accommodate all the passenger railcars. Sanford's operation is unique in that a railroad crossing runs through the middle of the rail yard. This complicates some switching procedures and also requires a three-man yard conductor crew – conductor, assistant conductor, and a utility conductor – while operations at Lorton requires only a conductor and assistant conductor. Both yards operate with one engineer. Sanford serves as the main mechanical and maintenance location for Auto Train, with diesel and car shops to service the fleet. The city of Sanford provides a shuttle bus to the historic district departing every 20 minutes between noon and 2:00 pm free of charge on all days except Sundays and certain major holidays. Consist The Auto Train uses Amtrak’s bi-level Superliner equipment, which is used for trains in the western United States and cannot pass through Baltimore Penn Station or the North River Tunnels for access to New York Penn Station. A typical consist includes two GE Genesis locomotives in the front, a transition sleeper car, three sleeping cars, a sightseer lounge car, a full-service dining car, five sleepers, a cafe dining car, four coaches, and up to 33 autoracks. Superliner sleeping cars have deluxe bedrooms on the upper level, roomettes on the upper and lower levels, one "family bedroom", and one "accessible bedroom". Coach cars have reclining seats on both levels. The Sightseer Lounge car has wrap-around windows on the upper level and an informal café on the lower. One dining and lounge car is reserved for the use of sleeping car customers, while another also serves coach passengers. With a total length of roughly , the Auto Train is often said to be the longest passenger train in the world. See also AutoTrak, a cancelled service Amtrak had planned as an answer to the Auto Train in the 1970s Car shuttle train Motorail Eurotunnel Shuttle (for cars and trucks) Rail terminology References Notes Bibliography External links Amtrak routes Railway services introduced in 1983 Passenger rail transportation in Virginia Passenger rail transportation in Florida Passenger rail transportation in Georgia (U.S. state) Passenger rail transportation in South Carolina Passenger rail transportation in North Carolina Night trains of the United States 1983 establishments in the United States Long distance Amtrak routes