I am well aware of the procedures for traveling with a handgun in checked luggage for airlines.

For "normal" passenger trains, Amtrak's procedures are pretty similar to airlines, unloaded, locked case, declared, in checked luggage. Firearms not allowed as carry-on in the passenger's possession.

However, I have not been able to find any authoritative information online about Amtrak's Auto Train. The "normal" procedure won't work, since there will be no checked luggage.

I have heard of people who do the locked case in the luggage and leave the luggage in the vehicle, but I'm not able to find whether this is legit, or if it's sort of "don't ask, don't tell."

Does anybody have specific knowledge of whether a handgun can be transported on Auto Train, and if so, what are the requirements?

I have traveled a few times on the Auto Train (with weapons). What I did was keep the weapons in a locked case secured in the vehicle that was being transported. Never had any issues, what so ever.

They are so busy trying to get the cars off and on the carriers that unless something of value is sitting out in the open, there is little risk in theft.

quote:

Originally posted by mo4040:

I have traveled a few times on the Auto Train (with weapons). What I did was keep the weapons in a locked case secured in the vehicle that was being transported. Never had any issues, what so ever.

They are so busy trying to get the cars off and on the carriers that unless something of value is sitting out in the open, there is little risk in theft.

I'm not concerned about theft that much. I'm more concerned about regulatory stuff. Will there be any sort of problem if the handgun is detected?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I'm not concerned about theft that much. I'm more concerned about regulatory stuff. Will there be any sort of problem if the handgun is detected?

Yes.

There's no provision for "checked baggage" on the Auto Train, and they take the bizarre position that your car-- inaccessible to you during the trip-- isn't the same thing. Since no checked baggage, no way for you to transport in compliance with their regs (locked case in checked baggage, declared 24 hours in advance.)

They've jammed up folks on regular passenger trains for this. No idea if it's ever happened on the Auto Train, but I would not like to be the first.

Thanks for the information, Dennis. Let me re-phrase the question.

My wife is returning to her old home town for her 60th high school class reunion, and a two-week visit with our son and his wife. Last time she did this, she drove all the way and it was no problem, her Florida carry permit is valid in every state that she goes through on this trip.

However, it is a two-day drive with an overnight stop. This time, she has decided to use the Auto-Train, which will eliminate more than half the drive, and the overnight stop. We live about a half hour from the Florida terminal and it's a reasonable one-day drive from the Virginia end to the kids' house.

She doesn't really need her own handgun at the destination end; she could borrow one from our son for carry, but she and I both think that a woman driving alone should be armed. So the question is, with the first part of the trip on the Auto-Train, how can she be armed from the Auto-Train terminal in Virginia for the northern part of the drive?

She can't get a handgun from an FFL in Virginia since she's not a resident there. We don't know anybody near the Virginia Auto-Train terminal who could receive it on her behalf if she shipped it to herself.

The return trip is no problem; our son will be coming back with her for a Florida visit, and they will drive all the way.

She will need to use checked baggage, and both the start and end stations have to be baggage stations, not just one where you retrieve the baggage. Amtrak needs to be notified in advance that you'll be checking a firearm in luggage.

https://www.amtrak.com/onboard...e-special-items.html

quote:

Originally posted by SigSAC:

She will need to use checked baggage, and both the start and end stations have to be baggage stations, not just one where you retrieve the baggage. Amtrak needs to be notified in advance that you'll be checking a firearm in luggage.

https://www.amtrak.com/onboard...e-special-items.html

Per my original post and also DennisM's post, two above yours, there is no provision for checked baggage on the Auto-Train.

I rode an amtrack back in 2014.
There was zero anything at all in place preventing me from just walking on board the train with an arsenal if I wanted to.
Have they changed things since then?

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
I rode an amtrack back in 2014.
There was zero anything at all in place preventing me from just walking on board the train with an arsenal if I wanted to.
Have they changed things since then?

It wasn't the auto train but I took amtrak from Raleigh to Orlando and back in the fall. There was absolutely no screening. I could have carried what ever I wanted.

I wasn't commenting on the odds of getting caught. I was commenting on what their policy is (as explained by Amtrak PD.)

I haven't been searched/screened on Amtrak while on personal travel.

Don't ask - don't tell.

I travelled back from Virginia to Alabama last year with a weapon in my carryon baggage. I had it cable-locked in the bottom of my duffle bag and had the mags in my shaving kit.

No issues at all on the trip. Stayed in my sleeper practically the whole trip, due to COVID protocols.

Amtrak is a common carrier - illegal to have in your possession while on-board. You're legally out of luck since there is no baggage check available for both start and end.

Remember, Amtrak has its own police, and they cooperate with TSA.

In any case, it is up to you to decide whether to roll the dice and risk it.

I will suggest bypassing 95 after arriving in Virginia. I just did the drive from South Carolina to CT using the 495 bypass around Washington.
If the Auto train arrives at 10 AM to Virginia--factoring unload time, travel time--that puts your wife at rush hour for East Coast 95 traffic.

Gas is cheaper in Virginia, More expensive in Penn FYI. E mail me if you want particulars on route, gas , etc.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:

I will suggest bypassing 95 after arriving in Virginia. I just did the drive from South Carolina to CT using the 495 bypass around Washington.

I don't believe that I-95 is in the picture. Leaving the auto-train terminal, she will be going northwest, to eastern Ohio, just a bit west of Pittsburgh. Her total driving time should be less than six hours, as opposed to sixteen hours if she drove all the way.

The Auto Train station is in Lorton, so there will be some time spent on I95. A possible route would be to take I 95N to I 66W. Then hop on I 81N into PA. It adds about 40 miles, but you avoid the Beltway (I495) and I270.

As to the original issue, transporting an unloaded firearm in a locked container (secured in the auto itself) should be absolutely no issue on the Auto Train. Don't over-think it.