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Amtrak offers more bike service


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 12 November 2015 - 02:13 PM

Amtrak news releases:

 

11/6:
 

 

AMTRAK OFFERS MORE BIKE SERVICE 

ON SILVER STAR, SILVER METEOR 

Traveling with bikes now more convenient

 

 

WASHINGTON Amtrak is expanding the availability of bike service on the Silver Star (Trains 91 & 92) and Silver Meteor (Trains 97 & 98) to provide passengers with a way to travel with their bicycles. This enhanced service is now available only at staffed stations that offer checked baggage. 

           

The Silver Star and Silver Meteor travel daily between New York City and Miami. Passengers will be able to hand their bikes to an Amtrak crew member, who will then hang the item on a rack in the baggage car. 

             

The service is only available in staffed stations for both routes in Miami, Hollywood, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Deerfield Beach, Fla., West Palm Beach, Fla., Winter Haven, Fla., Tampa, Fla., Kissimmee, Fla., Orlando, Fla., Winter Park, Fla., Deland, Fla., Jacksonville, Fla., Savannah, Ga., Columbia, S.C., Raleigh, N.C., Rocky Mount, N.C., Richmond – Staples Mill Road, Alexandria, Va., Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Del., Philadelphia, Newark and New York City with advance reservation only.

 

This enhanced service is also available at staffed stations served by the Silver Meteor in Sebring, Fla., and Florence, S.C., and by the Silver Star in Cary, N.C., and Petersburg, Va.          

 

Passengers checking their bikes hmust arrive at the station 45 minutes prior to the train departure to allow time to purchase a ticket and obtain a baggage tag, and transport the bike to the baggage car. Only standard bikes will be permitted. If equipped with large seat/saddle bags, handlebar bags or panniers, the items must be removed from the bike, consolidated, and checked or carried on the train.

 

Reservations are required and passengers must have a travel document (ticket) for their bikes. There is a $20 bike service fee. Passengers can reserve their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office.  

 

 

 

 

 

11/6:

 

AMTRAK OFFERS MORE BIKE SERVICE ON THE PALMETTO

Traveling with bikes now more convenient

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is expanding the availability of bike service on the Palmetto to provide passengers with a way to travel with their bicycles. This enhanced service is now available only at staffed stations that offer checked baggage. 

 

The Palmetto (Trains 89 & 90) travels daily between New York City and Savannah, Ga. Passengers will be able to hand their bikes to an Amtrak crew member, who will then hang the item on a rack in the baggage cars. 

 

The service is available in staffed stations in Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C., Florence, S.C., Fayetteville, N.C., Wilson, N.C., Rocky Mount, N.C., Petersburg, Va., Richmond – Staples Mill Road, Alexandria, Va., Washington, D.C., Baltimore,  Wilmington, Del., Philadelphia, Newark and New York City with advance reservation only.

 

Passengers checking their bikes must arrive at the station 45 minutes prior to the train departure to allow time to purchase a ticket and obtain a baggage tag, and transport the bike to the baggage car. Only standard bikes will be permitted. If equipped with large seat/saddle bags, handlebar bags or panniers, the items must be removed from the bike, consolidated, and checked or carried on the train.

  

Reservations are required and passengers must have a travel document (ticket) for their bikes. There is a $20 bike service fee. Passengers can reserve their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office. 

 

Amtrak stations with ticketing and baggage service that currently provide boxed bike service will continue to offer this service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11/9:

 

AMTRAK OFFERS MORE BIKE SERVICE ON THE CRESCENT

Traveling with bikes now more convenient 

 

           

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is expanding the availability of bike service on the Crescent to provide passengers with a way to travel with their bicycles. The enhanced service is now available only at staffed stations that offer checked baggage.  

           

The Amtrak Crescent (Trains 19 & 20) travels daily between New York City and New Orleans, with a stop in Atlanta. 

           

Passengers will be able to hand their bikes to an Amtrak crew member, who will then hang the bike on a rack in the baggage car. The service is only available in staffed stations in New Orleans, Meridian, Miss., Tuscaloosa, Ala., Birmingham, Ala., Atlanta, Greenville, S.C., Charlotte, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., Lynchburg, Va., Charlottesville, Va., Alexandria, Va., Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Del., Philadelphia, Newark and New York City with advance reservation only.

 

Passengers checking their bikes must arrive at the station 45 minutes prior to the train departure to allow time to purchase a ticket, obtain a baggage tag, and transport the bike to the baggage car. Only standard bikes will be permitted. If equipped with large seat/saddle bags, handlebar bags or panniers, the items must be removed from the bike, consolidated, and checked or carried on the train.

           

Reservations are required and passengers must have a travel document (ticket) for their bikes. There is a $20 bike service fee. Passengers can reserve their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office. 

            

Amtrak stations with ticketing and baggage service that currently provide boxed bike service will continue to offer this service. Standard bike policy and charges apply on trains where applicable.  

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 29 April 2016 - 10:40 AM

Amtrak news release:

 

AMTRAK NOW OFFERS BIKE SERVICE ON THE VERMONTER

April 29. 2016

 

Enjoy the journey and explore the stops along the way

 

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is launching bike service on the Vermonter to provide passengers a more convenient way to travel with their bicycles. Tickets for carry-on bike service are now available for travel beginning May 1.

 

The Vermonter operates daily between Washington, D.C., and St. Albans, Vt., with service to Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, Conn., Springfield, Mass. and Essex Junction, Vt., and other intermediate stops.

This service provides passengers with a way to travel with their bikes. Amtrak partnered with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Vermont Department of Tourism, Adventure Cycling Association, and other bicycle and passenger rail groups to form an advisory bicycle task force to oversee this project.

 

“We’ve worked with the cycling community to identify solutions and bring new ideas to offer services for customers who travel with their bikes,” said Deborah Stone-Wulf, Amtrak Vice President of Sales and Customer Service. “We look forward to measuring the success of this service with an eye to expansion to additional routes across our national network.”

 

Passengers traveling with their bikes must arrive at the station 30 minutes before the train’s departure to allow time for boarding. Customers must look for the “bike-friendly” sticker on the train car. Bicycles will go into the luggage compartment, which converts into a bike rack. Customers will need to remove the front wheel of their bike to fit it into the space, and loading instructions will be available in the bike rack area.

 

If equipped with panniers, large seat or saddle bags, the items must be removed from the bicycle before hanging it on the bike rack and stored as carry-on luggage. An Amtrak crew member will be available to assist.

 

“We are excited to launch the carry-on service on the Vermonter, the second project for the Amtrak Bicycle Task Force,” said Virginia Sullivan, a task force member and director of Adventure Cycling Association. “Locals and visitors will be able to take advantage of the excellent cycling opportunities all along the Vermonter corridor. This service will be a major benefit and will make trips with a bicycle easier.”

 

Reservations are required and customers must have a ticket for their bikes. The bicycle reservation fee is $20 for service between Washington D.C., and New Haven, Conn., and $10 for service between New Haven, Conn., and St. Albans, Vt. Passengers may reserve their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office.

 



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 04 May 2016 - 11:27 AM

Amtrak news release:

 

EASE YOUR ROLL: BICYCLES WELCOMED ABOARD AMTRAK HIAWATHA SERVICE TRAINS
May 4, 2016
 

Boxes no longer needed, $5 charge, reservation required

 

 

MILWAUKEE – Amtrak and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) are announcing an improvement in bicycle service on the daily Hiawatha Service trains that is now in effect and is literally “out of the box.”

 

The past requirement of each customer partially disassembling their bikes and shipping them in cartons is now optional, instead of mandatory. This enhancement provides customers with a new way to travel with their bikes between Milwaukee and Chicago.

 

“We have worked with WisDOT by thinking ‘out of the box’ and mounting 15 bike racks in the control unit on each of the Hiawatha trains,” said Jim Brzezinski, Amtrak Senior Regional Director, State Corridors. “This will make bringing your bike along on these trips more welcoming and get you on your wheels and pedaling away immediately after arrival.”

 

“No assembly required, starting now for bicyclists,” said John Alley, WisDOT Transit, Local Roads, Railroads & Harbors Manager. “This saves our bicycling passengers money and makes their everyday journeys or vacation trips to explore Milwaukee and Chicago so much easier.”

 

Customers must reserve space for their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, using the staffed ticket offices in Milwaukee or Chicago or by using the Quik-TrakSM kiosks at both stations. There is a $5 charge per bicycle.

 

More details are on the Amtrak Passenger Service Notice.

 

With almost 800,000 passengers last year, the Hiawatha Service is the busiest Amtrak corridor in the Midwest, offering seven daily round-trips Mondays through Saturdays and six round-trips on Sundays under a sponsorship shared by WisDOT and the Illinois Department of Transportation with Amtrak. More information is at AmtrakHiawatha.com.



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 12 May 2016 - 08:31 AM

Amtrak news release, 5/9:

ROLLING EASY: BICYCLES WELCOMED ABOARD AMTRAK PERE MARQUETTE TRAINS

 

Reservations required; $10 charge

 

 

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In time for National Bike Month, Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) are announcing an improvement on the daily Pere Marquette train between Grand Rapids and Chicago, via Holland and St. Joseph-Benton Harbor.

 

“We have mounted 15 bike racks in the control unit on each of the Pere Marquette trains in Michigan,” said Jim Brzezinski, Amtrak Senior Regional Director, State Corridors. “This makes bringing your bike along on these trips easy and gets you on your wheels and pedaling away immediately after arrival.”

 

DSC_3840.jpg

 

“We are pleased Amtrak is now offering checked bike service on the Pere Marquette,” Tim Hoeffner, Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Rail Director, said. “This service will be very convenient for bicyclists as

West Michigan has a lot to offer with a vast array of recreational trails, including U.S. Bicycle Route 35.”

 

Customers must reserve space for their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, using the staffed ticket office in Chicago, or by using Quik-TrakSM kiosks. There is a $10 charge per bicycle. More information is available on Amtrak.com.

 

Amtrak operates the daily Pere Marquette trains under a sponsorship by MDOT, with more than 95,000 passengers last year.



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 21 September 2016 - 07:31 PM

Amtrak news release:

 

Trainside service available on select trains, reservations required

 

 

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is offering customers the opportunity to travel with their bicycles on more routes to different regions throughout the U.S. Trainside checked bicycle service is a new amenity available on the Cardinal, Sunset Limited, California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, City of New Orleans, Lake Shore Limited and Texas Eagle. This service is also new for Northeast Regional trains with baggage service – trains 65, 66 and 67 – for travel between Boston and Newport News, Va.

 

Customers will be able to hand their standard full-size bicycle to an Amtrak crew member, who will then hang the item on a rack in the baggage car. This enhanced service is available at staffed stations that offer checked baggage.

 

“Expanding bike service to other Amtrak routes creates more opportunities for customers to explore the nation by combining cycling with train travel for their journey,” said Deborah Stone-Wulf, Amtrak Vice President of Sales Distribution and Customer Service. “We now offer customers a number of different services to travel with their bikes across our national network.

 

America’s Railroad® launched trainside checked bicycle service in 2015 and is available on other Amtrak long-distance and regional routes. During June, July and August, Amtrak carried more than 15,000 bikes.

 

Customers traveling with their bikes should arrive at the station 45 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure to allow time to check in with the customer service representative, obtain a baggage tag and prepare for boarding. If equipped with large seat/saddle bags or panniers the items must be removed from the bike, consolidated, and checked or carried on the train. Reservations are required and customers must have a travel document (ticket) for their bike.

 

A bike service fee will be applied and the cost varies depending on the route. Customers may reserve their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office.

 

Amtrak stations with ticketing and baggage service that currently provide boxed bike service will continue to offer this amenity. Standard bike policy and charges apply on trains where applicable.

 

“People traveling with bicycles will be thrilled to see the expansion of trainside checked service to these Amtrak lines, many of which go through major cities and scenic destinations,” said Virginia Sullivan, an Amtrak Bike Task Force member and Director of Travel Initiatives for the Adventure Cycling Association. “The service will give cyclists the ability to load or unload their bikes without having to box them and will make train travel easier with a bicycle.”



#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 26 September 2016 - 07:56 PM

Amtrak news release:

 

AMTRAK EXPANDS BICYCLE PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL ON THE COAST STARLIGHT

Trainside service available, reservations required

 

 

OAKLAND – Amtrak’s bike program is now available on the Coast Starlight (Seattle – Los Angeles). This long distance train is the most recent to offer customers trainside checked bicycle service. This new amenity gives customers the opportunity to travel with their bicycles along the west coast and to different regions throughout the U.S. The new amenity is also available on the Cardinal, Sunset Limited, California Zephyr, Empire Builder, Southwest Chief, City of New Orleans, Lake Shore Limited, Texas Eagle and Northeast Regional trains with baggage service for travel between select cities.

 

Customers will be able to hand their standard full-size bicycle to an Amtrak crew member, who will then hang the item on a rack in the baggage car. This enhanced service is available at staffed stations that offer checked baggage.

 

America’s Railroad® launched trainside checked bicycle service in 2015 and is available on other Amtrak long-distance and regional routes. During June, July and August, Amtrak carried more than 15,000 bikes.

 

Customers traveling with their bikes should arrive at the station 45 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure to allow time to check in with the customer service representative, obtain a baggage tag and prepare for boarding. If equipped with large seat/saddle bags or panniers the items must be removed from the bike, consolidated, and checked or carried on the train. Reservations are required and customers must have a travel document (ticket) for their bike.

 

A bike service fee will be applied and the cost varies depending on the route. Customers may reserve their bikes by selecting “add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com, by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office.

 

Amtrak stations with ticketing and baggage service that currently provide boxed bike service will continue to offer this amenity. Standard bike policy and charges apply on trains where applicable.



#7 KevinKorell

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Posted 04 June 2022 - 10:14 PM

 

Bike Capacity Expanded on Capitol Limited Trains 29 and 30


Effective June 3, 2022

 

Due to high demand, Amtrak is adding bicycle capacity on the Capitol Limited Trains 29 and 30, effective immediately through mid-September.

What You Need to Know

  • Each departure will offer 12 spots for bike reservations.
  • The route follows two popular biking trails between Washington, DC, and Pittsburgh — the C&O Canal Towpath and the Great Alleghany Passage.
  • Bicycle reservations are offered at a flat fare of just $20 and can be made during ticket purchase at Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app.
  • On the day of departure, check in with a station agent to get a claim check for your bike. At unstaffed stations — including Harpers Ferry and Cumberland — proceed directly to the platform and check your bike with the conductor upon train arrival.
  • Keep your baggage claim check to present at your destination to retrieve your bicycle.


Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ





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