Bike on train: Norwich - Cambridge

OK, so I'm going home for a long weekend to see my folks on Thursday evening, and wanna take a bike back, which involves getting a train to Cambridge and then a lift back to Bedford. I know I could probably ask at the station about these kind of things, but I'd rather hear actual experiences rather than hypotheticals.

So what do I need to do? Is there a charge/a reservation process, or do I just roll up? And is there a separate bike carriage that I lock in or something?

Sorry about the presumably obvious questions, but I'm a complete novice. Last time I couldn't get my bike in the car I just rode here from Bedford!

Thanks for any info.

check the train companies website.

If I recall correctly, there's a carriage with an open bit for bikes that you just wheel it onto. it's often marked on the doors. Never had to reserve a spot on any train I've taken a bike onto, but I don't travel in peak hours.

If it's a non London train you are generally allowed to take bikes on without a reservation for Greater Anglia (although this is generally restricted to about 4 bikes per train). I've done Norwich to Cambridge without any problems before.

you can just jump on the train with bikes to Cambridge with no reservation and there's usually a specific carriage.

I do this regularly, there's no problem rolling up with a bike to go to Cambridge, although there's really only rack space for four bikes, the numbers allowed are not actively restricted, so you should be fine! Have never tried in peak hour though...

Sweet. I'll be getting the 18.40, which should be just late enough that I don't have to fight for space with too many people. And even if I do, I can't imagine I won't be able to cram my bike in somehow.

Thanks to all for your help.

I've only ever had problems at really busy times: bank holiday weekends that sort of thing. Oh, wait...

But unless you're going at peak time on Thursday you'll probably be fine. I did it the other day when the Norwich>London train went wonky and had to tell off a couple of Japanese tourists for sitting on it: one on the rear wheel, one on the top tube.

Not cool, tourists, not cool...

Aha, thanks for the reassurance Sparky! I'll get my bike on that train one way or another, even if I just take it on the carriage with me and get some tourists to sit on it as extra seating....