FAMILY-FRIENDLY BIKE ABOARD EXCURSIONS
NORTHERN CENTRAL RAILWAY OF YORK ANNOUNCES NEW
FAMILY-FRIENDLY “BIKE ABOARD” EXCURSIONS
New Excursion Combines Train Ride with Bicycling Along York County Heritage Rail-Trail
NEW FREEDOM, PA – The Northern Central Railway of York (NCR), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit excursion railroad, announces new train rides that combine the excitement of train ride with bicycling along the adjacent York County Heritage Rail-Trail. Bike riders will now be able to ride further without having to turn around to return to their original location, allowing them to experience more of the Rail-Trail and visit new places in the process.
Known as “Bike Aboard,” these special excursions will be held one a month August through October. Train riders purchase special one-way tickets, with the option to choose which direction to ride. The trains originate in New Freedom and travel northbound, with stops at Hanover Junction and Brillhart Station. Depending upon how far they plan to ride their bicycles southbound, riders can select either location for exiting the train. Those who ride to Brillhart Station will be able to experience travel through Howard Tunnel, one of the oldest continuously-operating rail tunnels in the country.
Bike riders also have the option to board the train at Brillhart Station or Hanover Junction to return to New Freedom with their bicycles. The one-way train rides last from 60 to 90 minutes, depending upon the selected destination.
For those bicyclists interested in taking advantage of the train with their bicycle at other times, beyond the special Bike Aboard excursions, the Northern Central Railway regularly runs with the newly-restored open-air Gondola Car for bicycle storage during transport. Bicyclists should use the promotion code BIKE22 when purchasing tickets for discounted pricing.
The Bike Aboard program is made possible through assistance from the York County Community Foundation, York County Economic Alliance Trail Towns, J. William Warehime Foundation, and numerous private donors. The initiative was created to provide new opportunities for the public to experience the train and Rail-Trail while driving economic development in the communities along the NCR tracks.
Bike Aboard is just one of the exciting new offerings from the Northern Central Railway in 2022!
Gondola Car
On June 26, NCR made the inaugural run of the new Gondola Car. Donated by the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in 2017, the car was totally restored in-house by NCR staff and volunteers. It began its life in 1906 on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad #8148. This historic open-air car allows for both outdoor seating in the warmer months as well as bicycle storage.
Rail Bikes
Also new to NCR is a partnership with American Rail Bikes Adventures to create an all-new experience on the NCR rail line. Rail Bikes run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, departing from the Heritage Rail-Trail parking lot in Seven Valleys, PA. The seven-mile roundtrip takes between one-and-a-half to two hours and pass through the Howard Tunnel. Bikes seat up to four people. For information and tickets, visit www.northerncentralrailway.com/rail-bikes or americanrailbike.com.