"Amtrak passenger trains don't stop in Sanford these days, but they sure start there. The northbound version of Amtrak's Auto Train has always originated in Sanford. But when Hurricane Wilma disrupted conventional passenger-train service to South Florida, Amtrak began originating its trains in Orlando, but preparing them in Sanford. That has doubled the amount of passenger-train traffic through the area, as trains are taken south from Sanford to Orlando to begin northbound trips and southbound trains end their route in Orlando and then return to Sanford."
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I guess if you read it closely enough, Mr. Kairho, the Sentinel reporter has it straight. But he certainly leaves the impression, especially on a layman, that the AT now originates in Orlando.
Wonder why when I'm in your area, I drive right by the street vendors pushing the Sentinel (oh and after stumbling over McPaper jammed under my room's door at Holiday Inn Express on US27/441), to Barnes and Noble on SR 200 for my daily New York times.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Kairho - I'm confused. That is news to me though. Does AT now take passengers without autos from Orlando up north? Obviously there is no auto-loading facility at ORL. Does Sanford still have the auto-loading facilities?
P.S. I do not read the Orlando Sentinel -- no time to!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Until Mr. Kairho has the opportunity to confirm, allow my statement that the Auto Train has only handled passengers without autos under emergency conditions, such as post 9/11, to stand.
Nothing has come to my attention to establish that an AT equipment set is dispatched to Orlando and ran around a wye to the South of the depot, for the purpose of handling passengers that would otherwise be handled on #92, Silver Star.
I certainly do not wish to say some cub reporter at Orlando Sentinel is wilfully spreading lies regarding Amtrak operations, but he/she is certainly spreading his/her ignorance. For those in the know, it is quite evident the reporter did not do much of a job of fact checking.
One more reason why I simply drive by the Sentinel street vendors when I'm in the area and on my way to get my news from The New York Times on sale at Barnes & Noble.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: Kairho - I'm confused. That is news to me though. Does AT now take passengers without autos from Orlando up north? Obviously there is no auto-loading facility at ORL. Does Sanford still have the auto-loading facilities?
P.S. I do not read the Orlando Sentinel -- no time to!
I believe what is going on is that the trainsets for the 'Silver Meteor' and 'Silver Star', currently suspended south of Orlando, are being serviced at the AT facility in Sanford, 17 miles north. That means a deadhead move after each 'silver service' train arrives and again before each 'silver service' train departs. In other words, Amtrak trains presently trundle through Winter Park 12 times a day.....but only 4 with passengers! The other 8 are deadhead moves to and from the yard in Sanford.
The Sunset Limited did this deadhead move when it operated eastward to Orlando.
The Auto-Train is continuing to originate with autos from Sanford and is not going in or out of Orlando.
Of course a layman just reading this article would have been able to figure this out!
Kairho Member # 1567
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I have no idea what they were trying to say. I just thought it was a funny article!
Oh, for a decent newspaper here in the outback!
Pojon2 Member # 4048
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What's happening--clear the air for the facts, please!
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