A train ride that brings your car along
Auto Train separates the long journey from the driving. Passengers board the train, while their car is driven onto a railcar designed to carry vehicles. The two travel together, but not in the same space: travelers spend the trip in passenger cars, and the vehicle stays secured in its carrier until arrival.
That arrangement turns a costly extra into a practical convenience. Instead of driving the full distance to Florida, travelers can settle in for the rail journey and still have their own car at the other end. It is especially useful for people whose plans involve several stops or places that are difficult to reach without a vehicle.
The tradeoff is convenience versus flexibility
Taking a car requires more than buying a passenger ticket: the vehicle must be checked in and loaded, and travelers cannot use it during the ride. They also have to coordinate their arrival with the train’s schedule. In return, they avoid the fatigue of a long drive and the complications of arranging a rental for the destination.
The service’s distinctive idea, introduced in 1971, is not simply to put cars on a train. It lets a traveler carry a familiar piece of everyday mobility across a long distance without having to drive every mile. When the train reaches Florida, the vacation can continue by road—using the same car that began the trip at the station.
