Rail companies charging a fee for bikes

[This Wreckage]

I've noticed some railway companies such as Grand Central charge a £1 fee to take a bike on their trains. Is this a new development? Is there a list of which companies are demanding this fee?

 

[ianrauk]

Where have you seen this? I can't find any rail company charging for bikes.

 

[matticus]

Sounds like a booking fee? I don't believe they CAN charge, legally (weird though that seems, IMO... )

 

[albion]

'Printing fee?'. Use a different app that also allows bikes to be booked without the print fee.

 

[classic33]

Grand Central have said "No" to charging a fee to taking a bike on their services.

Also posted here
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/some-rail-companies-charging-fee-to-book-a-bike.301426/

Possible update from Grand Central awaiting moderator approval.

 

[honest answer]

printing fee if you want a paper ticket - no charge for cycles, just need to make a reservation

 

[albion]

Assuming it is the same printing fee(collect at station) I came across, another way round is to buy the ticket in the app then book the bike at the station. Very inconvenient.

I think prior, you could print your bike eticket yourself. Incovenient again but free.

 

[teeonethousand]

We used LNER last week on 2 trains.. free and an excellent service

 

[classic33]

@This Wreckage, which other companies are charging for taking bikes on their services?

 

[albion]

I think CrossCountry is the one I avoided by using TPE to pay.
So use the TPE app.

 

[albion]

CrossCountry is the only actual train company AI confirms the 'fulfilment fee' for, 3 others being ticket agents.
However bike tickets might be an exception to the rule, thus more hidden.

By law, actual train companies are obligated to provide at least 1 free option, normally.

 

[Domus]

I personally wouldn’t mind a couple of pounds to take my bike on a train, provided the space was fit for purpose, free of oversized suitcases and reserved.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Must have been a troll

 

[Spartak]

I regularly travel with a bike on a train and haven't been charged.
I've used GWR, Cross-Country & South Western.

 

[Boopop]

I'd pay a fee if it meant a member of staff would board with me and kick people off the seats/remove luggage on Class 350 Desiro/ Class 80x trains respectively.

In some ways we have better cycles on trains provision than mainland Europe (full sized bikes on almost all intercity fast trains), but it's still a pig to navigate sometimes.