Updated March 2025
When you decide to ride the Erie Canalway Trail from one end to the other, chances are you’re not going to want to turn around and ride the 360 miles back to where you began. Luckily, thanks to years of advocacy, it’s now possible to use the train to shuttle you and your bike across the state!
Beginning in 2020, Amtrak started offering “Carry-On Bicycle Service” on all Empire Service and Maple Leaf trains traveling across New York. Bikes can also be transported in the baggage car of the long-distance Lake Shore Limited line. With minimal hassle, you can take your bike on the train with you, either to your starting point at the beginning of the journey or back the other way when you’re done riding. While the process is pretty simple, it can be difficult to navigate the Amtrak website and figure out exactly how this all works – so we created this guide to make it as easy as possible, with some basic background information, a step-by-step guide, and other helpful tips and tricks.
About the different train lines
There are three lines that run between Albany and Buffalo and parallel the Erie Canalway Trail: the Maple Leaf, Empire Service, and Lake Shore Limited. The Empire Service line comes up from NYC and crosses the state, stopping at Albany-Rensselaer, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Utica, Rome, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo-Depew, Buffalo-Exchange St., and Niagara Falls. (Note: check the schedule for your specific train – some trains during each day will either terminate at Albany-Rensselaer or skip certain stations). The Maple Leaf line follows a similar trajectory, but continues north west to Toronto.
Because these trains stop at so many stations along the Erie Canalway corridor, it also means using the train is a great option for shorter day or other multi-day trips when you want to just go one-way!
On Empire Service and Maple Leaf trains, there are bicycle racks in the passenger coaches that allow you to hang up your bike and keep it close. The only downside here is that Amtrak recommends removing the front wheel so that it can fit nicely into the rack, which can be a hassle. Bikes with especially large tires may also have difficulty fitting into the hook.
In contrast to the Empire Service and Maple Leaf, the Lake Shore Limited is a long distance train and uses a baggage car for bicycles instead of “carry-on” racks. The baggage car can make it easier because you don’t have to worry about taking any wheels off your bike. The biggest downside to using the Lake Shore Limited is that it stops at fewer stations and notably does not stop at Buffalo Exchange Street, the downtown Buffalo station. Instead, it only stops at Buffalo-Depew, which leaves you about ten miles from the start of the trail.
Step-by-Step Guide
In advance:
- Reserve a train ticket and bike add-on through www.amtrak.com or the Amtrak app. First, select one-way, the start and end stations, and the date. After you select the time and coach option type for your trip, you will be asked to fill out your traveler details. Finally, you will see a screen where you can customize your trip. Click the + to reserve a spot for your bicycle for $20. Click “Add to Cart”. Continue your purchase and pay to finish the process. Tip: Reserve your tickets early! There are a limited number of bike racks available on each train (sometimes only 4) and they can fill up quickly.
Credit: John Boyle, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
The day of/at the station:
- Arrive with plenty of time. Amtrak recommends arriving 30 minutes early when traveling with a bike.
- Remove or prepare to remove panniers or other bulky bags/baskets and if traveling on Empire Service or Maple Leaf, your front wheel. Removing panniers will make it easier to lift your bike onto the train and your front wheel is recommended be removed to hang the bike on the rack. A bungee to secure your front wheel to your frame when lifting it into the train might prove helpful. You can also remove your front wheel after boarding, but with limited space, it is usually less stressful to do it before. If you have a small bike, you may even be able to get away with leaving the wheel on. Tip: If you don’t have a quick release front wheel, make sure you have the appropriate wrench (usually a 15mm wrench will do the trick).
When the train arrives:
- Look for a “bike friendly” sticker on the side of a car or find a conductor. When the train arrives, navigate to a bike friendly car or ask a conductor to point you to a car with an open bike rack. They might ask you to wait until all other passengers have boarded. If traveling on the Lake Shore Limited, they will direct you to the baggage car.
- Lift your bike into the train car. You must be physically capable of lifting your bicycle up to shoulder height, although crew members will be available to assist if necessary.
- Hang your bike on the rack by the back wheel. Secure with the provided strap. Store your panniers or any other baggage in a luggage rack.
- Sit back and enjoy the ride!
Other Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Make sure your bike fits the dimensions specified by Amtrak: Bicycles up to 50 lbs. Standard bicycle sizes apply (70 inches x 41 inches x 8.5 inches). Maximum tire width: 2″
- The closest Amtrak station to the western trailhead is the downtown Buffalo station, Buffalo-Exchange St. (BFX), which is less than a mile from the trail. You can also board/get off at Buffalo-Depew (BUF), but it is about 10 miles from the trail.
- The closest Amtrak station to the eastern trailhead is Albany-Rennsaeler (ALB), which is about a mile away from the trail. When booking your ticket, do not select ABA (Albany, NY, Albany Intl Airport), as these trains do not run through that station and nothing will come up when you search for tickets. To get between the trail and the station, you’ll use the path on the Dunn Memorial Bridge to cross over the Hudson. There is currently a detour in place across the bridge, but it is still passable.
- There is no bike service between Boston and Albany, even though it is part of the Lake Shore Limited line.
- There is secure overnight parking available for a fee at the Albany-Rennsaeler station (check the website for current rates). There is secure overnight parking available at Depew Station in Buffalo, free with a return ticket placed on the dash. There is no great option for longterm overnight parking at Buffalo Exchange St station that we are aware of, although there are parking lots in the area.
Daily Trains from Buffalo to Albany (as of March 2025)
| Train Line | Timetable |
|---|---|
| Empire Service (BFX-ALB) | 4:28am – 9:42am |
| Empire Service (BFX-ALB) | 7:22am – 12:39pm |
| Maple Leaf (BFX-ALB) | 12:25pm – 6:05pm |
| Lake Shore Limited* (BUF-ALB) | 9:05am – 2:53pm |
Daily Trains from Albany to Buffalo (as of March 2025)
| Train Line | Timetable |
|---|---|
| Maple Leaf (ALB-BFX) | 10:10am – 3:32pm |
| Empire Service (ALB-BFX) | 1:10pm – 6:55pm |
| Empire Service (ALB-BFX) | 4:10pm – 9:42pm |
| Lake Shore Limited* (ALB-BUF) | 7:05pm – 12:29am |
Other options
If the train doesn’t work for your schedule, there are other options! Check out the Transportation Tips page on PTNY’s Cycle the Erie Canal website for info on shuttle services and renting a car or uhaul.
Additional Resources:
For planning a trip on the Erie Canalway Trail:
Cycle the Erie Canal Website
Cycle the Erie Canal Interactive map
Cycling the Erie Canal Facebook Group
For traveling with a bike on trains:
https://www.newyorkbyrail.com/sports-gear-on-amtrak-bicycles/
https://www.adventurecycling.org/blog/amtrak-bike-service-what-is-it-where-to-find-it/
https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/bring-your-bicycle-onboard.html
https://www.amtrak.com/bring-bikes-on-northeast-trains
Canalway Trail Times 
great, being looking for affordable practical way to bring bicycle on train for years. Also I have interest in bringing bike on train from Albany to Plattsburg.
The train from Albany to Plattsburgh is currently suspended due to the border closure. But when it resumes (hopefully soon!), we expect it to offer the same carry-on bicycle service as on the Empire Service.
An Amtrak representative told me checked bikes are not allowed on the Adirondack train. I am wondering if carry-on service is available now. Is it possible to bring a bike on the Adirondack as a carry on?
I would like to bike south from Plattsburgh to NYC.
Unfortunately bikes are still not allowed on the Adirondack line. I believe you may be able to bring them on the train up to Burlington and cross into New York further south on your bike.
I too am interested in that route. I have been thinking of biking from NYC to Montreal and am considering skipping some of the ride through the Adirondack mountains.
so helpful! We’re biking part way east then heading back west. We appreicate the tips onthe ALB-REN train station and crossing the Hudson. You’ve made our planning easier.
thanks