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Booking bikes on advance train tickets

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Kernel_Sanders
Kernel_Sanders Posts: 3,617 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
in Public transport & cycling
I booked a train ticket online with EMT but couldn't book my bike at the same time because the offices where you do so (by phone) were closed. The following day I was informed no spaces were available on that train, so I didn't make the journey and lost the money on it.
Does any site offer you the facility to book the bike online at the same time?
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Comments

  • ljonski
    ljonski Posts: 3,337 Forumite
    I wonder whether it would be best to book the bike first(especially if it is free!)
    "if the state cannot find within itself a place for those who peacefully refuse to worship at its temples, then it’s the state that’s become extreme".Revd Dr Giles Fraser on Radio 4 2017
  • Ciaran_Brooks
    Ciaran_Brooks Posts: 17 Forumite
    When I booked through the First Hull Trains site for a GWR journey from Devon to Cornwall I was able to request a bike reservation online at the time of booking. This may have worked just for the specific train company but worth a try. Plus you get 2% cashback on the First Hull trains site through topcashback.
  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Kernel_Sanders wrote: »
    I booked a train ticket online with EMT but couldn't book my bike at the same time because the offices where you do so (by phone) were closed.
    EMT are one of a handful of operators who still use thetrainline for their booking engine, so do not provide cycle reservation facility.

    Use any of the Atos WebTIS booking engines instead, e.g. VTEC, TPE, Chiltern, etc.
    Kernel_Sanders wrote: »
    The following day I was informed no spaces were available on that train, so I didn't make the journey and lost the money on it.
    You are entitled to a free of charge refund, providing you request the refund before the time of travel.
    Kernel_Sanders wrote: »
    Does any site offer you the facility to book the bike online at the same time?
    Most do.
  • Nasqueron
    Nasqueron Posts: 10,620 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have had the option to request a bike reservation on the Red Spotted Hanky website when going on Virgin from Birmingham to London but never used it so not sure whether they would let me, be a pain to book it, take a bike and then not be allowed to take it on the train though!

    Sam Vimes' Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness: 

    People are rich because they spend less money. A poor man buys $10 boots that last a season or two before he's walking in wet shoes and has to buy another pair. A rich man buys $50 boots that are made better and give him 10 years of dry feet. The poor man has spent $100 over those 10 years and still has wet feet.

  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes Birmingham to London trains offer cycle reservations, and yes RSH will let you book them, and yes you will be allowed to take it on the train ;)
  • Kernel_Sanders
    Kernel_Sanders Posts: 3,617 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 11 December 2015 at 12:22PM
    Ciaran_Brooks wrote: »
    Plus you get 2% cashback on the First Hull trains site through topcashback.
    You get TCB with EMT too, but not the £1 booking fee that Hull apparently conceal in their pricing.
    ljonski wrote: »
    I wonder whether it would be best to book the bike first(especially if it is free!)
    Did you not read the very first line of the OP?
  • giraffe69
    giraffe69 Posts: 3,601 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    but not the £1 booking fee that Hull apparently conceal in their pricing.

    Whenever I've booked with them, which I do reasonably regularly since the demise of the East coast Rail system, I've never been charged an additional £1 on any ticket. I quite often compare with other operators.
  • Kernel_Sanders
    Kernel_Sanders Posts: 3,617 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 11 December 2015 at 8:29PM
    giraffe69 wrote: »
    Whenever I've booked with them, which I do reasonably regularly since the demise of the East coast Rail system, I've never been charged an additional £1 on any ticket. I quite often compare with other operators.
    OK well, I just tried another one at random. 22 Dec 13:54 SPT to ALF is £8 with EMT but £9 with Hull Trains (their website offers Alfreton & Mansfield Parkway as an option, which must have changed its name 20-odd years ago!)
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    EMT offer £1 off some advances - Hull Trains charge the 'normal' fare for them
  • yorkie2
    yorkie2 Posts: 1,595 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hull Trains do not charge booking fees.
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