 Topic Name: Amtrak
|
on: March 02, 2009, 08:58:42 PM
|
dave54
Location: Lassen County, CA
Posts: 79
|
 |
« on: March 02, 2009, 08:58:42 PM » |
|
Anyone use Amtrak to get to one end of a long thru-ride? (to avoid having to set up a shuttle or deadhead a vehicle)
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Name: Amtrak
|
Reply #1 on: March 02, 2009, 09:19:05 PM
|
ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever the GeoPro is parked.
Posts: 2863
|
|
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2009, 09:19:05 PM » |
|
Yep. We took Amtrak from Whitefish, MT to Eugene, OR after finishing the Divide route. It was pretty easy. IIRC, they sold me a massive bike box for $10 that was easy to fit bike+gear into. Only problem was that they forgot to put the bike on the same train as us, so I had to go back to the station in Oregon the next day to pick it up (next train was 24 hours later). I thought it was a cool way to end a trip.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Name: Amtrak
|
Reply #2 on: March 02, 2009, 10:07:09 PM
|
Rob
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca
Posts: 205
|
|
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2009, 10:07:09 PM » |
|
Not for bikepacking (yet), but I did take the Amtrak from Irvine Ca to Santa Barbara and road the coast down, stopping in Malibu for the night.
I'm planning to use Amtrak and/or Metrolink to help get to the San Gabriels for a weekend trip.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Name: Amtrak
|
Reply #3 on: March 04, 2009, 01:10:39 PM
|
Slim
Location: Duluth MN, North Central USA
Posts: 240
|
|
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2009, 01:10:39 PM » |
|
I have not used them with a bike yet but they are a great option. I have to say all my trips were on the long distance trains in the west.
They have plenty of luggage space for 'carry-on' luggage, but unlike the plane this could be an entire bike! They have a large shelf area at the entry of each car that would easily fit a bike or two. As well as several other peoples suitcases. (2 8'x4'shelves if I remember) As to the rules regarding this, that is a different question.
They run some great routes. What about the Kokopelli trail? Bike down to Moab, bike or take a shuttle to Green River and train back to CO.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 06, 2009, 05:40:50 PM by Slim »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Name: Amtrak
|
Reply #4 on: March 06, 2009, 10:31:33 AM
|
Slowerthensnot
Have fun and go far
Location: Idledale, CO
Posts: 396
|
|
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2009, 10:31:33 AM » |
|
Ive always had good luck with amtrak although i give myself a day or so of late running train room... I've onlt been charged $5 a few times....
I've even done ok with greyhound although they may charge $10 for the bike
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Name: Amtrak
|
Reply #5 on: March 11, 2009, 05:43:33 PM
|
8bit
Posts: 3
|
|
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2009, 05:43:33 PM » |
|
I've taken my folder on Amtrak several times. Easy peasy and no charge! The big thing you want to watch out for if you're taking a boxed bike is that not all stops offer access to the luggage car, so you need to verify that your start and finish stops will let you in there.
I haven't tried it out, but I've always figured with my road bike that I could take both wheels off and pad the important bits, throw the whole mess into a large heavy-duty trash bag and carry it on with me. They're very generous about carry on luggage so I'd assume that something that's really not much bigger than an unzipped garment bag would be fine.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Topic Name: Amtrak
|
Reply #6 on: July 06, 2009, 09:39:46 PM
|
protoceratops
Posts: 64
|
|
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2009, 09:39:46 PM » |
|
Did a 24-hour road ride in April up to Ventura, CA then home on the Amtrak.
Rode to the ride start, so after 450 miles or so it was a nice ride home. Would
have ridden home too, but no time. < $20 for 150 mile trip. 3 hours.
Bike hung from rack at the back of the passenger car. Molto bene!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
