PennDOT helps Amtrak expand carry-on bike program

Pittsburghers accustomed to attaching their bikes to the front of Port Authority buses or bringing them onto the T can now take them onto more Amtrak trains.

Amtrak worked with PennDOT to expand its Carry-On bike program for most Keystone service departures, beginning Sept. 15.

Carry-on and walk-on bike service has been available on the Pennsylvanian for less than a year and on the Capitol Limited for about five years. The expansion of the program means Keystone Service and Northeast Regional customers can bring their bikes for an additional $20 and store them inside the passenger coach in a designated space. Specific reservations are required.

“Allowing riders the versatility to bring their bikes on the train is very important to PennDOT,” said Jennie Granger, deputy secretary for multimodal transportation. “Increased transit options will change the way people get around their cities while creating cost savings, improved health and wellness benefits and more environmentally conscious choices.”

Amtrak installed new luggage racks that convert to bike racks, providing storage space for up to two bikes per departure. Additional spaces are being added as the rest of the fleet undergoes these modifications. Standard full-size bicycles can be carried on, as long as the front wheel is removed, and stored onboard in bicycle racks.

“To coincide with the increased popularity of biking in this country, we wanted to provide our customers with the option of bringing their bike on more trains,” said Roger Harris, Amtrak chief marketing and commercial officer. “Bringing your bicycle onboard a train is part of the journey, as it allows our customers to explore the cities they are visiting.”

As for how booking works, after entering the origin and destination when booking a ticket on amtrak.com, an icon with the number of spaces available will show if bike service is available. After that, customers can proceed with the “Add Ons” step to add bikes to a reservation.

For carry-on bicycle service, customers are asked to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before departure. All panniers and bags attached to the bicycle need to be removed and consolidated before boarding.

Nearly a quarter of a million bikes traveled around the country on trains since the program launched in October 2015 and the program has generated more than $1 million in revenue, according to Amtrak.