[pauld315]

Is the closest station to TV in Orlando ? I see there is one in Wildwood but when I put that in as my destination (from Raleigh NC) it says that I could take a train to Jacksonville but the rest of the trip would have to be by bus which I really don't want to do.

Has anyone rented a car at the Orlando Amtrak station ?

[Midge538]

Originally Posted by pauld315

Is the closest station to TV in Orlando ? I see there is one in Wildwood but when I put that in as my destination (from Raleigh NC) it says that I could take a train to Jacksonville but the rest of the trip would have to be by bus which I really don't want to do.

Has anyone rented a car at the Orlando Amtrak station ?

U might also check out the Sanford, FL Amtrak location.

[Bryan]

A few years ago, AMTRAK closed both Wildwood and Ocala as passenger stops. Last time I checked, you could still "get on" in Wildwood but it was a bus that took you to the AMTRAK station in Jacksonville.

[Ohiogirl]

I checked recently too (I have a daughter and grandkids in Raleigh), and it looked to me like you could get on by train at either Deland or Sanford, not sure which would be an easier drive from The Villages. I've driven to the Sanford airport before and it wasn't all that easy. By map, looks like Deland would be a better choice. Anyone done this?

[Carla B]

It appears that Sanford only serves the Auto-Train, not regular passenger trains, so Deland would be the option.

[allairenjadea]

My wife and I have taken the Amtrak train to Orlando from Boston many times. The station is a very quaint and old fashion building. It looks like something from the 40's. It takes a little better then an hour to get to our house in The Villages but it's all turnpike to Wildwood so it's an easy drive. We always rented a car from the Hertz company located right inside the train station but on our last trip in December the rates at Hertz were so high that we checked other companies. We got our car through Budget on West Colonial using the AARP discount and paid half of what Hertz was charging. They came and picked us up at the station and brought us back when we were leaving.

[Ohiogirl]

Being from central Ohio, where we do not have any passenger rail service at the moment, I don't know the difference between an auto train and a passenger train. Would have thought that an auto train also carries passengers? I thought the auto train was used by snowbirds coming down and back up the east coast, and that the auto owners would also be in passenger cars on the same train. Not so? Please, enlighten.

[chuckster]

Auto train only operates from Lorton Va. to Sanford Fl. Believe it also carries pax without cars. Check www.amtrak.com for more info.

Have picked up and dropped off pax at the deland station. More convenient to the villages than orlando. Not sure of auto rentals at that station. Once again www.amtrak.com should have more info or try their 800 number.

Hope this helps.

[allairenjadea]

I'm not sure how Deland can be more convenient to TV than Orlando. I mapquested both locations and they are almost identical times and distances. The difference I seem to see is that from Deland you would travel through many small towns and from Orlando you get on the turnpike and get off in Wildwood. If Deland is a better choice then I would want to check it out since we travel to TV by train at least once a year

[chuckster]

Do whatever works best for your situation. I prefer Deland and low density, slower traffic compared to high speed traffic and construction zones.........