Dear EscapeMakers, we just got the great news to share with you bike
lovers! You asked and they delivered! Look for more bike-friendly trip
ideas from us using Amtrak
along the Vermonter line this Summer and Fall! For now, visit Vermont
Vacation for 15% and 20% train travel discounts and start planning
your car-less getaway to Vermont by booking one of their packages!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2016
AMTRAK NOW OFFERS BIKE SERVICE ON THE VERMONTER
WASHINGTON –
Amtrak is launching bike service on the Vermonter to provide passengers
a more convenient way to travel with their bicycles. Tickets for carry-on
bike service are now available for travel beginning May 1.
The
Vermonter operates daily between Washington, D.C., and St. Albans, Vt.,
with service to Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, Conn., Springfield,
Mass. and Essex Junction, Vt., and other intermediate stops.
Providing this service provides passengers with a way to explore and
travel with their bikes. Amtrak partnered with the Vermont Agency of
Transportation, Vermont Department of Tourism, Adventure Cycling Association,
and other bicycle and passenger rail groups to form an advisory bicycle
task force to oversee this project.
“We’ve worked with the cycling community to identify solutions
and bring new ideas to offer services for customers who travel with
their bikes,” said Deborah Stone-Wulf, Amtrak Vice President of
Sales and Customer Service. “We look forward to measuring the success
of this service with an eye to expansion to additional routes across
our national network.”
Passengers traveling with their bikes must arrive at the station 30
minutes before the train’s departure to allow time for boarding.
Customers must look for the “bike-friendly” sticker on the
train car. Bicycles will go into the luggage compartment, which converts
into a bike rack. Customers will need to remove the front wheel of their
bike to fit it into the space, and loading instructions will be available
in the bike rack area.
If equipped with panniers, large seat or saddle bags, the items must
be removed from the bicycle before hanging it on the bike rack and stored
as carry-on luggage. An Amtrak crew member will be available to assist.
“We are excited to launch the carry-on service on the Vermonter,
the second project for the Amtrak Bicycle Task Force,” said Virginia
Sullivan, a task force member and director of Adventure Cycling Association.
“Locals and visitors will be able to take advantage of the excellent
cycling opportunities all along the Vermonter corridor. This service
will be a major benefit and will make trips with a bicycle easier."
Reservations are required and customers must have a ticket for their
bikes. The bicycle reservation fee is $20 for service between Washington
D.C., and New Haven, Conn., and $10 for service between New Haven, Conn.,
and St. Albans, Vt. Passengers may reserve their bikes by selecting
“add bike” when they book their train travel on Amtrak.com,
by calling 800-USA-RAIL, or by visiting any staffed ticket office.
About Amtrak®
Amtrak
– America’s Railroad® – is dedicated to safe
and reliable mobility as the nation’s intercity passenger rail
service provider and its high-speed rail operator. With our state and
commuter partners, we move people, the economy and the nation forward,
carrying more than 30 million Amtrak passengers for each of the past
five years. Formally known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation,
Amtrak is governed by a nine member board of directors appointed by
the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Anthony R. Coscia is board chairman and Jeffrey R. Moreland is vice
chairman. Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily – at speeds
up to 150 mph (241 kph) – connecting more than 500 destinations
in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces.
Learn more at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and
other information. Checkout at blog.Amtrak.com,
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or follow on Twitter
Contact: Kimberly Woods
202-906-3860
MediaRelations@Amtrak.com
