http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Reserving bike space online on East Coast route en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:03:13 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-285622 Sat, 23 Jun 2018 08:37:44 +0000 chdot 285622@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/final-day-for-virgin-trains-east-coast-following-franchise-failure-1-4758831" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/final-day-for-virgin-trains-east-coast-following-franchise-failure-1-4758831</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283684 Thu, 31 May 2018 09:56:38 +0000 Colonies_Chris 283684@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Picked up my tickets from a machine at Waverley last night, using the booking ref they gave me over the phone; actual physical bike tickets. Hooray! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283625 Wed, 30 May 2018 13:46:38 +0000 ejstubbs 283625@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>@chdot</strong>: <em>In the past booking via the EC site gave you points towards future tickets - a valuable bonus.</em></p> <p>That was (as I think you were trying to say) when ECML services were operated by the East Coast. When VTEC took over they switched to Nectar points - which some people find useful, though AIUI you can't use Nectar points to buy train tickets*. The East Coast scheme was quite generous in comparison to some, hence the creation of the <a href="https://saveecrewards.co.uk/">Save East Coast Rewards web site</a> where the list of TOCs that will do bike reservations online is also held.</p> <p><em>* minor correction: Eurostar accepts Nectar points, at £2.50 per 500 points.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283600 Wed, 30 May 2018 08:48:13 +0000 chdot 283600@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Realised it’s exactly a month since I got a physical bike ticket for trip to London (via a phone booking).</p> <p>So, unless it’s a different process for booking via DM on Twitter, it’s changed in last few weeks.</p> <p>I now have a scabby bit of self-printed paper with journey details (inc bike). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283575 Tue, 29 May 2018 17:47:01 +0000 chdot 283575@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“If it turns out to be just VTEC's with a coat of digital paint applied that will be <em>very</em> disappointing.”</p> <p>Yes, but I won’t be surprised. </p> <p>In the past booking via the EC site gave you points towards future tickets - a valuable bonus. </p> <p>Currently main advantage is free WiFi codes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283572 Tue, 29 May 2018 17:37:26 +0000 ejstubbs 283572@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Indeed, it was mentioned by Greenroofer right back at the beginning when this thread started (fourth post on the thread - after I had posted the link to the web site that listed <em>all</em> the TOCs that do bike reservations online).</p> <p>I'm waiting with bated breath to see what LNER's website is like from 24th June. If it turns out to be just VTEC's with a coat of digital paint applied that will be <em>very</em> disappointing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283569 Tue, 29 May 2018 17:03:08 +0000 DrAfternoon 283569@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think it's been said before, but you can definitely still book bikes online through Scotrail, for any UK service, and still get the usual bike tickets at the collection machine. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283546 Tue, 29 May 2018 11:43:34 +0000 I were right about that saddle 283546@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Much as I would like to take my bike on trains;</p> <p>1) NO TRAILERS<br /> 2) BEWARE OF THE LEOPARD </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283545 Tue, 29 May 2018 11:39:37 +0000 chdot 283545@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well it seems it’s true there are no longer physical bike tickets. </p> <p>The booking ref I got via email starts with D which is greyed out on the ticket machine keyboard. </p> <p>Did discover that I could pick up the travel tickets even though I was at a different station from where I was supposed to collect them. </p> <p>I <em>think</em> I’ve tried that before and it didn’t work and had to queue up(?)</p> <p>Useful small change (if it is). </p> <p>Still need to be able to book bike tickets online though! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283493 Mon, 28 May 2018 08:17:37 +0000 acsimpson 283493@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have ordered train tickets using Tesco vouchers (via redspottedhanky) in the past. The collection process is the same. You need to insert a card which you didn't use to pay and then enter the booking reference. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283479 Sun, 27 May 2018 16:45:58 +0000 Roibeard 283479@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've booked bike space for July by phone based on the website instructions. I was emailed a receipt, and told that the collected tickets would not include the bike reservation.</p> <p>I'd have been better off choosing the print on demand ticket option since I had to print out the bike receipt anyway...</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283477 Sun, 27 May 2018 15:52:20 +0000 chdot 283477@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“the phone person gave me a separate collection reference for the bike (just one for both the outward and return trips), but there was no email (and no indication of whether there will be a physical ticket; I forgot to ask).</p> <p>...</p> <p>It may not be possible to pick up a no-charge bike ticket from a machine, as the first thing it asks for is your credit card.”</p> <p>I did ask. </p> <p>Was told to put any card in to start the process and got the usual tickets. </p> <p>I will find out on Tuesday if it still works like that! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283476 Sun, 27 May 2018 14:55:03 +0000 Colonies_Chris 283476@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That maybe explains my last trip, a month ago, to Berwick. I booked over the phone, but when I came to pick up the tickets from the machine, no bike reservations appeared. Fortunately the counter staff at Waverley were able to make a reservation on the spot and give me a reservation ticket - so they do still exist, though perhaps not needed? Perhaps I actually did have the reservation but didn't know it.</p> <p>This time - I've just booked to London - the phone person gave me a separate collection reference for the bike (just one for both the outward and return trips), but there was no email (and no indication of whether there will be a physical ticket; I forgot to ask). It seems that the bike reservation has been completely delinked from the passenger booking. It may not be possible to pick up a no-charge bike ticket from a machine, as the first thing it asks for is your credit card. Perhaps can only be picked up from the counter, or perhaps just printout neeeded, as you say. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-283470 Sun, 27 May 2018 09:23:24 +0000 chdot 283470@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just booked bike tickets via Twitter Direct Message (@Virgin_TrainsEC)</p> <p>Sent message to confirm possible </p> <p>Reply in two mins</p> <p>Sent name, train details and email</p> <p>Email with booking number (put in machine for tickets) 2 minutes later</p> <p>Last time I did it by phone took 20 mins!</p> <p>UPDATE</p> <p>Asked about putting reservation into ticket machine and got this -</p> <p>“</p> <p>You won't get physical bike tickets, you'll just need to print off that confirmation email and bring it with you. ^BG</p> <p>“</p> <p>Will try anyway!</p> <p>Part of the process used to be putting ticket on bike.</p> <p>When I phoned I got number over phone and no email. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-281291 Sat, 28 Apr 2018 06:59:15 +0000 Tulyar 281291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fresh alert at very short notice Transpennine announce that they're making bike reservations compulsory from 20/May. THis is mainly because they are bringing in IEP's, so that there will be an ability to use a common fleet of spare trains parked up around the ECML to slot in when planned services run late or break down</p> <p>They have not offered an improved booking service, as GWR and Cross Country have done, and could easily continue to have the Cross Country policy in place, of having staff discretion options on the trains where there is flexibility - please write to MP's on this one</p> <p>I'll post separately on bikes to Oban - as I'm finding that even in May, every Saturday has the morning trains to Oban at 05.20 and 08.21 from Glasgow "Fully booked" with 6 bikes apiece. The Edinburgh-Fort William train chases the Oban service but does not connect with it, and usually has 29-30 of the 31 seats, and the 6 bike spaces... empty (it arrives drom London at 03.58, and leaves Edinburgh at 04.50 Monday-Saturday arriving in Glasgow at 05.48 - but cannot easily connect with the 05.20 Oban service, which cannot run any later.. as it takes kids to school from Tyndrum and Dalmally, and connects with ferries to &amp; from Craignure before heading back to Glasgow....But there are coach services..... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-281290 Sat, 28 Apr 2018 05:03:00 +0000 Tulyar 281290@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@neddie No - but AP as early as you can as once sold that's them gone BUT it is worth looking at TOC only fares &amp; route specific ones. Walk up Glasgow(&amp; Edinburgh?) to Leeds return via Appleby is around 50% of the fare available on all other routes. Likewise CrossCountry only fares Glasgow-Newcastle, &amp;c</p> <p>@IWRATS - have you played with the open data offered by Network Rail from DARWIN, TRUST etc which folk have played with to deliver Real Time Trains and Open Train Times amongst other apps?</p> <p>Given all the sticking plaster detail there seems to be around the National Rail ticket sales system (which didn't at one time accept a direct uploading of the planned train times for the next week (to ensure tickets &amp; reservations are sold for actual trains that are running - it had to be a manually delivered transfer) it has all the properties of Dr Frankenstein's monster. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-281133 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 12:03:41 +0000 I were right about that saddle 281133@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>To make bike reservations work, they create a virtual coach X, in which all the 'seats' are bike spaces. </em></p> <p>I've written stuff like that. Nasty. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-281128 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 11:20:22 +0000 neddie 281128@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>at 00.01 (or thereabouts) the system dumps all the seat reservations (AND unsold AP fares!)</em></p> <p>Does that mean it's best to try and buy an AP after midnight? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-281125 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 10:54:48 +0000 Tulyar 281125@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This replicates a service which I had a hand in prompting with CrossCountry Trains and requires a small tutorial</p> <p>The National Rail ticketing and reservations system is a venerable piece of software, and the attempt to upgrade it significantly in 2004=05 went a bit pear shaped. To make bike reservations work, they create a virtual coach X, in which all the 'seats' are bike spaces. to reserve a bike the system reserves a 'seat' in coach X</p> <p>This obviously only works if the train itself is on the system with reserveable seats BUT the system protocol then says YOU CANNOT HAVE 2 SEAT RESERVATIONS FOR THE SAME TICKET! </p> <p>A manual intervention (or a special routine - which seems to have been written in to the MixingDeck ticket sales suite) is thus required. Depending on how well the booking office/call centre staff have been schooled in the dark arts of illegal commands you will have a slick or frustrating experience as they deliver (or not)</p> <p>Now at 00.01 (or thereabouts) the system dumps all the seat reservations (AND unsold AP fares!) over the the 'owning' train operator, and for several years now, CrossCountry was offering some amazing CrossCountryOnly fares via their website and phone app, along with last minute 'check &amp; reserve' seats. This was expanded to having the Cross Country Call Centre and Twitter team also able to check and reserve any remaining bike spaces.</p> <p>VTEC now has the same offer - any VTEC unsold AP fares available on the day, and any available bike spaces - check with the twitter team. With 3 trains per hour to Newcastle through the day, and even more South from there, ther is a reasonable chance of getting the service you want or one shortly afterwards, unless you need one of the intermediate stops, as the services alternate between Dunbar, Berwick, Alnmouth and occasionally Morpeth. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-281089 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 22:12:24 +0000 chdot 281089@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apparently!!!</p> <p>“</p> <p>Virgin Trains EC (@Virgin_TrainsEC)<br /> 25/04/2018, 6:00 pm<br /> @deerfold @gsvalentine @TPEassist We can book bike reservations if you want via our twitter. Just send us a DM and we can get that done for you. ^DW</p> <p>“ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-272144 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 19:54:31 +0000 HankChief 272144@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I do like the idea of a battleaxe to get inproved customer service. It just might work :-)</p> <p>Thanks Biketrain. Will do some more plotting nearer the time. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-272104 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:35:36 +0000 biketrain 272104@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@HC I can lend you another Brommie, which I have seen Minichief ride. I have a bag for it so it would be luggage. Also have a Folding Dahon which fits in a bag. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-272078 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 11:15:40 +0000 Frenchy 272078@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Do you think turning up with a helmet, shield and battleaxe would make it more likely that you're allowed onto a train with an unreserved bike? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402&page=2#post-272063 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 08:59:24 +0000 HankChief 272063@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Result :)</p> <p>Mini chief has just announced he's doing a major school projects on Vikings and raiding Lindisfarne.</p> <p>I'm not sure if they took the 9:30 from Waverley then cycled but that's how we're going to do it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402#post-271223 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 01:31:12 +0000 LaidBack 271223@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot - Guardian from 2010 - still current!<br /> @acsimpson - their PR people will be on to that.<br /> @hankchief - cycling families are a 'non valid category' - GNER had that discussion before they went bust. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402#post-271220 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 01:09:06 +0000 acsimpson 271220@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Frustrating. Virgin Trains Twitter clearly isn't the brightest Twitter account: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42542640">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42542640</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402#post-271212 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 23:59:20 +0000 chdot 271212@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Previously -</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2010/jun/17/cycling-rail-atoc" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/green-living-blog/2010/jun/17/cycling-rail-atoc</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402#post-271208 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 23:33:06 +0000 HankChief 271208@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So today I hassled Virgin's Twitter account. After much to-ing and fro-ing I was told that the electric trains have 5 spaces and the Diesels 3 spaces.</p> <p>My trains are diesels apparently. Which surprised me a bit as my trains don't go north of Edinburgh, which I thought was the key differentiator.</p> <p>They couldn't give me any clues as to which trains had 5 spaces and the only way to book 4 is to DM them and they will 'try' to help.</p> <p>Very poor service - they seemed content that there wasn't a way for a family of 4 to easily travel together. :(</p> <p>( I realise some of you know this already, but it has been quite an eye opening experience for me)</p> <p>I also asked that they escalate the fact their call centre only let's you book 2 bikes but Scotrail's website allows you to book 3.</p> <p>They said it had been escalated, but they couldn't tell me when a decision would be made or tell me the result.</p> <p>They just don't care... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402#post-271107 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:57:24 +0000 Klaxon 271107@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/EDB?stp=WVS&amp;show=all&amp;order=wtt">Real Time Trains</a> advanced search will tell you the difference</p> <p>Click on the 4 digit ID the headcode column to get the detailed view </p> <p>It'll say either <strong>High Speed Train (HST125)</strong> or <strong>Electric locomotive</strong> at the top for Virgin Trains East Coast or <strong>220/221 (Voyager)</strong> for CrossCountry </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18402#post-271105 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:53:24 +0000 gembo 271105@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@hankchief, only 3 in the cubby hole but some of the inter city still have the whole goods wagon, I watched a gaggle of mamils wheel their bikes down a platform from the office window in November. @chdot seems to have some juju which predicts which type of train will be running?</p> <p>The last time I took train to londn in October I went for the first train in the morning as it takes 4 hours. However they had just cancelled it and the next train seven minutes later took an hour longer - made me late for a boring meeting. However, you can claim the ticket back.</p> <p>They are not making it easy for Family Hankchief to cycle to holy island from Berwick. However Roibeard is offering you his Brommie, which may help? </p>