I've been going to the meetings on this over the past year including a visit to Brodies to sample the cycle stowage. A good design, although it might have issues for smaller wheel sizes.
4 bays will have approx 1.8m spacing (although the racks for the bay between the middle partition and radiator header tank (above the floor)) have been omitted from the press release picture.
The cab-end racks are around 2.3 metres from the door vestibule partition, and the partition is completely removed except for the housing that carries the door controls
Here's what I posted on Facebook
Very specifically these single carriages have been provided for a route which has a known demand for group travel, initially for the very popular Western Isles cycle touring holidays. We've kept pressing at the Scotrail Cycle Forum for acceptance of tandems and trikes, and they can (and do) fit into the spaces on many Scotrail trains especially the newer electrics where the space is 2.4m long, and the draught screen is cut back. The bike bays on the 153 (the illustration has removed the 4 trays between the radiator header tank, which sticks up through the floor and the mid-coach partition), are generally at 1.8 metre spacing. The 4 bays closest to the doors can accommodate a longer cycle. I checked with notes from a visit we had at Brodies earlier this year and the last frame before the doors - in approximately the planned position - is approx 2.3 metres from the current door vestibule partition, which is being removed back to the door control buttons, to give a clear roll-in from the doors. Tandems also fit on coaches (we've tested this), so there is a 'rescue' option in some parts of Scotland (Citylink/Stagecoach Express) if the bike is 'covered' or packed appropriately.
In other news I set up a meeting with CyclingUK and LNER regarding the bike spaces on Azumas - perhaps a separate thread? As a result they are working with Hitachi to rectify the problems we highlighted with the hanging system (the detail of which was adversely changed between our try-out of the mock-up unit in 2014, and the production versions now in service). CUK has also commented to a journalist who may be covering this story.
Then on to the Cross Country Voyagers - where I got a brusque comment from my contact there (that U was stirring it up) after a social media flurry where I was highlighting the fact that the design and delivery are very much the province of the train designers (Bombardier) and owners/maintainers (Beacon Rail), and DfT sets the spec for the franchise contract, rather than shouting at the operator. Expecting something might appear in the Guardian on this one.
Finally the IC7 HST's - Scotrail is refusing to accept any more trains until the faults being found on the ones delivered so far have been sorted. As a result the 'new' trains are running with only 4 carriages vice 5, and thus only 2 bike spaces on every train, as the protocols/safety procedures for train staff and platform staff to open the van doors and load/unload bikes have hit a problem. Not sure exactly what this is, so of anyone has more detail.
To this we can add the Active Travel Commissioner getting put-off an HST at Perth after her bike handlebars - swinging around outside the cupboard (as the opening was too narrow), smashed into the emergency door release and put the train brakes on. A subsequent post showed the door release taped over with red PVC tape.
not resolved
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