Bikes on trains in the UK

Feel for the inspector checking all those!

The ghost of Sustrans is weeping in its grave.

Having stood in a line of people as the machine slowly spits them out one by one before, they should have been simplified long ago!

Given that they qr read tickets now it could be a single qr code on one ticket?

Yeah, I suppose you often book the bike as a separate thing, but it could combine with your ticket in a live way. And you could do it all easily online, imagine 🤣

In fact that was only for one bike. Buying two tickets online only gives you the option to book one bike space 🤷 . So we should have had ANOTHER four card tickets on top of that lot. But in fact there was zero issue chucking another bike in the space, and obviously no-one checked and the barriers were all open anyway.

It's almost as if all the systems, decisions and logistics around bikes on trains in the UK are totally insane.

But in fairness to the various train operators, I've almost never had an issue actually putting a bike on a train, so that is good.

Bike reservations are no longer compulsory on GWR, so all of that junk is even more redundant than it used to be.

Huge thumbs up to operator Grand Central.

Got my bike on train today up to Thirsk.

Proper little guards van section to put the bike in, with friendly and helpful staff

What a refreshing change!

Tandems on trains nowadays... Is this a non-starter? Mini c00ps & I were looking at a couple of days tandem packing (nowhere special, just somewhere with some scenery, maybe an outdoorsy activity or two and a quiet countryside route), as I can shift my racks and gear over and we can escape for a couple of days this month or maybe even October half-term.

Last time, a few years ago, I got lucky bringing it back peak time from London to Cambs (either St Neots or Huntingdon - can't remember which station I used back then) on Great Northern, as the gates were open at Kings Cross and I just went through. Not sure about other operators (e.g. changing at Peterborough or Stevenage to go somewhere not on the east coast railway route?

I remember asking similar about a route to Suffolk a few years ago and there was a lot of "no tandems on X service". Assume it's still the same for some trains, regardless of how busy? tl:dr - I need to call the train company(ies) don't I? PITA

Have you seen this

Not seen that before - great help, thanks.

So basically no trains nearby! Hahahaha.

Sounds like I will have to chance it one stop to Peterborough and then try LNER. Nowhere east or west.

May not be where you want to go, but you can get Southeastern trains from London Bridge with a tandem, I reckon. Their bike spaces are in the toilet carriages, so the spaces are long enough to accommodate a tandem. No booking necessary, but obviously you'll have to hope no-one else is on the same train with the same idea.

Excellent tip. Ta. My problem might be more about getting into London though, as GN/Thameslink doesn’t allow them (despite my luck). I’d certainly be up for an early start to head south and then take the chance on my own, without the risk of being stuck with mini c00ps. Bit different with a child though.

I live in London, have a tandem, don't have a car, have done many trips with it on train.

I tend to put it on and ask questions later, the below is based on experience.

Greater Anglia - fine
South Western Railway - fine
Thameslink - fine
Avanti West Coast - fine with a reservation
Great Western Highspeed Paddington - forget it
Great Western Lowspeed Paddington - fine
Scotrail - it depends

Further to my Grand Central comment up there, I have realised that my return journey is with LNER.

It will be an interesting opportunity to compare and contrast.

Stay tuned for this upcoming riveting content.

Like and subscribe yah

Very helpful. Thanks. Much more optimistic than that website!

In a rather pleasing way, I can bring together two recent themes of this thread by reporting that I am an LNER train back from from York, with my bike alongside a chap that has brought a tandem on.

He had to book two bike spaces for it and has taken the wheels off. But it's on and working.

Also LNER were very helpful with getting me on and sorted.

The accomodation is the kind of cupboard things with vertical hangers.

So a thumbs up all round.

Two train journeys within the last few weeks, both of them on Southeastern trains.

1. Midweek ride back from Whitstable to London Victoria circa 4pm. No bike booking required but there were bike specific spaces on the mainly empty carriage. No extra cost, smooth as silk journey.
   
2. Midweek ride back from Canterbury to London Victoria on the 19:47 (even though I had pre-booked the 15:47). No bike booking required but no bike specific spaces on the train confirmed by the guard/ticket inspector I spoke to. I left the bike in the space by the doors leaning up against the non-driveside doors and all he asked was that I move the bike for the two stops where the platforms were on the opposite side (no-one got on at either stop).
   
   

For both of these I pre-booked the tickets a few days before and saved circa 50% on the cost if I had paid on the day (as evidenced by the riders I was with on the way back from Whitstable who ignored my suggestion to pre-book).

So how did he hang up/secure his tandem if he'd taken the wheels off? Wasn't it hooks for front wheels? Did he lean it against something (don't lean)?

(I used one of those cupboards recently on another line and found it OK for my own needs as a tall enough person to reach everything and being strong enough, but they're undoubtedly not good for shorter people who can't lift their bikes (staff were very helpful but didn't need to help me with hanging it up; perhaps they'd give assistance if someone needed it).)

Did he lean it against something (don't lean)?

Yeah it was just kind of leant up inside the cupboard. Since he had booked both slots he could jam it all in adequately.

Ah, cheers. Wouldn't work with mudguards, I guess.

FWIW I did a tandem on Crossrail and Thameslink last year and it worked fine - no problems at all

Somebody give this man a medal. The advice I wanted but have never found!!

Is there somewhere that just pumps out cheap train journeys? Like I just want to go "somewhere else" from London. Is there like a lastminute.com for trains?

Trainline has a page showing cheapest fare of the day for London to random place over a month's span. I reach it by Googling "London to _ train" do that for a few places and you can get some very cheap tickets. Obviously don't actually buy them on Trainline.