South westy trains start their own cycle hire scheme at Waterloo.

[DJ]

They have perhaps stolen the initiative from Boris's own scheme and started there own scheme.

The number of Brompton bikes available at Waterloo is only fifty and they admit that this number is tiny compard to the 1,700 trains they have using the station each day but it is a start.
SWT hope to expand the scheme to other stations if this pilot scheme proves successfull.

The press release says they hope to encourage passengers to have "a fully integrated low carbon journey combining bike and train".

SWT season ticket holders will be able to hire a bike for up to a year for less than £2 a week.

A selection of daily,weekly,monthly,quarterly and annual hire options are available for non-season ticket holders.

An added incentive for customers who hire for a minimum of three months will receive a £10 travel voucher.

This is great news coming from a major train company.

They have clearly woken up and smelt the coffee and I really hope there scheme works well for them and the people using them.

 

[PBancroft]

Hmm... maybe I'm a cynic, but...

£100 deposit
£5 weekly/daily hire rate
£25 insurance

£130 Brompton!

 

[Bollo]

But if you use the Brompton before 9:30am on weekdays without a valid ticket you may be required to pay a penalty fare.

 

[karlos_the_jackal]

obviously there is a money interest in them doing this, but full marks for integrated thinking.

 

[Origamist]

Actually, this isn't joined up or altruistic thinking from SWT.

What this is really about is them trying to justify the restrictions that they have on the carriage of bicycles (which are worse than most other operators). It may also be paving the way for their idea (first mooted last year) of banning the carriage of folding bikes on trains.

London Capital Connect have recently banned larger than 20" folding bikes on their services at peak times.

 

[Bollo]

Actually, this isn't joined up or altruistic thinking from SWT.

What this is really about is them trying to justify the restrictions that they have on the carriage of bicycles (which are worse than most other operators). It may also be paving the way for their idea (first mooted last year) of banning the carriage of folding bikes on trains.

I'm no fan of SWT the company, but their cycle policy is one of the better ones. You of all people should know about the recent article in Cycle! Also, I've found that SWT staff are nearly always helpful and pragmatic.

I think you are right that the move to address overcrowding and improve revenue in the face of subsidy cuts means that cycle spaces on trains are under threat (as are dedicated buffet facilities - ref Cross Country Voyager refit) , and this is a positive bit of spin to throw back at any complaints. I think that, once one high-profile, London-serving operator takes the decision for a complete bike-ban, the rest will follow quick-sharp.

My odd dealing with Passenger Focus (the rail passenger 'watchdog') over the years has not inspired confidence either.

 

[Bollo]

Out of rush hour maybe - but these bikes are being squarely aimed at season ticket holding commuters. SWT have already indicated they want to ban folding bikes on rush hour trains - they say people are complaining but it's more to do with being able to shove a few more warm bodies in.

Not disagreeing at all. I was referring specifically to the on-train cycle carriage facilities and the attitude of staff. If there's one company that's going to piss people off (passengers and staff) for the sake of a few pence, then its SWT and the Stagecoach mothership.

Passenger Focus - more like Navel Focus....

I see you too hold them in high regard.

 

[Arch]

Hmm... maybe I'm a cynic, but...

£100 deposit
£5 weekly/daily hire rate
£25 insurance

£130 Brompton!

I bet they take a credit card number, surely?

 

[ufkacbln]

The big problem is that this then allows the "There is no need for you to bring a bike on our trains as we offer an alternative" defence when they decrease bike carriage even further.

 

[DJ]

The big problem is that this then allows the "There is no need for you to bring a bike on our trains as we offer an alternative" defence when they decrease bike carriage even further.

That is a good point that I hadnt thought of.

Would agree with Bollo that SWT do at least have some sensible bike racks on there trains unlike Southern trains who have absolutley diddly squat.

Running trains are meant to be a public service and I do feel that sometimes the privatised train companies tend to forget this and concentrate only on making profit. Much to the detriment of the service provided.

 

[chap]

South West Trains - the profiteers do good

South West Trains are, like their parent company 'Stagecoach', a pretty woeful and shambolic stain on the name of 'Public Transport'. Their chief aim is to maximise profit at the expense of comfort, practicality, and safety (dangerously overcrowded trains during weekday commuter peak).

However, this is a pretty damned good idea!

 

[Bollo]

South West Trains are, like their parent company 'Stagecoach', a pretty woeful and shambolic stain on the name of 'Public Transport'. Their chief aim is to maximise profit at the expense of comfort, practicality, and safety (dangerously overcrowded trains during weekday commuter peak).

However, this is a pretty damned good idea!

In many ways SWT are not woeful and shambolic (current barrier implementation at Winchester aside - now that's hilarious), they just have a business model that sweats maximum value from its assets - staff and customers. You don't get a seat on SWT because they're idiots. The reason that you don't not get a seat is because its more cost-effective for them to run shorter trains. Your comfort or discomfort really makes no difference to their bottom line. A peak-time train journey is a distress purchase - are you going to drive in to London?

If there's one company that will end up with the single mega-franchise, then it's stagecoach. They are the future of rail travel.

 

[chap]

South West Trains - a scourge upon the name of Public Transport

In many ways SWT are not woeful and shambolic (current barrier implementation at Winchester aside - now that's hilarious), they just have a business model that sweats maximum value from its assets - staff and customers. You don't get a seat on SWT because they're idiots. The reason that you don't get a seat is because its more cost-effective for them to run shorter trains. Your comfort or discomfort really makes no difference to their bottom line. A peak-time train journey is a distress purchase - are you going to drive in to London?

If there's one company that will end up with the single mega-franchise, then it's stagecoach. They are the future of rail travel.

I agree with you 100%!( well actually 99% since I disagree with your refutation )

There are few workable alternatives driving to London is cheaper than the rail (actually at 109p per litre it may be on par) assuming you have free parking, and do not meet the congestion charge (or the traffic trying to avoid the congestion-zone), but as the rambling sentance implies it is less convenient. Car sharing doesn't work unless you are 'lucky' enough to live on the same route as other wiling employees. Therefore, for those travelling into London, the train is the most viable means of transport. The problems are:

1. Price - absolutely exorbitant, and really not a good deal considering that you are likely to be sandwiched between several similarly sandwhiched and thus disgruntled commuters
2. Safety - if the train has to do an emergency stop, there will be injuries, if the train has a minor accident, there will be several.
3. Hygiene - thank goodness there has not been any major Swine flu outbreaks amongst these commuters on my line, thank God the Plague is over.
4. Comfort - For the reasons above, the trains are hot, dank, and sweaty. Plus, most have to endure it whilst standing up for 30 - 90+minutes.

There are few alternatives, and little if any regulation, therefore we must endure this abysmal treatment from a company that claims to value its customers but from its actions clearly resents them. For that reason, I will stick with my original assertion that South West Trains are woeful and shambolic, in short they besmirch the name of Public Transport.

 

[skrx]

1 and 3 -- fine. 4, perhaps (although the SWT services through my local station all seem to have air-conditioning?).

But safety? Trains, especially suburban trains, are easily the safest way to travel!

 

[Bollo]

I don't much buy the safety angle either - if a train is going to crash its going to hurt, seat or no seat. I'm sure the people in the know have their hair-curling safety stories, but the train is still a stunningly safe way to travel.

A busy train is certainly not pleasant, especially when you're sat next to the stinky cyclist. OR even worse, the gentleman in shorts who, after swigging from his 2 litre bottle of Happy Shopper cider, pulls a packet of processed cheese from his bag and lays the slices out on his thigh like cards in a game of patience before selectively nibbling on them through the rest of the journey. Not the ideal travelling companion.

Most train operators work on the same principles and many make a worst fist of actually running a service. Mrs Dr Bollo pays £500 a month for the privilege of a barely air-conditioned corridor courtesy of Cross-Country Trains (owned by Arriva). My admitted shorter of off-peakier journey on SWT (£130 a month) is a breeze by comparison.