Do you know companies that ship car via train from east coast to west coast?

Question

Cost? Realiablity? Train Station, etc....

Answer 1

I don't think this would be cost effective.  Flying out and driving the car back is the cheapest.  You can hire a truck to do so, but that still costs.  It took $5-600 to get a car from Arizona to Missouri.  If you insist on rail, check with a company that ships intermodal containers like Schneider National or JB Hunt.

Answer 2

Actually, here is a big liability issue.  The railroad will not lease a single person a rail car to ship personal items.  I have contacted all major class 1 railroads to find out about leasing a box car to move from one part of the country to another, but they said no.  You must be a company that can provide the insurance, and fuel surcharge, things like that before they will even talk to you about a lease.

Answer 3

Not very cost efficient, I would try another route...

Answer 4

In the United States, there's no market for that, but there are plenty of companies who'll arrange to move your automobile on the back of a truck.

There is Amtrak's Auto Train, which will move you and your car between Lorton VA and Sanford FL, that's been running for about 30 years, but it won't help you.

Answer 5

Your only option would be a Class 1 railroad, and you would have to lease equipment (flat car, etc.), know how to secure it by AAR loading rules, then pay shipping costs.  Your best bet would be to search for a road carrier who handles autos - I've seen many of them on the road, some handle one or two cars at a time, some have enclosed trailers.  Even the latter will not be "cheap", so if it's not an expensive or collector-type car, moving companies rent tow trailers that you can haul yourself, and they can explain how to load, etc.

Answer 6

you be better off flying out and driving back

Answer 7

sending personal items via the railroad is not cost-efficient.

sending a automobile coast to coast would be 2 weeks by semi truck, around $1-2k.  Two weeks because the driver isn't just picking up/dropping off your car, its not FedEx.

Answer 8

About 5 years ago Amtrak was offering to take your car on the same train as you from NYC to Florida. I don't know if this service is still in effect but you might want to check them out. Some Trucking companies that have "low boy" or "drop deck trailers" often take automobiles from the West coast to the East coast because they have trouble getting freight going east. There are many auto-hauler companies that will haul your car in a closed trailer from the Northern States to  Southern States or vice versa. There are also owner operators who run "Hot Shots" These are 1 or 2 ton trucks with a flatbed trailer, for hire.