may have a car in Maryland and want to go to Florida and have the use of your own car while you're there. But you may not want to drive all the way from Maryland to Florida. This is especially relevant if you're staying for an extended period, which might make the cost of a rental prohibitive. Your own car is a known, comfortable environment, and it is easier than unloading and repacking a rental. Lots of reasons. Hence the Auto Train.

You may as well ask what's the point of having a train for only part of the journey, and then not having it available to take you around your destination town.

Of course this is unlikely to be relevant to the OPs, who probably won't be traveling with ther own car.

Tom