[Closed] WWSTWD? Hive mind train help

disassemble the third bike and put the parts in bags, even bin bags are ok. You now have two bikes and some extra luggage.

Reliant on the heart strings of a UK based train worker? = recipe for disappointment.

As above, break one bike down into a bag. Also don't be surprised to find the bike slots already occupied by other luggage / a buggy / people with the conductor not willing to to honour your reservations.

I generally refuse to take a bike on a train these days for a necessary journeys - to the extent the last two french cycle tours we've done, we have driven to France from Scotland, parked in a French long stay in Calais / Dunkirk then jumped on french train from there.

I’m planning to talk to the conductor to persuade him/her to let us all on. As one of us has travelled from NZ and the other Germany I’m hoping to tug on his/her heart strings.

90% of them don't have a heart so I think you'll struggle! I reckon wheels off and split the extra bike between the 3 of you then it's just big luggage 😉

What does the Hive mind think? Is this strategy likely to succeed?

I would not be confident at all in this being successful. Taking bikes on trains is the most stressful thing you can do. My wife and I have had so many horrific journeys with our bikes.
For example: The last trip we made was from Edinburgh to Kingussie, with both our bikes booked each way. On the way there the train was cancelled, we were diverted to Stirling, this train ran late. Sent to Perth and because of all the delays, taxied to Kingussie. On the return train we went to get on and were told by the guard that the train had no bike spaces left and that we could not get onboard. I got onboard anyway, told him I had a reservation and he threw someone who was already onboard off! It is just not a pleasant experience.

If someone asked me what is the best thing that could be done for cycling in this country I'd probably say bring back the  goods wagon.

Thanks all,
Just attempted to cancel my train tickets. As I bought my ticket in advance, they are non refundable.
I need to lie down in dark room for a while.

Utterly useless.

I live on the West Coast mainline and also use the Chester to Manchester Cheshire line a reasonable amount. I can honestly say I've never been refused entry or kicked off a train even when there's already been a number of bikes on already. The routes I use don't even have reservation systems.

The London/Cambridge route you just put your bike on the train, provided it's not peak times.

I've never had a problem, other than arriving just after 4pm at King's Cross.

I took the wheels off my bike and went onto the train with my odd-shaped luggage.

From what I've heard, bike policy does vary quite wildly by train operator.

Can you travel separately perhaps? Two go as booked, the third takes the next train?

It's probably unlikely, but they might be more sympathetic to changing the time on a ticket rather than just cancelling it. Probably worth a phone call at least.

I think in the end I'm just going to have to take the hit. People are coming a long way to meet and do the ride, I'd rather be guaranteed we get there and everyone is happy. Rather than get stuck in Shrewsbury.

The next train is over an hour wait, likewise on the way back, not great for someone.

Based on a recent, prebooked, experience I’d take some tools and bin liners. Two adults, one under 5ft 6, the other under 5ft, two bikes (old school, 26, with old style narrow bars, a 13” Myka and a 16” 2006 orange 5, so imho ‘smallish’ is very fair) could we get them both in the two bike specific (*combined luggage) cupboard, well no, did it make other passengers happy that we had to block the corridor, well no. In fact looking at the photos I took the cupboard appears to be about 3” wider than the 13” myka bars so I suspect that a modern wide handle bar wouldn’t fit at all, never mind two modern geometry cart horse 29ers.