Bikes on trains in the UK

Quick question. I can't find any where on the net about what trains I can take my bike on - before I call and get put on hold for 2 hrs does anyone know of a website I could find out. Leeds - Stoke in particular. I know the rule of thumb is it's ok after 10 ish and before 3ish .. I never taken a bike on a train before

Cheers

Second google hit with the string bikes on trains
http://www.atob.org.uk/Bike_Rail.html

Recently they tried to charge me a luggage fee for my bike as it was in a box, yet if it was not in a box it was free ... I pointed out that in the box it takes up less space than if I'd wheeled it on ... didnt help ...

You're best with Grand Central trains, can take a bike on any time without booking it on

I book through EastCoast http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/
You can request a bike space as part of the booking process. Easy.

As above, Southern Rails online booking site also offers bike reservations as part of the online process.

I doubt Leeds to Stoke will cause you too much trouble tho...

Anyone taken a bike on the East London line?

I'm not sure if it counts as the underground or overground.

I gather that bikes on trains is ok after 9.30am but on the underground they're not allowed between 07.30- 9.30pm and then 16.00 - 19.00.

EDIT:
Sorry, found a specific page.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11701.aspx

Same as the tube.

I book through EastCoast http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/
You can request a bike space as part of the booking process. Easy.

Has the East Coast website changed - I can't find the option to book bike spaces online anymore? It was there last week when I checked, but I can't see the option anymore today, or am I just being blind?

after clicked buy now there is a bicycle space option

Ok, that's weird. It lets me choose tickets, but doesn't give me the option to book a bike space. I've just checked with the train company direct and it turns I don't actually need a reservation to travel at the time I want, so is the East Coast website clever enough to know what each different train companies bike restrictions are, and prevent that option showing up if its not needed?!

with virgin you get an indian call centre, who doesn't understand northern and will beat about the bush for about 10minutes costing your money on a premium number. Language barrier over it was a pretty simple process.
however, pendelino's, their flagship mainline trains, can take like 70persons per carriege. Yeah, only has 4bike slots. any recumbants/ tandems take up the whole space, and there are an alarming number of them travelling like that!

Grandcentral are a PROPER train company, running decent old valentia powered thrash monsters with free cups of tea/coffee and monopoly and free wireless. You can take as many bikes and luggage as you please and it never costs that much money, even if you just get on it without booking in advance. the rest need to learn a lesson, and come renewal time for service contract for west coast mainline its unlikely virgin will win it again ;)

Anyone got any experience of bikes on First Capital Connect trains out to Hertfordshire. According to the website I can't take my bike on before 1900 which is a pain as I want to be on the 1853 out of Finsbury Park tomorrow night?

As it's not a terminus you might get away with it.

basically unless you are coming out of one of hte main central london terminus's. Nobody cares.

Tried to get out of london monday morning at 5am from euston and was accosted by 2 extremely short tempered ticket fellas. Been taking early trains for over year from there now and never had to show a ticket, let alone needed a hard copy of my bike reservation? Normally an indian virgin trains geezer gives you a number on back of your ticket (written) but that wasn't enough. nearly missed train and had to use my 'own' J key to access the guard van as none of them wanted to helpme.

was a nice holdsworth inside though :D

`J key'?

i work on the Railway, based at Manchester Victoria, most trains can accept upto 3 cycles, however i would avoid 0700 - 0930 and 1400 - 1830, as these trains are 'rush hour'and are quite busy, any questions train oriented i will do my best for you....

j Key opens square taper & security square with peg inside train locks. Very useful for various reasons, but BTP are not happy for non-staff to be carrying them. Although most staff loose them and then can't actually do their job, in which times, it is useful, and the staff are grateful for the assist.

i work on the Railway, based at Manchester Victoria, most trains can accept upto 3 cycles, however i would 0700 - 0930 and 1400 - 1830, as these trains are 'rush hour'and are quite busy, any questions train oriented i will do my best for you....

If you're anywhere near the tram platforms look out for a Black and Orange stickered Brompton getting on or off there. That's me on lazy days!

T key, not 'J'
i'll keep an eye out for any Black/Orange Bromptons....

long distance trains (even if only going a few stops) tend to require a booking while sprinters tend not require a booking (north of the border anyway)

Basically for long distance you need to book best to go to travel centre ( Euston stn is excellent)

or use Southern Rail website booking, which does bike reservations on t'internet bookings

I used to take my bike on underground every morning from Herne Hill to Orpington. If you're going out of the city, from a certain distance away from the city, they don't mind, no matter the time.

Basically for long distance you need to book best to go to travel centre ( Euston stn is excellent)

yeah, but if you book over the phone, they give you a code which you can write on any surface you like, but it won't matter, as you still have to que at euston like a goon to get the code that you already have, reprinted by them on a spare orange ticket effort.
Then dash like mad to get back past the angry ticket men awaiting you on the platform and then be told by the station bloke to RIDE to the end of teh platform as the train IS leaving, when you arrive there, find you need a J-Key to open the compartment, the train guy has forgotton and as you spin round to head to the next nearest door the doors close and you are out of sight of the station whistle bloke and you miss your train, despite being there 25minutes before time and doing what the station geezer directed you to do.

basically,
virgin/beardy branson trains = great.
ticket system = retarded amounts of un-needed faff
space for bikes = good, but no ability to lock your bike
security = good enough to keep chancers off, but seasoned bike thieves will just carry a screwdriver to open the compartment from teh inside or outside (I now have my own J-key, which is apparently illegal, but fuck it, I'm not standing like a tool on a platform for an extra 2.5hours for nobody).

/rant over.

Smaller trains are pretty much always fine, though trans pennine express will only take 3bikes max per train, regardless of carriages (1,2 or 4) something to do with the H&S or fire certificate relating to a 'train' rather than specific carriages/numbers of bike spaces. Although watch out for chancer thieves in cities.

Just as I was getting off in newcastle I always hang back, I have eyes on the bike while getting up etc. Kid a few doors infront of us fingers the bike, then the saddle, tests it for a lock, then goes to pull it out just as I arrive next to him. No excuse from him as there was no other bikes or gear about to 'oh i was just reaching for' he just turned round and walked off, should have given him a clip, though it could have been curiosity as it was an uber bling mountain bike at the time.

ive taken a bike on the district line from victoria to hammersmith and then onwards to gatwick on the picardilly.. only once mind.

always easier to ask forgivenness than permission.
no bother.