northerntier

Amtrak has recently announced more bike services. I just looked at the Capital Limited from DC to Cumberland, MD, and it allows you to pay for the bike. I seem to recall that this has been the case in the past, but that you weren't allowed to take the bike off anyway because of no checked baggage in Cumberland.

Anyone have better/more recent information?

____

Amtrak's been piloting a program on the Capitol Limited where unboxed bicycles may be taken between all stations.

indyfabz

Just started this fall. It's my understanding that you can board and detrain with your bike at any station, including those without checked baggage service, but confirm that with Amtrak. Reservations required. https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard

Andy_K 

I grew up in Cumberland, so this thread caught my attention. I don't have any experience with the Capitol Limited (except that I wanted to do this in June and it wasn't an option then), but I can tell you my experience with taking my bike on Amtrak Cascades (PNW). I board in Portland, which has checked baggage but the baggage station just puts a tag on my bike and I have to wheel it out to the train to be loaded (probably what you'd experience in D.C.). When I get off in Tukwilla (which is just a wooden platform without so much as a permanent building), someone meets me at the baggage car where my bike is hanging and hands the bike down to me (probably what you'd experience in Cumberland). Boarding at the Tukwilla platform is similar but in reverse...I'm standing alone on a wooden platform with my bike and my printed ticket and someone meets me at the luggage car and takes the bike. Getting off at an unmanned station is no problem, but I always like to talk to the conductor a stop or two ahead to make sure there won't be any confusion.

If the website will sell you the ticket with the bike add-on, I would imagine that it won't be a problem for you. It's probably still worth calling Amtrak to confirm.

If you're doing this to ride the C&O Canal you may as well just stay on the train until Pittsburgh and ride the GAP too.

northerntier

Sweet! Thanks.