Bike in box + Luggage on train Liverpool - London
cat_with_no_tail
Posts: 12,981
So I'm booking up my tickets to travel down to London for RL in August. We're travelling down by train and spending the week leading up to the event doing touristy stuff in the big smoke with the kids.
As I'm bringing the wife and 2 daughters, you can imagine we're not going to be travelling light!
I rang Virgin trains to see what their policy was on bags and to ask how much it'd be for any excess baggage charges (it's likely to be 2 suitcases and a bike box). Their customer service line was a complete joke. He had no idea what the limit for baggage was, and had no idea how much extra we'd have to pay if we were over limit. Just kept telling me I'd have to ask at the station.
Now, I'd rather avoid coming over from the IOM only to get to Liverpool and find out it's going to be a million billion pounds to get the bike box on the train, or worse, that they wont take it. I didn't think that was unreasonable, but apparently I'm wrong.
Anyone made a similar trip before and care to pass on some advice?
I know I *could* just not box up the bike and take it on in a bike space, but with the onward travel at each end (we're spending a few days with family before we go down there, and a few days on the way back), it's going to be easier to stick it in the box (that's what they're made for after all).
As I'm bringing the wife and 2 daughters, you can imagine we're not going to be travelling light!
I rang Virgin trains to see what their policy was on bags and to ask how much it'd be for any excess baggage charges (it's likely to be 2 suitcases and a bike box). Their customer service line was a complete joke. He had no idea what the limit for baggage was, and had no idea how much extra we'd have to pay if we were over limit. Just kept telling me I'd have to ask at the station.
Now, I'd rather avoid coming over from the IOM only to get to Liverpool and find out it's going to be a million billion pounds to get the bike box on the train, or worse, that they wont take it. I didn't think that was unreasonable, but apparently I'm wrong.
Anyone made a similar trip before and care to pass on some advice?
I know I *could* just not box up the bike and take it on in a bike space, but with the onward travel at each end (we're spending a few days with family before we go down there, and a few days on the way back), it's going to be easier to stick it in the box (that's what they're made for after all).
0
Comments
-
On the longer distance trains, the luggage and bike would probably go in the seperate carriage.0
-
Why not call Liverpool station and ask? Shame England tries to make money out of everything, especially on trains when they are already overpriced!0
-
Not hugely helpful I know but when I went down last year with mine in a bag it was a quiet train so I just put it on the two seats opposite. The time you're travelling will make all the difference, if it's quiet expect a lot more flexibility.0
-
Update:
Did some digging around on the Virgin trains T&Cs, which led me to the network rail T&Cs, where I eventually found the following:Network Rail wrote:47. Accompanied luggage, articles and animals
You may take a single item of hand luggage that must be capable of being held in your lap if required, plus up to 2 items of luggage each not exceeding 30 x 70 x 90 cm in size. Unless you are disabled or have reduced mobility and have made arrangements in advance for assistance, you should be able to manage your luggage without additional help. Luggage is carried subject to sufficient space being available in the train service you wish to use. Luggage should not occupy seats intended for passengers; if it does so, it may be charged for as set out in Appendix B.
Additional items of luggage and larger items may be carried at an additional charge (as set out in Appendix
, but you should check in advance with the Train Company. Each Train Company provides information about their specific luggage conditions on request, and this can be found either from their website or from the Ticket Seller before you buy your ticket.
Appendix B goes on to say:Network Rail wrote:6. Luggage that exceeds the limits set out above is carried at the discretion of the Train Company. A charge may be made for this. Each train company is responsible for setting the charges that apply to luggage conveyed in these circumstances; however, it will not exceed half the adult single fare for the journey or part of the journey over which the luggage is being conveyed on that Train Company. Train Companies will provide information about their additional luggage policies via their website and enquiry offices, or on request or from the Ticket Seller before you buy your ticket.
So....
Essentially, Virgin trains SHOULD have been able to tell me how much I would have to pay. Ok, they may not have been able to give an exact sum as this will most likely be done on a case-by-case basis depending on how full the train is, how much other luggage you have etc, but should have been able to give the maximum I'd have to pay (as outlined above).
If I assume I'll have to pay the maximum amount, I'll only be looking at about £50 absolute max (over both trips). so not too dissimilar to what I pay already on a number of airlines.
Jeebus, why do some people have to make life so difficult?0 -
says here bike go free...
http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/trains/as ... vel-bikes/
...but presumably this is not for a boxed bikemy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0
