Bike on LNER

[Tiggertoo]

I've posted on the London taxi thread about bikes and bike boxes and it relates to this thread as well.

Although I have reserved a bike space on both LNER and GWR trains, I wonder if keeping the bike in the bike box used for travelling on the plane might not be a reasonable option. The question then comes to do trains usually have luggage space that can take a bike box?

Here is a picture of he bike box and bike. The bike box will have wheels for easy moving. I'm still in the planning stage for this trip and looking at all the options. Thanks for any advice.

[pal]

LNER and GWR use the same trains (mostly), which don't have any large luggage storage space -- other than the bike cupboards. You could probably fit a boxed bike in the cupboard (in fact, I saw a bagged bike in one the other day...), though it would be easier to get an unboxed bike in there (esp, in the new-style LNER cupboards, with the wheel channels).

[st599_uk]

The LNER baggage allowance is 1 suitcase/big bag, 1 bag that fits in the overhead and 1 that fits under you seat. The big bag allowance is:

Suitcases up to 80x57x30 fit nicely in the racks at the ends of the coaches – if your cases are bigger, you won't be able to bring it onboard.

[Tiggertoo]

The LNER baggage allowance is 1 suitcase/big bag, 1 bag that fits in the overhead and 1 that fits under you seat. The big bag allowance is:

Suitcases up to 80x57x30 fit nicely in the racks at the ends of the coaches – if your cases are bigger, you won't be able to bring it onboard.

Inches or cm's?

[st599_uk]

The LNER baggage allowance is 1 suitcase/big bag, 1 bag that fits in the overhead and 1 that fits under you seat. The big bag allowance is:

Suitcases up to 80x57x30 fit nicely in the racks at the ends of the coaches – if your cases are bigger, you won't be able to bring it onboard.

Inches or cm's?

cms

I keep forgetting that people even still use inches - Not sure I've ever used them.

[Tiggertoo]

The LNER baggage allowance is 1 suitcase/big bag, 1 bag that fits in the overhead and 1 that fits under you seat. The big bag allowance is:

Suitcases up to 80x57x30 fit nicely in the racks at the ends of the coaches – if your cases are bigger, you won't be able to bring it onboard.

Inches or cm's?

cms

I keep forgetting that people even still use inches - Not sure I've ever used them.

Don't worry, inches are making a comeback.

The allowed dimensions puts the kibosh on my plan to take the bike box onto the train. Back to Plan 1.

[Tiggertoo]

Conversation just now with a live chatbot on the LNER web site:

Many thanks. I can see you are wondering if you can take a large bag on board?
User Icon
Yes. It is a piece of sporting equipment packed inside a box measuring 109cm x 81cm x 28cm
Agent Icon

Luggage Allowances on Our Trains | LNER
User Icon
I am aware of that but it does say 'very large bags will need assistance, so I am asking.
Agent Icon

If you ask on board staff when you get there they will help you accommodate this.
User Icon
Thanks. I just do not went to arrive at the station and be told I cannot bring it on board
Agent Icon

No problem. Staff will help allocate a space for this.
Agent Icon

Is there anything else I can help with?
User Icon
Thank you so much.

[MrsHJ]

Doubt they will refuse you but also doubt they will help at all.

I’ve taken a rocking horse on board before (toddler sized) and no one batted an eyelid but it wasn’t ideal. That was cross country where they do actually have some sections for large luggage but inevitably not in my carriage. Problem is there probably isn’t anywhere for it to fit so the risk is you will be blocking the aisle.

I can’t see any advantage to taking it on the train still boxed- the cycle sections are designed for intact bikes (well designed is a generous description- designated might be better). Is there something I’m missing?

[rjb]

Look on the bright side. If the all the seats were taken you had your own and wouldn't need to jockey for position. You weren't going to Cheltenham by chance for the gold cup.
I can't get the image out of my head now.

[Tiggertoo]

Doubt they will refuse you but also doubt they will help at all.

I’ve taken a rocking horse on board before (toddler sized) and no one batted an eyelid but it wasn’t ideal. That was cross country where they do actually have some sections for large luggage but inevitably not in my carriage. Problem is there probably isn’t anywhere for it to fit so the risk is you will be blocking the aisle.

I can’t see any advantage to taking it on the train still boxed- the cycle sections are designed for intact bikes (well designed is a generous description- designated might be better). Is there something I’m missing?

Mostly forward planning and covering all the options. This on the HE site:

Cyclists are welcome on board the Heathrow Express with their bicycle and do not have to reserve a cycle space.

[MrsHJ]

Look on the bright side. If the all the seats were taken you had your own and wouldn't need to jockey for position. You weren't going to Cheltenham by chance for the gold cup.
I can't get the image out of my head now.

LOL. I was heading in that direction but although it was the mainline service it is largely commuters on the morning trains (so plenty of luggage capacity on the upright compartments at the end of the carriage) and I was heading to Bristol for work but wanted to get the family rocking horse to my brother before he headed off - he was always a bit tricky to find in the UK as he was a diplomat for a long time.

Tiggertoo- you are like me with the obsessive forward planning and working out alternatives.

[iandusud]

good luck ian.
please report back.

As promised:

All went very smoothly. Our tandem which splits into two equal length parts fitted perfectly in the Azuma bike cupboard designed for two bikes, along with our bags.

This is the first time since have our frame with S&S Couplings built that we have travelled with it on trains and it has proven to be great success. On the other train services we used (Southern and South Western) we were able to get the two halves on without having to remove the panniers. This has proved to be everything we wanted it to be when taking the decision to dig deep into our pockets to get the frame built, as it gives us much more mobility as we no longer own a car. I would add that on all the services we used the train staff were very helpful.

[Jdsk]

And thanks for that update and the photo.

Jonathan

[Sweep]

And thanks for that update and the photo.

Jonathan

+1

[Andrew-l]

All went very smoothly. Our tandem which splits into two equal length parts fitted perfectly in the Azuma bike cupboard designed for two bikes, along with our bags.

This is the first time since have our frame with S&S Couplings built that we have travelled with it on trains and it has proven to be great success.

That's great to hear! We're just ordering one now with the s&s couplings and I'm still fretting over how easy/hard it will be to split it for trains. Do you have hydraulic brakes? And do you split behind the pilot, so need to remove timing belt /chain?
Thanks!