Eye on New Orleans

Sunday, February 5, 2006; Page P01

many a heart that still aches for the Crescent City.

ON TRACK

Scenery Substitute

With spring break approaching, parents with some dough have a new way to keep kids busy on Amtrak`s Autotrain between Lorton and Sanford, Fla.: digEplayers, which are digital players preloaded with entertainment.

The three-pound players, which have 7 1/2 -inch screens and can be propped up on a tray table, come with a hefty $19 each-way fee . Rent and return at either Autotrain terminal, and if the eight- to 10-hour charge runs out, get new batteries onboard for free.

Users can choose from movies (kid stuff like ``Madagascar`` and more adult-friendly material such as ``North Country``), TV shows (``Scrubs,`` ``Two and a Half Men``), music videos (Bon Jovi to R. Kelly), songs (Top 40, country, jazz, etc.) and Amtrak propaganda .

CoGo was impressed with the player`s ease of use, the quality of the sound and image, and the variety of choices, but would caution parents to watch what the kids are plugged into . Movies are edited for profanity, but you can`t avoid some of the adult material on a flick like ``Old School`` or a 50 Cent video.

Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said the service may eventually be extended to other lines , but that Amtrak is ``still waiting to see how this is going.``

Information: 866-digEplayer, http://www.railwaymedia.com.