Bicycles on Trains

The number of people wishing to bring bicycles aboard is going to increase. A possible solution over time could be for South Shore to order some of its bilevels with a small amount of combine space and include one of these cars on select non-rush hour trains with the schedule marked accordingly. Loading bicycles at stations with high platforms would not be a huge problem and the service could be restricted to these stations, also marked in the schedule. Converting more stations to high platforms to reduce boarding times should be a priority as well.

Milwaukee_F40C wrote:The number of people wishing to bring bicycles aboard is going to increase. A possible solution over time could be for South Shore to order some of its bilevels with a small amount of combine space and include one of these cars on select non-rush hour trains with the schedule marked accordingly. Loading bicycles at stations with high platforms would not be a huge problem and the service could be restricted to these stations, also marked in the schedule. Converting more stations to high platforms to reduce boarding times should be a priority as well.

As long as ridership doesn't go back up again, you're probably OK with doing that. But if it does, seat space will be precious and the South Shore doesn't run nearly enough trains to say, "OK, these four are bike trains". Just won't happen. Perhaps if the line is double tracked, more equipment purchased, and more crew members hired at some point in the future. But in the near term, I don't see it happening.

Other than West Lake, which will require special cars anyways, is there a "next" bi-level/gallery car order planned? Or is this more of an "eventually we will have to order new cars"?

Unless ridership goes up significantly does the South Shore Line need any more cars?

justalurker66 wrote:Other than West Lake, which will require special cars anyways, is there a "next" bi-level/gallery car order planned? Or is this more of an "eventually we will have to order new cars"?

Unless ridership goes up significantly does the South Shore Line need any more cars?

No on both. The next large purchase would likely be part of West Lake. There may be a few more incremental purchases in the future, but that will definitely depend on increases in ridership. The single-level fleet has just been through mid-life rebuild, so they're not due for replacement for at least another 20 years or so.

I don't see the design working very well for bicycles. You might get to your train with your bike expecting to be "biked" only to have to be turned down.
With the economics going on as they are people like the original poster may want to include a bike in their commuting. If the line reallly reaalllly expects to allow bicycles on a regular basis it needs to make everyday ready accomodations for it, or it just isn't trusting reliable. I can see it if the line is able to remove seats on demand and declare a train "Bikeable". If the bikers don't show some method of seating could make the biked area seatable.

I don't see any train line wanting bikes. Those that allow them tolerate them.

Look at METRA ... where only select trains allow bikes at all and trains that do allow bikes limit the number of bikes carried to only a few per train. When riding METRA you take the chance that the train you want to catch has met it's bike quota.

Bikes slow down loading and unloading of the train and as previously noted are a real pain at stations with low platforms (which is most of the South Shore Line). It is better for the railroad to sell seats to multiple passengers than to "remove" them for a bike. Perhaps that doesn't go down well with the hippies that want to green everything ... but the first green I want NICTD and any other railroad to succeed at is raking in the green ... making a profit (if at all possible) and not spending green they don't have on a few green ideas that don't save money. (The hippies can walk. That is environmentally friendly.)

Things would be different if the railroad were starved of passengers, but the railroad is flush with passengers without offering bike space, and in fact carrying bikes would hurt the capacity and dwell time. Bikes fall under the category of "interesting idea" right now rather than "viable business concept". If you really want to mix your South Shore experience with your bike experience, ride the trail by the tracks in the Dunes park.