Bikes on a train

[StuAff]

Our journey involves 2 trains. One is Northern Rail to York which doesn't require booking bike spaces. Then York to Newcastle which is either East Coast Mainline or LNER which require you to book whatever the time of day. There are only 2 bike spaces. Trainline shows whether bike spaces are available but you have to phone up to book them.

If you book via the LNER website, it allows you to book a bike space on their services (if it's available) and to select your seat reservation so you can be in the right part of the train (the Azuma ten coach services are two five coach units, you can't walk all the way through). Four bike spaces each in two carriages.

 

[Oldhippy]

I just get on the train with southeastern no ticket needed.

 

[Julia9054]

If you book via the LNER website, it allows you to book a bike space on their services (if it's available) and to select your seat reservation so you can be in the right part of the train (the Azuma ten coach services are two five coach units, you can't walk all the way through). Four bike spaces each in two carriages.

Cheers. I'll remember that for next time.

 

[sevenfourate]

I have been educated ! Thanks for ‘alerting’ me via this thread all 🙏 Now about to plan some Train Mornings out; and rides back 👍

https://eastsuffolklines.co.uk/bicycles

 

[Gwylan]

What area of the SE are you in ?

I’ve not taken a bike on a train for 35 years ! But if it’s straightforward here (Norwich, Lowestoft, Ipswich area….) it could really broaden the perimeter of day rides open to me….

East Kent, that's what I do. £3.20, with my old codgers pass, is a return to a wide radius. Return means I can do hospitals, clinics and so on. The return but us currently 20 pence on the single price
Jump on the train if it rains or I'm not keen on cycling. Means I can broaden my horizons and not need the car.

 

[Gwylan]

I have been educated ! Thanks for ‘alerting’ me via this thread all 🙏 Now about to plan some Train Mornings out; and rides back 👍

https://eastsuffolklines.co.uk/bicycles

If you qualify get a senior pass. Will generally pay for itself.

 

[mjr]

I’ve not taken a bike on a train for 35 years ! But if it’s straightforward here (Norwich, Lowestoft, Ipswich area….) it could really broaden the perimeter of day rides open to me….

The services requiring reservations in your area are the London-Ipswich-Diss-Norwich intercity ones and the Norwich-Ely-Peterborough-Nottingham/Liverpool East Midlands Trains. Also the Stansted-Cambridge-Ely-Peterborough-Birmingham ones encourage reservations and get very crowded. The rest, including the coast lines and the Greater Anglia services through Ely or Cambridge, are all turn-up-and-go.

Some guards do enforce the 6-bike limit, so you may have to wait for the next one, which can be annoying on the 1-train-per-2-hours Peterborough-Ely-Ipswich route and cause a diversion to Cambridge if space permits. Other guards are friendlier and allow you to load as many as fit in the space, but take padding if you're precious about the paintwork.

 

[matticus]

I just get on the train with southeastern no ticket needed.

Do they go to Newcastle??

 

[Oldhippy]

Sadly not.

 

[Sallar55]

Booked us on Spanish train in Gijon, an hour before departure. No problems and the train doors are marked with an arrow to show where the bike should go. Regional train and after a certain distance its 3euro for the bike.

 

[All uphill]

Leiden to Groningen now. My bike is under there somewhere.

 

[mercalia]

Bikes on Trains. I wanted to take mine when I went down to Newton Abbot to look at the motor bike I subsequently bought. GWR policy only can take bikes with wheels upto 20" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so 26", 700c AND MODERN 28" OUT. So I was limited to walking and buses when I got there. . Shame I would like to have had a ride around the place.Gone are the days when there was a goods van for such like. A backward step.

 

[grumpydad]

I was looking into taking my bike on the train, so I could do one of the coast to coast rides, not only was the fare extortionate but a pre-booked bike space wasn't a guarantee there would be room for your bike, you would think that with so many European share holders there would be some input on how to improve our train services, I guess they just prefer to milk our system to benefit their own.

 

[mjr]

Bikes on Trains. I wanted to take mine when I went down to Newton Abbot to look at the motor bike I subsequently bought. GWR policy only can take bikes with wheels upto 20" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so 26", 700c AND MODERN 28" OUT. So I was limited to walking and buses when I got there. . Shame I would like to have had a ride around the place.Gone are the days when there was a goods van for such like. A backward step.

The 20" wheel limit is for folding bikes to be classed as luggage (so carried any time without reservation), probably after some jokers tried to take paratrooper bikes or something similar. Larger-wheel bikes are carried but need reservation on intercity-style trains and must go in a badly-designed cupboard. Official page is https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/journey-information/on-board/cycles

 

[gom]

The number of lil' bits of card required to get 2 people and 2 bikes from Knaresborough to Newcastle and back for the first and last leg of this year's bike tour.
Bit daft!

17 bits of paper - pah
Journey to Carlisle via Birmingham:
* Cycle res - attach to cycle, cycle res - passenger copy, passenger's ticket (3)
* x2 as split save, both part needing cycle res (6)
* x2 as return journey (12)
* x2 as two of us (24)
* plus a reciept for the purchase (25)

But the journey went smoothly, and all staff were friendly & helpful. Much nicer than taking a car.