PaulM
Engineer
Does anyone know why the IZ (trains 380 and 383) no longer accepts bikes, even though its twin the Carl Sandburg (381 and 382) does? It's one of those odd cases where the website's "trip details/Services" pop up say that it does carry bikes; but they are sold out no matter what date you try. I spoke to an AGR rep on the phone and, after a wait, she confirmed that it doesn't carry bikes.
Last May coming back from Florida I had to spend the night in Chicago waiting until the next morning to catch the Carl Sandburg since the IZ no longer carries bikes. So I know for a fact that the new Venture cars have bike racks.
What is odd is that for the 30 years I have lived in Illinois, the IZ carried bikes in Horizons and Amfleets, which don't have bike racks. You stashed the bike where ever the conductor said to. This is just another change that makes Amtrak less useful, for me at least. The IZ, which predates Amtrak, seems to have been designed for downstaters like me who want to take it to Chicago for the day (Cubs game perhaps) and return in the evening, or connect to or from another train in Chicago, or a flight to or from O'hare or Midway. The Carl Sandburg, which is relatively new and seems to be designed for Chicagoans who want to go downstate, doesn't work for any of that.
It is always said that amenities on state subsidized trains depends on whatever the state wants to pay for. I wonder why the Illinois Department of Transportation would suddenly stop supporting bikes on the IZ; or does it think it is paying for the phantom bikes on the IZ.
Last May coming back from Florida I had to spend the night in Chicago waiting until the next morning to catch the Carl Sandburg since the IZ no longer carries bikes. So I know for a fact that the new Venture cars have bike racks.
What is odd is that for the 30 years I have lived in Illinois, the IZ carried bikes in Horizons and Amfleets, which don't have bike racks. You stashed the bike where ever the conductor said to. This is just another change that makes Amtrak less useful, for me at least. The IZ, which predates Amtrak, seems to have been designed for downstaters like me who want to take it to Chicago for the day (Cubs game perhaps) and return in the evening, or connect to or from another train in Chicago, or a flight to or from O'hare or Midway. The Carl Sandburg, which is relatively new and seems to be designed for Chicagoans who want to go downstate, doesn't work for any of that.
It is always said that amenities on state subsidized trains depends on whatever the state wants to pay for. I wonder why the Illinois Department of Transportation would suddenly stop supporting bikes on the IZ; or does it think it is paying for the phantom bikes on the IZ.
