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resolvedHey folks, I seem to recall this being discussed in another thread, but cannot find it. Anyone know if train services to Queen Street are still subject to delay, cancellation, replacement bus, etc.?
I ask because I'm planning a family trip to Loch Lomond next week: if services are normal, we will try and take our bikes to ride the cycle path up the west side. If they are not, we may have to just go on foot and explore different activities.
Any advice gratefully received!
Normal daytime services with cancellations via Falkirk High after 7pm. Best just to check a journey planner for any combinations you might want to do.
Bathgate line unaffected so the stations most useful for Loch Lomond are unaffected.
Hm. But for some reason when I select Edinburgh-Balloch it routes me through Queen Street! Looking in more detail, perhaps we'll need to go to Dalreoch on the Helensburgh train via Bathgate, then cycle the 5 miles to Balloch via NCN7. Dalreoch also seems to be an interchange with the Balloch railway, so we could always train it, changing there. Just worried about the impact of extra mileage on the youngsters' enthusiasm and tiredness... :) Mind you hefting four bikes on and off at intermediate station halts is never much fun...
@crowriver do not go via queen street as you will have to switch to the low level trains. That is possible but trickier with the four of you than swapping at dalreoch. I cannot remember this station though spent some time going from hyndland to balloch on the train. I have a feeling you will get off at dalreoch and then it will still be the same platform to get on the next train though the four bikes might be an issue on the balloch train. Less so on the Bathgate train as fair bit of bike space on those trains.
You could stay on to Helensburgh and join the John muir trail to balloch but that is further. To cycle but more picturesque and maybe joins Loch Lomond route you want beyond balloch? Goes by Charlie Rennie Mac's hill house. So bit of climbing and descending Depends on weather and of course where it is you are going to from balloch. So if you were going up the west of Loch Lomond Helensburgh to Arden cycle might work but if going up the east side then it is another 8.5 miles. Without kids I would still go that way to avoid Renton and Alexandria.
The vale of leven is the second poorest part of Scotland. But balloch is nicer.
Don't get the train to milngavie. Not such an issue from Waverley but at Edinburgh park the Glasgow trains alternate between Helensburgh and Milngavie as destinations IIRC
Journey planners will send you via Queen St high level when available as it is 10 mins quicker on average than going via Bathgate
This of course doesn't account for the hassle of changing trains with a family worth of bikes, so stick in 'via bathgate'
There isn't direct Balloch trains, but going via Bathgate means it's then just a case of swapping onto a different train on the same platform in Q St Low Level
Not sure the balloch train stArts at queen st low level, might do, in which case you would have easier time getting bikes on. Often the trains at the queen st low level are running through from north or south Lanarkshire with end points like Motherwell etc.
The line splits after dalreoch and either goes on to Helensburgh or up to balloch so still feel it might just be the same platform but I cannot remember for sure.
Hmm. All useful information. Always tricky travelling with kids and a full complement of bikes makes it even trickier. We could have the folding bikes option but that brings different issues. Part of me thinks we may just leave the bikes at home for this trip. Scope the route out as foot passengers first, to see if indeed it will be feasible to take four bikes at all.
At some point I shall return that way solo and try out the route from Helensburgh by bike.
Thanks everyone for the advice.
It really is easy
One change at Queen St Low Level. Off, wait on the platform, back on.
"It really is easy"
For one person, sure. For four, including two kids, not so much. Might have to go at different ends of the train if it's a Turbostar, might already be bikes on, folk disembarking, limited time.
The Bathgate train to Helensburgh would be very straightforward. Of/on at end of the line, comparatively little rushing, can get there early, etc. Intermediate station halts are often a nightmare, even just for one person.
Just to do my usual "I commute on the Bathgate line" thing and add that I would not expect you to have trouble putting all four bikes in the same area on those trains - get on at the disabled sticker and there's a big space. A bungee cord might be handy for securing things.
There's always the risk of a wheelchair user/another family with bikes/an obstreperous individual of course. During commuting hours most of the trains I see are 6 carriages, so two big spaces, but I don't know what they do at the weekend.
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