 Hi guys, Just wondering what your experience is trying to take bikes on trains. In particular, I notice that virgin trains state that you *must* book a ticket in order to take a bike on board. Now that's a bit inconvenient when all I want to do is travel 10 miles, and it means I would have to book the ticket at least three days before I wanted to ride. Not much chance for spontinaity! Has anyone tried just turning up and asking if there is any room spare for a bike, and if so how did you get on? i.e. are the train managers decent about it or are they total jobsworths? My other local train companies are Southern and South West, who let you carry a bike for free without booking as long as its off-peak, which is pretty handy. Cheers!
|
 |
 Virgin only have room for two bikes hence why they insist on booking - if they allow bikes on without a booking then someone else with a booking may have problems if they try to get on further down the line. You can usually book up to 2 hours before travel (assuming that no-one else has booked). Having said that, in my experience, they only 'ask' if you have a booking - they don't want to see a ticket. So, if you're only travelling 10 miles you may get away with it. Although if it's only 10 miles why are you not cycling...
|
|
 I once got a complete b*llocking when I travelled to Cambridge, on the train with my bike. The Little Man asked me if I had a ticket for my bike; I thought he was taking the pish, but apparently he wasn't  . I ended uphaving to pay another £5 for my bike (in addition to my ticket) 
|
|
Unfortunately I can't book only two hours in advance, because there is nowhere to pick up tickets round here. I have to get them posted. That's why it's so annoying!
|
|
 You can't get tickets from the train station itself?
|
|
 I use the train all the time and have never had to book a place ( I've never used them during rush hour though, there maybe problems during this time ). Yep, all the local trains in the Manchester area have room for bikes and I've always got on no problems.
|
|
DvV , I'm sure you can print your own tickets off the net now
|
|
 you can only pre-book bikes over the phone, but i've never had any problems when i don't book.
|
|
 Virgin have always asked me if I've got a bike reservation, but never actually ask to see it! If I know I'm definitely travelling with Virgin (or CrossCountry) I get a reservation, but my daughter got on a Virgin train without even beiong asked - could be cos she's young slim and beautiful. All the other train operators don't seem quite so fussy, so the answer is avoid Virgin and Cross Country if at all possible
|
|
South west trains, First Great Western and Arriva trains Wales have never asked, and i use all frequently
|
|
Yeah, I found I could only book Virgin trains in advance over the phone. If the station you are travelling from has the appropriate Virgin ticket dispenser, you can book very close to the time of travel and pick the tickets up at the station. Unfortunately none of the stations near me have the Virgin ticket dispensers. I guess in future I will just wing it and hope that since I am only travelling for a short distance they might let me get away with it...
|
|
