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The C&O Canal Towpath Trail and Great Allegheny Passage

Amtrak Adds Bike Capacity on the Capital Limited Route


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Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 6/13/2022 7:47:22 PM:
The following was reported in the GAP website today:


"Amtrak has announced expanded bicycle capacity on the Capitol Limited, which parallels the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. As of now, the extra capacity — 12 bikes per train — is available through mid-September. Please contact Amtrak with questions about service and see this public advisory."

I've been guilty of harangues about the limited bike capacity on the Capital Limited route. I don't know what finally prompted Amtrak to change their policy but we are all beneficiaries of this change. Its been overdue but chapeau to Amtrak. This should allow more riders to avail themselves of this service and greater flexibility in scheduling.

 
John W. from Pittsburgh, PA on 6/13/2022 9:13:08 PM:
Wonderful! We’ll done Amtrak.

12 bikes from 6 (or was it 8?) is an improvement and I would bet the extra bike tickets will get purchased justifying the decision.

John


 
Rivnuts from Homestead, PA on 6/14/2022 9:35:50 AM:
Below is the actual advisory released by Amtrak:


Bike Capacity Expanded on Capitol Limited Trains 29 and 30
Effective June 3, 2022

Due to high demand, Amtrak is adding bicycle capacity on the Capitol Limited Trains 29 and 30, effective immediately through mid-September.

What You Need to Know
Each departure will offer 12 spots for bike reservations.
The route follows two popular biking trails between Washington, DC, and Pittsburgh — the C&O Canal Towpath and the Great Alleghany Passage.
Bicycle reservations are offered at a flat fare of just $20 and can be made during ticket purchase at Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app.
On the day of departure, check in with a station agent to get a claim check for your bike. At unstaffed stations — including Harpers Ferry and Cumberland — proceed directly to the platform and check your bike with the conductor upon train arrival.
Keep your baggage claim check to present at your destination to retrieve your bicycle.

 
Mosovich from North Augusta, SC on 7/6/2022 10:39:07 PM:
I just got the last spot on a train in early October. I don't know why they only did it through Sept and not Oct. as well..

 
Rivnuts from Homestead,PA on 7/7/2022 9:13:11 AM:
Maybe they will if the demand remains strong. We’ll see.