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FGW have a policy of booking bikes on to trains. The train I want can only accomodate 3 bikes and I have a feeling I may have left it a bit late to get 2 of those places.
Does anyone know their policy on bagged bikes?
If I turn up with my bike in a CTC polythene bike bag, will I get turned away?
Thanks!
I remember having to commute via FGW two years ago. In the end I moved towns.
Be warned, if the muppet doesn't come to UNLOCK the guards carriage (the carriage at the front or rear of the train with the room for bikes, usually hanging by the front wheel or in a rack) you might lose your bike. In Reading, I watched a train once leave the station with the bikes of two cyclists still inside. They were at the cycle carriage in plenty of time and they called out for the guard. He didn't show, and the driver left the station with the cyclists running after it, risking life and limb trying to pull the carriage doors as they did so. Shocking. The world hates cyclists. FGW hate cyclists. One of those guys told me the following week he lost his bike, was worth a grand he said. Someone had collected (i.e. nicked) the bike at the next station! He was trying to get FGW to pay for it...
Some stations the trains are too long for you to unload your bike.
The cycle rack trains usually don't have working straps.. the hand by front wheel trains can damage rims and be difficult or impossible for long wheelbase bikes with fat tyres to go into..
FGW = ****s.
Hmmmm. This doesn't sound promising. Only thing I have on my side is it's a 0035 train on a monday morning and it's winter, so I'm hoping it won't be too busy!
BTW I never booked a place but always got a space. However, many times I was unable to load my bike at Reading.. they used to conjur up all kinds of reasons there for not allowing bikes, even with guard trains with cycle provision.. I always got to work with a lot of anxiety but no big issues, but often found getting home difficult when there was strong discouragement about which trains would and wouldn't allow cycles.. some stations are not long enough for some trains with cycle carriages... so they tell you not to get on.. slower trains usually easier to carry bikes cos you simply go into the carriage by the doors and prop up or stand and hold your bike .. evryone hates you for it though.. the slower trains usually involves hoardes of school kids at certain times..
Nightmare... commuting by train at peak times must be the worst thing about the UK.