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I'm doing a Kendal-Swansea bike ride with my 13 year old cousin Max ([url= http://original.justgiving.com/maxbikeride ]gratuitous link to his JG page[/url]) so need a train for the return leg, with my bike.
Plug over, I can't buy tickets for the journey including a bike on line, can I? Can it be done on the phone or does it have to be in person at a station?
Thanks!!
I've never managed the bike bit online.
for a bike, book at a station.
and then you may struggle depending on the mood of the staff.
i wanted to book 6 men and bikes on the overnight train to fort william.
i rang about doing this every 2 or so weeks from april.
i was told that the train could not be booked untill 12 weeks in advance.
on the day 12 weeks from our departure day, i phone to book the six seats and bikes, to be told that all the bike places had gone.
i asked how, to be told that they had been booked on line a month prior.
scotrail are ****ing crap, so i hope you have better luck than i did.
8)
Ah, thought so but hoped not. Cheers fellas.
I commute by bike and train everyday, ride to station put bike on train no questions asked do you really need to book the bike on the train?
I'd chance it on a local journey for sure, but I really don't want to be stranded 360 miles from home.
In my search for work I have asked a couple of times about taking the bike for the commute. The answer is the same, book at station though it is free. Some platform/train staff may still be a pain. What you can check by phone is if the train that you want to take has a restriction on no. of bikes carried. Some services only allow 2 bikes per train so I would find out first so I knew what to expect when I get to the station.
local trains don't need to be booked at all.
do you really need to book the bike on the train?
here is useful guide rail co by rail co
[url] http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/2010CyclingbyTrain.pdf [/url]
what is really annoying is when you don't have to/can't book a bike on but you may be denied because bike spaces full but you've had to book the train you are connecting to
TandemJeremy - Member
local trains don't need to be booked at all.
head north - you may never get home but popping round to TJ's for a cup of tea won't be a problem 😕 🙄
My experience of trains and bikes is not good. Past experience has been mixed but today 'sprog James (14) was with three friends and bikes and one had to get off the train (one station down the line and one station 14 mins from their destination) as there was already one bike on board. The offender (James mate) had to catch the next train an hour later whilst the others waited at the far end. I don't know how many seats where on this train but a max of three bikes (thats the number on most UK trains) is ridiculous!
quote Nation Rail website
"Cycling
National Rail encourages the integrated use of cycles
and trains – two convenient and environmentally friendly
forms of transport."
The number of bikes on trains varies tremendously depending on the train - round here from 2 - 8 depending on the train.
I agrree it can be confusing and awkward at times - but over many years of using trains with my bike and hundreds of journeys it has only been difficult twice. Once overbooked and once the guard refused to take the tandem both main line trains that I had not booked so relying on discretion
Main line trains must be booked, local trains cannot be booked. I have never been unable to get on the local train with my bike when I have wanted to.