Taking bike on train

[Glasgow44]

Hi there
How do you book your bike onto the train if you are travelling with different train operators (Virgin, Northern, Scotrail). I was going to book the ticket through www.thetrainline.com – do I phone them after that and book my bike on? What do others do?
I’ve never booked a bike onto the train!
J

 

[Pale Rider]

My limited experience is some operators allow reservations for bikes and some do not.

My last trip with the bike was even more complicated.

The website clearly said no bike reservations, yet I was sure I had a reservation the previous time.

I decided to go to the departing station to buy the ticket, and the booking clerk did print a reservation ticket for the bike.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If you book via Hull Trains, they give the facility to book a cycle reservation at the same time as seat reservation. Their site works for all journeys with all operators.

Didn't know that, thanks!
With Scotrail you have to phone to book your bike on the train.

 

[NorthernDave]

TP Express have a box to check on their website which takes you to the bike reservation page - although it then books a seat in one coach and the bikes go at the other end of the train...

 

[robjh]

I've just found that Virgin Trains East Coast are letting you book cycle spaces at the time of on-line booking. This may be old news, but I thought that this wasn't possible on this operator's site last year.

In any case, just sharing the good news...

(example from a booking on https://tickets.virgintrainseastcoast.com, which I accessed from the National Rail site - the one where you avoid theTrainLine's additional booking charge)

 

[Globalti]

It's a shambles isn't it! There should be half a carriage on every train kept free of seats for bikes, large luggage and anything else that won't fit in the passenger areas. British trains are not bike-friendly at all.

 

[Julia9054]

They're not all that person-friendly either!

Very true. Currently on a train on my way to Manchester. At Harrogate station, a man (French accent, looked like a tourist) got on with lots of luggage. As he boarded the train, he bumped his suitcase on the step. The platform guard shouted "mind the step!" at him really aggressively and then said "idiot!" as he walked away. I have submitted a complaint to Northern Rail.

 

[ianrauk]

I've just found that Virgin Trains East Coast are letting you book cycle spaces at the time of on-line booking. This may be old news, but I thought that this wasn't possible on this operator's site last year.

In any case, just sharing the good news...
View attachment 358209
(example from a booking on https://tickets.virgintrainseastcoast.com, which I accessed from the National Rail site - the one where you avoid theTrainLine's additional booking charge)

It definitely was Rob as we have been using the site to book our Doncaster train tickets for the past few years.

 

[Globalti]

That's bad, but I wasn't meaning the staff who are mostly friendly and helpful. It's the trains themselves - grubby, uncomfortable, difficult to board and leave if you're not 100% agile, unreliable, few and horrible toilets (or even none, on the hour-long journey from Brighton to Portsmouth!), and the other week when there was torrential rain I was sitting on a train minding my own business when a load of rainwater came through the roof on my head!

More likely it was condensate from the AC, a well-known problem.

 

[gazza_d]

It depends on the train company and the station staff.

I often use the east coast between Newcastle and Darlington. Cross Country just let you on, although you can reserve in advance. You can sometimes sneak on with virgin, but usually I've needed a reservation which I can get at the ticket office, but not using the machines.

For a long trip I'd reserve at same time as buying a ticket. Use something like trainlline to find the deal then book through train operators website

 

[Glasgow44]

I've always reserved my bike and bought the reservation at the travel centre in the main station (Glasgow Central) - its nigh impossible to book a cycle reservation online or over the phone.

 

[subaqua]

The great western failway don't make it easy either.

 

[robjh]

I want to go to Stansted Airport from Liverpool Street with my bike. I've established that I can't use the Stansted Express at all (it's not my Brompton). I'm in the process of checking other restrictions. It seems I can't use Greater Anglia out of LST in peak hours (ending 1830). I'll continue digging for info but any extra advice would be gratefully received.

It's pretty much as you say. Unrestricted bike access on ordinary trains from LST except evening peak hours, which from memory are counted as 1630 to 1830, and unpacked proper bikes no longer allowed on the Stansted Express at all. I use that line a lot (towards Cambridge), and usually take trains about 1900 to get round the restrictions.
If you can plan ahead, then an advance to Stansted Mountfitchet can be a lot cheaper than to the airport, and it's an easy 5* mile ride to the terminal from there.

*edited to say 5 miles. I've checked and it's further than I thought, but still quite easy.

 

[Julia9054]

Leeds station at commuter time this morning absolutely rammed with Bromptons! Lots of proper size bikes too. I don't travel by train that often - it's really good to see.

 

[robjh]

I'm not flying. I'm staying in the Premier in there that night (pre audax)

^
^
as my honourable friend Reg says. Surely a good pre-Audax warm-up?