Tandem Tom

Would appreciate advice for getting from Seattle to Tacoma via train with our loaded touring bikes. We plan to take Amtrak from Chicago to Seattle. I see that The Cascade Route goes to Tacoma. How easy is it to get on and off with our bikes?
Thanks!

fietsbob

AmTrak , obvious place to ask .. tried WSDOT? WSDOT


Busses to Ferrys are there too , A little Island Hopping thru Puget sound..
Vashon Island has 2 ferries on north and south ends that gets you from Seattle to Tacoma.

adventurepdx

Amtrak Cascades is the regional rail corridor that goes from Eugene, OR to Vancouver, BC. About four trains a day southbound from Seattle to Tacoma. Each train has hooks for ten bikes and it costs $5 per bike. You do need to book the bike spot at the same time as your ticket to guarantee you have space.

The Amtrak Coast Starlight has one train daily between Seattle and Tacoma, though you either have to bring the bike as a boxed bike (which wouldn't be that much of an issue if you have it boxed from Chicago to Seattle) or they have six hooks for unboxed bikes. This can cost as much as $20 per bike, so it's probably wiser to take the Cascades. Also, if you were trying to do a direct Chicago-Seattle-Tacoma train trip with no real layover in Seattle, the timing would not work to take the Coast Starlight.

Or, if you time it right and get into Seattle on a weekday (and want to spend a few hours in Seattle) you can use the Sounder commuter rail. This runs afternoon/early evening from Seattle King St station southbound to Tacoma. It would be cheaper than Amtrak and you can bring your bike onboard:
Sounder Lakewood Seattle | Sounder Train | Sound Transit

And as Bob suggests, if you had a day, you can ride from Seattle to Tacoma. Doing the route via Vashon Island (requires two ferries) is nice. There is also the Interurban Trail that heads south from Seattle towards Tacoma, which is not as nice.

From Tacoma, where do you plan to bike?

Tandem Tom

We will then work our way to Victoria then Vancouver then across Canada.

adventurepdx

Since you are heading northbound, is there any particular reason for choosing Tacoma as the start? Did you want to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and head to the east side of the Olympic Peninsula?

FBinNY 

I gather you're headed to Port Angeles. If so, why not skip Tacoma altogether (unless you have a reason to go there), and pick up a ferry out of Seattle either to Bainbridge or Vashon Islands and pick up the route from there.

Depending on schedules, that would give you a day to explore Seattle, and cut out a day vs starting in Tacoma.

BTW - the ferry out of Seattle option works equally well if you're planning on doing the clockwise loop around Olympia Nt'l Park.

Tandem Tom

Visiting my sister in Tacoma.

MixedRider

very easy to take the cascades with bikes. Just remember to get the bike reservation. However, I would honestly either just ride or have her come pick you up by car. The empire builder route in notoriously late most of the time.

Rangersmith

You could ride the Sounder train from Seattle to Tacoma......Bringing your bike | Sound Transit

Shifty

I was noting your screen name, Amtrak Cascades won't take tandem or long recumbent bikes. If the bike won't hang from the hooks, they must be boxed. Sounder train might be better, it also goes into the Seatac airport.

Tandem Tom

Thanks for the reply! This trip we will be riding singles. I think we have decided to ride to Tacoma from Seattle.

adventurepdx

Sounder is the metro Seattle commuter rail that runs on freight tracks. It runs commute hours weekdays only and DOES NOT go to Seatac airport.
Sounder train | Sound Transit

Link is the light rail that runs from Seatac airport to downtown Seattle and then UW.
Link light rail | Sound Transit

From the OP's original post, it looks like they'll be taking Amtrak's Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle, so they won't need an airport connection for this part of the trip.

Ty0604

Still baffles me that the Sounder doesn't run on the weekends. Much like the WES in Portland.

skimaxpower

FYI for when you get to Tacoma: Pierce County bike map

Taking bikes on the Black Ball "Coho" ferry from Port Angeles is a joy! We did it on our honeymoon. I recommend extra diligence when securing your bike to the ferry bike rack - it can be a bumpy ride.