Travelling on trains with bikes

[ComedyPilot]

I am a reasonable sort of bloke and will put myself forward to do most things.

I have never ridden on a UK train with my bike - There, I've said it.

Fine, put me on ignore, ridicule me, 'like' me or report me to 'Da Modz' {copyright @theclaud ]

However, I have ridden on trains in the Netherlands and Germany with my bike???

Here in the UK it seems like a minefield trying to book a return ticket with bike to go down south to 'Da Smerk' [copyright @ComedyPilot ]

In the Netherlands and Germany I turned up at stations (un-planned) went straight to a ticket machine and (without using the translator) EASILY bought the tickets I needed. The trains arrived, I got on with my bike (think 'loaded tourer') and even got to be in the same carriage as my bike.

I am planning a little soujourn to 'Da Smerk' to participate on a FNRttC. (read give the TEC/waymarkers/mechanics something to think about) - gonna have to be a FNRttC later than April as Mrs CP has me otherwise engaged.

Booking a return for me is easy and I am ok with that, but am getting lost on the book-a-bike front?

Seems you can't just turn up with a bike, you have to ring an operator (who could be asleep according to the (spit) daily wail)

Any advice about the ease of UK train travel with a bike? Any tips?

 

[robjh]

If you are going to be booking tickets in advance, then do it via the Southern Railway website. Despite the name, you can book tickets for the whole network there, and it has an option during the booking process to add a bike reservation. This saves you having to ring a call centre to add the bike, and means that the bike space is checked and booked at the same time as your ticket.

I take my bike on the trains quite often, but rules vary a lot by operator and type of train. As a general rule, long distance trains need reservations, local ones don't, and there are rush-hour restrictions around London and some other large cities. If you want to know about specific routes there are several threads on here about getting on the train from A to B or X to Y.

 

[annedonnelly]

The East Coast booking system also has an option for booking a bike, though I've never used it.

I know it's not much use to the OP but you can turn up with a bike for Northern Rail services. They are all supposed to have space for two bikes. It's a bit hit and miss about what that space is - it depends on the type of coach which varies a lot. Sometimes there are proper bike straps but usually not. The conductors/guards all seem to be helpful about getting the bike on and making space and they've not had a problem with having more than two bikes on. I think the only issue would be if there was also a wheelchair on board.

 

[Cush]

Bikes on trains are a nightmare. I do use the local train service but it is a gamble. Most of the local train company's put the onus on the guard, who is only obliged to allow two cycles on a train. The main line trains are the same but you have to book in advance. On Virgin depending on which type of train you are on you have to rely on some one at your destination station to open the door for you. Northern vary a lot. The Newcastle to Whitehaven conductors/ guards are pretty good and helpful but the Preston - Blackpool people are a lot of job's worth. I have been on at my local MP who wrote to Northern Rail and give me a copy of their reply. It more or less said tough for the cyclists and they had no intention of changing their policy.

 

[Moodyman]

I've never had any bother, but I book long distance tickets in advance and book the bike slot at the same time.

 

[ufkacbln]

At the moment it is very difficult

Anywhere a line is damaged or flooded you will get replacement buses, and these do not take bikes

 

[Cush]

Please don't believe this! Bikes on trains are not 'a nightmare', don't let that put you off. The only time it might get close to being true is in the rush hours, reasonably enough, and most train operators have restrictions then. Sometimes a guard might get a bit officious, but usually they are very reasonable and helpful if you approach them in a friendly way (like most people actually). Loads of people bring their bikes to FNRttCs from all over the place without any problems at all.

ComedyPilot you will be fine, especially if you use the Southern link above and book in advance.

While I agree with most of what has been said above, there are time when you take chances on been allowed on a train or even been turned off one if you have not booked in advance. An example of this was given too me by two respected gentlemen, they were allowed on a train by the well meaning guard who already had more cycles on than he should have. The cyclists were allowed to use the space allotted for the disabled/ pushchairs, on the provision that some one with a wheel/ push chair did not get on the train. Sure enough at a station in the middle of no where they had to get off to allow two women with pushchairs on. The cyclists did not object they accepted that they had taken a chance but it was the last train and getting home added a lot of miles to their ride.

 

[theclaud]

I am a reasonable sort of bloke and will put myself forward to do most things.

I have never ridden on a UK train with my bike - There, I've said it.

Fine, put me on ignore, ridicule me, 'like' me or report me to 'Da Modz' {copyright @theclaud ]

However, I have ridden on trains in the Netherlands and Germany with my bike???

Here in the UK it seems like a minefield trying to book a return ticket with bike togo down south to 'Da Smerk' [copyright @ComedyPilot ]

In the Netherlands and Germany I turned up at stations (un-planned) went straight to a ticket machine and (without using the translator) EASILY bought the tickets I needed. The trains arrived, I got on with my bike (think 'loaded tourer') and even got to be in the same carriage as my bike.

I am planning a little soujourn to 'Da Smerk' to participate on a FNRttC. (read give the TEC/waymarkers/mechanics something to think about) - gonna have to be a FNRttC later than April as Mrs CP has me otherwise engaged.

Booking a return for me is easy and I am ok with that, but am getting lost on the book-a-bike front?

Seems you can't just turn up with a bike, you have to ring an operator (who could be asleep according to the (spit) daily wail)

Any advice about the ease of UK train travel with a bike? Any tips?

I'd echo much of the advice above. I travel on trains with a bike all the time. It's possible to encounter problems, and TOCs have unenlightened and sometimes downright hostile policies as well as idiosyncrasies that it helps to be aware of, but it's basically straightforward. If your ticket is an advance one that can only be used on a particular train, it's crucial to have a bike booking. I book through East Coast. The booking doesn't so much guarantee anything, as give you the moral high ground in the event of staff being obstructive or the bike space being full of crap. But often staff will be helpful, and will bend the silly rules in your favour. Arriva Trains Wales are good for this, although that doesn't help you much. With particular journeys, the best thing to do is post on the relevant FNRttC thread for advice, as there will be someone with knowledge of the line and the TOC. Cunobelin is right about flood problems, but if the replacement bus service was not indicated when you booked, you can usually get the buses to take your bike on (it helps if its not your best bike). The other good thing to know is that TOCs like to get one up on each other, so they love it if you arrive at a station operated by a different company than the one that caused your delay - they get to charge the cost of taxis etc to the other company. I got taxied from Glasgow to Edinburgh with very good grace - organized by Scotrail and paid for by Arriva.

 

[Sara_H]

Travelling by bike/train in the UK is a PITA. I have bought a folding bike specifically for the days I'm going on the train. It's a poor compromise though, as the gears aren't really up to the hills of Sheffield, so I usually have to have a lift from Sheffield Station (which is in a valley) to home (which is at the top of a massive hill).

Last summer we fancied a bit of train/cycle touring with the two youngest boys. However, we couldn't all travel on the same tran together with our bikes, which then meant we couldn't use our friends and family rail card, which meant we couldn't afford the train, so we ended up leaving the bikes behind and backpacking instead, which isn't as much fun if you ask me!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Thanks for all the replies people, and they show a common trend, UK train travel with a bike isn't unknown, but is a bit like alchemy. A few people know how to do it and pass that learning on by word of mouth. Also the facilities are a lottery.

Seems a right PITA compared with Germany and the NL where I (as a complete stranger to their ways) rocked up to a train station, self-served my tickets, got on the train and made it easily to my destination.

Regardless, I am going to do a London FNRttC this year if it kills me, I just thought it would be the physical element of cycling to do me in, not the stress and faffing involved in catching ONE SINGLE TRAIN with a BICYCLE

I will be doing the York - Hull one though as that's on my doorstep so to speak (if you have a 25 mile wide doorstep).

 

[theclaud]

Thanks for all the replies people, and they show a common trend, UK train travel with a bike isn't unknown, but is a bit like alchemy. A few people know how to do it and pass that learning on by word of mouth. Also the facilities are a lottery.

Seems a right PITA compared with Germany and the NL where I (as a complete stranger to their ways) rocked up to a train station, self-served my tickets, got on the train and made it easily to my destination.

Regardless, I am going to do a London FNRttC this year if it kills me, I just thought it would be the physical element of cycling to do me in, not the stress and faffing involved in catching ONE SINGLE TRAIN with a BICYCLE

I will be doing the York - Hull one though as that's on my doorstep so to speak (if you have a 25 mile wide doorstep).

Sara is right about trying to take a group, but travelling on your own will be fine. What station will you be travelling from?

 

[ComedyPilot]

Sara is right about trying to take a group, but travelling on your own will be fine. What station will you be travelling from?

I will be ridng from home to York (about 25-30 miles) then catching an evening train to Da Smerk getting in to Kings X around 9. Then with a sense of derring-do, launch myself out into Da Smerk traffic and wobble my way to HPC

 

[theclaud]

I will be ridng from home to York (about 25-30 miles) then catching an evening train to Da Smerk getting in to Kings X around 9. Then with a sense of derring-do, launch myself out into Da Smerk traffic and wobble my way to HPC

East Coast, then? Their HSTs have a decent sized bike carriage at the north end. Book on their website, and reserve your bike space at the same time. There will almost certainly be a regular who can meet you at Kings X and ride with you to HPC. It'll be a piece of cake...

 

[ComedyPilot]

East Coast, then? Their HSTs have a decent sized bike carriage at the north end. Book on their website, and reserve your bike space at the same time. There will almost certainly be a regular who can meet you at Kings X and ride with you to HPC. It'll be a piece of cake...

Oh I do hope so....I like cake....

 

[mcshroom]

East Coast and Grand Central for that route. Need booking in advance but lots of spaces. I'd book through Southern as they don't charge the £1 postage that East Coast do, and often have extra discounts on the Brighton-London leg of the trip.

It's worth asking the station staff in York which end of the train the bike goes in, as for Electric ones it's usually at the South end (1st class end) but HSTs it's the North end (Pleb class) for some unknown reason.