Amtrak California Surfliner
06-10-04, 05:02 PM
#1
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Amtrak California Surfliner
Is anyone familiar with taking a loaded bike onboard the Surfliner? I like the idea of not having to box the bike. My question is primarily if you and your bike are allowed on the same railcar? Thanks.
06-10-04, 07:36 PM
#2
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Check out this link I was thinking on doing the same thing with my bike and bob trailer.
https://www.amtrak.com/trains/pacificsurfliner.html
https://www.amtrak.com/trains/pacificsurfliner.html
06-10-04, 08:55 PM
#3
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I have used the California Surfliner for bike transportation prior to the tour on two ocassions..
THere are special hooks at the end of the car for bikes..You can ride with the bikes as long as you get the seat you need first come first serve.
One problem I found with the Surfliner...The entrance area to all cars have hooks for hanging bikes...You get on late in the trains schedule, passengers load the bike storage area with personal luggage. It will get loaded with bags, leaving no room for your bikes.. These storage areas. I am pretty sure there would not be enough room for a Yak...
Some of the older trains have not yet added the storage areas for bikes..In this case, you have to put your bike in the baggage car...Once I had to do that...So I locked my bike to a post and felt pretty at ease over the bikes safety...Should you be alone with the bike in the open storage area, it will be accessible to all, should you walk away from your club car.( again, the newer cars.)
If all went well, it was a great arrangement...No charge either.
THere are special hooks at the end of the car for bikes..You can ride with the bikes as long as you get the seat you need first come first serve.
One problem I found with the Surfliner...The entrance area to all cars have hooks for hanging bikes...You get on late in the trains schedule, passengers load the bike storage area with personal luggage. It will get loaded with bags, leaving no room for your bikes.. These storage areas. I am pretty sure there would not be enough room for a Yak...
Some of the older trains have not yet added the storage areas for bikes..In this case, you have to put your bike in the baggage car...Once I had to do that...So I locked my bike to a post and felt pretty at ease over the bikes safety...Should you be alone with the bike in the open storage area, it will be accessible to all, should you walk away from your club car.( again, the newer cars.)
If all went well, it was a great arrangement...No charge either.
06-10-04, 11:03 PM
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They use to back in the late 70's to early 80's when I did credit card touring up and down California, haul the bike for free...I don't know if thats the case anymore or not. But I see from Cyclezealot the bike accomdations are still the same. They did not use to except trailers or tandems. Some of the trains we rode the bikes were handled just as Cyclezealot mentioned, but some we had to get a bike box so they could store it under the train, in few cases they sometimes had a special bike hardcover box for your use. Please note, they do not rough handle your bike box like airports do. But do call the train place and see how your particular train is setup to handle bikes and whether or not you'll need a box.
06-11-04, 10:24 AM
#5
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Froze...Should you prefer to take a trailer, I suggest you research the train schedule and find the older style trains...They do not have the storage spaces near the doors, but instead have a baggage car..THink there are still some non-surfliner style,older cars left...
With the baggage compartment, you can just put you bike in storage, lock it to a post and and leave it feeling secured..In the baggage car,there was no need for a bike box..Not when I used the older style trains.
Ask the local Amtrak ticket agent, he/she can tell you if the train has a baggage car...If you do not need a baggage car( trailer,tandem) new new style train car works just fine..As long as you secure a bike hook before the area gets cluttered with bags.. Should not be allowed.
With the baggage compartment, you can just put you bike in storage, lock it to a post and and leave it feeling secured..In the baggage car,there was no need for a bike box..Not when I used the older style trains.
Ask the local Amtrak ticket agent, he/she can tell you if the train has a baggage car...If you do not need a baggage car( trailer,tandem) new new style train car works just fine..As long as you secure a bike hook before the area gets cluttered with bags.. Should not be allowed.
