Bikes on trains

[Freds Dad]

Good Virgin fares here

http://www.farefinder.virgintrains.co.uk

 

[totallyfixed]

Stansted to Peterborough, Cross Country trains this is the line that goes via Cambridge, change there [Peterborough] to East coast and head north. We {Oakham] use the Cross Country service with our bikes, the bike carriage is only good for 2 bikes though I have seen 3 in there at a squeeze, bookable

 

[PaulSB]

Lots of good advice here and hopefully this will be useful. Living in the UK I know the system and rarely have a problem.

However this summer I was in Greece and needed to make a reservation from Preston to Portsmouth for myself and bike.

There was no provision to book the bike on line and phoning I couldn't get through. On the Virgin trains web site I found a "chat on line facility" connected with a very helpful lady who made the cycle reservation while I booked my passenger ticket. We worked almost in tandem and it meant the moment I got my passenger reference she was able to book the bike and give me a reservation number.

If you are booking from overseas this seems a very easy solution.

If you go via London be aware of the traffic!!!! During this trip I had to cross from Euston to Victoria, about 3 miles. After a few minutes of cycling I decided the traffic volume, need to navigate and my unfamiliarity with cycling in London meant I should walk!! I've ridden all my life but never encountered anything like cycling in London, don't know how people cope with it. I truly didn't have the confidence to cycle there.

 

[steveindenmark]

I saw that bikes were not allowed on the Victoria Line and Jannie would certainly not want to ride in London.

It looks like we will be going to Mallorca instead....Oh dear what a shame...I hear you all shouting.

Steve

 

[DefBref]

As has already been said, if you were only coming to do the C2C you shouldn't fly into London. Fly somewhere north instead, even Glasgow or Edinburgh. West Cumbria isn't really served by a single airport but has numerous options within a couple of hours of it.

 

[Ticktockmy]

You might want to have a look at this website http://www.seat61.com

 

[jefmcg]

I saw that bikes were not allowed on the Victoria Line and Jannie would certainly not want to ride in London.

It looks like we will be going to Mallorca instead....Oh dear what a shame...I hear you all shouting.

Steve

No need for Victoria line (though I'd suggest giving cycling a go) ...

The District/Circle/Hammersmith tube lines allow road bikes free of charge out of rush hour and connect Liverpool Street and Euston Square directly so you will not have to brave London traffic - even worse London cyclists! You may have to carry your bikes up a few steps at Euston Square.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Do you drive? I have often found it easier and cheaper in the UK to actually hire the smallest van I can (rather than a car) and use that for more than 1 person and a bike on trains in the UK. Assuming there are only 2 of you - this could be incorrect.... but a one way hire from Stansted to somewhere like Carlisle and then use the local trains or even cycle from Carlisle could work out much easier. I usually manage to get a one way 24hrs van hire for £80-90 with 2 drivers. factor in fuel and ease... plus a few bungee cords to hold the bikes upright inside the van

 

[robjh]

If you do choose the Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough line, they certainly take bikes free of charge but be aware that at peak times they can be very awkward about it due to huge overcrowding of the tiny trains, and at Cambridge you often see 'Bikes with reservations only' on these trains. Outside rush hours you should have little problem - though of course reserving places would solve this problem. You can do this at time of booking if you use Southern Railway website www.southernrailway.com, or East Coast as someone else said.

 

[steveindenmark]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I think there should be a whole section on the forum about how to get your bike from A to B to start a ride.

Because I have left this so late the flight times and prices became a problem and so now we are booked to go to Peurto de Pollenca for a week. We will hire bikes when we get there.

The advice you have offered on here will be well used next year.

Steve

 

[steveindenmark]

Thanks for that JC.

The problem in flying to Manchester from here is that flying from Billund with bikes is very expensive. The other alternative is flying from Bremen in Germany and that is about a 4 hour drive. It would make much more sense flying to Manchester though.