Taking bikes on train from Brighton to London

feisty
feisty Posts: 161
edited April 2017 in Road general
Hi

Me and 3 friends are cycling from London to Brighton and getting the train back. The official train policy is to only allow 2 cycles per train and there are no reservations.

Has anyone had any experience of how rigidly they apply this? i.e. will we have to split into two groups to get back or are we likely to be ok?

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • remedy_7
    remedy_7 Posts: 179
    No bikes at certain times. ie morning and eve rush hour.
  • milemuncher1
    milemuncher1 Posts: 1,472
    which train company are you using? If it's Southern Railways, their policy is explained on their website.

    http://www.southernrailway.com/your-jou ... le-policy/

    Why don't you cycle back?
  • feisty
    feisty Posts: 161
    Not cycling both ways as I'm not fit enough to do 200km

    I know the official policy. I'm just wondering how rigidly it's applied. Trains go every 10-15 minutes so not a massive deal if we have to split into groups.

    Just wondered if anyone had experience
  • remedy_7
    remedy_7 Posts: 179
    Some holidays, no bikes. Gay parade etc.
    Lots of rail strikes down south, so check on the day.

    I have never had a problem. The bikes are stored next to the revolving/sliding door toilet. Enough space for 4 bikes if stored properly. If it is full of bikes or a wheelchair/pram, then keep the bike in the doorway. But you will have to stay with it to move it at each station as people get on off.
    Just don't board as one group. Split up.

    Soon there will be no guards on southern trains, so you can do whatever you like.
  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    On a bit of a tangent, are you sure you wouldn't rather miss off the last say 5 miles and then try and eek out a circular return ride? The last few miles into Brighton are a bit tedious so if you can resist the ice-cream you'd save the grief with the trains.
  • Ascot17
    Ascot17 Posts: 97
    londoncommuter wrote:
    ...are you sure you wouldn't rather miss off the last say 5 miles and then try and eek out a circular return ride?
    Only 184 km then.....?! :D
  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    edited July 2017
    pppp
  • feisty
    feisty Posts: 161
    Pretty exceptional 7 year olds. Good on them!

    I'm perfectly happy with just cycling one way. Thanks for the responses
  • perfectmark
    perfectmark Posts: 117
    I used them recently and as has been said, you can fit 4 bikes quite easily. There were actually 5 bikes when I went (4 where you normally keep them and 1 in the doorway). So as long as the train isn't too busy, you should be able to get on together.
  • chippyk
    chippyk Posts: 529
    londoncommuter wrote:
    On a bit of a tangent, are you sure you wouldn't rather miss off the last say 5 miles and then try and eek out a circular return ride? The last few miles into Brighton are a bit tedious so if you can resist the ice-cream you'd save the grief with the trains.

    All that way and miss out on the ice cream?

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