Union Station : Cicago SWS service to manhattan Illinois
03-29-12, 04:13 PM
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Union Station : Cicago SWS service to manhattan Illinois
Anyone with any experience taking a loaded touring bike onto a metra SWS train
out of Union Station Chicago. Looking to take train from Union Station to Manhattan Il.
to start tour of Route 66 in Illinois. Any information would be appreciated
out of Union Station Chicago. Looking to take train from Union Station to Manhattan Il.
to start tour of Route 66 in Illinois. Any information would be appreciated
03-29-12, 04:35 PM
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It's do-able, during non rush hours. You'll need a bungee cord to secure it to the rails. Each car has a designated area where the seats flip up and you can secure the bike. A group of 14 of us rode the entire length of a metra line to get to our starting destination, loaded bikes and all. You'll be fine.
Happy riding!
Happy riding!
03-29-12, 06:46 PM
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thanks for the encouragement. will be arriving on train from boston at union station on a Saturday morning. Looks like the trains in Chicago are bike friendly
03-30-12, 11:26 AM
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To know which trains on the Southwest Service line will accept bikes, go to Metra's website and download a pdf schedule: https://metrarail.com/content/metra/e...le01102012.pdf
The bike symbols on the timetable schedule will make it plain which trains will take bikes.
Every now and then Metra prohibits bikes even on off-peak and weekend trains if there's a special event, such as Taste of Chicago, but the Metra website usually alerts you to that.
Make sure you bring a good bungee cord.
I will be posting pictures on a crazyguyonabike journal shortly of our trip using Metra and Amtrak earlier this month with loaded touring bikes.
Illinois is a cyclist's paradise if you like quiet, paved, low traffic roads. There's tons of them in many counties.
Do you have the set of Illinois Bicycling Maps published by the Illinois Department of Transportation? You can print them out county by county: https://www.dot.il.gov/bikemap/state3.html . . . or, you can get printed ones direct from the Illinois DOT. The maps have errors here and there -- sometimes unpaved roads are shown as paved, and vice versa, and sometimes roads rated as unsuitable were great, but for the most part, they are excellent, helpful maps worth having.
03-30-12, 11:32 AM
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Two other things -- first, if you're going via old route 66, the old route goes through Carlinville (which is a nice little town north of Alton), and the enormous and elaborate Macoupin County Courthouse there is well worth a visit. We stayed at the Carlin Villa Motel in Carlinville, and I booked it mainly because I liked the name. It turns out that it was reasonably priced, and the owner was most accommodating to us (even allowing us to use a separate room to lodge our bicycles!) and he seems eager to cater to touring cyclists.
Second, depending on when you're going, you may be looking at headwinds if you are traveling from Chicago/Manhattan to St. Louis. Consider taking an Amtrak train to St. Louis/Alton/Carlinville, and then cycling back to Chicago. One of the 5 trains to St. Louis has checked baggage to certain stations, and the other 4 allow you to take the bike on the train. At certain times of the year, you will be more likely to have a tailwind if you travel from south to north.
Second, depending on when you're going, you may be looking at headwinds if you are traveling from Chicago/Manhattan to St. Louis. Consider taking an Amtrak train to St. Louis/Alton/Carlinville, and then cycling back to Chicago. One of the 5 trains to St. Louis has checked baggage to certain stations, and the other 4 allow you to take the bike on the train. At certain times of the year, you will be more likely to have a tailwind if you travel from south to north.
Last edited by OldZephyr; 03-30-12 at 11:37 AM.
03-30-12, 12:50 PM
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The League of Illinois Bicyclists, IDNR, and Route 66 Trail Committee of IL put together a nice set of maps, cue sheets, and lists of services for several different allignments followed by Route 66 at different times. More info and downloadable maps are at https://www.bikelib.org/maps-and-ride...oute-66-trail/
While unpublished bicycle blackouts are rare on the SWS line, they do happen on late night south bound trains on the UP-North line. A conductor can prohibit bicycles any time the train is expected to be crowded. Whenever Ravinia, a popular Highland Park concert venue, has a big event, the southbound trains at closing time are SRO, and cyclists have been refused late night south bound rides. The Ravinia events are not published on the Metra web site.
While unpublished bicycle blackouts are rare on the SWS line, they do happen on late night south bound trains on the UP-North line. A conductor can prohibit bicycles any time the train is expected to be crowded. Whenever Ravinia, a popular Highland Park concert venue, has a big event, the southbound trains at closing time are SRO, and cyclists have been refused late night south bound rides. The Ravinia events are not published on the Metra web site.
03-31-12, 06:38 PM
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Thanks for all the great info. , appreciate the help. Have decided to use a Amtrak Lincoln service train to Dwight Il. Deciding factor was being able to make reservation for bike , might be a bit more expensive then Metra but
like security of having reservation for bike. Illinois sounds very bike friendly.
like security of having reservation for bike. Illinois sounds very bike friendly.
04-01-12, 04:58 AM
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I finished the Journal of our recent trip in Illinois using Amtrak and Metra to transport our bikes (and thereby go on an extended tailwind ride) - it was a fun trip, and highly recommended!
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?..._id=10337&v=5Q
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?..._id=10337&v=5Q
Last edited by OldZephyr; 04-01-12 at 05:02 AM.
04-02-12, 09:59 AM
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Glad you liked the Journal. It was fun to put it together and I hope it helps others who might be contemplating such a trip.
Dwight is a good choice to begin your trip. Dwight has a nice little downtown, the old train station is in the middle of kind of a square, and Dwight will be an easy town to cycle out of. You'll find tons of quiet roads in the counties that 66 ran through.
If you make it all the way to the Alton area, you will find a lot of trails in Madison County, IL that make it pretty easy to safely ride in or out of that portion of the St. Louis metro area. Madison County Transit's website has more information.
Dwight is a good choice to begin your trip. Dwight has a nice little downtown, the old train station is in the middle of kind of a square, and Dwight will be an easy town to cycle out of. You'll find tons of quiet roads in the counties that 66 ran through.
If you make it all the way to the Alton area, you will find a lot of trails in Madison County, IL that make it pretty easy to safely ride in or out of that portion of the St. Louis metro area. Madison County Transit's website has more information.
04-27-12, 09:32 AM
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Amtrak Bike Blackout - Springfield to St. Louis - May 1-10 and May 16-25
Amtrak Bike Blackout - Springfield to St. Louis - May 1-10 and May 16-25
Came across this while making reservations to take bikes to St. Louis on Amtrak next month.
Between May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, Amtrak passengers will be transferred to motorcoaches for the section between between Springfield and St. Louis. Though not stated in the article below, Amtrak customer service says the motorcoaches will not transport bikes.
Came across this while making reservations to take bikes to St. Louis on Amtrak next month.
Between May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, Amtrak passengers will be transferred to motorcoaches for the section between between Springfield and St. Louis. Though not stated in the article below, Amtrak customer service says the motorcoaches will not transport bikes.
Illinois High Speed Rail Work Resumes
April 16 - 25, May 1 - 10 and May 16 - 25, 2012
Starting April 16, the Illinois Department of Transportation (Illinois DOT) and Union Pacific Railroad will again be upgrading Illinois' signature high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for future high-speed trains. This phase of the project will be performed during the three periods shown above and will affect the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle. Details on the next phase will be provided as soon as they become available.
The temporary service changes described below will allow Union Pacific crews to improve infrastructure to enable the Lincoln Service trains to travel at speeds up to 110 mph (177 kph), an increase from the current maximum of 79 mph (127 kph). Illinois DOT and Amtrak are planning to preview higher speed trains in September 2012 from Dwight to Pontiac.
Lincoln Service
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, Lincoln Service trains will operate between Chicago and Springfield only. Alternate transportation will be provided between Springfield and St. Louis, as described below. Due to limited availability, advance reservations are required.
Southbound Trains 301, 303, 305 and 307
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, all passengers destined for, or making connections in, St. Louis will be provided express motorcoach service upon the train's arrival in Springfield. Passengers destined for Carlinville or Alton will be provided separate motorcoach service upon the train's arrival in Springfield. Carlinville and Alton passengers will not be able to make connections to Train 313 in St. Louis. Alton passengers can make reservations aboard Train 301 to make connections with Train 313, destined to Kansas City and intermediate stations. Northbound Trains 300, 302, 304 and 306
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, all passengers boarding at St. Louis who are destined for Springfield and points north will be provided express motorcoach service directly to Springfield, where they can board the train. Motorcoach service will depart 20 minutes earlier than the train's normal departure time. All passengers boarding at Alton and Carlinville will be provided alternate transportation to Springfield, where they can board the train. Alternate transportation will depart Alton one hour and 15 minutes earlier than the times shown in Amtrak printed timetables and 50 minutes earlier from Carlinville. All passengers scheduled to board the train at St. Louis who are traveling to Alton or Carlinville will be provided alternate transportation, which will operate according to the schedule of Train 304 and 322. April 16, May 1 and May 16, 2012 Exceptions: Train 300 will operate according to the normal schedule on April 16, May 1 and May 16, 2012.
April 25, May 10 and May 25, 2012 Exceptions: Passengers scheduled to board Trains 300 and 302 will be provided motorcoach service from St. Louis to Springfield on April 25, May 10 and May 25, 2012.
April 16 - 25, May 1 - 10 and May 16 - 25, 2012
Starting April 16, the Illinois Department of Transportation (Illinois DOT) and Union Pacific Railroad will again be upgrading Illinois' signature high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for future high-speed trains. This phase of the project will be performed during the three periods shown above and will affect the Lincoln Service and Texas Eagle. Details on the next phase will be provided as soon as they become available.
The temporary service changes described below will allow Union Pacific crews to improve infrastructure to enable the Lincoln Service trains to travel at speeds up to 110 mph (177 kph), an increase from the current maximum of 79 mph (127 kph). Illinois DOT and Amtrak are planning to preview higher speed trains in September 2012 from Dwight to Pontiac.
Lincoln Service
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, Lincoln Service trains will operate between Chicago and Springfield only. Alternate transportation will be provided between Springfield and St. Louis, as described below. Due to limited availability, advance reservations are required.
Southbound Trains 301, 303, 305 and 307
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, all passengers destined for, or making connections in, St. Louis will be provided express motorcoach service upon the train's arrival in Springfield. Passengers destined for Carlinville or Alton will be provided separate motorcoach service upon the train's arrival in Springfield. Carlinville and Alton passengers will not be able to make connections to Train 313 in St. Louis. Alton passengers can make reservations aboard Train 301 to make connections with Train 313, destined to Kansas City and intermediate stations. Northbound Trains 300, 302, 304 and 306
On April 16 - 24, May 1 - 9 and May 16 - 24, all passengers boarding at St. Louis who are destined for Springfield and points north will be provided express motorcoach service directly to Springfield, where they can board the train. Motorcoach service will depart 20 minutes earlier than the train's normal departure time. All passengers boarding at Alton and Carlinville will be provided alternate transportation to Springfield, where they can board the train. Alternate transportation will depart Alton one hour and 15 minutes earlier than the times shown in Amtrak printed timetables and 50 minutes earlier from Carlinville. All passengers scheduled to board the train at St. Louis who are traveling to Alton or Carlinville will be provided alternate transportation, which will operate according to the schedule of Train 304 and 322. April 16, May 1 and May 16, 2012 Exceptions: Train 300 will operate according to the normal schedule on April 16, May 1 and May 16, 2012.
April 25, May 10 and May 25, 2012 Exceptions: Passengers scheduled to board Trains 300 and 302 will be provided motorcoach service from St. Louis to Springfield on April 25, May 10 and May 25, 2012.
04-27-12, 09:50 AM
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Great journal. You are so lucky with the weather you caught. It's been crap for the past month straight practically. Looks like it was a blast. 
04-27-12, 02:23 PM
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I'm glad we were able to enjoy that wonderful March weather in such a fun way, but I don't expect to ever again be able to bicycle that far north in that kind of weather at that time of year.
Maybe next March we'll try Arkansas as we originally planned.
04-27-12, 02:26 PM
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PS -- Given that you are from Aurora, have you ever taken advantage of the opportunity to take the train with your bike out of Naperville to get to one of the towns on the line to Quincy?
Last edited by OldZephyr; 04-27-12 at 02:31 PM.
04-30-12, 03:29 AM
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thanks for the detailed information. great to see the improved rail service .
