Originally Posted by
HelpSingularity
I live in San Diego. Last summer I took Amtrak up to San Louis Obispo. I forget the name of the Amtrak train but if you take the 4am train from SD to SLO you can just wheel your bike on board. It is considered a commuter line, so no boxing or other b.s. I think the bicycle car is either the first or last car. Just wheel it on board to the bicycle section and lean it against the wall. Just like on the Coaster Train. You can also pick it up in Solano Beach or Oceanside as well. SLO is the end of the line and dumps you out at about 1pm. It was easier than falling off a log.
Of course check with the station agent about the details. YMMV
ps I think I had to tell the ticket person that I was bringing a bike, don't really remember.
^^This^^. Its the Pacific Surfliner trains. IF you buy your ticket on line you designate at that time you'll have a bicycle, and that reserves a spot for your bike. You need to take any bags/panniers off before you store it, too. The train car with the bicycle storage can be either the first or last car on the train, look for the blue bicycle graphic sticker on the side of the train (its kinda tough to see if the train is whizzing into the stop at a good speed); If you're boarding at the first stop in San Diego you could go early and find the bicycle car easily enough. . As for handling your bags on the train, I'd suggest going to IKEA and buying one of their cheap big shopping bags they sell, put your bags in that and strap it with a bungee for easy carrying, and do this BEFORE the train arrives - dispose of the bag in SLO. All this info is accurate for pre-pandemic times; last time I rode the SLO-OC route was in 2016.