If I want to get to Glasgow for about 8 in the morning, how easy is it to take the bike on the train from Haymarket? Are there any restrictions?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Getting to Glasgow
(6 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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I've never had an issue taking my bike on the train to Glasgow Queen St outwith rush hour (I would say leaving Edinburgh ~7:15 you are missing most of the rush)and I get on at Haymarket. There are the usual markings on carriages that have storage for bikes. Each storage takes 2 bikes and there are normally a few of them on the Glasgow bound train. I have stood with my bike by the doors before to, moving out the way depending on what side they open. Conductors have never batted an eyelid. As I say though, this is out of rush hour times. Depending on the works you might have to carry your bike down the steps to the platform but other than that there shouldn't be any problems.
Posted 11 years ago # -
My preference would be to get on at Waverley, mainly to have a better chance of getting the bike on without a fuss.
Best place is the bike area next to the accessible toilet. Look for the wheelchair symbol on the outside of the train door.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Haymarket can be a bit of a pain with a bike but not impossible. You may also want to consider the Airdie-Bathgate trains, these take slightly longer but have better space provisions for bikes, and also tend to be quieter.
I can recall a few instances where I had trouble with conductors though. Although the spaces on the Queen St trains say for 2 bikes only I've seen countless times with 3 or even 4 bikes in there and the conductor hasn't had any problems. Once though, ironically in the middle of the afternoon when the train was hardly busy, I nearly got booted off at Falkirk for placing my bike on top of 2 others - secured it with the straps and all and it wasn't taking up any more room. Got a long lesson about 'regulations for 2 bikes only blah blah, you'll have to get off etc...' ended up letting me away with it though. Also saw someone denied boarding at Queen St in the same circumstance, 2 bikes already there and the conductor wouldn't let the guy put his there too, threatened to call security and all.
Still these were very isolated incidents so I wouldn't worry.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Another consideration is where you actually want to go in Glasgow. If you don't want to go to the city centre then the Airdrie/Bathgate line might be useful as it stops in the east and west of the city.
Never have any bother myself but that's a special case.
Posted 11 years ago # -
There is also the Cross Country to Glasgow Central via Motherwell(only stop). Has vertical bike hanging hooks, four I think, tend to be at one end of train though.
Posted 11 years ago #
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