[Closed] Travelling with a bike (in a box) on Virgin Trains... to Heathrow

Can you roll/fold the bag up enough to get in the dimensions, and just take your bike as a bike?

Have you bought your ticket yet?

Because if not, then you could reserve a bike for free when you do. (And you should because the later you leave it the more expensive it will be)

If you have, what carriage is your reservation in?

Also, I'm not aware of any restrictions on luggage size - people carry skis and surf boards fairly regularly without issues. Where did you get the size restrictions from?

Putting your bike in a bag makes it luggage, there are no restrictions in the national conditions of travel - they don't specify a size so it would be difficult for staff to enforce. So I'd wing it.

I'm apparently not allowed to reserve a bike in a box as a "bike" on the train as it's not classed as a bike.. I really can't take it down built up as I'll have to carry the evoc bag separately and a massive north face duffel and my hand luggage and then manicly build my bike in a hotel room on the other end.. after getting a tube from Euston to Heathrow...

I haven't bought the ticket yet but need to shortly as it's for the 6th

*oh and the evoc bag isn't foldy!

*edit - the size came from a virgin advisor on the live chat

So do I just book a ticket and wing it and not reserve a bike space since I don't technically have a bike if it's in a bag? I could travel early in the day to try and get out of any potential issues that may arise from certain employees laying down the law?

That's for luggage carried in the passenger compartment

Just get em to put it in the luggage car

Just get em to put it in the luggage car

One way would be to get some other train to Sheffield and hop on the east coast line with east midlands trains, they have (or at least had) guards vans still which you put your bike in.

Or just get the national express. It's driver discretion whether they take huge bags, but I've never been refused bikes, even complete un-bagged ones (he just put it in the boot rather than the side to keep the chain away from other peoples luggage.

What station are you going from?

Just speak to an assistant there - claim no knowledge of luggage limits and use your initiative

Just do the free bike reservation and speak to the staff at Lancaster when you get there. The bag can then go in the passenger compartment or the bike compartment - they can decide which. You'll be fine - I've seen people move house on the train - fridge and all.

Going from Ulverston first - I think you're all right - risk it as a bit of common sense in the middle of the day mid week will mean there is plenty of space for me to go likely.

I'll ask about where the biggest luggage compartment on the train is too

Final challenge... is there a luggage limit enforced on the underground?

*Edit ... tried booking a bike spot but told none are available on the whole journey by thetrainline... so just booked a normal ticket and will try to wing it.. so should be ok or an expensive lesson!

Mate of mine took a windsurfer on the london underground.

I took my bike on Virgin trains from Preston to Euston for the London 100. Packed it in its case and it went into the guard's compartment. Just be sure to ask at the station where that will be in the train.

Actually it would have been easier to take the bike without the case; which was heavy and awkward and meant I had to rebuild the bike twice.

I've taken 8 pairs of skis on the tube, in rush hour! Was en route from a ski test i France to NZ and met my mates for beers in cov gdn- I was young !

Would you consider a coach? Obviously the journey will take much longer (~8.5 hours)...

Is ulverston on the barrow line? If so i travelled lancaster to manchester airport last week and a guy got on at lancaster with a surfboard. It was bigger than him, plus a few duffel bags.

For london leg i would pack it up and say it was something else. I travelled a few times lancaster to london over christmas and the train was half full. Have a back up plan though.

The evoc bike bags make no denying of whats in them sadly. I've booked an early train and it's the day before my flight so worse case scenario I'll be trying to blag on multiple trains or hiring a car last minute and wincing at the cost.

It is the Barrow line yep, I don't see the start of the journey being the issue though mainly the main line but touch wood well be ok! I'll report back!

Bikes aren't allowed on the deep underground. That includes the piccadilly line through London.

However, they are allowed on the district and central lines off peak, and they are allowed on the Piccadilly line above ground. Officially, LHR is classed as underground, and bikes are only allowed as far as Hatton Cross. Unofficially, I've taken my bike to T5 many times from Boston Manor and only been questioned once - at the end of the line, of course.

As a large bike bag, you may want to travel to Hammersmith on the District line and then change to the Piccadilly line.

Just rolled the evoc onto many a train including virgin, once your on your on really. No idea about underground though, is there a cheap Manchester to lhr flight?

That's the best suggestion yet.

Thanks for the reassurance Mike - can I ask where you left the bag whilst you were on the train or did you stand / sit with it?

Too late to get a flight now really without involving other hassles so I think the train is the way forwards.

TiRed - So you think Euston to Hammersmith and then to Piccadilly is best?
Do you not think I'd get away with going Euston to Kings Cross or Warren St and then the Piccadilly line the whole way there? (once I'm on I'm on right?!) Or do you think the guys who'd have to let me through at the gates will stop me?

I've had a scan on the tube map and done a route search - the Hammersmith line goes from Euston it seems but the tube map is a bit vague - I thought all connecting lines were shown with circles?

Euston to Hammersmith then change is the right solution. You will get grief going onto the Piccadilly line in central London. Once above ground, you will be fine.

Thanks again I'll do that however I've just checked and the train gets in at 4 pm so I may get grief anyway ! Fingers crossed

alexxx - Member
Thanks for the reassurance Mike - can I ask where you left the bag whilst you were on the train or did you stand / sit with it?

I've had an Evoc bag through the London underground without any bother. (Official bother - it'll always be physically awkward.)

train gets in at 4 pm

I've seen a lady with a double bass in a hardcase on the underground. She seemed to be doing alright.

I've seen a lady with a double bass in a hardcase on the underground. She seemed to be doing alright.

So no worries on the first train.. empty bike compartment - bit grotty but all good. Lancaster Virgin guys were on it and wouldn't let me travel without a bike reservation but they called one in pretty sharpish.. it was actually empty and they were all very nice.

Got to Euston and was advised to go to St Pan and get on the Picc line there as there are lifts / disabled access all to the tube. Got on and plonked the bag at one end.. no dangers just some funny looks!

All gravy.. apart from a 24 hour flight tomorrow and potentially being overweight..

Potentially we're all overweight...I'd not worry.