timdow

Taking train that accepts bikes unboxed (Pacific Surfliner), then have the option of taking the Coast Starlighter, or a bus the rest of the way (San Diego to Salinas).

The bike would have to be boxed for the Starlighter.

I called Amtrak's 1-800 number, and was told that the bus will accept the bike in the storage under the bus unboxed if it will fit, and some buses have bike racks in the front. I attempted to call the Santa Barbara station to no avail. The station says call the 1-800 number.

Anyone try putting their unboxed bike on a connecting Amtrak bus?

If the bus won't accept the bike, I would have just one hour to purchase a box, box the bike and make the train.

B. Carfree

The station sells the boxes, so locating one isn't going to be hard. Unless your bike is unusual, all you have to do is remove the panniers, remove the pedals, turn the handlebars, push the bike into the box, label the box, tape it and hand it over to the baggage check-in. You shouldn't have a problem with the getting that done in time.

If you're nervous about the time between "missing" the bus and getting the bike on the train, you could just commit to the train this time and eye witness out the bus operations to see how that would work there for future reference. However, Amtrak is supposed to be bringing on line some new baggage cars that take unboxed bikes on runs like the Coast Starlight, so in the future the train might be the easier option anyway.

Doug64

It has been about 50/50 as far as boxing our bikes for the bus. It really seemed to depend on the driver. In California we had one driver tell us we needed to have our bikes boxed, and the next driver in the station line said, "no problem".

Carry a roll of packing tape just in case. Some stations will offer you tape and others will not. Again hit or miss. However, B.Carfree is correct; most stations carry boxes.

Tourist in MSN

I really do not know if Amtrak runs any busses or if they are all contracted out. But the Amtrak busses I have ridden were all operated by local contractors and the 1 800 Amtrak phone personnel were always clueless on bicycle issues for the buses. If you can find out who their local contractor is that operates that particular bus, you might get a more accurate answer.

The bus in the photo according to Amtrak would not carry bicycles and for that reason refused to sell us tickets for the bus. But according to the company that actually operates that bus, the driver collects the extra fee to carry a bike and they have different fees for boxed vs unboxed. It carried our bikes for us.



One bit of advice I always give is to make sure your pedals can be removed, some bike shops put them on way too tight. It you check to make sure you can get them off the day before, that can head off a potential disaster.

timdow

Guess we all hope that they start accepting unboxed bikes. According to Amtrak website, they have boxes at the station. My bike is on the large side (59cm), and has front and rear racks, but other than that not unusual. So you don't even have to remove the front wheel?

timdow

Thanks guess I will be ready to box the bike either way.

timdow

Yes the agent at the 1-800 number could not tell me anything. Since it seems to be hit-and-miss with the bus and bikes, I think I will just do the sure thing and change my ticket to the train and box the bike.

Rob_E

The one time I did this, I had my 58 cm LHT, front and rear racks. I feel like it might have been tight height-wise because my steerer tube is not cut, but it fit. I took my handlebars off and my pedals off, and that was it. With normal, drop bars, you can probably just turn them sideways.

timdow

Cool that's awesome! I was thinking of the way they come shipped into the bike shops. This is doable.....

Rob_E

Not usually. Amtrak boxes are enormous, and you can literally roll your bike into the box. It's probably not safe to assume that these boxes would work on the bus, or on other transport because many places require something more like what you were thinking of. But on Amtrak the box size is very generous.

Tourist in MSN

Amtrak boxes are huge. Leave the wheels on. I put empty water bottles in my cages and I usually put one empty rear pannier and one empty front pannier on the bike too.

My frames are big enough I usually have to take the handlebars off but one time I managed to keep the handlebar on but had to loosen a mount for a shifter and move it to get it to fit. I decided after that it was simpler to take the handlebar off.

My 58cm LHT coming out of the box.


My Thorn Sherpa size 610S before going in the box and after coming out. I think I have lowered the saddle on this bike to make it fit but I am not 100 percent sure. I wrap tape around the seatpost to mark where I want it set and I think I had to take the tape off to lower it.


But, I can't figure out how Amtrak did a few things to my bike in the box. No damage to the bike, only to the box. Second photo is a bar end shifter. One of these trips I expect to see my rear derailleur sticking outside the box.


On one Amtrak trip the tail light had been knocked out of the bracket that holds it and one battery was gone. The chain had also been knocked off the chainring and was wrapped around the bottom bracket shell. Sometimes I think that Amtrak personnel drop the bike boxes off the baggage car to the pavement below when unloading them.

timdow

Works for me this time I already switched to the Coast Starlight instead of the bus. Appreciate the advice.

timdow

Thanks I will be ready to remove bars and drop the seat if necessary. Yes that is a big box! What do they have you do with the box when you are done with it?

Rob_E

It's your box. I think if you wanted to keep it, and could take it away, that'd be fine.

I've heard of people asking the station to hold their empty box for them for the return trip. I think people have had luck with that.

The one time I got one, I just pulled my bike out, put it together, and an Amtrak employee asked if I was done with the box. I said, "Yes." and they took it away, either to trash or to resell.

timdow

Don't wish to keep it, just want to dispose of it. Guess any Amtrak station that accepts checked baggage (off the train in this case) has the means to dispose of the box.

Regarding the panniers, Amtrak's baggage policy is a little confusing. They allow 2 personal items, 2 carry-ons, and 2 checked bags - one of which is the bike with a $10 additional fee - this is per the agent at the 1-800 number. What I did not know to ask the agent is do the checked bags substitute for the carry-ons? Or do you get up to a total of 6 "items" free?

Rob_E

I don't know what you mean. You get a total of 6 items (I guess. I thought it was one personal item instead of two). But you can't mix and match where they go. You can check two bags. If you only check one, that doesn't entitle you to three carry-ons. You still only get two. If you only have one carry on, that doesn't mean you can check a third bag. Of course "personal item" is a little vague. Seems like most of what could be a personal item could also be a carry on. So I guess you could have 4 personal items instead of two carry-ons and two personal items.

Also be aware that they don't want anything left on the bike. Not everyone follows this, but theoretically, it should be bike only. No luggage. When I took Amtrak, I emptied my panniers into a duffle bag and left them mostly empty on the bike (with a couple of tools in in them). It still made for a heavier than average bike box, and some comments were made about the weight, but no one said anything directly about there being too much stuff in it. Also I carried my duffle and a backpack on board as my carry-ons. The duffle may have been pushing the carry-on size limit, and it was not a good decision anyway. I should have just checked it. I had a tight connection to make, and I thought it'd be easier if I already had my luggage, but the bike came out last, so I saved no time.

I did a recent trip with just two panniers: Ortleib backroller classics stuffed to bursting. This was on a train with roll-on bike service, so I put the bike in the baggage car and used my two panniers as carry ons.

Basically I have found that I can travel on Amtrak with far more gear than is good for me without running afoul of their baggage policy, but some thought to how it's going to be arranged is necessary.

timdow

I was actually thinking that they might limit you to four (you could take 2 personal items, and 2 carry-ons, -OR- two checked bags).... I was surprised that a total of six were allowed.

I measured my front rollers and they are smaller than the "personal item" size, and the back roller classics are smaller than the carry-on size, so theoretically I could carry-on all of my bags (oops what to do with the handlebar bag?). I found that the two back rollers fit in a military laundry bag, and are under the checked size, so I think I will do that, and carry-on the front rollers with shoulder straps.

The only time I traveled Amtrak with the bike previously the train had roll-on service and I left the panniers on the bike (Pacific Surfliner).

Rob_E

Laundry bag idea sounds like a winner to me. Unless you need something out of your bags while on the train, I'd check as much gear as I can so that I don't have mess with it.

timdow

Yea good call I might try to get one of the front rollers in the laundry bag also.

tarwheel 

I've taken the Amtrak train twice from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, with a bike carried in their boxes. I was pleasantly surprised at how simple the process was, and the Amtrak staff in Washington were very helpful with packing our bikes. As others mentioned, you just roll your bike into the box with the wheels attached, but you have to remove the pedals and turn the handlebar sideways. You are not supposed to leave any items on the bike, such as panniers, water bottles, seat bags -- but some Amtrak staff are pickier than others about this. The last trip that I took, they let me leave my empty water bottles in the cages as well as the racktop bag on my bike. Panniers are a no-no. I think they are mainly concerned with keeping the weight manageable for loading and unloading.

A few suggestions. Make sure you have a pedal wrench, and loosen your pedals ahead of time so they aren't overly tight. If you have a threaded stem, loosen it ahead of time, as well, to make sure it is not tight or stuck. If you have panniers, shoulder straps will make it much easier to carry them onto the train.

SurlyLHT26in08

Amtrak Bus do not have Bike Racks and All City Busies in California do have Bike Racks

timdow

Just echoing what the Amtrak agent said at the 1-800 number: "...some of the buses have racks in front." No matter because the agent could not tell me if the bus I would be taking has racks... and also could not tell me if that bus would accept a bike unboxed. I switched to a train and will box the bike.

Rob_E

It can also happen that the bus has bike racks, but they are full. That has occasionally happened to me locally. Never when I'm traveling, but I have had two situations in recent memory where I was counting on a bus to get me to my train connection, and I could book a seat on the bus, but I couldn't guarantee a spot for my bike. It never ended up being an issue. I was the only bike on the rack, but it is nerve-wracking to know that if the bus rolls in with two bikes already on, or with no rack, your whole plan could go out the window. I use busses to get around locally quite a bit, but I like to know that there's an alternative, just in case.

shotwellian

I've brought my bike on Amtrak buses in California 6-7 times and never had a problem. You just load it into the luggage compartment under the bus. The drivers have all known it's standard policy and have even provided tips for the best way to put the bike in safely. The luggage compartments are pretty roomy, and even on buses where most seats were taken, there's been room for the bike.

timdow

This happens on our local rail system quite often. They only allow 1 bike per car during peak hours. I ride the extra mile to the first station to make sure I get a spot.