kayt-was-taken
asked:

mr amtrak can i take a bike on cross country trains?

amtrak-official
answered:

Yes!

But there are several requirements, firstly, Reservations are required on all trains that offer bike service except on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins. Additionally it has to be stored in Baggage on these trains

And stored on a Bike rack on these trains

On all route not mentioned they

amtrak-official

Oh thank you for telling me @mossandfrog I was going to say if a route wasn't listed then bikes were not allowed on the train unfortunately

katsdom

@amtrak-official I'm old enough to remember how much things have turned for the worse in this respect. In 1973, living in Santa Barbara, we wanted to take our tandem bike to Portland Oregon. The Coast starlight rolled in to Santa Barbara, the baggage car opened, I rolled the bike in myself and attached it to the wall with a bungee cord. Easy as pie. Now it has to be packed in a case and can only be loaded at one of the VERY few stops where the baggage car is opened. I live at one of the stops where it is not so, even though the train stops here, I have to go to a different city 80 miles away to put my bike on the train.

amtrak-official

I think the change is a result of different rolling stock having been purchased since the 70s, but yeah in my opinion all rolling stock should still have bike racks