Bikes on trains in the UK

Ah, the last time was on Sunday I purchased a ticket asked for a bike reservation and was told it would be fine without. Changed train and was asked on the platform if I had one, just said yes and stuck my bike on.

Sadly it probably comes down to how much of a jobsworth you encounter.

I was trying to take a bike with me on FGW from Cardiff to London a few months ago with no reservation. I opened up the bike compartment and the 6 racks were already full, with a couple of extra bikes stuffed in already.

I was about to give up and wait for the next train when the guard came over and opened the door in the back of the power car, revealing a space about three times the size of the bike storage, totally empty apart from two bike racks in the middle of the floor. They could easily double their bike capacity if they cared.

That's the unfortunate truth, probably won't matter 99% of the time, but of course It would be my luck to get the belm that takes his job super seriously and strands me in Paddington!

Get to an Ikea or equivalent for one of their massive bags, disassemble on platform and carry on as normal luggage.

Side note- eventually a little bit of subterfuge won the day- as it was the gate guard who was refusing to let me on the train, but the train guard was all apologetic over the ridiculousness of the policy.

Get to an Ikea or equivalent for one of their massive bags, disassemble on platform and carry on as normal luggage.

Kinda like a rinko system.

Got on a FGW train at Pewsey (Wilts) yesterday. The train comes from Penzance but a fair few cyclists around Marlborough way.

Got on, but the guard did make the point that the policy has changed. There was no additional space after Pewsey, he was nice about it, but he could have easily refused to let me (and others with bikes) on.

Positive experience with Virgin yesterday from Manchester to London. Except the driver forgot to open the locked door upon arrival - I had to go get his attention/key.
Needed a reservation which of I was a late would have screwed me.
Good facilities. 8/10

That's pretty common. Probably 50% of the time I've been on them I've had to track down someone to open the door.

I've heard of a few people who've bought something along these lines http://www.banggood.com/Universal-Cross-Key-Train-Electrical-Cabinet-Elevator-Triangle-Key-p-940595.html

That's the one! Good shout

Really hope the driver is feeling generous at 7am tomorrow. Too ill to cycle back from the Harwich ferry, and just realised it's a rail replacement bus service.

Currently sat on the coach, bike underneath. Abellio ticket office guy said the official word is that they don't take bikes on the rail replacements, but because of the Dutch coming from the ferry, they try to accommodate it.

There is now a petition about the FGW reservation system, https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/bike-reservations-on-trains-the-beginning-of-the-end

Paid around 35-40€ for the 6 hour trip from Detmold to Hook of Holland, 4 changes. Had to buy a bike ticket too, which is around €7 of that cost. The German trains are all much more spacious, but people are so damn rude and push past as you try to alight.

The Intercity had space for around 20 bikes, most without reservations, but all with a bike ticket. It's half a coach, and comfortable.

Another IC through Holland has space for four bikes wedged in the vestibule of half of the coaches, so again maybe 20+ capacity.

However on the sprinter from Rotterdam to the Hook, which had only a couple fold up seats, the train manager told some people to move, so I could rest the bike. Thumbs up.

Certainly I'd not pay GWR any extra for a bike ticket in the current state, and the timed reservation is a ball ache.

However if the price wasn't so high, and they had a specific large coach like the IC trains, I'd buy a not timed bike ticket for £3.

£30+ off peak for a one hour cramped train? Get some damn EU legislation through quick, before people stupidly vote out.

Are you getting back from that trip you did to Berlin?

Yep, big sigh.

Almost without a hitch to get there (minus satnav gaff and 30°+ heat).

Got a chest infection by the time I left Berlin. Cycled two long days, had a rest day in Braunschweig but couldn't stop coughing. After two hours soaked in non stop rain the following day, I gave in at Hildesheim and caught a train to Detmold, to rest up a few days before coming back yesterday/today.

Well done!!!

Would have loved to have tagged along. You should do a write up of your trip, would be cool to here more about it.

I'll surely do it again some time. Would recommend it, with a comfy seat/tyres. There's a lot of rubbish surface on bike paths.

Not strictly bike related, but trains in UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36359210

Don't recommend buying on arrival, GWR ticket office guy in Paddington told me bike reservations close two hours before train departure, so he could only guarantee me the 13:45 train. But he said it's discretionary right now, so to chance it. I put my bike on the midday train a moment ago, there were only two reservations, and no bikes.

Apparently they are working to update the system to add on the spot bookings, but he couldn't guarantee if the new trains coming soon have greater capacity.

When I was travelling with Virgin EC they had a list of bikes that were due on each train, so could tell me exactly whether there was going to be a space when I rocked up.

Looks like bike reservations can't be done on Southern website online booking anymore. Any seller that does so? I need to get bike on train to London & back 24th & 25th next week.

Vision east coast website is where I usually buy train and bike tickets.

Ta.

Red Spotted hanky used to be good for booking bikes

just stopping by to say that the RMT can >>>>>>>

Anyone happen to know if the trains between London Bridge and Croydon are being effected by the Southern Rail strike? Looking to jump on one with a bike tomorrow but if they're not happening or they're packed out I'll ride there.