Skyride London - London Midland Trains - Arrghh!!

Gav2000

I was intending to go from Northampton to London on Sunday with the kids for the Skyride event where some of the touristy roads are closed to traffic. The Rail Enquiries website has a note on it about the Skyride event (so they know about it) but I've just noticed that all trains from Northampton on Sunday are replaced by buses due to engineering works. Buses obviously don't take bikes so there is no way I can get myself and the kids to London. AAARRGGGHH!

Now I need to tell the kids we're not going or train them up quickly for a 20 mile ride down to Milton Keynes where the trains start from!!!

Gav.

Corporate Camper

Check to see if you can put the bikes on the bus, you never know. I used to travel from Bicester to MK every day and used to put the bike in the storage area under the bus, there were often a few other bikes there too.

NWLondoner

I will be avoiding the area.

From what i have heard before it can be hazardous than the normal rush hour traffic :shock:


Such a shame they don't allow to route to be open to "roadies" only for say 2 hours before the masses arrive. That would be a pretty cool TT course 8)

Gav2000

Corporate Camper wrote:

Check to see if you can put the bikes on the bus, you never know. I used to travel from Bicester to MK every day and used to put the bike in the storage area under the bus, there were often a few other bikes there too.

They say only fully folded folding bikes on the buses.

rich_e

I used to commute via London Midland before I lived in London. Bus replacement services on Sunday have always been quite common.

Whenever I had to go on one, they were proper big coaches, which obviously have storage holds. I've never seen anyone use them, but if you turned up with a case (like many people travelling via train do) they are going to put that in the hold rather than let you take it onboard.

It seems a bit silly that they are telling you that you can't take full size bikes, as their policy on the trains is that full size bikes are allowed during off peak times. Also, the bus company isn't London Midland, so it's up to the driver whether they let you take them, might be worth just turning up and trying.

Gav2000

Rich_E wrote:

I used to commute via London Midland before I lived in London. Bus replacement services on Sunday have always been quite common.

Whenever I had to go on one, they were proper big coaches, which obviously have storage holds. I've never seen anyone use them, but if you turned up with a case (like many people travelling via train do) they are going to put that in the hold rather than let you take it onboard.

It seems a bit silly that they are telling you that you can't take full size bikes, as their policy on the trains is that full size bikes are allowed during off peak times. Also, the bus company isn't London Midland, so it's up to the driver whether they let you take them, might be worth just turning up and trying.

Your comments seem very sensible but I don't want to risk being turned away when I have 2 young children who are looking forwards to the day out with me.

Instead I will force the kids to ride the 11 miles of NCN/Sustrans road that I have just volunteered to act as a Sustrans Ranger on to check the signage etc. I'll get the 7 year old to take the notes of any missing signs; 7 year olds love lists!

G.