This is hopefully where the changes will make an improvement. Rather than a whole plethora of different rules and processes are currently used for booking bikes on trains, GBR will be doing this bit, and it will be common across the country.On Scotrail you have to pre-book but you can't book your bike on on-line you have go into the ticket office in person.
Northern up here are fantastic, with bikes, & in general. One conductor told me he managed to squeeze 14 on the cross country route to Carlisle.Northern are hopeless, two bikes only and no pre booking so it's pot luck whether you can get on but if you do and have not bought a ticket in case you cannot you get fined. Conclusion do not bother considering to use the train.
Here in Washington DC we can roll ‘em right onto the Metro for stops in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Or 2 bikes can ride on the front of any of our Metro buses. Pre-pandemic I would put my bike on the front of a bus to get into work and ride it home. This is my 1998 Bianchi Ocelot taking a ride on an empty Metro.
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Yes, sorry bit of a mind blowing morning work wise with management who are completely inept IMOI think that's what it means anyway.
somewhat surprised that you say fantastic "in general" in view of the long-lasting service meltdown, but agree on bikes - I can't help wondering if @Mike_P ever uses his bike on his northern trains at all, or has - so yep - my experience is that they are all fine and easygoing and northern. Outside peak hours of course. Chill a bit mike - and take a trip with the bike on the wonder that is the settle carlisle line.Northern up here are fantastic, with bikes, & in general. One conductor told me he managed to squeeze 14 on the cross country route to Carlisle.
And, on a purley personal note, when I got on a train last week for the first time since September, the conductor said "Oh, I've been thinking about you this week & wondering if you'd be coming back". That is personal service!
I guess I'm just referring to the staff I come into contact with - they're probably as frustrated as the passengers with service cuts, rolling stock issues, etc.somewhat surprised that you say fantastic "in general" in view of the long-lasting service meltdown, but agree on bikes ...
yes - mad crazy as i was at manchester picadilly a year or two ago with repeated cancelled trains, trains pulling in/announced and then cancelled after we had all piled in I felt for the staff on the platform - they were giving me false/dodgy information but clearly were being fed junk from above - no-one had a clue what was going on. I was actually with a bike - had chosen a mid afternoon off-peak train deliberately - it was cancelled - as were others - by the time I squashed onto the still off-peak service with my bike it was packed solid like something from the third world.I guess I'm just referring to the staff I come into contact with - they're probably as frustrated as the passengers with service cuts, rolling stock issues, etc.
Sounds like long distance rail/bike solutions have a way to go. I don't know if anyone over here in the states even takes their bikes around the country on trains. I think it's a VERY pricy proposition. Makes me wonder. We have Amtrak near us, but I haven't been on a long distance train here in the states since I was a kid. Hmmm... I'll have to look into it just out of curiosity.Local trains are rarely an issue with a bike apart from certain “rush hour” times when bikes are banned. It’s the long distance trains and bikes that suck with ridiculous hooks and narrow cabinets being their idea of transport progress.