[lovsthosebigdogs]

Originally Posted by John_W

We took the Autotrain in April 2011 on our LSV. For 2 adults and one large car was $904 each way. That was for a seat, which you can recline for sleeping and dinner and breakfast.

Last year we took the train again but in August 2013. The entire trip with two adults and one compact car was $750 round-trip. We had dinner and breakfast and seats that recline for sleeping. A small pillow and blanket is $15, so we brought our own.

There was one big negative on the return to Florida trip last August. We had breakfast at 6am and when returning to our seats they announced the train was ahead of schedule and would arrive in Sanford about 8am, it's normally 9:30 arrival on both ends. Just a few minutes later the train stopped and local police cars came swarming along side the train. Apparently the local dope hangout in Palatka is the railroad tracks, and they like to lay on the tracks when they get high. Our train ran over two people, one was alive and one was dead. They had to bring in a reserve crew to drive the train. CSX had to send inspectors to inspect the tracks, The local and state police had to file reports. An ambulance and medivac was needed for the survivor who went to Gainesville and a coroner for the deceased. By the time everything was completed, the new crew got us to Sanford at 1pm, five hours later than we had anticipated.

OMG, quite a horrible story/experience.