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Post by butterfly on Apr 18, 2006 22:11:51 GMT
Over Easter I went to Warwickshire with the Association of Lightweight Campers. This involved a trip on 1st Great Western trains, which was interesting. Their bike provision is good, but involves hanging your bike from a hook in the ceiling - no joke with 4 panniers, carradice saddlebag and sleeping bag hanging on the thing! The bike rolled over with a thump and broke the rear mudguard. Hummmph. Surely there must be a better way? I know I have the added problem of being 5'3, but surely not all other cyclists are 6' or travel with no luggage! So which trains have the best carriage or how do I up-end a laden tourer without giving myself a hernia or smashing things?   |
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Post by pedaldog on Apr 19, 2006 9:22:42 GMT
Worse than that try doing it with a recumebnt. you have the boom and pedal sticking out the front and the front wheel is tucked away 18" or so back! Worried the hell out of me to think of it.
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Post by gary on Apr 26, 2006 14:29:25 GMT
did they charge you to put the trike on and did you have to pre book.
Butterfly were there no guards to assist you I once had to carry my bike down the travelators at Birmingham new street this was very scary there were lifts but thegaurd told me these are for staff use only!! bless?
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Post by bikepacker on Apr 26, 2006 15:16:55 GMT
Butterfly used the Cotswold line from Paddington to Moreton in Marsh.
However you do not need to use the travelators at New Street. Go around the station to the parcels enterance which is at Platform 12 from there use the ramps down under the platform.
Easy peasy.
If you are just changing trains use the under platform ramps at the West end of the platforms.
If anyone asks what you are doing say that I gave you permission. For some reason it works for all who have been asked.
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Post by finartmike on May 10, 2006 14:57:28 GMT
I have mixed experience of putting loaded bike on trains. With the Virgin trains the panniers must come off to hang the bike, and lash using the webbing strap provided. If the bike has to stand (with or without panniers) I bring my own bungies and webbing strap. I got into trouble with Virgin when i could not see the platform staff and the train guard did not dismount to let me on (I had reserved and only the train guard has the reservation info) - I could not get into the bike compartment (on a pendalino the staff operate a key to open the door to let you on and off! So after an altercation I was left on the platform!
Local trains are mixed - all need tact and diplomacy to get in the right coach in the space as may be provided. My panniers are quick release - even so I panic when it is time to reload to get off.
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Post by mendipman on Sept 6, 2006 18:08:43 GMT
I have just returned from Durness (N.W. Scotland) to Somerset with a loaded bike (camping load!) I had intended to cycle to the nearest station at Lairg (60 miles) and was attempting to make a booking for me and my bike by phone. Waste of time - some parts of the journey were not bookable, some reputedly had no space, etc. I told the person on the other end of the line to forget it and thought I would take my chances face-to-face at the station.
Then I learned about the daily bus from Inverness to Durness and back that TAKES BIKES! Great service. It runs until 23 Sept then starts again in April (I think) 2007.
Getting off the bus in Inverness, I was right next to the railway station. Speak to man in ticket office; "Can I book me and the bike on to a train tonight?" "Bl..dy bikes!" he said, "I'd throw the lot in the river if it was up to me!" Hmm..So this is how they train the staff in customer service on Scotrail? Never mind, smile and ignore. He said he didn't know whether there was room for either me or the bike on the overnight train, which was standing at the platform, and advised me to go and talk to the guard. Good idea.
The guard (sorry, Train Manager) was a very helpful young lady who checked her passenger list, helped me to load my bike, put me on the train and worked out the cheapest way to sell me a ticket - that's more like it! To hang the bike by its front wheel, as required, I had to take off my four panniers (Ortlieb quick-release job) and stowed them under the bike. I left the tent, etc., bungied securely to the rear rack and took the bar bag containing my precious stuff along to my seat.
I had to change trains at Crewe (passenger lift not working, no-one around to help, carry the whole lot up and down stairs to the correct platform), Birmingham New Street (passenger lift and subway all OK), Bristol Temple Meads (ditto) to get to Bath to meet my wife with the car. For the onward journey after Crewe I was able to leave all panniers in place and just prop the bike up in the space provided.
All in all, relatively trouble-free, or more so than I had feared. I had made no reservation for the bike, so I guess I was lucky that there was room all the way. Travelling overnight probably helped in this respect.
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Post by gary on Oct 9, 2006 14:38:14 GMT
Looks like the Train didnt take the strain welcome mendipman At least you had a good time beside the train I seam to have nothing but bother with them its a real pain as they can be so usefull
Regards Gary
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mlj
Junior Member
Posts: 39
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Post by mlj on Oct 19, 2006 10:26:17 GMT
It is worth noting that all Scottish City Link and bus services (coaches) will accept bicycles when room is available in the lockers.
I found a Thames train into Paddington which had a special wheel slot for cycles, BUT the space was about 2" short for a touring bike; I guess they measured with an MTB cheepo!
Maybe this explains to others why I do so much cycle-camping afar using the Brompton.
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Post by bikepacker on Oct 19, 2006 12:28:58 GMT
2 weeks ago I travelled back from Glasgow to Worcester on Virgin Trains to Birmingham and Central Trains from there. Advance purchase ticket was £14.85 and there was no problem with the bike. The National Express fare is £23.00 and I cannot take my bike.
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