Cycling using trains (in UK and EU)

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
User avatar
foxyrider
Posts: 6042
Joined: 29 Aug 2011, 10:25am
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by foxyrider »

pal wrote: 14 May 2022, 9:42am
Pendodave wrote: 7 May 2022, 11:10am Odd wrinkle - guard on Glasgow-oban made me hang bike by the rear wheel. Never come across that before. Maybe to keep handlebars away from head height?
I've experienced that on that line too -- enforced by a really aggressive guard (who in fact called the cyclists on the train a word which wouldn't get past this forum's profanity filters, because we'd committed the crime of hanging bikes by the front wheel). I don't know what the rationale is -- perhaps it's deemed to be more space efficient? (I wasn't going to risk asking the Furious Guard...!)
one reason for hanging by the back wheel is that the wheel is less likely to detach from the bike. hanging from the front wheel is a bit like locking that way, its only as good as the wheel securing system which could be loose or in the case of a q/r, quite easily undone either accidently or maliciously. Not saying thats the reason on Scotrail but it could be
Convention? what's that then?
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Jdsk
Posts: 24478
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by Jdsk »

ScotRail "Travelling on our Inter7City high speed trains":
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-jo ... kes-trains
includes:

"It’s necessary to be able to lift your bicycle and hang it by the rear wheel, using the hooks provided. Due to health and safety advice our staff are unable to assist with this, so please bear this in mind when considering booking a space."

Jonathan
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20297
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by mjr »

Jdsk wrote: 14 May 2022, 7:15pm ScotRail "Travelling on our Inter7City high speed trains":
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-jo ... kes-trains
includes:

"It’s necessary to be able to lift your bicycle and hang it by the rear wheel, using the hooks provided. Due to health and safety advice our staff are unable to assist with this, so please bear this in mind when considering booking a space."
That's rather strange because the HSTs used to have perfectly good van compartments with a rail to tie bikes to, with both wheels on the floor. ScotRail must have spent money to downgrade them.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
User avatar
simonineaston
Posts: 7993
Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
Location: ...at a cricket ground

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by simonineaston »

I remember getting mixed up, loading myself and a bike onto a diesel hst years ago, when after parking the bike in the large space provided, I somehow managed to enter the locomotive unit and found myself locked in with nowhere to go. When I emerged, ear buzzing, some stations later, sundry staff weren't very impressed with me...
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
gbnz
Posts: 2552
Joined: 13 Sep 2008, 10:38am

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by gbnz »

Suppose another question relates to whether the train companies will pay for the paintwork damage caused by their trains?

Have travelled on the West Coast Pendolino's, East Coast Azuma's, Cross Country Voyagers in the past few weeks and sure enough, have a repaint job (Nb. Long scrapes with paint down to undercoat). The local Northern trains may be appalling to travel on, but at least it's possible to put a bicycle on, without routine damage (Nb. One of the issues with having to hang £500-1000 bicycles off a coat peg, in constricted cupboards, at 125mph, with people pulling/pushing suitcases & prams into the bicycle "compartment" - which are only really large enough for a kiddies bike)
User avatar
pjclinch
Posts: 5457
Joined: 29 Oct 2007, 2:32pm
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Contact:

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by pjclinch »

mjr wrote: 14 May 2022, 9:47pm
Jdsk wrote: 14 May 2022, 7:15pm ScotRail "Travelling on our Inter7City high speed trains":
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-jo ... kes-trains
includes:

"It’s necessary to be able to lift your bicycle and hang it by the rear wheel, using the hooks provided. Due to health and safety advice our staff are unable to assist with this, so please bear this in mind when considering booking a space."
That's rather strange because the HSTs used to have perfectly good van compartments with a rail to tie bikes to, with both wheels on the floor. ScotRail must have spent money to downgrade them.
Though worth bearing in mind that a Scotrail HST is typically only 4 coaches long, so they do have at least notional reasons to reallocate space compared to the ones that ran the East Coast Main.

It does strike me that if staff, who can be trained and assessed fit to work, can't be allowed to use these that says something (and not something good) about the design and/or implementation!

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
Jdsk
Posts: 24478
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by Jdsk »

Does anyone know any details for taking bikes on *Crossrail?

The new, high-capacity trains have:
Seven or nine fully interconnected, walk-through carriages. The shorter trains will all be converted to nine carriages
More standing room with a mixture of seating types
Air-conditioning
CCTV
Information on next stops for customers
Four dedicated wheelchair spaces as well as separate multi-use spaces which can also be used for buggies, luggage and bicycles

https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/i ... new-trains

Thanks

Jonathan

* I know, I know.
Jdsk
Posts: 24478
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by Jdsk »

Temporary ScotRail timetable:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/timetable-update

Big cuts: beware.

Jonathan
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20297
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by mjr »

Jdsk wrote: 19 May 2022, 4:53pm Does anyone know any details for taking bikes on *Crossrail?
I don't think there's official confirmation yet, but rumours are that it will be the same as the Overground, which uses a much older and narrower deep tunnel under the Thames, so non-folding bikes may be allowed 0930-1600 and 1900-0730. The time of the morning ban may vary slightly to match the current 0745-0945 ban at Paddington, or bikes may be banned getting on/off at and between Paddington (change at Ealing Broadway for the District or alight at Acton), Liverpool Street (change or alight at Whitechapel) and Canary Wharf (change/alight at Custom House), but a total ban would seem rather excessive and unreasonable.

Official confirmation should appear on https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/cycles ... -transport when they're ready.

Update to add: https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readi ... g-17367094 from some time ago suggests the Paddington ban may be extended to 0730-1000!
Last edited by mjr on 19 May 2022, 6:33pm, edited 1 time in total.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Jdsk
Posts: 24478
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by Jdsk »

Thanks

Jonathan
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20297
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by mjr »

As if by magic, TfL tweeted this afternoon that non-folding cycles are only not allowed on ElizCrossPurp trains that leave/arrive at Liverpool Street 0745-0945 and 1630-1930. https://twitter.com/TfL/status/1527302890733219841
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Jdsk
Posts: 24478
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by Jdsk »

Magic? Power of the forum!

Thanks

Jonathan
beeb
Posts: 160
Joined: 13 Aug 2014, 6:39pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by beeb »

Has anyone got any idea when any railways strikes might start ?? BBC say late June other media just June?


It's a shame that the bus network don't realise what an opportunity it might be catering for bikes in a similar fashion to flixbus on the continent.

Came across this article on the web and thought, hey something might be happening, then I realised the article was 10 years old

https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/v ... nd-coaches
in4time
Posts: 219
Joined: 13 Jun 2010, 4:55pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by in4time »

Using the national rail website to book a one way from Liverpool to Aviemore (at a very reasonable £48) looked great but the bike booking option doesn’t work, just returns an error message.
With a rohloff hub on my rear wheel there is no way I’ll be hanging my bike from a hook.
I’ll try again.
beeb
Posts: 160
Joined: 13 Aug 2014, 6:39pm

Re: Travelling with a touring bike on a train in the uk

Post by beeb »

i also have a rohloff, I would have thought it less likely to be damaged than a derailleur?
Post Reply