Bikes on Trains - The reality?

psychle

After ten years of cycle commuting, I'm missing it. My current commute is too long to cycle so I was thinking of doing part bike, part train. But what is the reality of trying this?

First Scotrail say bikes are welcome on all trains but it would appear that on my train (Stirling to Glasgow) there is only space for two bikes. If I turn up and those spaces are taken, what will actually happen? Will the guard smile and say, "Oh, I'm sure we can squeeze another on", or am I left standing on the platform waiting, potentially hours, for a train with a space? :roll:

I think there is a reservation option but I'd rather not commit myself in advance. And I need the bike at both ends of the journey.

Experiences and opinions?

TheBoyBilly

Many people in London have two bikes, keeping a cheap hack at a London Terminal station overnight for the commute into work bit. Could you do that in Glasgow? That way it's not such a big deal if the bike gets pinched. But that option would leave you with the problem of where to leave your nicer bike at Stirling station.
On Southern services there are 2 bike spaces per 4 car portion of a train which are nearly always taken in the rush hour. Unless I get an over-officious Conductor I can get away with propping up my bike against the doors if the train is only going to be using the doors on one side all the way to my destination, which it generally is. I am in a lucky positon as I work for Gatwick Express and they have loads of luggage space in the leading coach to London - room for dozens of bikes.
Obviously you have the option of a folding bike. I have a Trek F400 and love it, but with hindsight and for a long term investment I would have chosen a Brompton. It covers all the bases I think, though Dahon do some nice, cheaper folders.

andrewc3142

I find it varies. I cycle into London from Woking but often catch the train back (SW Trains). In the morning there's no way they'd let you take a bike (nor could you fit it in). Going back, you're not supposed to take bikes until I think 19.00. However, provided you don't mind the odd comment from passengers and smile nicely at the guard I've never had a problem before that time.

On the other hand I cycle to Oxford sometimes for a course and again tend to catch the train back. However, Virgin are absolutely strict. Even if there are no bikes in the bike section they won't let you on without a reservation (2 hours in advance). So the only option is to squeeze into the much, much slower stopping train (which has no bike section but isn't operated by Virgin), annoying the other passengers.

I'd try it and see. At worst, if it doesn't work you've either got a longer ride than expected or a couple of hours to read a book.

SamWise72

Git yerself a foldin' bike young man!

Crapaud

psychle wrote:

After ten years of cycle commuting, I'm missing it. My current commute is too long to cycle so I was thinking of doing part bike, part train. But what is the reality of trying this?

First Scotrail say bikes are welcome on all trains but it would appear that on my train (Stirling to Glasgow) there is only space for two bikes. If I turn up and those spaces are taken, what will actually happen? Will the guard smile and say, "Oh, I'm sure we can squeeze another on", or am I left standing on the platform waiting, potentially hours, for a train with a space? :roll:

I think there is a reservation option but I'd rather not commit myself in advance. And I need the bike at both ends of the journey.

Experiences and opinions?

If both spaces are taken, most likely you'll be denied getting on the train. On the few occassions that I've used the Stiring / Glasgow train it depends on the ticket inspector; some are happy to let on more than 2 bikes if the train isn't too busy, others are jobsworth little hitlers.

I've only been refuse once. I'd waited over an hour for the train and tried to make a reservation for the next one half an hour later, but was denied (I can't remember why). I ended up cycling back.

A folder's probably the answer - I wouldn't want to leave even a hack at Queen St.

I've never used it during the rush-hour though. I suspect that they'd be stricter on a busy train. Check at the station.

TheBoyBilly

The thing with a folder is that if you put it in a purpose-made cycle bag it ceases to be a bike, if you know what I mean. It then becomes hand luggage, just like a suitcase, and you can't be refused travel.

Hooligan Bill

The First Scotrall website says that reservations are not necessary between Edinburgh/Glasgow to Falkirk, Dunblane and Perth, but what I think it actually means is you can not make a reservation of these services.

As has already been said I think a lot depends on the Guard and how full the train is. I got on one of the ex South West Trains rolling stock that has appeared between Edinburgh and Glasgow recently. These have little or no cycle accomadation, yet the guard let me on and apologised several times for "how crap these trains are for bikes".

TheBoyBilly

He was probably one of the "Old School" Guards, Bill. Nowadays companies train 'em up to exactly how they want them. There's hardly any room for negotiation with some.

marchant

I remember guard's carriages on trains; the day before part 1 of my motorcycle test I got a puncture 10 miles from home, in a town with no motorbike shop. The guard even helped me get the bike on board! Not sure I could get away with a bike like that on a train now.

TheBoyBilly

Not now mate, what with elf n' safety and all that. A Guard would really be putting his job on the line allowing an engined vehicle in his compartment. You were lucky to have stumbled across a decent one.

nwallace

Scotrail want 2 hours in advance reservation for bikes on non-SPT (I think) routes.

If you haven't reserved then its the Guards law. Get a nice guard, on a good day with a train with space and your probably fine. Get the guard who is in the middle of a divorce, at the wrong time of the month, on a packed commuter train, with 5 pramulators already vying for space and you have no chance.

psychle

Thanks for your thoughts guys.

The motivation is both to save money on the train fare and incorporate some cycling into my commute. The station is only 500 yards from my front door, but cycling a couple of stops down the line will halve the fare, and I already have my perfect commuting bike which evolved over 10 years of commuting into Edinburgh, so I won't be spending money buying a folder.

It's not something I have to do, just something I'd like to do, so the hassle factor has to be fairly minimal.

I'll give it a go one day, but I might wait a few weeks till I've got a few more miles in my legs and the days are even longer in case I find myself with a long cycle home. :shock:

Crapaud

Suggestion: Why not alternate? Cycling into Glasgow (around 30 - 35 miles?) one morning, then get the train back. That way you can wait, if necessary, for space on the train. If you can leave your bike at work, take the train the next morning and cycle back.

Stig-OT-Dump

At my local (SPT) station there are bike lockers - so that folk from the wilds of East Ren and North Lanark can bike and ride (I think there is a charge). I think the train maps show stations with these facilities. Maybe you could get on down the track from stirling, or get off further out from the city centre and leave your bike secure for the day / night.

psychle

Leaving the bike overnight at work could be done, but the logistical overhead might be too much for me. I'd end up sitting at my desk in lycra shorts or trying to pedal home in brogues.

Apparently the cycle lockers are only available to hire on a four-weekly basis. :x
Exactly the sort of inflexibility that makes public transport so unattractive.

windbreaker

I would have said that frist scotrail are much better this year than ever before, but yesterday changed that. I commute to Livingston from Edinburgh usually cycling back. Most of the guards are flexible and Ok and ignore the two bikes rule. However yesterday the guard made comment bout too many bikes. She pointed out the danger of damage to bikes and complaints (which I've never heeard before). So today I made sure that I took the earlier train which is 4 two-car units with plenty space for bikes, and had no problems. it is source of anxiety that I may not get on. Although I've always got on I have seen others turned away.

I once calculated the lost revenue to scotrail if they rigorously enforced the rules as £6000 per train per year. I reckon it would be more now. I got an irrelevant reply when i wrote. But didn't see anyone turned way for along time.

The only safe option is buy a folder. The lockers at brunstane look secure and I might consider one if they had them at Livi North, but they don't. It's unlikely you wouldn't manage to get to work at all but you might be delayed. Lots of people do my commute and seem to manage OK with only occasional problems. Tonight I either catch the 8.10pm or I cycle back to Portobello. Tomorrow its probably fingers crossed for the 8.18am.

tardington

If I ever take a train, it's the one down to North Berwick from Edinburgh - it's a First service, and they have a dedicated carriage with space for about 16 bikes. Always been pretty good, except for today. But! That was because of a yuppie (do we call them that?) anyway, a late 20's guy wearing a Pete Doherty type hat and trendy sk8ter clothes put his bike on and bashed it off every other bike in the racks, because he was yapping on his mobile phone. :evil:

Windbreaker, I've seen the lockers, they look pretty good - I've seen them dented, but never broken open. And forty quid for a year's use is okay I reckon...

el_presidente

tardie wrote:

... because of a yuppie (do we call them that?) anyway, a late 20's guy wearing a Pete Doherty type hat and trendy sk8ter clothes put his bike on and bashed it off every other bike in the racks, because he was yapping on his mobile phone. :evil:

A person such as this is referred to as a "Nathan Barley" or simply a "Barley".

Your nomenclature viz a "Pete Doherty hat" is acceptable; but this headgear is also known as a "Barley Hat"


You are lucky to have seen such a species so far from the natural habitat of Hoxton / Shoreditch.

tardington

Heh! I knew it was something like that! He had the slightly haggard face too, so he wasn't just a tall lad. He was coming from Longniddry, a scottish home from home for that sort.

Hey! http://www.tvgohome.com/ is still up! Not been updated since 2003 though... Oh btw NSFW!

psychle

tardie wrote:

Windbreaker, I've seen the lockers, they look pretty good - I've seen them dented, but never broken open. And forty quid for a year's use is okay I reckon...

I concur, the lockers do look pretty good, but there use is far too restrictive. If I hired one for four weeks I might only use it once a week but presumably no-one else could use it when I wasn't. And I thought I read a figure somewhere of £8 for four weeks? Potentially they could make a lot more charging £1/day. :?

Anyway, I caught the train this morning, without bike, but paying particular attention to the facilities provided. On a five carriage train there was space for two cycles. Having said that, they weren't being used. The second (suburban) train of my journey has no cycle restrictions , but, cunningly, has no cycle provision :?.

I'm contemplating trying it on Friday, train from my local station and cycling from Queen Street (though I'd prefer the cycling to be at the home end, leaving the bike securely at my non-local station).

psychle

It's Friday. I'm in the office and my bike is.... in the store room behind reception

I did it and it was all very straightforward. Got an earlier train which was quieter than the one I normally get. No other bikes were onboard, I even got to sit next to the bike! Cycled out from Queen Street, along Bath Street and Dumbarton Road. Turns out it was only five miles to the office, and city centre traffic at 7:30 am is very light.

The only negative was those bloody traffic lights along Bath Street. Got stopped at every one!

Now I've just got to find my way back.

Then Phase 2: Incorporate a twelve mile cycle before getting on the train, thereby reducing the train fare by over 50% :shock: