Do you lock your bike when it's on a train?

[Pale Rider]

I ask after hearing of a cyclist who lost his bike between Edinburgh and London.

On arrival at London, his carbon roadie had been 'replaced' by an on old mountain bike.

The bike was stored in the compartment behind the train's engine.

What happened between Edinburgh and London is open to conjecture, it may have been a pre-planned theft, or the MTB rider may have been a genuine passenger and an opportunist thief.

Or it may have been a dishonest member of railway staff.

Whatever, the result is the same for the owner, he made it to London but his bike didn't.

I keep an eye on my bike when it's in the carriage's luggage area, and have been known to lock it.

But when putting the bike in the space behind the engine, I always feel under pressure to stash it quick and hop back off the train to get back on again to find my seat.

What do you do?

 

[subaqua]

not allowed to lock it to the train. says in the T&Cs on SW Trains doesnt stop me if i cant get a seat near to the bike rack. it gets locked in the guards van on EC and WC . never done GWR so not had any experience on that front. booking the space was a faff with GWR

 

[Dayvo]

Don't let the train take the strain:

 

[snorri]

Sit with it or stand next to it. I've heard of quite a few people who have had their bikes stolen when they have been sat in the carriage.

Difficult to get a bike in a sleeper compartment.

 

[Flying Dodo]

All the train companies say you mustn't lock the bike to the train.

If there are 2 of us travelling on intercity trains, then I lock the bikes together as I have my big 2kg chain wrapped over my shoulder and can quickly lock the bikes together without wasting too many seconds. That way I know someone couldn't get away with dragging both bikes off the train - especially from a Virgin Penalino due to the way they're built and the position of the bike storage area, as you couldn't physically carry the bikes around and out the door.

However, when travelling solo, I'm always a bit twitchy especially if I know my booked seat is some way from the luggage area and have sometimes locked the bike and wheels together.

I always look out the window towards the luggage area to double check in case someone tries to nick the bike. Not a lot else you can do unless you're sat next to the bikes unfortunately.

I've seen someone use the trick of tying a spare toe clip strap around a wheel and the train just to stop an opportunist thief.

 

[ianrauk]

I don't care if they say you can't lock your bike up on a train. I always do.

 

[Brandane]

If traveling long distance it's usually the west coast mainline on a Virgin Pendolino. The bike goes into the north end of the train (usually) behind the driver's compartment. I then try to find a seat nearby so that I can see the exit door whenever the train stops; that way I can see anyone leaving the train with my bike, and it gives me a few seconds to get after them. I know my officially reserved seat might be a few carriages away; I don't use it.

Local Scotrail trains are easy, there is a dedicated area for bikes and I sit somewhere I can see the bike, usually right beside it. I then promptly fall asleep and hope for the best! (My stop is at the end of the line).

 

[NorthernDave]

If I'm on a local train (Northern), then I'll normally just stay with the bike, which is no problem for trips that are generally under an hour.
Most trains have a dedicated space / spaces so its easy enough.
If I was on a train that required me to leave the bike out of sight then I'd lock the bike, no question, Ts and Cs or not.

 

[Soltydog]

I work for Northern (for my sins) & just before Christmas someone locked a bike up on the train, however it wasn't the bike's owner Not 100% sure of the facts as I wasn't there & heard the story third hand, but the bike had been locked up by another, presumably with the intention to steal at some point. The owner realised & got the attention of the guard who made an announcement asking for it to be unlocked. No one came forward, except for a guy traveling home who happened to have a tool kit & forcibly removed the lock with the required tools, so it ended fairly well. But I err on the side of caution & lock my bike up if it isn't in view whilst traveling on trains

 

[Fab Foodie]

If I can't see it, YES. Same on coaches when stowed in the 'Bicycle' compartment.

 

[stupug]

I always lock my bikes up on the train. Didn't realise you couldn't though, but that wouldn't stop me

 

[mjr]

I lock mine, even if it's in sight. On refurbished local "happy trains" (class 365 I think), it's now the only way to stop them falling over because the vestibule where you have to leave them has been made narrower.

What's the insurance situation if you don't lock them in the luggage compartment of an intercity? Is the train operator liable?

 

[TheDoctor]

I lock them, unless I'm sitting beside the bike. I've had a Brompton stolen before, and I don't want to lose another.

 

[ColinJ]

I spoke to a cyclist who was standing next to his bike on a local train. He told me that he'd had a bike stolen from a train in the past and he wasn't going to risk it happening again.

 

[Saluki]

If I can't see my bike, I lock it. If I can see it, I might just drop a D lock from frame to Wheel. Just in case.

Why can't you lock a bike in a train? Seems daft really.