[h0l0cube]

> Getting the car from there to the nearest Amtrak station will require you to hire a locomotive with crew

I know long haul battery-electric trains don't make sense [0], but if it's a short distance, would it be feasible to have inbuilt battery + engine just to get the car to the Amtrak and maybe as backup power?

> (some tracks require a second car coupled to the locomotive so crossings & signals work correctly)

Obviously it wouldn't obviate this technicality.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0qcxyyllQ4

[ehnto]

I have to imagine it's a similar scenario to pilots taking over your vessel in certain ports and passages. The job of the pilot (or the Amtrak hired crew) is that they are aligned with the port's goals and understand their scheduling and rules. I can't imagine they would want a private car moving of it's own accord operated by the owner, so you might still have to hire the Amtrak crew, and they might not be willing to operate your personal car since crew have to be trained on the locomotives. I am speculating though, I have no idea.

[h0l0cube]

Good points. I guess it makes even more sense when considering that the crew also needs to transport themselves to the car from the station

[twobitshifter]

Correct, to drive the train you’d need to have an engineer qualified on the railroad.