Bikes on a train: Amtrak allowing carry-on bicycles on Hartford-Springfield and Valley Flyer trains

SPRINGFIELD (September 18, 2020) — Amtrak will now allow passengers to bring along their bicycles on Hartford Line and Valley Flyer trains, a change in service announced just in time for fall sightseeing on the lines serving commutes from New Haven, Connecticut, north to Greenfield.

There is a $10 fee, according to Amtrak, which announced the change in policy earlier this week. Arrangements also must be made in advance. The first day was Tuesday.

Among the stops served is Springfield’s Union Station.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has always allowed bicyclists to bring their bikes along on its CTrail trains, said ConnDOT spokesman Kevin J. Nursick. Connecticut started running its Hartford Line commuter trains from New Haven to Springfield in 2018.

“We would like to see a lower or no fee and no advance purchase requirement,” he said. “We will be discussing it with Amtrak.”

On Amtrak trains, riding bicyclists use new luggage racks that convert to bike racks. The racks take a standard-sized bicycle, but the front wheel must be removed which is easy to do on most bikes.

Amtrak is also allowing bikes on other runs across the country.

The news comes at a time when the national passenger railway and transit in general is still feeling the impacts of coronavirus.

The Hartford Line – both CTrail and Amtrak – trains are running at about 60% of normal service. Ridership is down about 80% to about 20% of the previous year’s number.

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