cross country trains cycle reservation

[martinn]

Hi All,

After spending 20mins (In two separate calls) of my life speaking to the staff at Cross country train in order to book a bike reservation, only to be told at the end of the conversation that the machine that does the reservations is not working, despite me explaining at the start that the main point of my call was to make a cycle reservation,as you can imagine I was slightly exasperated
I was informed by them that I could make my cycle reservation at the Station that I would be booking my tickets at (In my case this will be Bristol temple Meads), does anyone know if this is correct, or do I really have to speak the "customer service" desk at cross country trains

Many thanks

MArtin

[bikepacker]

Try booking online using the London Midland website (you can still book Cross Country) and make your cycle reservation. Little tip: You have to also reserve a seat to get a bike reservation, so specify the quiet coach because it is usually coach D where the bike store is on Cross Country Voyagers.

If going to TM is your only option then the travel centre there will book your bike.

Cross Country trains also have one unreserved bike space per train, but you would have to take a chance that no one else gets it before you.

[Joe.B]

I regularly take my bike on the train between Newcastle and Glasgow, sometimes travelling with Cross Country sometimes East Coast. I always however book via the East Coast web site as they make cycle reservations quite easy.
I am very wary of bike reservations over the phone, I've called before to add my bike to an existing open return ticket, they give you a bike booking number which is completely unknown and unrecognised by the train guard. Having run into to trouble with this a couple of times I'll now always add a bike to an existing ticket at a ticket office, that way I get a physical bike ticket rather than a number.

I don't actually like the Cross Country bike provision very much, it ain't half as good a the traditional gaurd vans on the East Coast trains. As a cyclist I am actually quite sad that the East Coast fleet (dating back to BR) is about to be replaced. I'd bet the new trains won't be as good for us

[martinn]

Thanks for the information. I will go to TM and book my ticket and bike reservation, I was not sure I could do that as the info on the rail enquiries website says to phone through to cross country trains.

Martin

[Gearoidmuar]

I booked mine for Bristol station a few days ago. East coast trains. You book a seat and there's a tiny easy to miss link for a bicycle.

[martinn]

Thanks for the heads up. I had a look at east coast trains web site and can see the cycle reservation bit. So another option

Many thanks
Martin

[Bowak]

How big's your bike? I have a 64cm Galaxy that's too long to fit into the Cross Country bike hangars so if you're tall that might need considering.

[bikepacker]

The last twice I used East Coast Trains website to reserve a bike space, the reservations didn't arrive with the tickets. I then switched to London Midland's website and have not had any problems since. They do both appear to use the same search facility.