robjh
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire - almost Essex
What are Northern like for bikes on the Burnley-Hebden Bridge-Halifax-Leeds services? Are they generally tolerant if the 2 bikes limit is exceded?
remarkable that they are so easygoing after the company's history, crowds of frustrated travellers to deal with during the long-term service meltdown of the recent past. I was on a northern train at manchester picadilly that was sardine rammed worse than any london tube rush-hour tin - rammed even though I had chosen the train as off-peak as they had cancelled so many trains that everyone was on this. But with a quick dash I still got my bike on - no-one suggested that I get off (mind you they would have had trouble extracting me).In general they seem to be a cheerful bunch, not too hidebound and willing to be a little bit flexible, within boundaries of course. I ended up folding my bike and tucking it and myself into a strange little luggage compartment after a woman with a buggy had vacated it to get off the train, to allow the fourth and fifth cyclists to get themselves and the bikes in without blocking the aisles. They stood for the journey holding theirs as there was nothing to fasten them to, it was just a blank space. Only 25 minutes though so not too much of a hardship.
Yep but you don't have to use it - I never would and I would guess most on here wouldn't.Big fan of Northern for bikes. Always been very sensible on the Morecambe to Leeds and Lancaster to Barrow routes. The only issue is their new trains have a wheel bender bike stand that doesn’t hold the bike upright around corners. Definitely need a bungee.