On the blog: Taking Your Bike on Amtrak

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Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
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  • March 21, 2017 at 4:00 pm #1068508
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    I’m traveling with my bike up to NYC next month for Red Hook Crit. The selection of Northeast Regional trains with bike storage were pretty limited (the bike-capable trains mostly seem to run at sub-optimal times), so I ended up booking the Vermonter on the way up and the Carolinian (which requires you to “check” your bike) on the way back. Price for the bike reservation was $20 each way. I will report back with my experience…

    March 22, 2017 at 2:52 pm #1068597
    Boo Boo
    Participant

    Unfortunately some of these routes may go away:

    http://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2017/03/19/Proposed-Amtrak-cuts-Pittsburgh-trump-budget/stories/201703190142?pgpageversion=pgevoke

    April 28, 2017 at 12:12 pm #1070032
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    Currently sitting on the Vermonter, with my bike stowed. Didn’t have to do anything special prior to boarding…just get in line at the gate. After the gate opened, I found the car with a bike symbol, hoisted the bike up, and loaded it in the bike compartment. No one from Amtrak was around to assist (or check for a bike ticket), but it’s pretty self-explanatory. The bike compartment seemed to be missing the strap to secure the frame, but my u-lock did that job well enough.

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    April 28, 2017 at 12:24 pm #1070033
    bobco85
    Participant

    @TwoWheelsDC 159207 wrote:

    Currently sitting on the Vermonter, with my bike stowed. Didn’t have to do anything special prior to boarding…just get in line at the gate. After the gate opened, I found the car with a bike symbol, hoisted the bike up, and loaded it in the bike compartment. No one from Amtrak was around to assist (or check for a bike ticket), but it’s pretty self-explanatory. The bike compartment seemed to be missing the strap to secure the frame, but my u-lock did that job well enough.

    I was wondering, were you required to remove your front wheel, or did you do that just so that it would fit? I’m currently mulling over a potential Amtrak trip and wanted to be sure of the options.

    April 28, 2017 at 12:35 pm #1070034
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    @bobco85 159208 wrote:

    I was wondering, were you required to remove your front wheel, or did you do that just so that it would fit? I’m currently mulling over a potential Amtrak trip and wanted to be sure of the options.

    The instructions say to remove it, and that area below the bike is configured to “hold” it with a strap and everything. I really doubt anyone really checks it though, and it seems you could fit the bike in there without removing the wheel.

    April 28, 2017 at 4:34 pm #1070054
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    Update: getting off at Penn Station is kind of a nightmare. You pretty much have to wait for everyone to get off the train, then salmon against all the people trying to get on the train.

    April 30, 2017 at 11:09 am #1070092
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    And now the return…the Carolinian is a bit different than the Vermonter, as it has “trainside bike check,” rather than “carry on” service. So I had to go to the bag check counter (definitely arrive ~30 minutes early for this) and get a tag. Then before general boarding, I was escorted down to the baggage car where an Amtrak guy put my bike on the rack for me. Then I got to board the train way early, which was a nice perk. Overall, I think the trainside bike check is way easier, since you don’t have to remove your wheel or futz with your bike while people try to board around you. It also means you can move about the train without having to find the car in which you left your bike.

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    May 1, 2017 at 3:06 pm #1070132
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    @TwoWheelsDC 159209 wrote:

    The instructions say to remove it, and that area below the bike is configured to “hold” it with a strap and everything. I really doubt anyone really checks it though, and it seems you could fit the bike in there without removing the wheel.

    Yes, we were told you have to remove it so that your saddle doesn’t stick out in the aisle and block passengers.

    May 1, 2017 at 5:33 pm #1070154
    KLizotte
    Participant

    On the first train heading north it looks like you could only fit one bike???

    May 1, 2017 at 5:40 pm #1070157
    TwoWheelsDC
    Participant

    @KLizotte 159340 wrote:

    On the first train heading north it looks like you could only fit one bike???

    Yep. There are only three bike spots on the *entire* train with the carry on service. I think the nook could easily fit two bikes, but it’s only equipped for one. That being said, I was the only person with a bike on both legs of the trip.

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