Bikes on trains in the UK

"You can take your bike on our off-peak trains."

Seems pretty clear.

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.

I just walk on with confidence, i travel regularly with a bike from london and around the country (mostly to south wales) never book it just act like its what you are supposed to do and i have never had a problem. I do abide by the no peak times rule :)

On a late friday afternoon in September, I will hopefully be rolling into Gravesend after a bit of touring through Belgium and France. Riding from Dover in the morning and needing to be somewhere near Wood Green before it gets too late, my plan was to take some sort of train/tube connection across London, thus choosing Gravesend as the end of my ride. The plan was to take the Southeastern to St. Pancras, but is there any way to get from St. Pancras to Wood Green with my bike - apart from riding it?

You best bet would be train from Kings Cross to Alexandra Palace which is pretty near. The frequency is variable though depending on when exactly you're travelling.

Perfect, thanks! And I have to wait 'til after 19:00 to take my bike on the Great Northern, as far as I can tell?

Weekdays yes, weekends anytime.

Super. I arrive on a friday, so after 19:00 it is.

So, lets say I needed to catch the 0700 from Paddington to Newbury with a bike. Stroll on? Or will they say no?
Book a bike space maybe?

As far as I'm aware restrictions in the morning are only trains coming in to London

Excellent. Will try at the very least.

You'll be fine heading in that direction I'd expect.

I'd be wary, even if you are traveling in the wrong direction some companies don't like it. I have taken a bike in the rush hour leaving Paddington, but I did get a bike reservation. The reservation is free so why chance it?

Might make it easier to take bikes on their trains?

@BritishCycling The newest member of our #ChooseCycling campaign is train operator @VirginTrains https://t.co/SqG3r8Drjr https://t.co/wj1eIoM4TV

Link to Tweet: https://twitter.com/BritishCycling/status/659829596087435264

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/campaigning/article/20151029-campaigning-news-Virgin-Trains-signs-up-to--ChooseCycling-network-0

Some of the worst experiences I've ever had with bikes on trains is with Virgin, I fucking hope they sort themselves out.

I use redspottedhankey for booking tickets now as they have an option to book cycle places when you're making a reservation online. Last trip about an hour from Glasgow, return ticket, one change, I had 12 coupons to cart about with me though. People waiting for me to finish using the self-service machine were going mental...

Decided to stay over in London last night and crash on a friend's floor. National Express wanted nearly £25 for the new ticket (cos I didn't get my connection I'd paid for last night), so went for the train instead. Railcard is still valid, so open return - £30.

Anyway, I dump the folding bike in the bike carriage as normal, as it's a bit busy even for a late-lunchtime train. At Swindon the train guy says to me that I'm more than welcome to take it into the regular passenger carriage and put it on the luggage racks, if I want to. He was really sincere about it (which is normal for Great Western / Swindon Station staff) but it was nice he said it, instead of picking a fight (like some operators). I said it's no problem, but he repeated himself saying, just in case I want to next time.

On train to visit @scherrit for a fitting today.

Train should have bike spaces but no appropriate carriage on train. Driver told me to take bike into carriage as train v empty. Conductor is telling me to put bike across the doors because slightly blocking the aisle is a health and safety issue but blocking a doorway isn't.

First Great Western?

Does anyone know about taking a bike on the train to Cambridge from London? I'm travelling at 8pm on Saturday evening - just tried booking a space but to no avail... Can I just rock up with my bike or are they very militant?

Probably fine. Be nice and you'll likely get away with it.

Travelled in the middle of the day no problem. Check because one end of the train is a wideride kinda deal, with fold up seats. Ask the staff as you go to board, it will be either first or last carriage if all is normal.

Pretty sure, even on a Saturday, you'll be on one of the standard, commuter-type trains from Kings Cross (final destination Kings Lynn/Ely? - so you'll be on part of my old commute).

The trains don't have designated bike space. But it'll be fine, as even non-folding bikes are unrestricted at weekends. @pdlouche has some good advice, if the train has the folding-type seats. But a bike will fit in the spaces near the doors no problem. So maybe take a bungee or two / cable to secure it to stop it falling over and sit right next to it, just in case.

Hope you enjoy Cambridge - I might even be there myself with mini c00ps, if the weather's nice tomorrow!

@Backstop, @pdlouche, @c00ps, thanks all. Is it of any consequence that my train is the one that leaves from Liverpool Street and not Kings Cross?

The newer liverpool St ones will have a space near the loo you can strap your bike to, but no one minds if you prop it in the doors, just keep an eye on which side the doors open. Maybe Broxbourne is on the "wrong" side? It might be busy for the first few stops at that time but tutting aside you'll be fine. Sometimes lots of people get on at Tottenham Hale and off through Essex.

Cheers @hoefla