Bikes on trains.
- Thread starter Ceedee
- Start date
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
It varies from train to train but typically there is a hook to hang your bike from, and maybe a slot to put your back wheel into. Sometimes there are straps to secure your bike, sometimes not, so I always take a couple of bungee cords to use. If you don't secure the bike, it tends to swing about and I don't like that. Some trains have little compartments to wheel your bike into.
If you are worried about other bikes swinging into yours, you could always take some bubblewrap to put between them.
I've had a bike reservation before now but got on my train and found that all the spaces taken up by unreserved bikes! If you have some bungee cords, you can secure the bike somewhere else and if the train manager (or whatever they call themselves these days) objects, then show them your reservation and ask them to sort out the owners of the other bikes.
If the train is crowded, make your way to your bike well before the station you intend to get off at. I got trapped at the wrong end of a packed train once and had to run down the platform at my station, hop back on and just got my bike in time. You don't need stress like that.
If you mean secure as in 'do they get stolen' - I imagine that it is theoretically possible. You could always take a cable lock and at least lock the wheels, even if you couldn't find anything to lock it to. I prefer to sit near the bike compartment so I can keep an eye on my bike. You may be able to book a seat nearby, and if not you can often find another seat and ignore your reservation. So far, nobody has forced me to sit in the seat I reserved.
If you are worried about other bikes swinging into yours, you could always take some bubblewrap to put between them.
I've had a bike reservation before now but got on my train and found that all the spaces taken up by unreserved bikes! If you have some bungee cords, you can secure the bike somewhere else and if the train manager (or whatever they call themselves these days) objects, then show them your reservation and ask them to sort out the owners of the other bikes.
If the train is crowded, make your way to your bike well before the station you intend to get off at. I got trapped at the wrong end of a packed train once and had to run down the platform at my station, hop back on and just got my bike in time. You don't need stress like that.
If you mean secure as in 'do they get stolen' - I imagine that it is theoretically possible. You could always take a cable lock and at least lock the wheels, even if you couldn't find anything to lock it to. I prefer to sit near the bike compartment so I can keep an eye on my bike. You may be able to book a seat nearby, and if not you can often find another seat and ignore your reservation. So far, nobody has forced me to sit in the seat I reserved.
Ticktockmy
Guru
- Location
- Crawley, West Sussex
On the Night sleeper from Inverness, they always seem to load all the fish boxes before the bikes, then get upset when you make them unload them so the bikes can be loaded
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
Virgin Pendolino:
Locked compartment in the first unit of the train. Ask platform staff where they want you to be when the train gets in (they normally have a "cycle boarding point"). The train manager will need to unlock the compartment for you when you get to your destination. There's usually a rail to secure the bike to.
Northern Rail:
No dedicated bike space as such - use the space in the middle coach with the three fold down seats* ***
Arriva Trains Wales:
Either;
1) A tiny compartment with an opening slightly wider than 42cm road bars at the end of one of the coaches or
2) A 2 bike space at the furthest end from the cab of "Coach C"* with two wheel bender type holders.
Cross Country:
Usually 3 or 4 spaces in two "locker" type areas in one of the middle coaches**. These require you to hang the bike from its front wheel.
* Be prepared to find these filled with luggage, and/or cross people.
** Be prepared to find these filled with cross people, luggage, and/or rubbish.
*** Northern Rail are pretty pragmatic, and ime, will carry as many bikes as they can without blocking the aisles or causing a nuisance to other passengers. Bear in mind that you may be asked to move if a mobility impaired person is boarding the train, as these space are, strictly speaking, for them.
Locked compartment in the first unit of the train. Ask platform staff where they want you to be when the train gets in (they normally have a "cycle boarding point"). The train manager will need to unlock the compartment for you when you get to your destination. There's usually a rail to secure the bike to.
Northern Rail:
No dedicated bike space as such - use the space in the middle coach with the three fold down seats* ***
Arriva Trains Wales:
Either;
1) A tiny compartment with an opening slightly wider than 42cm road bars at the end of one of the coaches or
2) A 2 bike space at the furthest end from the cab of "Coach C"* with two wheel bender type holders.
Cross Country:
Usually 3 or 4 spaces in two "locker" type areas in one of the middle coaches**. These require you to hang the bike from its front wheel.
* Be prepared to find these filled with luggage, and/or cross people.
** Be prepared to find these filled with cross people, luggage, and/or rubbish.
*** Northern Rail are pretty pragmatic, and ime, will carry as many bikes as they can without blocking the aisles or causing a nuisance to other passengers. Bear in mind that you may be asked to move if a mobility impaired person is boarding the train, as these space are, strictly speaking, for them.
Ticktockmy
Guru
- Location
- Crawley, West Sussex
Same here I find Southern very happy regarding where bike go in thier rolling stock, once 15 of us turned up at seaford, with lots of muddy MTB,s the Conductor just said put were you can, but try not to get mud on the seats. The train from Reading to Gatwick can be hard to find space on, as the cycle space often get filled with luggage.
Skyfoil
The Jolly Ginger Giant
- Location
- Wolverhampton
The Cross Country train bike compartments are almost always in coach 'D'.
London Midland.
Disabled areas for wheelchairs offer plenty of space for upto 4 cycles in my experience.
If these areas are not free, they'll usually let you stand with your bike in the doorway / vestibule areas, as long as you're not in the way too much.
subaqua
What’s the point
- Location
- Leytonstone
is this from experience or anecdotal?
just wondering as i have decided on taking one of my bikes to North Wales with me and will be going on a Voyager with virgin from Euston. I know i have to reserve a space (done already) and i am traveling 1st class for cheaper than cattle class so wondering how far along the train the bike rack is.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I took my bike on one of the trains where they had a locked compartment. Fine - I had no problems putting it in there with the help of a friendly train 'manager'.
But then there was a staff change mid-journey ...
It was stressful trying to find the new 'manager' to arrange to get the compartment unlocked again at the end of my journey!
By the time I got to my station, the train was very crowded so I had to get off the train at one end, run along the platform and trust that the manager was going to be at the other end to unlock the compartment again. He turned up very grumpy at the last moment, just before the train was due to depart.
It's making me stressed again thinking about it!
But then there was a staff change mid-journey ...
It was stressful trying to find the new 'manager' to arrange to get the compartment unlocked again at the end of my journey!
By the time I got to my station, the train was very crowded so I had to get off the train at one end, run along the platform and trust that the manager was going to be at the other end to unlock the compartment again. He turned up very grumpy at the last moment, just before the train was due to depart.
It's making me stressed again thinking about it!
Ticktockmy
Guru
- Location
- Crawley, West Sussex
Normally at the other end, as sods law is at work
serously, the cargo space is the other end from first class
Ticktockmy
Guru
- Location
- Crawley, West Sussex
But a lot of the stations have a sign showing where the Cycling loading point is
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
Experience. We were on a Pendolino last time we travelled with Virgin, so it may not be exactly the same, however, do ask the platform staff where they want you, so you can load the bikes without too much fuss, and remind the train manager that he/she will need to let your bikes out at the other end, and it should be fine. (IIRC, the reservation system will give them a reminder at your destination too). Remember that you can't get back to the bikes 'til after the journey, so make sure everything you want is in the bag you take into the train with you!
On the Pendolinos, the part the bikes travel in is right at the end of the train (as they come in to Crewe). Both Crewe and Piccadilly have a "Cycle Boarding Point" sign, as I recall, indicating where you should be.
Depending on when I arrive at the station, I've travelled with the other companies as part of my commute, I try to avoid Cross Country though, as the LHT is a bit of a heavy bike to be hoisting onto a wheel hook.
First TPE have always been fine with me - I've used them a few times between York and Northallerton/Darlington. Depending on the time of day you might well find bikes without reservations on there - you can't book a space on a turn up and go now ticket, it has to be done 24 hours in advance so I've often travelled without a boke booking. Our record is getting three bikes (one with a baby seat) onto a busy service that already had 4 bikes in the bike space - and none of us had booked a space! In fairness, the train manager wasn't very happy about that one. I once decided to just wait for the next train back from Northallerton because I couldn't be bothered to force my way on, past all the people standing in the doorway, with a loaded tourer and a 9 year old child with his loaded tourer - he always finds the getting on the train bit slightly worrying as he's concerned about dropping his bike or getting left behind. The bike space is usually a fold-up seats bit in a coach in the middle-ish, usually with a bike symbol on the door (although once there wasn't). You can also get a bike easily into the wheelchair space, down next to first class, assuming it isn't use of course!
