No more bike boxes on the Amtrak!

Amtrak is rolling out a new fleet of baggage carts equipped with roll-on bike racks. Check it out here.

http://blog.amtrak.com/2014/06/new-baggage-cars/

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Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on June 25, 2014 at 12:11pm

Thats pretty cool.  I might actually consider taking Amtrak now.

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on June 25, 2014 at 12:40pm

It will be a little longer.  They are only beginning to test the cars this fall on two lines.  When the bugs are worked out, and the cars produced, they will be put in service on the major trans-cont trains.  It's nice, but it's Amtrak, don't expect too much or certainly not too soon

.

Marc

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 25, 2014 at 1:30pm

glad you said that...I was getting REALLY EXCITED....I mean, WHAT?

Marc A. Irwin said:

It will be a little longer.  They are only beginning to test the cars this fall on two lines.  When the bugs are worked out, and the cars produced, they will be put in service on the major trans-cont trains.  It's nice, but it's Amtrak, don't expect too much or certainly not too soon

.

Marc

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on June 25, 2014 at 1:46pm

Hoping they do the Milwaukee and or Madison to Chicago route.

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on June 25, 2014 at 2:02pm

I think Chicago to DC route is the first one.

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on June 25, 2014 at 2:07pm

City of New Orleans, Miami and Northeast corridor are the routes they discussed in the article.  It will be late next year before the service is widely available.  Don't start making reservations yet.

Marc

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 25, 2014 at 3:17pm

Will it still require bikes to only load/unload at baggage stops?  On the Capitol Limited the only baggage stop en-route is Pittsburgh if I remember.  Cumberland - the junction of the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal trails - is definitely not a baggage stop at the moment.

Unless the baggage stop requirement is eliminated with these racks the only thing you're saving is $25 for the box at the departure station and having to bring along a pedal wrench.  That's not to say new baggage cars with integrated racks are a bad thing; most of the baggage fleet dates from the 1940s and 50s and were rebuilt in the 80s so they're really wearing out.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on June 26, 2014 at 6:36am

I never had to box my bike on any train to or from Chicago? But a nice dedicated rack would be sweet, much less hassle than taking off the front wheel to put it over head as I usually do.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 26, 2014 at 2:08pm

I don't think there is an Amtrak to Madison at all.  The WI governor vetoed the proposed route.  The closest stop you can get to Madison is Columbus which isn't close at all -like 30 miles away. 

Juan 2-8 mi. said:

Hoping they do the Milwaukee and or Madison to Chicago route.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on June 27, 2014 at 1:56am

Removing the wheel and shoving it overhead is usually not required on any of the Illinois Service trains, and I've taken all three several times over the years.

 Only twice did one conductor insist, and after I complained to Amtrak about her customer service attitude I haven't seen her since.



Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Removing the wheel and shoving it in the overhead is allowed on the Illinois Service trains that run downstate. The Michigan Service trains have a rack in the snack car to secure bikes. Other trains require bikes to be boxed and checked.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on June 27, 2014 at 5:39am

I'd like to use the trains to Ann Arbor or Detroit, but I've never heard of this.  Do you have a link that explains this? 

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

...The Michigan Service trains have a rack in the snack car to secure bikes. Other trains require bikes to be boxed and checked.

Permalink Reply by Marc A. Irwin on June 27, 2014 at 7:39am


That's a mistake.  Only the Blue Water line, #364 & 365, have roll on service.  Those trains go north to GR, Lansing, Flint and Port Huron.  The ones going through Ann Arbor do not have any bike or baggage service.

Marc
JeffB (7+ miles) said:

I'd like to use the trains to Ann Arbor or Detroit, but I've never heard of this.  Do you have a link that explains this? 

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

...The Michigan Service trains have a rack in the snack car to secure bikes. Other trains require bikes to be boxed and checked.

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