How much does it cost to take a bike on a train?

How much does it cost to take your bike on a train? Let me tell you, it's a total rip-off, at least with Amtrak. I mean, seriously? Twenty bucks per bike, per leg of the journey? Twenty! That's highway robbery, if you ask me. I was trying to plan a trip up to Boston from Philly last summer, and let me tell you, the train situation was a nightmare. I needed to change trains in New York, which meant, get this, another twenty bucks! Forty dollars total just to bring my trusty steed along. It's ridiculous, especially considering how much the train tickets themselves cost!

I swear, they're trying to make it practically impossible to travel by train with a bike. Don't they want to encourage eco-friendly travel? I mean, I'd much rather cycle part of the way and take the train for the longer stretches, but it's just not feasible when you're getting charged an arm and a leg, and it's not like it's a super-fancy bike carriage or anything, it's just shoved in a rack... often a very crowded, slightly smelly one. I wish they'd make it more affordable, or maybe even free for certain routes, you know? It feels like they're penalizing people for choosing a greener option! It makes me want to just drive the whole way, even though I really, really hate driving. Ugh. Maybe I should just stick to buses? I dunno, it's all very frustrating.