Bring Your Bicycle Onboard

Standard full-size bicycles may be carried on and stored onboard in bicycle racks on these select certain trains. Tandem bicycles may be carried on and stored onboard in bicycle racks on Pacific Surfliner trains only. On short-distance routes in the Northeast, passengers must remove the front wheel before storing their bike. An additional fee may apply. Bicycle fees vary by route and will be shown in the price summary at time of reservation.

Specially Designated Spaces Only

Bicycles must be stored in the designated racks/areas inside Coach passenger cars. On trains with unreserved carry-on bicycle service, racks are available at a first-come, first-serve basis. When the racks are full, bikes will no longer be accepted onboard.

Folding bicycles under the dimensions of 34" x 15" x 48" (860 x 380 x 1120 mm) will be allowed onboard all trains in lieu of a piece of baggage.

Only certain passenger cars can accommodate folding bicycles as carry-on baggage, otherwise they must be checked. For both carry-on and trainside checked service, additional fees may apply.

Only true folding bicycles (bicycles specifically designed to fold up into a compact assembly) are acceptable. Generally, these bikes have frame latches allowing the frame to be collapsed, and small wheels. Regular bikes of any size, with or without wheels, are not considered folding bikes, and may not be stored as folding bikes aboard trains.

You must fold up your folding bicycle before boarding the train. You may store the bike only in luggage storage areas at the end of the car (or, in Superliners, on the lower level). You may not store bikes in overhead racks.

Standard full-size bicycles may be transported in bicycle racks located in the baggage car. This service is only available at select stations. Advance reservations are required and an additional fee may apply. Bicycle fees vary by route and will be shown in the price summary at time of reservation.

When you get to the station, check in with the station agent, get a claim check/baggage tag for your bike. At unstaffed stations, check in with the conductor on the platform.

Passengers are not allowed in baggage cars, so you will hand your bicycle up to an Amtrak crew member inside the baggage car when boarding and they will store and secure your bike in the bike racks.

Before handing your bicycle to an Amtrak crew member, remove any large seat/saddlebags, handlebar bags, baskets or panniers. These items must be consolidated and either checked or carried with you onto the train.

Bicycles may be checked on Amtrak between all cities where checked baggage is offered. Not all trains or locations are equipped to handle checked baggage. Find your station(s) to see if this service is available.

Bicycles/bicycle trailers may be checked in a bicycle container for $10, in lieu of a piece of baggage. Bicycle boxes are sold at most staffed locations for $15 per box. Customers may supply their own bicycle container.

Recumbent, tandem and special bicycles over the standard bicycle dimensions and will not fit in a standard bicycle box are prohibited. Gas-powered motorized bicycles are prohibited

The fee for checking a bike as baggage is $10.00. This is subject to change without notice.

• Check your bicycle at the station at least an hour before departure.
• Bicycles/bicycle trailers may be checked in a bicycle container for $10.00, in lieu of a piece of baggage. Bicycle boxes are sold at most staffed locations for $15.00 per box.
• Bicycles must be partially disassembled in order to fit in an Amtrak bicycle box. Loosen and turn the handlebars sideways, and remove the pedals. Amtrak does not supply tools for disassembling.
• It may be helpful to disassemble and reassemble your bike before your trip to avoid any surprises. Some parts, especially pedals, may be especially difficult to remove.
• Attach your name and address to the box.

Reclaim your bike at the baggage car and remove it from the train before transferring to your new train. Station personnel can assist you with any questions or directions.

If you have a lengthy layover at a station with a baggage room, you may store your bicycle in the baggage room free of charge; just make sure to retrieve your bicycle in time to take it to your departing train.

Boxed bicycles will be transferred by train crew and station personnel; in this case you will not be responsible for transferring your bike between trains.

Bicycles are accepted on the Auto Train at no additional fee. Bicycles should be placed on racks attached to the back of your vehicle. Bicycles on racks loaded on the roof are not permitted. See the Auto Train Vehicle Requirements for more details.

Amtrak accepts electric bikes and scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Accepted e-bikes are low-speed with fully operable pedals, a motor that produces less than 750W (1.01hp) of continuous power and a maximum speed of 20 mph (32km/h) when powered only by the electric motor. 

Accepted e-scooters have two axles, steering handlebars, no seat or pedals and are designed to be driven only by the rider on that vehicle. Vehicles with a gas motor or are rented from a bike-sharing company are not accepted by Amtrak. Please note that Amtrak personnel may inspect and deny vehicle transportation at their discretion.

Exceptions on California Routes

San Joaquins and Capitol Corridor routes will accept vehicles with a 2.5" maximum tire width; the Pacific Surfliner will accept a 4" maximum.

Non-folding scooters can only be stored in designated train cars with a bike logo and must be secured parallel or adjacent to the bike racks. They cannot block any aisles or walkways, impede passenger movement or present a safety hazard. If a non-folding scooter cannot meet these conditions it will need to be checked in a baggage car.