Far North Line (Wick -> Inverness) & bike reservations

[Sparky56]

Can anyone let me know how strictly Scotrail enforce “compulsory bike reservations” on the Far North Line (i.e. Wick to Inverness) please?

I’m looking to board the train in either Lairg or Garve in the Inverness direction. I am not exactly sure of the date or time & by the time I am clearer there’ll be no phone signal etc because I will be riding there off road. I assume there’s no ticket office either.

Scot rail website says bike reservations compulsory. Has anyone here just turned up and got on without issue?

thanks.

[bikepacker]

Yes. Twice both on the Kyle to Inverness line.

[Paulatic]

Are you certain about being no signal?
I was in Lairg 2 yr ago and IIRC a cracking 4G signal.

[Sparky56]

Are you certain about being no signal?
I was in Lairg 2 yr ago and IIRC a cracking 4G signal.

Thanks - that wasn’t really my question.

My question was whether anyone has experience of that line and Turning up on spec and whether conductor will let me on?

[PH]

Scotrail in general are strict with reservations on those lines that require them. I've seen people turned away, though it wasn't on that route. Spaces are limited and they do fill up, there's only a handful of services on that route (4?) I don't think I'd rely on getting a space that wasn't reserved in advance, though if there's space I think you can reserve it quite close to the time.

[Jdsk]

We went Inverness to Garve and back last year. Two upright solos.

Couldn't get a reservation out but had for return but took one earlier. Admonished and advised and clearly could have been refused.
viewtopic.php?p=1691639#p1691639

So I'd try hard to reserve, and I definitely wouldn't wing it on the last or next to last train.

Jonathan

PS: 'Phone network coverage was fine.

[rareposter]

I am not exactly sure of the date or time & by the time I am clearer there’ll be no phone signal etc because I will be riding there off road. I assume there’s no ticket office either.

Phone signal up there is fine.
ScotRail website says one of the options is to phone ScotRail customer services although it doesn't specify how long in advance you need to do that. A mate had to bail from a Highland Tour lats year due to injury, he managed to ride to the nearest station, phoned up once he got there and booked a ticket and bike reservation on the next service which was due in about an hour. Might have been Rannoch Moor - can't remember exactly but it was one of those properly remote places.

Based on that, I'd guess you could potentially reserve a space at very short notice although obviously the further ahead you manage it, the better.

[Sparky56]

OK thanks all -- I'll book tickets and reserve -- looks like they are changeable anyway.... also seems like spaces are running out a month ahead....crazy....

[Pendodave]

They're only 2 car trains, and a decent number of cyclists in the far North of Scotland at this time of year. Definitely book if poss.
Worth checking out road alternatives if desperate.
Thedurnessbus.com runs a service 3 days a week from Durness to Inverness via Lairg. They take bikes if booked in advance.

[Sparky56]

They're only 2 car trains, and a decent number of cyclists in the far North of Scotland at this time of year. Definitely book if poss.
Worth checking out road alternatives if desperate.
Thedurnessbus.com runs a service 3 days a week from Durness to Inverness via Lairg. They take bikes if booked in advance.

that's very helpful, thank you

[Mick F]

Just a quickie.
I took the train to Wick back in 1994 for my first JOGLE

The way to do it, is to take your bike "as luggage", not as a bike.
Panniers were carried as luggage.

I had a bike bag I could carry. Bike inside it, wheels in a bag inside the bag, and I assembled it all at Wick station, fitted the panniers and rode to JOG to cycle back to Wick to stay the night.

The bag was wrapped in a pre-made brown paper bag, and posted off home.

[Sparky56]

another question

Is there some “issue” on the line after the end of july as the scotrail website says that all bike spaces are taken on every train I’ve looked at going from 28th July until October (then I stopped looking)…. or is it only possible to book bike spaces a certain time ahead?

thanks

[Paulatic]

Advance booking is currently up to 8 weeks ahead.
It might be Monday before someone flicks the switch for your journey.
I don’t see any planned maintenance for the line.

[Ron]

I suggest you speak to a human at Scotrail, if you can. I can find no reference to Scotrail refusing bike bookings between Inverness and Wick/Thurso this summer.
There is some false info on the web regarding bike carriage on Inverness to Wick/Thurso services and West Highland services.

[Sparky56]

Advance booking is currently up to 8 weeks ahead.
It might be Monday before someone flicks the switch for your journey.
I don’t see any planned maintenance for the line.

excellent, thank you.