Vermonter - Bicycle Service feedback
10-18-16, 12:39 PM
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Vermonter - Bicycle Service feedback
I was checking out the Vermonter Train that allows bicycles on board for possible trip opportunities. One piece of information that I noticed is that it says 3 bicycles per train. That means if you wanted to organize some kind of group trip with friends you couldn't really bring too many of your friends (3) with you :-)
If you have ridden Vermonter with bicycles before did you have any issues with reserving space?
If you have ridden Vermonter with bicycles before did you have any issues with reserving space?
10-18-16, 01:01 PM
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Rode it last month with my bike from Philly to Brattleboro, VT. Not sure that's correct. IIRC, there is a bike "cubby" on coach car and there were more than three coach cars. I know there was at least one other guy who got on with a bike in Philly, and I think there may have been a couple more.
Assuming three is correct, I didn't have any problem making a reservation, but I did so maybe a few weeks in advance for the Friday after Labor Day. I was considering the following day but nothing was available.
I believe the fastest way to check availability is to try to book.
Assuming three is correct, I didn't have any problem making a reservation, but I did so maybe a few weeks in advance for the Friday after Labor Day. I was considering the following day but nothing was available.
I believe the fastest way to check availability is to try to book.
10-18-16, 01:04 PM
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10-18-16, 01:07 PM
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yeah, They list the Downeaster train also as 3 per train but I remember 2 years ago it was 4 of us taking the bikes from Portland to Boston.
Could they possibly mean 3 per train car ? ... or maybe it's some kind of typo.
Could they possibly mean 3 per train car ? ... or maybe it's some kind of typo.
Rode it last month with my bike from Philly to Brattleboro, VT. Not sure that's correct. IIRC, there is a bike "cubby" on coach car and there were more than three coach cars. I know there was at least one other guy who got on with a bike in Philly, and I think there may have been a couple more.
Assuming three is correct, I didn't have any problem making a reservation, but I did so maybe a few weeks in advance for the Friday after Labor Day. I was considering the following day but nothing was available.
I believe the fastest way to check availability is to try to book.
Assuming three is correct, I didn't have any problem making a reservation, but I did so maybe a few weeks in advance for the Friday after Labor Day. I was considering the following day but nothing was available.
I believe the fastest way to check availability is to try to book.
10-18-16, 01:12 PM
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I suspect that this is kind of a defensive boilerplate to protect the line from issues relating to groups.
Before rules were formalized on many lines, there was an unwritten rule that you could take a bike on board at the discretion of the conductor. The "rule" was that bicycles would ride on the last platform, and when conductors saw you waiting at the rear of the train, they figured you knew what you were doing and were OK with it.
I used to do plenty of one way riding using the railroads to come home, and was never refused boarding, even where there were a few of us.
Before rules were formalized on many lines, there was an unwritten rule that you could take a bike on board at the discretion of the conductor. The "rule" was that bicycles would ride on the last platform, and when conductors saw you waiting at the rear of the train, they figured you knew what you were doing and were OK with it.
I used to do plenty of one way riding using the railroads to come home, and was never refused boarding, even where there were a few of us.
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10-18-16, 01:16 PM
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Don't think it's 3/car as there is only one cubby in each car where you hang your bike. It may be a worse-case scenario, in case some trains have fewer cars at times. Typo is another possibility. You'll just have to try to book and find out. I am almost certain four of us boarded at Philly. At least one person got off in Philly. When I got off in Brattleboro, two people with bikes were waiting to board. Seems to be a popular service.
10-18-16, 02:55 PM
#8
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A group of five of us rode the Vermonter in August 2016 with our bikes. Only 3 tickets were able to be purchased online with bike tickets. The remaining people without tickets showed up without tickets. The conductor at first pass said only the bikes with tickets could get on, but someone in our group explained the situation of our group ride. The conductor then went and looked through the train and let us all on showing us where he wanted the bikes stored. I offered to pay for my bike ticket and the conductor did not want the money. There were six bikes on that train because our group only had two bike tickets.
10-18-16, 08:14 PM
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Good to know. Thanks.
A group of five of us rode the Vermonter in August 2016 with our bikes. Only 3 tickets were able to be purchased online with bike tickets. The remaining people without tickets showed up without tickets. The conductor at first pass said only the bikes with tickets could get on, but someone in our group explained the situation of our group ride. The conductor then went and looked through the train and let us all on showing us where he wanted the bikes stored. I offered to pay for my bike ticket and the conductor did not want the money. There were six bikes on that train because our group only had two bike tickets.
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