Unbelievably rude man on train

[upsidedown]

Whatever happened to guards vans. I always used to put my bike in the guards van when I was a kid, shows how long it's been since I used public transport

I asked about that on here before, somebody said it was to do with the guard not needing a brake now, or something. That and the train companies not giving a toss.

I get the train every day, and every day there's one bloke already in the bike area who's too fat to sit in the normal seats, and one guy who makes a point of rushing on past me so i have to stand until he gets off at the Jewellery Quarter, twat.

 

[Joe24]

I asked about that on here before, somebody said it was to do with the guard not needing a brake now, or something. That and the train companies not giving a toss.

I get the train every day, and every day there's one bloke already in the bike area who's too fat to sit in the normal seats, and one guy who makes a point of rushing on past me so i have to stand until he gets off at the Jewellery Quarter, twat.

Run on before him, shoulder barging him out the way. Make him stand, and every time he looks at you, stick your tongue out and do the loser sign to him.

 

[biking_fox]

Do you have to pay for the bike and where do you normally find the bike racks. How do the bikes attatch to them?

You don't normally pay for a bike on local services but will have to pay and reserve in advance for intercity trains. It varies by company so check. Including all the really small print hidden somewhere deep in their websites. Bike/train commuters for example can use Virgin intercities without reservation or payment everyday - but not many of their staff know this.

Bike always go in the designated carridge. You know which one it is because it has a tiny symbol painted somewhere on it closer to one end than the other. The trick is spot this as the train arrives and run along the platform with your bike to get to the right door before the train pulls away.

Attach? You'll be lucky. Sometimes they hang from ceiling hooks as in the photo a few posts above. Make sure you can lift the weight of you bike above your head before boarding. Other times they just lean in a stack against the side. Having your bike at the bottom of the stack is not clever when the train pulls into your station. And occasionally a few jobsworth guards will come shouting down the carridge and insist you position a very pointless piece of chain, or move you bike if it's in the 'wrong' place for Health and Safety reasons.

It does vary enormously. Some companies and platform staff and guards are great. A few are complete self-gratification artists who don't know their own company / national / legal policies and would prefer you scum didn't travel and mess up their 1960s train.

 

[ChrisKH]

I use the train every day and tend to adopt a live and let live approach. There are two bike carriages on most trains (sometimes three) and there are always normal commuters sitting in these seats - I'm not aware they are reserved for bike users particularly (but are for disabled people, which is fair enough). I tend to fold the bike and lock it there, then pootle off and find a seat. Sometimes I get one with the bike, sometimes I don't. Most people are ok, and I don't expect them to give up their seat for me or the bike. But I do insist on parking the bike in the bike carriage and locking it which can annoy some at peak times when the trains are overcrowded.

 

[Arch]

My thought, and if like me you have wide bars, these often don't fit!

Yes, and if you're only a weedy female like me, getting a bike up like that is a real struggle. Especially if you have panniers on.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Run on before him, shoulder barging him out the way. Make him stand, and every time he looks at you, stick your tongue out and do the loser sign to him.

Joe, I laughed out loud at that. Why can't more of your posts be as silly/witty as that, rather than just coming across as either a 9 year old with an attitude problem or know-it-all tosser who has no time for people who ask questions?

 

[John the Monkey]

Can be worth asking a friendly guard - best tip I had regarding Arriva's trains (on my route at least) was that the bike bit is always in Coach C ("C for Cycle", as she pointed out).

On Virgin Cross Country they seem to be in front/behind the "Quiet Zone" coach.

 

[snorri]

I havent ever taken a bike on the train. Whats the form? Do you have to pay for the bike and where do you normally find the bike racks. How do the bikes attatch to them?

It varies with different train companies, some you don't have to pay but they stow the bikes on a sort of rolling road thing and the cyclists are required to pedal for the duration of the journey to reduce train fuel costs.

 

[Arch]

It varies with different train companies, some you don't have to pay but they stow the bikes on a sort of rolling road thing and the cyclists are required to pedal for the duration of the journey to reduce train fuel costs.

I'd have thought a lot of us wouldn't mind that! The chance to spend time on your bike, actually going somewhere, but with no danger of getting knocked off. Also, if I could pedal to my sister in Winchester in 5 hours, instead of a week, I'd be laughing!

 

[Cubist]

Joe, I laughed out loud at that. Why can't more of your posts be as silly/witty as that, rather than just coming across as either a 9 year old with an attitude problem or know-it-all tosser who has no time for people who ask questions?

I think you need to be a little more direct. Some people can't see the true meaning if you beat about the bush.......

 

[skrx]

I haven't yet taken my bike on a train further than within the South East/London. Usually I'm on the train for about 15 minutes at weekends. If there's someone in the bike space, I'll just leave my bike somewhere else and tell them the guard might ask us to swap if he comes through.

On Saturday I got to the bike space to find there were four bikes already there. I added mine, when the guard came he just asked the family of four where they were getting off so he wouldn't shut the doors on them.

 

[Randochap]

What's become of the once-proud British Railways (and courtesy)?

Part 2.

What's to be done?

 

[mr_cellophane]

What's become of the once-proud British Railways (and courtesy)?

Part 2.

What's to be done?

Terrible - not one helmet between them.

 

[ianrauk]

I usually find the guards on South Eastern trains out/into London are very good. Our cycling groups 'Bromley & Lewisham cyclists' usually have fair sized groups of riders boarding trains and more often then not the guards are very helpful. I have even seen guards ask people to move out from the bike areas. So a thumbs up for South Eastern train guards.

I haven't yet taken my bike on a train further than within the South East/London. Usually I'm on the train for about 15 minutes at weekends. If there's someone in the bike space, I'll just leave my bike somewhere else and tell them the guard might ask us to swap if he comes through.

On Saturday I got to the bike space to find there were four bikes already there. I added mine, when the guard came he just asked the family of four where they were getting off so he wouldn't shut the doors on them.

 

[Randochap]

Terrible - not one helmet between them.

Bet half of 'em were smokers 'n all.