Amtrak
 

Thinking about taking the train to VA in the summer. What is the nearest station to TV, and would anyone care to share their experience with this?

Sanford, I think. It's the car train but you don't need a car to use it. It's direct to Lorton VA. We used it a year and a half ago when we moved here. It was great.

Did the train stop at Richmond, or straight thru to Lorton. Do you recall how long it took?

For passenger trains, there are stations in Orlando and winter park. Amtrak has a pretty good website with schedules and prices. If you google the autotrain, information on the website.

We took the auto train with a bedroom. Loved the trip, but it was a bit pricey.

Closest Amtrak station (non-auto train) is in Deland. Also Amtrak has a bus from the Villages to the Jacksonville station.

The Autotrain runs everyday from Sanford, Florida (about 90 minutes east) to Lorton, Virigina (southside of DC beltway). The trains depart at 4:30 and arrive 9:30 the next morning and then return. A car or motorcycle is required, no passengers without a vehicle. I've taken the autotrain 3 times. The rates are seasonal. Once in March it was $900 each way, and another time in August was $750 round-trip. If you're going this summer, then you'll get good rates but I would book at least two months in advance. One time I couldn't get a return trip. They have a website and everything is handled through their site.

It's a fun ride, unless like we had happen once, the train hit two people on the tracks and we had to sit for six hours. They have to inspect the tracks, bring in a new crew, the police investigate and medivac the injured.

Amtrak passenger train
 

I am familiar with the Amtrak passenger train which goes through Deland, FL, the closest station to the Villages. The Amtrak website is very good. I put in a trip to Richmond, VA from Deland and I got the following information: Cost $111. Travel time 13 hrs. 43 min. Departs 2:39 PM daily. My daughter has traveled all the way to Penn Station in NYC and said the trip was fine, just long. Your trip wouldn't be as long.

I love trains, but the cost/time never adds up for me. It's often much cheaper and way faster just to hop on a plane at MCO or TPA.

I guess if you have the time to kill, Amtrak is OK. It's more of an experience, I guess.

Thank you all for such helpful information