bikes on trains?

[kennyc]

Can you take a bike on a train? where do you put it?

Kenny

 

[ianrauk]

Depends, what train company? what part of the country?... er! which country? Can you be more specific? Look up your local train company on this electrical intraweb thingy... should have a bike policy on there

 

[punkypossum]

Most trains have a little compartment where you can stand or hang 2 bikes...Some have those carriages where you sit sideways and you can take bikes in there. However, a lot of trains will only accept two bikes, but with some operators you can book and sometimes they will let more than 2 on, depending how nice the staff are.

 

[Paulus]

Most main line long distance trains, ie Virgin, Great Western and the East Coast Main line have luggage compartments at one end of the train with some bike racks fitted in. You need to book them on, but there is no charge. On South west trains the bikes go inside the carriages with the bike symbol next to the relevant doors. Others vary but you can normally get your bikes on most trains, with the exception of commuter routes which have restictions on the times you can travel with bikes during peak times. Check with the T.O.C. before travelling.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

With Virgin Westcoast Mainline (Pendalinos) you must book your bike even if it's dismantled and being carried in a suitcase.

Or so I found out yeterday.
The hard way.

 

[ColinJ]

If you've booked a seat on the train and it happens to be at the opposite end to the carriage with the bike compartment - make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to make your way through the train before your destination stop!

I was in that situation once and the train was so overcrowded that I couldn't squeeze my way through to the other end in time. I had to jump off, run along the crowded platform, force my way back on and then drag my bike off the train through a seething mass of angry travellers. I got off with a few seconds to spare.

Also - it's a good idea to take some bungee cords so you can make sure that your bike is secure in the compartment. Sometimes the straps which should be provided are damaged or missing.

 

[ColinJ]

With Virgin Westcoast Mainline (Pendalinos) you must book your bike even if it's dismantled and being carried in a suitcase.

Or so I found out yeterday.
The hard way.

If you mean something the size of (e.g.) a SciCon bike box then that isn't surprising given that Virgin trains don't have enough luggage space for even conventional suitcases and rucksacks! I do a return trip to the midlands every 8 weeks and find that the trains are getting more and more overcrowded.

Bring back the guard's van!

 

[gavintc]

The answer is even more confused and will depend on type of rolling stock in addition to train operating company. You need to work out where you want to go and then ask the train company.

 

[Over The Hill]

A little rack on the back of the train

 

[summerdays]

If you've booked a seat on the train and it happens to be at the opposite end to the carriage with the bike compartment - make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to make your way through the train before your destination stop!

We ignored our seat booking and just sat near our bikes.

Also - it's a good idea to take some bungee cords so you can make sure that your bike is secure in the compartment. Sometimes the straps which should be provided are damaged or missing.

Agreed, we didn't and our bikes fell over on the train upto Barnstable.

For trains from the South West, we found that you HAD to book an hour before the train was due to leave to be allowed to put your bike on the train. (And that the 4 bike area was full, most of our journey though often changing which bikes were in there.)

 

[HJ]

With some train companies you can see a wee bike logo on the door where the bike racks can be found, but you really need to check your train operators web site (or ask at the station) to be sure.

 

[summerdays]

I was told to ask the platform manager which end to put the bikes... he told me to stand nearby until the train came in so he could tell me!!! (In other words he didn't know).

 

[TheDoctor]

And for InterCity trains, let the station staff know you've got a bike as they sometimes need to unlock the bike compartment for you. It's very annoying standing by the door as the train arrives, stops and sods off without you.
Don't ask me how I know this...

 

[Speicher]

You've got staff at your Station? We have a "bus" shelter and a phone!

 

[Scoosh]

I suspect he might be meaning Edinburgh - Glasgow ??????????

Just ride it, Kenny !!!