Greyhound Package Express and AmTrak Express package limits

[bisontuba]

Someone asked me what the max dimensions for bus and train shipping are, so for 2020:

Greyhound Package Express:
The maximum weight per package is 100 pounds. The maximum dimensions that we can accommodate are 29″ H x 47″ W x 82″ L.

AmTrak Express Shipping:
Small Package Shipments--
Weight limit for each item: 50 lbs. (23 kg)
Size limit for each item: 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft (90 cm by 90 cm by 90 cm)
Weight limit for each shipment: 500 lbs. (227 kg).

Hope that helps....FYI...

[Tom]

I looked at the Amtrak Package Express website to see if I could make more sense of their shipping policies...

I just don't see how anyone will be able to ship a tuba in a container with maximum allowable size of 3' in any one direction. Yes, tuba bells are under 3' (I'll call that "depth") and yes, tubas are under 3' wide (I'll call that "width") but very few tubas are under 3' in height, especially when packed up for shipping or in a case. Even "short" tubas are roughly 36" themselves and most tuba cases have interior dimensions alone that are over 90cm.

So...am I missing something or has shipping a tuba essentially become a "no-go" on Amtrak?

I'm also not sure that I follow the weight limits: 50 lbs. for each item, but 500 lbs. for each shipment? So does shipping a tuba mean one item (50 lbs. or less) or is that one shipment (500 lbs. or less) ???

https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/baggage- ... pping.html

[bort]

Scroll down to musical instruments. Specific shout out for tubas:

https://m.amtrak.com/h5/r/www.amtrak.co ... items.html" target="_blank

[Tom]

Scroll down to musical instruments. Specific shout out for tubas:

https://m.amtrak.com/h5/r/www.amtrak.co ... items.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

I took that to mean if you are traveling on the train as a passenger with your tuba as baggage, not shipping a tuba (without riding as a passenger yourself).

If you're riding the train as a passenger, then they'll let you bring your tuba on board if you buy a seat for it, otherwise you have 50 lbs. and 100 linear inches to work with under their checked item allowance - also based on you being a passenger on the train.

If you just want to ship the tuba, their shipping policies for Package Express seem to apply.