Cycling UK Forum

I am travelling down to Harwich from Doncaster and have to travel from Liverpool Street station to Harwich .on the Ipswich train..changing at Manningtree....next Sunday. 1st August..The ticket office at my station were unable to get my bike booked on the train for the journey from Liverpool Street station..Will I have any trouble taking my bike on trains on that route on a Sunday afternoon with no reservation ..?

There are 3 types of train you might be getting on - any idea what time you are travelling ?

If the destination of the train is Norwich then they have a dedicated area for luggage and cycles, anywhere else on the network and you will have to put your bike by the sliding doors.

On a Sunday you should be fine, but finally - check for engineering works at National Express East Anglia's Website.

Alex,

Have a check, but I went to Harwich from Liverpool St when I went to see the TdF the other week and while I was waiting I noticed there was a direct train to Harwich International.

I decided to go to Ipswich, however and thought it would be nice to get the little boat from Shotley Gate, across the Stour to Harwich, only to find it hanging off a crane having work done on it. Then rode from there to Manningtree to catch the train as I couldn't bothered to ride anymore as I was in civvies, not lycra.

Anyway, back to the subject, the Intercity type train which is the one Pugwash is on about had a huge section at the front for bikes, so I'd have thought you be fine. It did stop at Manningtree, BTW.

I agree with Pugwash, there is a good possibility that on a Sunay you may have to use the replacement bus due to works. Last time I went about 6 weeks ago it was between Shenfield and Chelmsford. If this is a problem Is there anything suitable from Peterboro to Ipswich?

Just had a look on the National Express East Anglia Website http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.co ... tions/(day)/1/(month)/8/(year)/2010

Looks like there is a big powerboat festival in Harwich this coming weekend which could mean the trains will be full.

There's only one direct train for Harwich International on a Sunday and that's the one to meet the ferry to Holland and this will be a sprinter type train which may have spaces for bikes where the seats fold up but recently I've found they may not have separate spaces, just keep the bikes in the door space. You can go to Harwich changing at Manningtree which has been commented upon earlier.
For many years the Liverpool Street to Harwich line was hit by engineering works on Sundays and bank holidays but it should be OK now but best check here http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_d ... today.html for the latest information.
NXEA have been working to integrate bikes and trains for some years now and it can be busy with cyclists.
Have fun.

Qte
NXEA have been working to integrate bikes and trains for some years now and it can be busy with cyclists.
Unqte

If this is indeed the case - as a daily commuter I am yet to see any evidence of it, all i see is a lack of investment of any kind unless they profit from a government subsidy for doing it.

V4281051 wrote:.Will I have any trouble taking my bike on trains on that route on a Sunday afternoon with no reservation ..?

Yes, almost certainly you will have difficulty. I suspect the reason your ticket office could not make a booking was due to no cycle spaces being available on the replacement bus service.
I got caught out by this a few weeks ago, and was led to believe the major engineering works at Stratford on Sundays will continue for some time. All passengers were being bussed from Liverpool Street to Ingatestone on Sundays. The bus doesn't carry bicycles, so you will have to cycle to Ingatestone to board the Harwich train.
The ticket office at Liverpool Street advised me to cycle to Stratford, but this was wrong information. At Stratford I was told I would have to go to Ingatestone which was not a particularly enjoyable trip as I had no maps, and had difficulty obtaining these on a Sunday.
I think it was just about 30 miles, so quite easily do-able if you are prepared and leaving on the late night ferry departure.
Good Luck

Take look at National Rail website. Extract shown below.
Forecast engineering works for 1 Aug affecting National Express East Anglia. Neither of these works involve the line Lpool St/Harwich/Ipswich. V4281051 the trains you intend to take do not require bike reservations. There is no bus replacement service.
Start date; 01/08/2010
End date; 01/08/2010
Route affected; Train operator affected; National Express East Anglia
Description; Trains between Stratford and Tottenham Hale will be diverted to start from and terminate at London Liverpool Street.
Engineering work between Norwich and Attleborough on Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August 2010 13:06 - 25/05/2010

Thank you to all the guys who have replied to my post.