Train routes

[nosmarbaj]

I am planning on taking the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station and then catching the train from there to Penzance.

Are there any problems about taking your bike in a bike case onto the Heathrow Express? Are there any times you should avoid?

Be aware that Great Western Railway, who operate the London-Penzance trains, specify a maximum size of 25x40x70 cm for any piece of luggage. A quick Google sggests most/all bike boxes are larger in at least one dimension (most wheels alone are around 70 cm diameter when tyres are fitted).

I have no personal experience of whether/how strictly this is enforced.

You can of course take an unboxed bicycle on their trains, if booked.

[AlanInBangor]

Great Western Railway is what you need to look at. & if by some kind of magic you can get yourself to Bristol/Cardiff there’s a service from Cardiff to Penzance that doesn’t require bike reservations, you can just put them in the guards van like in the old days

Sadly, the Castle Class HSTs are being progressively withdrawn. https://www.modernrailways.com/article/ ... ember-2023

[Sparky56]

Great Western Railway is what you need to look at. & if by some kind of magic you can get yourself to Bristol/Cardiff there’s a service from Cardiff to Penzance that doesn’t require bike reservations, you can just put them in the guards van like in the old days

Sadly, the Castle Class HSTs are being progressively withdrawn. https://www.modernrailways.com/article/ ... ember-2023

yes, very sad.

I spoke with one of the drivers - he told me that they were the most fun trains to drive as “he never knew what it would do” !