http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Edinburgh > Newcastle trains with "flat" bike storage? en Wed, 13 May 2026 02:06:50 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383724 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:35:34 +0000 chdot 383724@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Front page notification said there was a post from gembo</p> <p>But it’s evaporated </p> <p>(No idea how or why) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383722 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:16:47 +0000 LaidBack 383722@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Greenroofer "the thread has reminded to post the thing I read last week from the ScotRail website for the Inter7City bike storage."</p> <p>True for the hanging bike cupboards but all the Inter7City trains I've used recently have an additional four level bikes spaces like the Edinburgh Glasgow trains. Actually very good and way better than LNER.<br /> Often on trains where there's five bikes in the four spaces as people avoid the hook option as many visitors to the Highlands use large e-bikes with 75cm wide bars and huge luggage packs. Only criticism is the high step up onto IC7s and narrow door into carriage where the seats have been removed to boost bike spaces to six per train (4 level, 2 hanging).<br /> LNER is an obstacle to active travel tourism in Scotland via Newcastle - shame as it's a major entry point for visiting European cyclists. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383721 Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:11:55 +0000 Arellcat 383721@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>The owners of both bicycles may need to work together...</blockquote></p> <p>And how exactly is the solo cycle traveller supposed to know just who the hell the owner of the other bicycle is? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383720 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:40:44 +0000 Greenroofer 383720@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh, and they have got the wrong spelling for 'dependent'... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383719 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:39:27 +0000 Greenroofer 383719@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A bit off-topic, but the thread has reminded to post the thing I read last week from the ScotRail website for the Inter7City bike storage. When the provider's website is this pessimistic about the service they provide, it tells you that it's not going to go well.</p> <p><blockquote>It’s necessary to be able to lift your bicycle and hang it by the rear wheel, using the hooks provided. Due to health and safety advice our staff are unable to assist with this, so please bear this in mind when considering booking a space. If you are making a short trip (for example Glasgow to Stirling) you may prefer to travel on board one of our eXpress trains with roll-on roll-off bicycle storage.<br /> The bicycle must be strapped to ensure it is secure. We provide straps with a metal buckle. You may wish to bring your own strap should you not wish to use those provided.<br /> The nature of the space available on the train can make it challenging to get two bicycles in the storage cupboard, dependant on the size and style of bicycles. The hooks provided work with most bicycles, however those with deep rims, or chunky/plus size tyres, for example those greater than 7.62cm may not fit in the ceiling mounted hook. Large bikes and those with long wheelbases may not fit in the space that hangs from the wall. The owners of both bicycles may need to work together to ensure that both bicycles fit into the storage area safely.</blockquote> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383717 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 20:55:01 +0000 chdot 383717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“How they can justify this on health and safety grounds?</p> <p>Perhaps because it doesn’t involve employees(?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383716 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 20:45:30 +0000 amir 383716@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A few years back we took train to get the ferry at North Shields. On the way down a lovely old style cycle carriage. On the way back the hanger cupboards and I had to get by wife's ultra heavy, wide barred touring E bike in, alongside my traditional tourer. What a nightmare. Nearly out my back out. How they can justify this on health and safety grounds? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383714 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:24:09 +0000 Yodhrin 383714@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aye I thought so. I'll investigate both options - extending the trip by a few days and going train to Dunbar &gt; ride down to Eyemouth &amp; get a B&amp;B for the night &gt; ride down to Chathill for the evening train and then spend the night in Newcastle before getting the morning ferry(it's infuriating that they refuse to give you the option of travelling overnight without a cabin which triples the price) could work and seems like a mostly nice ride.</p> <p>My issue with the ebike is less the weight than the dimensions, I've got the biggest frame size available on my model and 27.5" wheels with chunky tires so it's a bit larger than a typical not-a-cargo-bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383711 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:00:18 +0000 Arellcat 383711@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Honestly, I think the best bet these days is CrossCountry. Ideally book a service that starts in Edinburgh and not one of the few that start at Glasgow or Aberdeen or Dundee, and aim to get the single bike hanger cubicle, which has more space than the one opposite that takes two bikes.</p> <p>Whether or not a big honkin' ebike will be amenable to hoiking onto its back wheel is something you might want to test. But I have carried my little purple recumbent many times on XC – made more tricky because I have to upend the bike on its <em>front</em> wheel and hang it from the back wheel.</p> <p>A bungee cord is a simple solution to shoogle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383710 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:24:19 +0000 Morningsider 383710@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As far as I am aware, LNER, Transpennine, and CrossCountry all use rolling stock with bike hangers. Lumo doesn't carry bikes at all.</p> <p>I did wonder whether it would be possible to piece something together using ScotRail and Northern services, with a bit of cycling in between. Not really a goer though. You could get a ScotRail service to Dunbar, but the furthest north that "Northern" go is Chathill, which has one service a day. A few more Northern services call at Alnmouth - a 73 mile cycle from Dunbar! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21909#post-383708 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 10:13:46 +0000 Yodhrin 383708@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I suspect I know the answer having dug through a few companies' lists of rolling stock, but are there *any* services from Edinburgh to Newcastle that don't use those garbage little 2 bike closets where you have to stand your bike on its back wheel and just hope the train doesn't shoogle too much?</p> <p>I'm not even sure my big honkin' ebike would fit, nevermind the potential for damage. It'd be nice to do the sustainable thing and use train &amp; ferry to get myself to Europe, but it's been a right faff and not a small amount of money getting my bike just how I want it so leaving it behind and renting a "good enough" at the destination would sour the whole thing. </p>