Hello Hugh and So Cal Rivers, I found this on the Pacific Surfliner schedule PDF I downloaded...
Bicycles: Most Pacific Surfliner trains have racks for six or seven > bicycles located in the “cab car”. Starting June 1, 2013 these slots will > be available by reservation only. Passengers must properly secure bicycles > in racks. For some departures and on Thruway buses, reservations will not > be available and only a limited number of bicycles can be carried. When > space is available, unboxed bicycles may be put in the bin under connecting > Thruway buses. Amtrak disclaims liability for loss or damage. Passengers > connecting to Trains 2, 4, and 14 will be required to check a bike in a > bicycle box available for a $10.00 fee. > The operative word there is *Most*. I don't know if their reservation system prevents overbooking the "six or seven bicycles" or not. Rephrasing Doug, the Hi-Level Surfliner consists are the one's with a "cab car" that has slots for our bicycles. The single level consists have the baggage car in the consist. I, too, would be challenged to lift a fully loaded Riv bicycle to the level of the baggage car. My contingency is going to be to pull the large Sackville saddle bag and Barsack from the bike and carry them on. BTW, the Hi-Level (term from the Santa Fe Railroad) are not necessarily new. Some of them are conversions Santa Fe El Capitan cars that date from June 1956. I rode the El Capitan between LA and Chicago a number of times and enjoyed the experience. <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4oho_TW0Gpo/UgWj0hmiBnI/AAAAAAAAAAw/kwdK1ZkEvFo/s1600/800px-Sante_Fe_Railroad_El_Capitan.jpg> Samuel Hillborne bike recon mission for tomorrow is going to be to ride down to the Solana Beach transit station, find a time between Coasters and Amtraks (not busy), and chat up one of the station agents as to the notion that certain train numbers consistently run a specific type consist. Best regards, Tom On Friday, August 9, 2013 4:05:37 PM UTC-7, hsmitham wrote: > > Thanks Doug, I did make the bicycle reservation. I should have been more > specific with my question. I was concerned with the Pacific Surf Liner and > bicycle transport boxed or not. Thankfully you have covered it. Thanks, > > -Hugh > On Aug 9, 2013 3:08 PM, "dougP" <doug...@cox.net <javascript:>> wrote: > >> "..can you once again remind me again the bicycle policy on the Pacific >> Surf liner?" >> >> When you book your ticket you also need to "add a bike". There's no >> charge but it reserves space on the train for your wheels. Amtrak's policy >> on the Surfliner is 6 bikes total per train BUT since it's new enforcement >> has not been stringent. I've used them 2X since it started & had a bike >> reservation both times. >> >> A random twist that may occur is type if equipment. If the train is made >> up of the newer, double deck passenger cars, look for a blue bicycle logo >> on a car toward one end or the other. You can just wheel your bike on that >> without removing panniers. Melanie & I happened to have this set-up on all >> 3 trains we used on our tour. >> >> BUT if the train is the older, single deck cars, they have steep steps up >> into the car. If that's the case, you need to corral the conductor (he'll >> actually be looking for you if you have a reservation) and LIFT your bike >> up to the floor level of the baggage car, about shoulder height. I can't >> do this with any amount of panniers. Same drill getting off. The >> conductor has to go into the car and hand your bike down to you on the >> platform. This was what I encountered on both trains I used a couple of >> weeks ago, and it was in Ventura that I found out about it. >> >> dougP >> >> On Thursday, August 8, 2013 9:10:03 PM UTC-7, hsmitham wrote: >>> >>> Gentlemen, >>> >>> Working on my Amtrak return trip. I figure we'll ride the single track >>> in the mid morning and figure on a couple of hours then pack up and head >>> North to Irvine to catch the train back to Burbank. I have two choices 1:40 >>> pm or 5:49 pm those that are heading North any thoughts? >>> >>> Also spoke with Curtis and were meeting in Irvine around 11 am just >>> thought I'd mention it. >>> >>> Doug, can you once again remind me again the bicycle policy on the >>> Pacific Surf liner. Thanks in advance. >>> >>> Best, >>> >>> >>> >>> Hugh >>> Sunland, Ca >>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/4mHdM9P2lK0/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> To post to this group, send email to >> rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com<javascript:> >> . >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. 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