GWR Booking on your bike

Kiran

I have been using the train and taking my bike on since before the compulsory booking of bikes came into effect in May. Up to this point I was able to book my bike on via email and block book my travel. Whilst a bit of an inconvenience it wasn't that bad.


Yesterday I had to leave early so I phoned at 09:00 to book onto the 13:10 train giving more than the 2 hours notice required. I was told that the 13:10 was full so I asked about the 12:10 and without checking, or if it was done it only look a maximum of about 3 seconds.


I thought I'd chance my arm and turn up and hope that the platform staff would let me on, as from previous conversations with them they don't appear to think much of the system either. So having been told the bike spaces were full I was ready for all 6 spaces to be taken up. The train arrived and the bike carriage was empty. I then thought that there might be a group getting on at one of the stations further down the line so I sat in carriage A and kept an eye out, prepared to move my bike as from the next station from the start of my journey there are 2 TOCs so I would have been able to use the other if I was taking someone else's space.


In my entire 1 3/4 train journey 1 other bike got put on the train! Why on earth do they think this system was a good idea, the old system worked fine and I never couldn't get my bike on the train. I was tempted to complain to GWR but the station staff have always been good so the backlash for not stopping people will come back on them instead of the useless lazy staff that are supposed to be booking on the bikes!

Kiran

More pathetic service today. Called again to book a bike space and I have now been told that the cycle spaces close at 6pm the night before! It doesn't say that anywhere, the only reference is 2 hours before.

The_Groat_Counter

Kiran wrote: »

More pathetic service today. Called again to book a bike space and I have now been told that the cycle spaces close at 6pm the night before! It doesn't say that anywhere, the only reference is 2 hours before.

GWR - Travelling with your bike

Before you go

* reserve your space when you book online, call 0345 7000 125; or visit a station ticket office; generally you should do this by 18:00 the day before, although some services have availability up to 2 hours before departure
...

Kiran

I should have said the posters in the station only reference 2 hours before.

yorkie2

Kiran wrote: »

More pathetic service today. Called again to book a bike space and I have now been told that the cycle spaces close at 6pm the night before! It doesn't say that anywhere, the only reference is 2 hours before.

If they do not resolve the matter satisfactorily refer them to Transport Focus: http://www.transportfocus.org.uk/contact/complaint

Kiran

Thanks, I'll be doing that.

lush_walrus

It's their train their choice of system.

A lot of services do not even provide train facilities, I have commuted on many lines over the years, if you don't like this one you would really dislike some of the others who blanket ban bikes between 7 and 10,am and 4 to 7!. As with seats that are booked but no one sat in them it is very likely the places were booked and the people booking did not catch the train. I travel on the same train line daily with my bike, I haven't had an issue getting a space for my bike since the new rules. Speaking to staff it is in preparation for the new trains which will have very restricted numbers of bike spaces I think they said 2 or 3 when I asked. Apparently also they book them for the whole journey at the moment so if you are on the Paddington to Penzance the 6 spaces could be booked for any part of that journey, so unless you were on for the whole journey you may not have seen the 6 who were booked if they did bother to get on.

It never fails to amaze me how many booked seats are not sat on while commuters chance their arm and sit down or leave them empty and stand.

Kiran

lush_walrus wrote: »

It's their train their choice of system.

A lot of services do not even provide train facilities, I have commuted on many lines over the years, if you don't like this one you would really dislike some of the others who blanket ban bikes between 7 and 10,am and 4 to 7!. .....

You can say that again!

I do understand what you are saying but if its a service they offer it should be done properly!

esuhl

lush_walrus wrote: »

It's their train their choice of system.

But... it's more than that. It's a public service. They need to operate in a way that meets the needs of the public.

martindow

lush_walrus wrote: »

It never fails to amaze me how many booked seats are not sat on while commuters chance their arm and sit down or leave them empty and stand.

If you buy off-peak tickets you are invited to reserve seats but have a choice of several trains. I've often travelled on different trains when I've got to the station earlier or later than I'd envisaged.

Also on busy services I always try sitting in a vacant reserved seat. Sometimes the owner comes along but often they don't so I get to have a seat.

What always surprises me are passengers who have bags and coats on the the seat next to them and only move them when asked even though the train is clearly busy.

Johno100

esuhl wrote: »

But... it's more than that. It's a public service. They need to operate in a way that meets the needs of the public.

No that went out the window 30 years ago when they privatised the railways and the buses.