Advice using trains with a bike

oxoman

Looking at various bikepacking routes and how to get to the start points. First few are easy as round Robins and can leave the car somewhere safe. The others are to far and not circular routes. I'm thinking train but this is well out of my comfort zone, travelled by train probably 3 times in nearly 60yrs apart from heritage trains. First one requires train to Glasgow to bike to Manchester then down to near Derby. Derby is my nearest big station, any advice welcome.

wakemalcolm

I'd investigate travelling by coach.

The Flixbus UK site is annoyingly vague but we have an inter city network up here called Ember who run a fleet of electric coaches that allow you to book your bike on. It was the best 'bike on public transport' experience I've ever had.

vincesummerskRoxcBTr

Non seat bookable trains (ie. Local type trains) aren't usually a problem, you can just rock up and get on with a bike, unless too many people with bikes are trying to get on.

Trains where you book seats require you to book your bike on - there may only be 2 or 4 bike spaces per train.

pep.fermi

I've transported my bicycles in the train many times in many different countries (but never in the UK).

Basically, two options:

A) either take the bike as it is (you probably need to buy an extra "buycicle ticket"), and of course you're only limited to specified trains

or

B) remove the wheels, and store the whole in a proper bicycle transport bag. Advantage is this way you are more flexible as you can take any train or bus. Plus, it's much cheaper as you don't need an extra ticket (don't spend a fortune for a posh but unnecessary bag, the cheapest one, at probably less than 50quid, will do just great). This way the bag is much smaller than a bike (thought still much bigger than most suitcases), and you're 99% sure you can take it with you in any bus or trains (well, unless extremely crowded).

Option B of course you will then have the bag with you, depending on the trip and on your logistic, it may or may not be convenient to take it around with you.

Option B is the only one I've ever done, mostly traveling 13hr, and several legs, from Hamburg (northern Germany) to Trento (northern Italy), or Innsbruck (Tirol). Though most people I see taking their bikes on the train do option A.

I do own a car. But whenever I travelled with train + bike, I never wished I used the car instead.

monkimark

All the train companies have their own rules on travelling with bikes, Manchester to Glasgow is west coast mainline and used to have bike spaces that you need to book in advance for free (I only did it once about 15 years ago).

All the local train services around me in the South east allow you to just turn up with your bike as long as its not rush hour, in theory there tend to be spaces for bikes in one carriage that you have to use (often the same spaces allocated for wheelchairs) but I have just stood with my bike by the doors if the bike space is full - just have to accept that you might need to stand with the bike and move it to let people get by with prams etc.

Short answer is that you need to check the website of the train company you are using to see what their policy is.

First.Aspect

It is still book in advance for free on most long distance routes. However on busy routes, the bike storage becomes person storage. I was worried about damage to mine, plus it was tricky actually persuading people to allow me space to leave the train.

Also, although you can book, possession is 9/10 of the law and if someone who hasn't specifically booked has used the space, good luck with that.

It is a fairly comprehensively useless system, so I would certainly think about planning your trips for off-peak travel.

Webboo2

Having just traveled from Malton North Yorkshire via York to Leuchars Scotland and return on LNER trains. There’s no way I would take my bike on the train unless there was a special compartment for your bike. Both going and return there was barely room for suitcases. Coming back they opened up a storage cupboard as all racks were full. When we came to get off we found our case buried under pushchairs and other cases, fortunately the train was delayed coming it York station so we had time to dig out our case.

MidlandsGrimpeur2

https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/comment/21109709#Comment_21109709

This has been my experience, even when booking in advance, you tend to find people and luggage.

As has been said, local commuter trains are fine but anything long distance is a gamble.

oxoman

Currently looking at megabus as they seem to be set up better for bikes. Hadn't heard of flixbus, will have a look later. Looks like i either risk an overnight journey or get a lift to the start. Cheers for the info folks. Looks like most people have issues travelling by train.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Took my road bike up to Prestatyn from Southampton (via Newport South Wales) a few times from '19-'22, reserved a seat online, but then had to visit a local station to reserve a spot for my bike for each leg of the journey.

Worked out ok each time, but often had other bike owners not caring about their bike or other people's when getting on or off.