Bikes on trains

[livpoksoc]

Absolutely correct, but their staff should be trained to be able to explain to passengers 'sorry, the policy is something i can't control, please however do write to our HO, the more complaints we get the more we'll have to consider our position'

 

[Sara_H]

The trouble with the privatised system is that each TOC has different policies on bicycles which doesnt help!
& some guards can be a little on the jobsworth side too

taken from Northern cycle policy. Basically there is space allocated for 2 bikes per train, but if its busy the conductor can refuse all bikes & not carry any

The state of rules re carrying bikes on trains in this country is abysmal. Some companies you have to prebook, some companies you can't - its a pain in the ass.

I went on tour recently and to get to my start point I had to get a northern rail train, connecting with a east coast train.
Had to pre book the east coast, but first come first served on the northern rail. I nearly had kittens at the thought of not being able to get on the Northern rail and missing the connecting train as it was an advance ticket and would have cost me another £80 or so if I'd missed it.

I have a folding bike that I generally us now when travelling by train, but thats no good for touring etc.

 

[PaulSB]

Just a little comfort for anyone using Northern Rail or Transpennine Express. I have never been refused access to a train run by these companies with my bike including a full 12 months of peak time commuting in to and out of Manchester.

I did once hear no cycles would be allowed on trains leaving Blackpool after the Manchester Blackpool ride but chanced it and got on without any difficulty.

 

[ufkacbln]

Just a little comfort for anyone using Northern Rail or Transpennine Express. I have never been refused access to a train run by these companies with my bike including a full 12 months of peak time commuting in to and out of Manchester.

I did once hear no cycles would be allowed on trains leaving Blackpool after the Manchester Blackpool ride but chanced it and got on without any difficulty.

SWT and First Capital Connect ban ALL bikes from ALL stations on the Network Network for the London Brighton ride.


The ban on cycles is total, you cannot even travel from say Portsmouth to Salisbury

 

[SquareDaff]

Heaven forbid we used common sense and spread them out on train with the proviso of please move if necessary,
This eventually was what happened but guards have a very hard time from both passengers and management .

This is what Northern Rail do despite the rules saying 2 per train only. Essentially they allow us to store the bikes in the doors away from the platform meaning at least an extra 2 bikes per carriage. They're out of the way and don't obstruct people getting on/off the trains so the conductors are happy.

 

[Frood42]

SWT and First Capital Connect ban ALL bikes from ALL stations on the Network for the London Brighton ride.

Surely with events like London to Brighton they should be providing support and additional trains where possible?
Perhaps if a new customer enjoyed the experience from events such as these they might use the train to take their bike again on that provider to other destinations...

Or is it just me that would like a hassle free train journey at the weekend to take the bike somewhere nice, without having to book in advance, double check the train can take bikes and not worry if they have a limit of 2 bikes per service...

As it is, I do not like the trains as a foot passenger, so will continue to avoid them where I can.

Last time I travelled any good distance (parents for christmas), I took a National Express coach, and what a nice surprise and much more pleasent ride than the train, I actually preferred it. Although I suspect it can be just as awkward to get bikes on coaches, if at all...

 

[ufkacbln]

Never mind bikes - try taking a suitcase on a train!

 

[Frood42]

I can't complain completely.
I live on the Central Line between South Woodford and Epping, and actually find it a pleasent experience to take my bike on the underground train, if I decide to cut my ride short in the evenings. Not many people on, space to store the bike and to then also sit down!

When I lived elsewhere I travelled South Eastern into work, I could rarely sit down, let alone think about taking a bike on that god awful service.

 

[StuartG]

These are merely symptoms of the disease. The conductors are victims too.

We need to take this to another level. Above the TOCs. They are all franchisees which means cycle provision needs to be a requirement of the franchise. Instead of trying to pick bike numbers out of the air all we need to do is have a question "By what percentage will you increase the current bicycle provision?".put a nice big value on each place provided and let the prospective TOCs try and outbid each other.

The government takes credit for the provision of extra carriages. Does this mean they help buy? If so a condition on, say, 6 bikes a carriage might also be fun. Not unrealistic if you have enjoyed Danish Railways.

 

[postman]

Last Thursday 18-48 train Scarborough to Leeds.Two old men,who had reservations were waiting to board said train.Tickets were fastened to bars as per instruction,when up tootled four other cyclists.
No reservations.
With the help of the Guard all six bicycles were on the train five fastened together and one loose on the opposite wall.
How do i know six bikes got on because i was one of the old men.
The Guard was brilliant.So much so i sent an e mail to his firm,i did not mention how many bikes,but i did say how well he looked after a number of expensive bikes.
I got a reply back thanking me for praising one of the staff,and his name will be going forward for a staff recognition monthly award.

 

[ufkacbln]

There is no incentive to improve

So long as they can "pack'em in" and charge premium rates then the TOCs will continue to do so

Bring in the same regulations that apply to all other public transport of one person per seat and 50% of that number standing and that would mean. a cap on the profit

There is the incentive

 

[ufkacbln]

The new SWT trains seat width is actually 5 cm narrower than the average British buttock!

 

[livpoksoc]

The new SWT trains seat width is actually 5 cm narrower than the average British buttock!

It's pathetic how SWT make such farcical decisions, I've worked for them briefly & the customer care manager was a right power trippy bitch who never seemed concerned by customer complaints, but merely laying down the rules from above. No wonder these seats got installed, it makes more money!