Bikes on trains in the UK

Presume a 16:30 train heading north with a bike will be ok in terms of OFF PEAKness?
I need to get me and myself to Clit-hero, sorry, Clitheroe Fri night and then back again either late Sunday or Monday.

Assuming you're going via Virgin then it's fine (although only on Friday). On the Monday you'll generally need to be getting the train after 9.30am (although there are a few strange rules).

I'm pretty sure the Preston to Clitheroe bit doesn't have peak trains (admittedly it barely has trains). There's a first come, first served bike section or you can just squeeze it in on the doorways I've found.

16:30 train heading north with a bike

From a London terminal? I would be careful with exactly when off-peakedness finishes for the afternoon, eg. the last train may be 16:23.

They've abolished peak trains on Friday afternoons on Virgin West Coast. (Probably because the whole of Euston was hanging around until 7pm and then attempting to leg it onto a rammed train).

It'll be Fri but I want the least hassle so if I can get out of work for a 16:30ish train I'd rather that than the later ones, which, if full, will leave me fucked and having to get super late ruining the point of booking a hotel up there.

Ta

Hello, I'm getting a ferry from Dover at 8pm on Friday of the Bank holiday meaning a 5.30pm train from St Pancras > Dover

How likely am I to have trouble getting a bike on?

High. Travel earlier outside of peak time and it should be no issue. Plus cheaper.

I can't unless I take a half-day at work which I wanted to avoid... But it might have to wangle something if they're likely to be strict on it.

Even ignoring the restriction it’s horrible trying to get on at rush hour with a bike. I regularly took a bike on reverse rush hour and it was bad enough coming in.

Good advice, I've booked the half day to avoid it. Should mean we're in Bruges by 11pm so can squeeze some beers in now - result. Thanks for the input.

Anyone know what the limit is in terms of number of bikes on a Virgin train from Brum to London? Trying to work through the logistics of getting a group of colleagues to ride from L to B, and then train back

its usually 4 i think, but the chiltern trains from marylebone to snow hill have no limits.

Yeah, think it is 4. They go in a separate carriage at the front of the train. Best to double check with the train manager, or driver, just that they are aware of the bikes being aboard and maybe sit in the next car along. Brum can be a tight platform with loaded bikes, the lifts are good however. Marylebone is a more relaxed station. Look at picking up the canals to ride into Birmingham, some have good surface and are more pleasant than the busy roads.

Look at picking up the canals to ride into Birmingham, some have good surface and are more pleasant than the busy roads.

I've done Birmingham to London and you can ride it mostly in the lanes without having to do the canals. Roughly Brum->Warwick->Leamington Spa->Silverstone (the village)->Chilterns->High Wycombe->London

Yep, just meant to say more for Brum city centre, there are some shitty roads you can get caught on.

Has anyone taken a bike on the following trains at the weekend?
London to Salisbury
Westbury to London

It says you need to have reservations on the first South Western and I think you are meant to have them on GWR if it goes through Swindon, but in reality, can you just turn up.

Had reservations in GWR going to Wales a few weeks ago at rush hour and it was an absolute shit show. Tiny sections to hang two bikes, not marked on the outside of the carriages and the train was so packed we had to insist people moved out of the bike bits to even get on the train.

Had reservations in GWR going to Wales a few weeks ago at rush hour and it was an absolute shit show. Tiny sections to hang two bikes, not marked on the outside of the carriages and the train was so packed we had to insist people moved out of the bike bits to even get on the train.

This was my experience getting to Bristol for an audax. 6 bike slots per train. I had to stand the whole way in the fucking aisle, the train was late because a bunch of uni kids were having a party in one carriage and someone called the cops (I thought they were fine, if noisy). Basically trains here are shithouse. Germany and NL have it sorted. Even Belgium's shitty trains make it easy to get a bike on. Why such a fantastic multi-mode transport option is fucked over here, I don't understand.

Anyone got any experience with lner? Taking king x to Inverness next week. Couldn’t see a bike option anywhere while booking my ticket so just went ahead and booked. Then see afterwards that you need to call before booking for a bike space.
I need to call during office hours but has anyone any experience of making such an amendment? Obvs if all bike spaces are already booked I’m outta luck.
Booked thru trainline not lner site as it kept crashing(no bike option on there either)

Usually fine. I believe they have the power to change your train foc if there are no bike spots. I usually book the bike spot, then the train.

Make sure you print your reservation if travelling from Euston, the guy at the gate tried to make me go back and print mine with only 5 mins to departure. No such problem at other stations.

what @cjr said

FYI if you can't get a bike spot then turn up early, be lovely to the dispatchers and then the Guard and you should be able to get a spot.

The Highland Mainline only runs HST's so there are 3 bike spots per train. So if you are getting the direct 1200 service (My commuter, the Highland Chieftain :) ) then there is some risk you might not get a spot.

If you are swapping at Waverley, then you should get a bike spot quite easily as it will be a class 91 with enough room for a peloton in the Driving Van Trailer. Scotrail have always been alright about unbooked bikes in my experience, as long as it's not a busy service

Yeh I’m on the 12 o clock direct to Inverness. In the past I’ve always just arrived early and been charming and never had an issue but as there’s only occasional trains at the bargain price I thought it’d pay to book ahead.
Cheers for the advice guys, will give lner a bell today when I get the chance.

@Ecobeard I’m on the badger divide, does that pass close to you? If so fancy a coffee if you’re around?

Closest it comes to us is Killin, at the far end of Loch Tay

We are in the process of moving to Edinburgh, hopefully on the 9th, so might not match up?

What day are you getting the train up though?

I caught a LNER train to the Peaks recently. They were great with bikes, and the bike carriage had plenty of space for more than the supposed 5 bike capacity. The lady on the way up even let us sit in first class and take some free water bottles on the way out. Better than most train companies I've dealt with.

print your reservation

It's 2019. Did you not have it on a phone?