Amtrak Bus and Bikes

[chk]

Hi All,

I am planning my first bike tour and had a question about taking my bike on the Amtrak bus. I am planning riding from Astoria to Eureka in September. There is an Amtrak bus stop in Eureka that I am planning on taking to the Martinez, CA train station where I will take the train back to home to Seattle.

Can I take my bike with me on the bus in Eureka to Martinez where I can box it and check it on the train? If not, is there a bike shop in Eureka where I can get a box and ship the bike back home?

Thanks,
Chong

[PeteJack]

Martinez is a manned station with baggage check facilities. You will  be able to get a bike box from Amtrak there for $15 or free if they have a used one you can reuse. The boxes are huge, take off your pedals turn the bars sideways and you can roll your bike into it, no need to remove seat or wheels. You'll have to tape it up yourself but Amtrak provides the tape.  I was planning on taking my bike on an Amtrak bus from Seattle to Mt Vernon, the staff said I could take it on (under) the bus as long as it was boxed. The box cost more than the ticket! Looks like you are out of luck with Eureka. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=EKA No baggage help at Eureka. They may take it if you get a LBS to box your bike. Knowing the way these things work you'll probably have to put it in an official Amtrak box at Martinez

[jfitch]

"Knowing the way these things work you'll probably have to put it in an official Amtrak box at Martinez"

Last summer a friend and I took Amtrak from Martinez to Whitefish, MT. I used an Amtrak box. He had his boxed by our local bike shop in one of their used boxes. Amtrak didn't care.

[cgarch]

Check with the author of this journal. She picked up the Amtrak bus last year . .
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=ax9Un&page_id=164570&v=I3