Bikes On Wisconsin Amtrak service coming in 2012

According to this article on wisbusiness.com:

"Alyssa Macy of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said each of
the two new train sets will feature 14 cars, excluding the locomotive,
consisting of five ADA-accessible coach cars with restrooms; six
ADA-accessible cars without restrooms, the bistro car, an end car, which
will have a bicycle rack that can hold up to eight bikes, and a cab, or
power car."

These new train sets will initially be launched on the Chicago - Milwaukee service, and there is a plan to extend that service to Madison by 2013.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on September 13, 2010 at 4:06am
AWESOMENESS!!!!!! Now what about Indiana :))
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 13, 2010 at 4:12am
I'll miss the frantic boxing of bikes in Milwaukee though. :(

But taking Amtrak to Madison with bikes will be great. :)
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 13, 2010 at 4:14am
It might raise some eyebrows at Metra. We can hope.

Julie Hochstadter said:
AWESOMENESS!!!!!! Now what about Indiana :))
Permalink Reply by Bicycle Poet on September 13, 2010 at 4:17am
How have you boxed a bicycle in Milwaukee when heading to Chicago? As far as I know, boxing a bicycle between Milwaukee and Chicago currently isn't allowed. The current Milwaukee-Chicago service (Hiawatha) doesn't allow checked baggage (boxed bikes), and the long-distance Empire Builder service doesn't allow travel between Milwaukee and Chicago (so-as to not interfere with the Hiawatha business).

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
I'll miss the frantic boxing of bikes in Milwaukee though. :(
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on September 13, 2010 at 4:40am
April 2009 we boxed up bikes for the 7:30 train coming back from Milwaukee. Reassembly was done in the bowels of Union Station. Apparently, that Amtrak line still does have checked baggage service.

bicycle_poet said:
How have you boxed a bicycle in Milwaukee when heading to Chicago? As far as I know, boxing a bicycle between Milwaukee and Chicago currently isn't allowed. The current Milwaukee-Chicago service (Hiawatha) doesn't allow checked baggage (boxed bikes), and the long-distance Empire Builder service doesn't allow travel between Milwaukee and Chicago (so-as to not interfere with the Hiawatha business).
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
I'll miss the frantic boxing of bikes in Milwaukee though. :(
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on September 13, 2010 at 4:50am
This will be awesome. I just wish it could be sooner. Taking the train to Madison and biking around would be fabulous. Plus it's a great jumping off point for other Wisconsin trails.
Permalink Reply by Bicycle Poet on September 13, 2010 at 4:52am
Thanks for the clarification, Ryan. It's good to know that it may currently be possible to get a bike to Milwaukee. Still, roll-on service in 2012 is going to be so much better!

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Apparently, that Amtrak line still does have checked baggage service.
bicycle_poet said:
How have you boxed a bicycle in Milwaukee when heading to Chicago? As far as I know, boxing a bicycle between Milwaukee and Chicago currently isn't allowed. The current Milwaukee-Chicago service (Hiawatha) doesn't allow checked baggage (boxed bikes), and the long-distance Empire Builder service doesn't allow travel between Milwaukee and Chicago (so-as to not interfere with the Hiawatha business).
Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
I'll miss the frantic boxing of bikes in Milwaukee though. :(
Permalink Reply by jen on September 13, 2010 at 5:19am
Yes Amtrak does have checked baggage to milwaukee. You need to arrive 30 min before departure in order to check bags more time for bicycles please. It is true that we do not allow travel between chicago and milwaukee on the Empire builder It dose not mean that we don't occasionally put on baggage that was checked to late to make the 105 Hiawatha train.

It is very helpful if when you come down to the baggage department to check your bike that you have your own tools and ability to take off your own pedals and handlebars. Im not always down there and some of the gentlemen I work with are not very kind. Many people think its ok to try to jam there bike in the box with out removing the pedals this causes the box to bow out and can rip during transit. It can also cause harm to your bike and other luggage.
Permalink Reply by jen on September 13, 2010 at 5:30am
Julie,
Hopefully soon on train #50 the Cardinal for Indianapolis which runs 4 days a week. Since the Hoosier state is a state sponsored train the state of Indiana has to fork over more money to staff the stations in order to provide checked baggage service. So if you wanna see it Start writing your state reps.

Julie Hochstadter said:
AWESOMENESS!!!!!! Now what about Indiana :))
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 13, 2010 at 12:29pm
That is, if the thing actually gets built. It isn't a done deal yet. Too bad they didn't start it 2 years ago when they had 87 gazillion stimulu$bux to hand out (instead of giving it to the bankers) and when there still was some political consensus.

I doubt anything is going to get built after the bloodbath this November in the elections.
Permalink Reply by Wesley Dolezal on September 13, 2010 at 12:45pm
I wish that the NITCD South Shore line allowed all bikes. I think they will let you take folding bikes on board but I haven't rode that line since I moved to Chicago (4 years ago).

Julie Hochstadter said:
AWESOMENESS!!!!!! Now what about Indiana :))
Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on September 13, 2010 at 1:18pm
Cheers to that one!

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
I'll miss the frantic boxing of bikes in Milwaukee though. :(

But taking Amtrak to Madison with bikes will be great. :)

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