bikes on trains

[oliver]

i was wondering if you were alowed to take bikes on trains.

 

[HLaB]

Varies by region, some place you can others you cant other ban bikes at certain times, check out your train operator's site.

 

[Arch]

Or, get a Brompton....

As HlaB says, it depends on the company, the journey, the type of train and the time of day...

Mostly the answer is yes, but with varying degrees of flexibility and stress.

 

[John the Monkey]

As the others have said, the answer is "sort of".

Most operators will carry folding bikes (some word their policies so that anything other than a Brompton is verboten). full size bike policies vary, from a pragmatic "we will carry them as long as there's room, on a first come basis" to a "reserve three weeks in advance at least, only two spaces available".

A to B is probably a good place to start;
http://www.atob.org.uk/bike-rail.html

 

[Jezston]

Some rail companies official policies are often a lot stricter than what they actually enforce on the ground.

Example - Cross Country who I travel with daily say only two bikes are allowed and must be reserved that day. In reality, they really don't care. I've found them to be very considerate and welcoming towards cyclists.

If it's a one off long distance journey you are taking, phone them up and reserve a space. If it's a regular commute then take it without the bike and ask staff on the train what the unofficial policy is.

 

[Rob3rt]

I asked this recently at Manchester Piccadilly ticket office, I was told......... "Bikes on most trains are fine, but if its at a busy time or a busy service, they may expect you to book your bike on in advance so they know how many will be on". Booking it on, doesnt involve paying, you just tell them you will have a bike, so they know.

 

[jimboalee]

I asked this recently at Manchester Piccadilly ticket office, I was told......... "Bikes on most trains are fine, but if its at a busy time or a busy service, they may expect you to book your bike on in advance so they know how many will be on". Booking it on, doesnt involve paying, you just tell them you will have a bike, so they know.

If you are planning to take your bike to Penzance to start the E2E, book it on the train 12 months in advance.

 

[John the Monkey]

Some rail companies official policies are often a lot stricter than what they actually enforce on the ground.

Example - Cross Country who I travel with daily say only two bikes are allowed and must be reserved that day. In reality, they really don't care. I've found them to be very considerate and welcoming towards cyclists.

The problem is that you could be caught out by a staff change, at which point the policy gets enforced strictly, and you get a long wait or ride home.

I've found Cross Country ok too, although A to B report that some services have seen bikes removed from the train, and a hostility bordering on agression from on board staff.

 

[looe]

If you are planning to take your bike to Penzance to start the E2E, book it on the train 12 months in advance.

Hmmmm, I booked the day before going from Paddington to Looe

 

[Arch]

The problem is that you could be caught out by a staff change, at which point the policy gets enforced strictly, and you get a long wait or ride home.

I've found Cross Country ok too, although A to B report that some services have seen bikes removed from the train, and a hostility bordering on agression from on board staff.

I haven't used XCountry for a bike, but did use Virgin when they had the franchise, and didn't like the bike storage, it was the sort where you have to hang your bike by the front wheel. All very well, if you're tall and strong and don't have panniers. Guess what, I was short and weak and coming back from a tour.

So it can be worth finding out what sort of bike accommodation there is on the train. The easiest is the sort where you just wheel it into one carriage - assuming the space isn't filled with luggage. The luggage vans at one end of the East Coast trains are good, although you are at the mercy of the staff member detailed to unlock it arriving in time. I've not had a bike carried away, but I've come close to fearing it would happen... (GNER as they were, were always pretty good, I've been less impressed with NXEC).

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Example - Cross Country who I travel with daily say only two bikes are allowed and must be reserved that day. In reality, they really don't care. I've found them to be very considerate and welcoming towards cyclists.

In my thread I reported my experience (I wasn't the cyclist in the altercation) - I was on the train Man Picc -> Oxford; two cyclists attempted to board at Coventry and were denied boarding, it turned nasty and the transport police were called. I missed the altercation entirely and only know this as the manager announced after we'd left that he was sorry for the delay as two people with bikes attempted to board and when they were denied they jammed the doors open. (The train was quite full, people standing about full).

XCountry have 3 slots of which 2 are pre-bookable (not the 3rd!). I travel with my brompton which doesn't count as a bike, thankfully, and who lives in the luggage rack.

 

[John the Monkey]

XCountry have 3 slots of which 2 are pre-bookable (not the 3rd!). I travel with my brompton which doesn't count as a bike, thankfully, and who lives in the luggage rack.

Bizarrely, Cross Country used to carry four on some trains - I heard that one of the hooks was removed (to make carriage for three) to be "consistent" as some trains only carried three. Not sure how true that is, but it wouldn't surprise me. The operators don't want you on board, and the govt. is entirely disinterested in making them carry you.

 

[mcshroom]

Northern rail officially do two bikes on the coastal line in Cumbria (the only part of the rail network I've travelled by bike).

The staff are very accommodating as well. Both times I've used them they have been very busy trains but they have made sure that the bikes can get on.

 

[John the Monkey]

Northern rail officially do two bikes on the coastal line in Cumbria (the only part of the rail network I've travelled by bike).

The staff are very accommodating as well. Both times I've used them they have been very busy trains but they have made sure that the bikes can get on.

I use Northern a lot, and agree with this wholeheartedly - excellent service with pragmatic & sensible staff. Carriage could be better (more space) but they do a great job with what they have.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Scotrail provide space at anytime of day, however I suspect you would need to be on at the very start of your journey during peak times, only my experience of the Fife circle mind.