There are over 30 Amtrak routes in operation around the United States. However, according to The Washington Post, only three of these routes are profitable: the Northeast Regional, the Acela, and the Auto Train.
It’s not particularly surprising that the Northeast Regional and the Acela (the latter of which covers the same route at a higher speed) are profitable. These services span the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., bringing commuters and tourists between cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. This highly populated region is sometimes called the Northeast megalopolis. Rather than battling the congestion on I-95 (the interstate highway that runs between Florida and Maine), sitting on a train for a couple of hours is quite an attractive alternative, hence the popularity of the Northeast Corridor routes.
Farther south, the I-95 driving experience is also partly responsible for the success of the Auto Train, which offers one of the most unique services of any Amtrak route—namely, the opportunity to bring your vehicle along with you. The route spans 855 miles (1,376 km) between Lorton, Virginia (around half an hour south of Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida (about half an hour from Orlando). It began operating in 1971 as an asset of the privately owned Auto-Train Corporation. However, financial problems caused by overexpansion (a second service, from Louisville to Sanford, was much less popular), inconsistent ridership, and several costly derailments led to bankruptcy in 1981.
Amtrak took over operations in 1983, and the federally subsidized railroad corporation was able to turn the Lorton-Sanford route into one of their most profitable routes, with a daily southbound and northbound service.
A trip on the Auto Train takes around 17 hours, leaving in the afternoon and arriving the following morning. Midway along the route, observant night owl passengers can glimpse the other Auto Train heading in the opposite direction.
The Auto Train is particularly popular with “snowbirds": typically retired residents of the Northeast who spend the winter in sunny Florida. It’s also appealing for families heading for beaches and theme parks, as it allows them to bring their car (and as much stuff as they can fill it with) without having to drive down I-95. Others take the Auto Train for the experience or the novelty, and the chance to relax and enjoy the scenery during the trip.
All aboard the Auto Train:
- Although riders don’t have to contend with congested roads, high gas prices (GasBuddy estimates that it costs around $200 to drive from Lorton to Sanford and back), or the hassle of renting a car, taking the Auto Train is a fairly expensive way to travel. Bringing your car (or van, truck, or motorcycle) is required, and starts at around $208 one-way. Passenger fares can range from $34 for a seat in coach to thousands for a private room.
- By comparison, round-trip airfare on a budget airline typically costs from $100 to $200, though flying severely restricts the amount of belongings you can bring and leaves you without a car at your destination
- There were nearly 300,000 customer trips on the Auto Train in the fiscal year 2023—far fewer than the Northeast Regional (over 9 million) or Acela (nearly 3 million).
