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Ed from Glenville on 6/27/2022 10:02:33 AM:

I wanted to take the train to Buffalo with my bike this week. However, the train is only 60% full but the bike spots are sold out. Does Anyone have any ideas?

Sarge P from Sarasota, Fl. on 6/27/2022 11:23:00 AM:

Ed,
Keep trying to get that bike reservation. My brother couldn't get a ticket for his bike either, but checked a few days later and a spot became available - so he grabbed it right away. This was just a few days ago. You might try calling them as well.

Yankee John from Vermont on 6/27/2022 2:28:05 PM:

Try booking your bike for various legs of the trip on Amtrak, since the booked reservations might not be for the whole trip. Maybe you can take the bike Utica or Syracuse to Buffalo and leave your car in Utica/Syracuse. Then take the train from SCTDY/ALB back to Utica/Syracuse without your bike to pick up your car.

AC from Nashville on 8/15/2022 1:15:47 PM:

We rode the C&O and GAP last year. We decided to go east to west because it was easier to find bike tickets out of Pittsburgh than out of DC. I noticed when we stopped at towns between the two, plenty of people put their bikes in the baggage compartment, which had plenty of space. They did this even though the bike racks (i.e. where they put the ticketed bikes) were full. My takeaway was that Amtrak may let you take your bike onboard even if you don't have a ticket. I haven't been brave enough to try this, but I'm curious if others have.

SP from GSL on 8/17/2022 6:33:12 PM:

I heard about this issue, so we rented a car in Albany and am dropping it off In Buffalo. Paid extra for the one way, but it wasn’t much more than the train tickets.

Bill in Houston from Houston on 8/26/2022 1:11:47 PM:

Yeah, we have never been able to make the train make sense when we compared it to a one way car rental. Add in the risk of Amtrak just flat out cancelling you with no notice, and the car becomes a no-brainer.

Chris from Chicago on 9/11/2022 2:29:24 PM:

I had a similar problem last spring when riding the GAP/C&O trail. Bike transport available Chic to Pitts, no bike available Wash DC to Chicago. It turns out, Amtrack allows you to box you bike and it travels as luggage, they provide the box for $15 and all you need to do is turn your handlebars and remove panniers. Racks, fenders and wheels all stay on. Most amtrack customer service reps don’t seem to know of this optio. Call the station luggage phone line to confirm, this service may not be available everywhere,

CJ from Cincinnati on 9/19/2022 8:45:15 PM:

Are there any bike shops along the paved sections of the trail that rent electric assist bikes? Thanks

Bill in Houston from Houston on 9/26/2022 4:16:39 PM:

I would think that Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, at a minimum, would have bike shops that rent out e-bikes. Have never looked, but that's my hunch.

John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 11/18/2022 3:39:00 PM:

The best strategy is calling Amtrak ticket reservations and speaking with a live agent. You might be on hold for 10 mins but they can see all of the bike ticket openings that you can’t.

If you can’t get the date you want, ask them what days have bike ticket openings during the week of such and such and pick from there.

Good luck,
John

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