Amtrak experience with a bike

[Jonathan Carmack]

Hey all,

Sorry for a question that may have already been answered or is highly specific (mayhaps), but have any of yall brought your Rivendell, onto the Northeast Regiona? I’m looking to do a point to point ride, and will be going from Union Station in DC to Culpepper.  If you can share your experience with this, especially given the long wheelbase of something like the Gallop which I will be bringing.

Is there are a luggage car? Can I hang the bike myself? You’d think this would be discernible from the website but I guess it’s even line and station dependent.

Much appreciated

- Jon c

[Kesler Roberts]

I've taken a bike on that route a couple of times but only north of DC and my experience has been that they have a hanging rack (one per car) and it is terrible but manageable.  You have to remove the front wheel and any panniers or other larger bags and hang the bike from the rear wheel.  You might get lucky though and have a train that lets you put the bike in a luggage car but I don't know that you can find out beforehand what you're going to get.

[Melanie]

You should also be prepared to remove people's bags from the bike storage area that you need to use.

[Alex Buly]

Hi Jon,

I brought my 60cm Platypus on the NE Regional from NYC to Philly a few months ago. It was a bit of a challenge to get it into the hanging bike cubby, but it did fit. I had to turn the bars 45 degrees to get the front end of the bike to swing back into the space after hooking the rear wheel onto the hanger. The other challenge was removing the front wheel while other passengers were trying to get around me in aisle, so in hindsight I probably would have completed this step before boarding.

I'll second Melanie's point - when not being used for bikes, the bike storage spaces have luggage racks that other passengers will leave their bags in. I just asked a conductor for help, and he removed the bags and swung the luggage racks out of the way for me.

Hope this helps!

Alex

[Jonathan Carmack]

Thanks all,

That definitely helps, I’m hoping the southern route is less attended but I’m gonna try to be there early then.

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[Jamie D.]

A friend came down from NYC to Philly yesterday on Amtrak and he could not fit his 2.6 tire into the specified hooks. He told the Amtrak folks he couldn't deflate the tire (he could have but didn't want to because he forgot a pump) and politely asked for a solution. They ended up seating him in a spot he could sit with his bike the entire ride on both trips. He said his earnest ignorance and politeness went a long way. Ultimately I think once your bike is on the train you'll be able to figure something out and it's very unlikely they'll kick you off the train.

[Minh]

will repeat a few of the comments, make sure you check if you need a reservation, be ready to take off all your bags (i'd suggest bringing a big blue Ikea bag or the like and put all of them in there before train arrives), usually you hang it from the rear wheel, be ready to deflate if your tires are bigger than around 50mm.    

don't feel bad about taking peoples luggage out of the bike space, if they complain tell them you paid for that space and they need to figure out what to do with their bags.

[Luke H]

Hey Jon,

I regularly bring a bike on Amtrak Northeast Regional.

There is not a dedicated luggage car, but many of the train cars have
a bike storage rack area located near the restrooms and entry area of
the car.

When you're on the platform and the train arrives, find one of the
conductors and let them know you've reserved a bike space. In my
experience, they usually know exactly which car you should board. For
whatever reason, it's often near the front of the train, so if
possible, I try to position myself there before boarding. It's much
easier to walk your bike along the platform to the correct car than to
maneuver it through the train aisles.

The bike racks are sometimes mistaken for luggage areas. If someone
has luggage in the bike area, the conductor has always helped clear it
out. You paid for the bike space, and that area is intended for bikes.

For the rack itself, you'll remove the front wheel and hang the bike
from the rear wheel on a hook. It can take a little finessing, and
they will offer help if you need it, but overall the process is pretty
straightforward.

I haven't personally tested the limits of a long-wheelbase bike like a
Gallop, so hopefully someone else can weigh in. That said, I do recall
reports from other Riv folks who successfully brought Gallops or long
bikes on Amtrak.

Hope that helps, and hope you have a great trip!

-Luke

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[Hugh C]

I’ve done it once from Charlottesville to Culpeper in 2021. It was an upright wheel hook in the regular passenger car. The saddle protrudes out into the walkway a bit. I remember it wasn’t clear on the website when I bought the ticket for me. It was supposed to be $25 for the bike, about as much as the ticket for me, but there was no internet service when I tried to ay en route and the conductor let me slide. They are much more accustomed to and prepared for bikes on trains out West.

[Timothy Hurley]

I've taken my bike on the NE Reagonal (and Vermonter) a bunch of times. Getting on and off is a PITA but worth the hassle. 

Here are some tips I'd wish I'd known the first time:

1) There's only a few bikes allowed on each train so make sure to add your bike when you buy your ticket.

2) Get there early and check in with the Red Cap desk. This way you'll have a shot at getting on the train before everyone else. 

3) Prep everything BEFORE getting on the train. Disengage front brake, disconnect dyno hub, take off any bags, etc. Once on the train there's very little room and all the other passengers will be annoyed/mad at you for having a big dirty bicycle on the train.

4) The luggage rack/bike storage thing will definitely be full of other peoples luggage. Be prepared to move it and when people get mad at you, just be nice and play dumb and say, "The conductor told me to do this." Once the bags are moved, it's a bit of a puzzle to convert it into bike hanging mode. Lower the cross bars first, then the actual racks. Take off front wheel, hang bike by rear wheel, put front wheel next to bike.

5) The cars with bike storage have little bike stickers by the doors.

6) Even though bikes are allowed and you paid $20, every Amtrak employee will be annoyed/mad at you for having a bike. Maybe someone will be helpful, but don't plan on it. 

7) Boston is easy to get your bike on and off (platform at street level), New York is a pain but generally the Red Cap people are cool, Philadelphia (my home!) is a pain and most everyone is in a bad mood. 

8) Fenders make it way more difficult. I take them off before any train trip.

All this being said, it's the best way to travel with a bike. Once you are settled in your seat it's a delight!

-T.J.