Packing an ebike onto Amtrak

[Kingfish]

Link: Bring Your Bicycle Onboard

I know that you can back a bike in a box with costs being box $15, and Handling $5. I enquired about taking my Ibex trailer and the person didn’t think it would be an issue, though there was not a box fee for that.

Anyone have experience taking their ebike/trailer along on their trek?

~KF

 

[V_Mark]

I did a 200 mile bike ride a couple of weeks ago with a non-powered bicycle. It was supposed to be a longer trip, doing a loop to get home, but the weather was supposed to be awful (tornadoes, thunderstorms) so we packed it in. Luckily there was an Amtrak station about 10 miles from the trail. The train ride was around 140 miles back to Chicago. The line was geared more toward commuters than normal travelers, but with regular Amtrak cars. They charged $10 per bike, and let us just take our bikes on the train and leave them in the luggage area in the front of each car. It seemed that they didn't pay much attention to the bike, and I suspect if you don't have a huge motor hanging off of it and it's a clean build then they won't have a problem as long as you can carry it up the skinny stairs into the car. They don't do that for all lines though, and it sounds like you've checked, but I wanted to mention my recent experience.

 

[Kingfish]

Thanks V_Mark; I appreciate that

You have me reviewing the route more closely: Man, it looks like the train I want to take (and there's only one) has screwy options for baggage handling. Except for major hubs, if the train arrives after 10PM or before 6AM forget about getting service.

I have also reconsidered taking the Ibex and instead just go with some huge panniers that I can carry on (with batteries at the bottom). Maybe a field trip to the station could answer some questions…

 

[Kingfish]

Addendum:
In review of this old post, it’s not too early to begin planning for the spring or summer.
This reply describes my experiences with Amtrack: On the Road… Going to California

In brief:

• Get to the train station at least one hour before departure as it will take time to get the bike broken down and loaded on the train. The first time I tried it I wound up taking 5 minutes too long and they wouldn't load the bike - even though it was about 1/2 hour left before departure.
• Be prepared to pay the shipping fee with cash - just in case.
• Make sure your stripped down bike weighs less than 50 lbs or they won't put it onboard. One guy in line next to me removed his tire to reduce weight.
• Take a bike that can handle getting banged-up: No heirlooms, not of great value, rugged. After I got to my destination I found my bike box was at the bottom of a huge pile of luggage. That’s how much Amtrak cares about your goods. Caveat Emptor.
• Tape the box down yourself. On the return trip the Amtrak staff did the taping for me and when I got to my home station the bike literally fell out of the box.
• Did I say to show up at the station extra early for the train?
• Check to be sure your station has a box available. Not a huge issue, though one fellow traveller relayed a story how his station ran out, so he went to a bike shop and bought one there, except it was one size too small and lead to further disassembly to fit it in.
• Practice disassembly and reassembly beforehand so that you will know how long it will take and what tools are required.
• Upon arrival, inspect your bike for show-stopping damage before leaving the station.
• Don’t forget to tighten your pedals properly.
• And I would be at the train station at least an hour before departure.
  When it’s time to go, there are no exceptions.

Safe travels, KF

 

[n3glv]

I'm about to try this, Pittsburgh to Deland Fla.
Under prohibited items it mentions batteries (except in mobility devices) are prohibited..
So I guess I'll have to stash...
Hopefully at 4am they won't be too picky or I'm sunk.

 

[Kingfish]

I took the batteries with me; removed them from the ebike and carried them on as personal baggage which was easy to do bundled as they were in the panniers. :wink:

Best of luck, KF

 

[cwah]

too bad we don't have this in paris or london

 

[douglashart]

I recently rode Amtrak ,for the first time, from bakerfield to prtld , with a fully loaded touring bike. Since I had to change trains I was told I must box the bike. Upon boarding the train , there were 2 bikes carried on the train. I believe that, if your not changing trains on the trip, that you don't have to box the bike but just walk it on and perhaps checkin some of your baggage, rather than dismantling the bike.

 

[n3glv]

I took the batteries with me; removed them from the ebike and carried them on as personal baggage which was easy to do bundled as they were in the panniers. :wink:

Best of luck, KF

A very very late follow up. Yes, did same on my (several) trips, box the bike and some tools and schlep the battery in carry on. They are pretty clueless. Now days I live in Daytona, terrain is great, no snow and their bike laws/regs are perfect!