Bikes on trains

[kfinlay]

I'm planning a bike ride up to Pitlochry on Friday and will be getting the 14:30 train back to Kirkcaldy to get home in time for my work. I'm not used to taking my bike on trains so is there any way I can check if I'd allowed on the train with my road bike (no panniers etc so shouldn't take up to too much room) or do all trains have a carriage with a bike area?

It's just I emember reading one or two posts where guards have stopped people getting on trains but IIRC they were touring so had large panniers etc.

TIA

 

[rich p]

It depends on the train operator and their policy. They all vary.

 

[bottombracket]

I've never once had a problem getting my bike on a train - with or without panniers - (touching wood now).
Be friendly and polite to the platform attendant, train attendant, driver etc. Ask rather than demand.
Even when I've been told no at the ticket desk, I'll still ask the platform/train staff and I've never been turned down...
Even got first class free once!

 

[Plague]

I've taken a bike onto the train (before I broke it that is) and have never had any problems with the train companies or anyone at the stations - all of which seem to be very bike friendly. One small word of warning, if you're using Virgin Trains, whilst they are very good and I've never had any issues just 'walking on' with a bike, they do ask that you reserve your bike space beforehand (its free, they just print a ticket off for your bike) as they only have limited space. Again though, they are very helpful. Are you on twitter? If so, you can follow @virgintrains and request it through them - I reserve my seats regularly with them and they're very good.

 

[HLaB]

On some Scotrail services you have to book kfinlay but others you just turn up all of the east of Scotland trains carry bikes, you might want to check out their web site.

 

[HLaB]

Scotrail Link

Edit most trains are like this, but not all!

 

[Jezston]

Cross Country trains have a bike 'holder' like the one in your second pic, but be damned if you ever think of using it! For some reason they stick the things between four seats, where a table would usually go, and there's always people sitting there!

So we all just lean them against the rail on the other side of the carriage.

 

[Globalti]

Do heed the advice to BOOK. Virgin trains to Scotland only have four places for bikes and if you haven't booked, those who have booked will take precedence.

 

[Darkmarkster]

If you ever travel via Virgin Trains they have dediated cycle storage areas but can only take 4 cycles on a train.They advise you to call ahead and book a space so that you can have a reference available for your bike booking.

Northern Rail do not accept bookings and operate a first come first serve basis although this is probably going to be difficult during peak or commuting hours.

I know that you are travelling on neither of those operators but thought I would add my two cents

 

[Paco]

The best solution to carrying bikes on trains is to take a folding or separable bike. There are some great bikes out there for long distance touring and even racing. I currently ride an Airnimal Chameleon, that folds into a suitcase, and I am selling a Moulton APB21 that separates into two halves and can be carried onto a train as hand-luggage. See: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12691912

 

[snorri]

Reservations are mandatory between Kirkcaldy and Pitlochry (Glasgow and Edinburgh to/from Inverness), details here

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/travelinfo/cycle-info.html

Sometimes you may get your bike on without a reservation, but you might not want to chance it. Panniers or not makes no difference, they just count the bicycles.

No two train companies have the same policy with regard to cycles on trains, but the service you want to use is a Scotrail service so some of the previous advice on this thread will not be applicable.

 

[kfinlay]

Thanks for all the info guys, turns out we didn't go on 26 Mar as it was pouring down and I didn;t want to sit on a drafty train, cold and wet for an hour only to cycle about 10 miles when I got off - sure way to catch a cold and just not worth it when I need to keep healthy for Etape Caledonia in 5 weeks.
Will keep in mind for future trips though

 

[psmiffy]

A bit late but:

I find my biggest problem traveling by train is not whether I can get on or off with or without a reservation - but whether there is a train at all - most times that I pick to travel anywhere it seems that the line is closed for maintenance and there are rail replacement buses which refuse point blank to take bikes

 

[Cool_Mint]

I'm planning a bike ride up to Pitlochry on Friday and will be getting the 14:30 train back to Kirkcaldy to get home in time for my work. I'm not used to taking my bike on trains so is there any way I can check if I'd allowed on the train with my road bike (no panniers etc so shouldn't take up to too much room) or do all trains have a carriage with a bike area?

It's just I emember reading one or two posts where guards have stopped people getting on trains but IIRC they were touring so had large panniers etc.

TIA

How did it go?

The only time I took a bike on a train was over 10 years ago and it was not a happy experience.

The train was running late (of course) and it stopped a lot further down the platform than I was expecting and this being my first time taking a bicycle on-board I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go; after asking some sort of mumbling mannequin (possibly a human being but I'm not sure) in a uniform who pointed to the back of the train, I walked the bike down the platform and saw a guard waving angrily at me to hurry up so I broke into a jog which seemed to p*ss him off even more; I realised that he was telling me to get on the bike and ride it which I did for the last two carriages; when I mounted the steps he said with maximum sarcasm "well done".

edit* I should mention at this point that cycling on the platform is illegal and dangerous!

When I asked where I was meant to put the bike he positively glared at me and said "there!" - pointing at a heap of bikes that were stacked together in a way that I'm sure must have scraped the paint on half of them.

I was too young to know better in those days, if they treated me like that now I'd give them hell, the least you expect is to be treated like a customer.

It's hard to believe things have gotten worse, at least back then there was still space to put bikes on trains.
Just four spaces? They must have some sort of deal going with the bus and taxi companies to stop people using non-motorized transport.

 

[Paco]

I had a similar problem on the night sleeper from Crewe to Scotland. Discovered my bike was on a section of the train that separated at Carlisle, taking me and the bike in different directions. After much discussion, I persuaded the train manager to let me transfer the bike during the 5 min post stop, but then it had to go into a corridor, which was a nuisance for everyone.
It was time to get a folder or separable!