American Long Distance Trains to Sport Bicycle Racks

[Gravity Aided]

Amtrak, the American Rail Passenger system, will be installing bike racks in the baggage cars of its' 15 long distance rail routes, allowing transportation of unboxed bicycles on long distance passenger trains. The new baggage cars are to be installed this year. Here is a link to the article in Rails-toTrails Conservancy Newsletter Online-
http://community.railstotrails.org/...be-seeing-bike-racks-on-amtrak-very-soon.aspx
This may be helpful in further promoting passenger rail services to the bicycling community. I might also add that Great Britain had these sorts of things 60 years ago. Maybe that is why its' Great.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyz5d3entBw


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGYngjxJP1I

 

[Nigeyy]

Hmmm not impressed. My own dealings with Amtrak have been considerably less than stellar. I'd love to use them but they seem (at least in the North East) to put obstacles in your way (nobody knows the rules consistently, how you should transport a bike, and best of all, you are only allowed on at certain stations -which are certain to not be the ones you want nor be convenient for you). Also add in the glacial pace and almost guaranteed late times, and it's usually just easier to use something else. To be truthful, I gave up on Amtrak a couple of years ago -and this is from someone who really wants to use a train too!

Not being a Debbie Downer, but Amtrak will have to do a lot to get me back to even considering them. Allowing bikes on trains at any station with a platform would be a really good start!

 

[CopperBrompton]

I took an Amtrak train mostly for the experience rather than because it was the best way to get there, and I couldn't believe how slow the train was compared to even British ones.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Lots of improvements, at least in the Midwest Corridor. Concrete ties and heavier rail between Chicago and St. Louis, and decreased travel times, as well as ticket prices less than parking in Chicago for a day. Trains are slower, but you need to look at a lot of financial and political motivations for that.

 

[Nigeyy]

That reminds me of the first time I was in the States I took the Amtrak from New York to Boston. Well aware of the 55mph speed limits on motorways, I was shocked when I saw cars on the highway going faster than the train I was on!

I took an Amtrak train mostly for the experience rather than because it was the best way to get there, and I couldn't believe how slow the train was compared to even British ones.

 

[Nigeyy]

Yes, I wish the train infrastructure had more focus over here (as you said financial and political motivations). It doesn't help that Amtrak often doesn't have priority on the leased lines either. Sounds like you are getting some good improvements in the Midwest Corridor though, which is nice!

Lots of improvements, at least in the Midwest Corridor. Concrete ties and heavier rail between Chicago and St. Louis, and decreased travel times, as well as ticket prices less than parking in Chicago for a day. Trains are slower, but you need to look at a lot of financial and political motivations for that.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Long needed, although most of the Kansas City to Chicago lines were held by Gulf-Mobile, and Ohio when Amtrak took over in 1972. They had a lot of ridership and a good record of service. Bloomington-Normal is the 4th busiest station on the Midwest Corridor, 250,000 riders per year. High speed improvements have helped, as have the airlines.