We've used Amtrak with and without bicycles recently and except for one leg of one trip, the trains were on time or even a few minutes early. I made reservations online and printed our tickets at the machines in the stations. The bikes were not boxed. We rolled them on and leaned them against the wall at the back of the car where they'd effectively removed a few seats to make room for bikes. We had confirmed reservations for ourselves and the bikes. The bikes cost $10 each, each way. Our first Amtrak bike trip was from St. Louis to Hermann, MO, we rode to Jefferson City, and the next morning came back to St. Louis on the train. Total cost was $150 and we could enjoy the scenery for not much more than we'd have spent on gas to drive and shuffle cars around. We're planning to do it again to bike the section of the Katy between Jefferson City and Sedalia later this year. Not all trains take bikes but you can tell that when you make your reservations.

One thing I enjoy about taking a trail as opposed to driving or flying is that you get to see what I think of as the backyard of America; older sections of smaller towns and rural areas. It's exactly the kind of scenery that attracts me to riding the Katy trail rather than I-70.

Just a week ago, we got back from a bikeless trip to Chicago on Amtrak. It was a last minute decision and it still only cost $182 round trip for two with a sleeper (which we didn't need but was the only seating left on the Texas Eagle that day) on the way up.

We've found the Amtrak folks to be friendly, helpful and usually in good spirits. The station agent in Jefferson City opened the door early so we could put our bikes inside and go for breakfast before the train arrived. I don't think I'd trade a 4-hour flight for a 2-day train ride to the west coast, but for short trips, it's more fun and convenient than driving and maybe even cheaper.

Oh yeah, the delays for freight trains. We experienced nothing like that across Missouri or on our way TO Chicago although those were weekend trips. On the way back from Chicago we did have to stop several times to wait for freight trains. I don't know why that didn't happen at all on the way up but it happened a half dozen times on the way home. OTOH, according to my wife's smart phone, we got up to 80+ mph on those trips so I guess the tracks must be in decent condition.