Travel with road bike by train/Amtrak?

[shootingstar]

We did take the Amtrak train with our bikes just 2 weekends ago between Vancouver and Seattle. (On the day we returned it was cold rain then wet snow-rain. Good thing we didn't cycle the distance.)

He had a folding bike, which he simply put in its cloth (not hard case) carrying bag and it was checked in as baggage.

I had to box up my bike in bike box...which you can ask if they have a used one. To avoid paying $5.00. As you may know, you must have your own tools to take off pedals and turn the handlebar to fit into box.

It was no problem. The key thing is to get to the station over 1 hr. early to give yourself lots of time. Be prepared to buy a new bike box if they don't already have a used one.

My partner has done several Amtrak train segments across the U.S. in the last 4 years. He entrusted them to transfer his touring bike in a bike box to another train at New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Paul's. He was getting off and on at different points and cycling several hundred kms. in between different cities. In some cities, he asked them to keep his bike box if it wasn't needed by anyone else when he returned several days later.

In other situations, he got to the city really late at night..and the hotel was close by. So he left bike in box at station and picked it up next day.

His experience with Amtrak has been courteous and reliable. He had never had to personally transfer the bike in box himself for train transfers.


Never get there late, plan, ask if the station even offers new bike boxes and make sure the box is clearly tagged and marked.