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@Backstop
Some recent experience with East Coast: Travelled Euston to Inverness on the sleeper train. Dedicated 6 hangers for bikes at end of train, booking not essential but might as well if you're traveling all that way.
On the return we wanted to take the 13:30 from Edinburgh on East Coast but no bike spaces, we had seat reservations but no cycle reservations. We had seat and bike reservations for a later train but obviously wanted the first train we could get.
There were some spaces left at Edinburgh but others would be joining half way, Durham I think, so technically no space. A little sweet talking to the guard, and with seat reservations, he bent the rules and let us on.
The point being that East coast now have a bike and luggage car, they actually have a team of porters to load and unload large luggage and as such they are hot on bookings and reservations. It was very busy when we returned, standing room only... but even so I wouldn't risk taking a bike long distance without a booking on the East Coast mainline.