Bikes on trains (can it be relied on)

alexlyne

Back in June I stopped my severn TAG for a month as I went on holiday for a week. For the remaining time, I bike-train-walked to work (s.wales to bristol).
Bike - 12 mins
Train - 15 mins
Walk - 20 mins.
It worked out quite well, and I save about £3 per day over using the automacar (for reference it takes 25mins in holidays, 35-40mins in termtime)

I am now considering the next step which would be bike-train-bike. If my maths is correct, this would be comparable in time to driving (during peak season at least).

The only thing is I am very dubious about turning up at the station ready to load my bike onto the train as you hear stories about ruthless guards who wont let you on as there are already two bikes on the train.. Though it is a FGW service and I hear they have the best bike policy. But I don't want to be stuck at one end or another without a bike (the home side especially as it would take 45mins to walk) - the main reason why I didn't tried it before.

Now the trains I used were not as busy as I would expect - at around 0730, and 1630 - this gave me hope that I would probably be OK.

Another option would be to purchase a folding bike - though I would not want a 20" wheel job, as I reckon that there's enough distance involved that something more sturdy (read 'manly') would be more suitable. A full-size folder? - is there much point? they don't take up much less space than a normal bike, though they may be regarded as making an effort, so more likely to be able to go on a train even if there are already the 2 bikes in the allocated train area.

I'd appreciate any comments/experiences/advice!
Alex :beer:

Altarf

Some information for you here - http://www.atob.org.uk/Bike_Rail.html but I suspect that although you may be all right most of the time, it will go wrong and you will be refused at some point.

With proper folding bikes, such as Brompton and Dahon, most rail companies have no restrictions on how many are taken onto a train. I commute into London, and it is not unusual to have 5 or 6 folding bikes in one carriage.

Some train companies treat semi-folding bikes (the type that are full size bikes that just fold in half), as folding bikes other as non-folding bikes, so it is worth checking.

Or there is the option of leaving a crap bike at the work station, with the expectation that it will be stolen or vandalised at some point. At the London station I commute into, there are hundreds of bikes left like this, so there is some protection in numbers, and that the stations have a higher police presence than a bike rack on a street corner.

Another place to ask this question would be https://www.railforums.co.uk

johnnyroper

i work for FGW and it all depends on what traction is operating the route and what crew work it,they are allowed 2 bikes per train officiallly although on the card-btm route you could have a 3 car working through to pompey that has more space.
in the near future a strict 2 bike policy is being implemented i was told,just waiting stickers to be ordered/fitted to exterior to say max 2 bikes.i have personally seen crew refusing to move a train due to excess bikes causing a hazard.
only way to be sure is reserve a bike no charge for this but not ideal as the times you use train may not be fixed.
alternatively get a fold up bike for the commute that way it can be dumped on luggage stack/or by feet and have no issues.

alexlyne

Thanks for the replies. I did read the atob information - I think I'm just worried about the interpretation of official policy vs the jobsworth crewman! I read a oldish story yesterday (on guardian or telegrph? website) about a FGW worker throwing a man and his folding bike off a train as the bike was causing a hazard on a busy train, though no more of a hazard than everone elses suitcases etc. It was clear that FGW were still considered on the whole bike-friendly - though is this about to change if giant stickers are on order!

Crap bike plan... I don't see any other bikes at Filton, where I'd be leaving a bike oevrnight, so would be worried about theft, or more likely vandalism, even with an old bike.


2 things in my favour - There is only one additional stop between my start and destination. The am train stops here, the pm train doesn't (I remember now, the am train is Xcountry, the pm train is FGW). So I could argue that even if it is a little busy (i.e. not too busy), I am only going a short distance and no chance for train to become overcrowded.
Plus, I'm pretty sure the pm train usually has 2 train carriages with bike storage.

Reserving a spot sounds like a good plan - the am journey at least is pretty fixed, and I could probably fix my hours week-by-week to reserve a spot on the ay home too.

Keith

I've got a fold up bike, it becomes a bit of luggage on the train Solves the issue as bikes are banned on my line.

alexlyne

I'm not sure if I want to be doing 5 miles a day on a 'proper' folding bike though... and a full-size folder would not be luggage.

Of course, I can be convinced that a little folder is actually man enough for the task...

SailorSam

What about getting an electric bike and do the whole journey on that.
How many miles would it be ?

Keith

I do 8 miles on mine, you should try one before you decide against them.

Simon11

A few weeks ago I was travelling on FGW to Padding on Sunday evening, by the time the train from Swansea got to Reading/slough, all the bike spaces were full up. I saw at least 5 people being refused to take their bike on board.

alexlyne

total journey 20 miles - that's using motorway. Without motorway, would be longer - would also take longer with electric bike, even if it went at 20mph.

Would be a good idea for me to try out a 'proper' folder - then maybe get one on a bike to work scheme perhaps...

gadgetmind

I've been doing 10 miles every week day on my Brompton for about a decade. It passes 95% of bikes on the road (much to their surprise) takes loads of luggage and is dead comfy.

I also use it for 50-100 miles leisure rides and it copes just fine.

Ian