| Auto-train Corporation |
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| defunct railroad companies of the united states | |
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Auto-Train Corporation (, and traveled on rails leased from major railroads along the route of its trains. Auto-Train Corporation trains initially operated on Seaboard Coast Line and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac tracks. A concept of Auto-Train Corporation founder Eugene K. Garfield , the novel approach allowed families to relax en route and save the expense and unfamiliarity of a rental car on arrival. The Auto-Train consists included Passenger Car s, Autorack s, and a Caboose . Auto-Train Corporation's new service began operations on December 6 , 1971 . The service was a big hit with travelers. Before long, the ambitious entrepreneurs of Auto-Train were looking to expand into other markets. However, only the Lorton-Sanford service proved successful. High crew costs, several spectacular accidents, and an unprofitable expansion put Garfield's company into bankruptcy. Auto-Train Corporation was forced to end its services in late April, 1981 . Operating for almost 10 years, Auto-Train had developed a popular following, particularly among older travelers as it ferried passengers and their cars between Virginia and Florida. No one else offered a service quite like that of Auto-Train Corporation until after a gap of almost two years, service was revived by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation , better known as Amtrak , a federally-chartered corporation which operates most intercity passenger trains in the United States as the slightly-renamed Auto Train . Today, Amtrak's Auto Train carries about 200,000 passengers and generates around $50 million in revenue annually. It is considered Amtrak's best-paying train in terms of income in comparison with operating expenses. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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