When California voters approved funding in 2008 for their high-speed rail project, one of the promises was that the trains would not be like Amtrak. So here we are 5 years later, and it is Amtrak developing the trains. This will be a joint procurement between California and Amtrak (for its Acela service).
Amtrak just released the Draft Trainset Spec that goes into the things like the interior layout. The (sort of) good news is that the spec does require bike accommodation. California trains will have bike storage for a minimum of 8 bikes per trainset. Those of you on the East Coast will be shit out of luck as the requirement only applies to CHSRA trains:
For the [CA HSR] Authority, a bicycle storage area shall be provided, and designed to accommodate a minimum of 8 bicycles per Trainset. A dedicated bicycle storage area shall be provided, thereby reducing inconvenience to passengers. Bicycle storage areas shall be separate from wheelchair spaces and shall not block or otherwise impede emergency egress and access.
Special attention shall be given to the ease with which bicycles can be placed in the bicycle racks. It is expected that the final design shall include guide rails to help steer the bicycle into the correct position with minimal effort. Bicycles shall be secured as low as possible and designs requiring the lifting of bicycles over fixed objects shall be avoided.
Suitable graphics shall be provided on the exterior of the Vehicle, identifying the doors to be used for bicycle access. Interior graphics shall also provide instructions for using the bicycle racks.
To put in perspective, the existing Amtrak San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor services permit 22 bikes per train. So 8 bikes per train isn’t great, but better than nothing.
And if these bikes could be bikes of some size, like perhaps a tandem, box bike, or longtail that would be nice, too. On the one hand such bikes are comparatively rare, but cargo bikes are more common among the car-free (and thus, potential train users) and tandems are useful for couples traveling together.
I agree — I have a particularly cumbersome bike — a tandem recumbent! But even recumbents are challenging to accommodate, I imagine. Neither tandems nor recumbents are allowed on regular Amtrak without a box, I believe.
[…] dedicated bike storage spaces specified into California High Speed Rail trainset design. Compare this to the 22 bikes permitted on board the existing long distance California train […]
Hopefully this will end up at 8 bikes per train car, even if it starts at 8 bikes per trainset. Although if both LA and SF have bike share by the time CAHSR rolls out, then maybe it won’t be as important. (Perhaps Fresno and Modesto, etc. won’t.)
#@%*!$#&*#@!
As if there is no demand to transport bikes on the NE Corridor! I do think however that the Metroliner rolling stock will have Capitol Corridor style bike racks which I don’t find at that great BTW.
[…] of Place explains two proposals designed to minimize the negative impacts of highways in Detroit. Systemic Failure reports that California High Speed Rail will be required to have space for eight bikes per train. […]