Steve X wrote:We travelled on the train three times recently.
Preston to Lancaster - 2 spaces on a busy train, could not book, which we bagged. The guard, entered train and asked the people sitting on the flap down seats to move so we could position bikes. Good experience.
At Lancaster had to move to other platform over bridges with stairs which was difficult with loaded tourers. Large gentleman picked up my wife's bike one handed, job sorted.
Lancaster to Ravenglass - 2 Bike + 2 disabled spaces, which cannot be booked. We bagged spaces 2 and 3. If a disable person had arrived they had priority on disable spaces. Shortly after we arrived 4 more cyclists arrived and the entrance was cluttered, to the extent my wife thought it unsafe. Conductor got agitated and there was a bit of a stand off. All bikes stayed on, but IMHO the later cyclists were unhelpful, though they were stressed as they wanted to get to start of cycle trip.
Carlisle back to Preston. Arrived at Carlisle only be told that we MUST book bikes on train. I got in a flap, but the Aviva man in the ticket office was extremely helpful and apologetic we would have to wait for 90 minutes for first train with space for two bikes. Train was a Carlisle to London Mainline thing and bikes went in guard van type arrangement, with space for 4 bikes, which was not a lot for such a huge train. At next stop cyclist without bike booking got on, and was ejected at next station when two cyclists with bookings got on. He left with good grace.
All in all an excellent experience, which I doubt would be bettered by European trains. All train staff at all points where superb. All trains where clean and bright.
When traveling in future, if I wish to make an advance booking I think I will go to a train station and do this as the booking agents seem to be able to access the seats and bikes availability more easily than I can. We have a train station about 7 miles away.
Personally I think the system works pretty well. A guards van on every train that could take 10 or 15 bikes would be the dream, but I suspect that if that happened then bikes would no longer be free.
We have a Two Together Rail Card, which has already paid for itself.
Had a cycle reservation booked last night coming back from doing part of the King Alfred's Way. Once every 2 hour train due at 1904. Message board showed as on time and the train progressing through the station's until 1902 when it was cancelled.
No way to ring GWR, their number takes you to National Rail's call centre.
So after pointing out to the chap that no, we weren't prepared to wait 3.5 hours for a train that might run and would necessitate a 9 hour stopover on a bench ona platform, he promised to ring us back with alternative arrangements within 10 mins. Sill waiting nearly 24 hours later.
All the stranded passengers had to chip in for a minibus.
British trains are a joke, and completely unreliable, especially if you are unfortunate enough to only have weekends available for leisure travel.
A novice learning...
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