Practically speaking it’s unlikely to be a problem, especially if you have a person for the 1/2 bike.
Even if not, SR employees seem more pragmatic/helpful in recent years.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Getting an unreserved bike on the train
(74 posts)- Started 5 years ago by Andrew-AWS
- Latest reply from chdot
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Technically against the rules but no doubt will depend on the guard.
"Motorbikes, mopeds including electric mopeds, tricycles, and non-folding cycle trailers
Due to on-train space restrictions and for customer and staff safety, we are unable to accommodate these on any ScotRail service."https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/cycling/bikes-trains
Posted 1 year ago # -
NB trains are 4 or 6 coach, so suspect minimal chance of space problems outside commuting hours.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Can you take the wheels off the trailer and stow them? Then it becomes a large piece of luggage (albeit also at the guard's discretion).
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ah trailer not trailerbike!
Size may matter.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks all. It's a revolution cargo trailer so does fold flat for storage if required.
I'm not sure if we'll head out on the Sunday for a 2 day adventure or see how far we can get on a one day one, in which case I wont need the trailer. It depends on the weather, espcially the weather during the Long Dark Teatime of the Audax Soul the day before.
Posted 1 year ago # -
7 bikes in the 6 bike spaces on the Inverness train we got on this morning at Haymarket with our 2 reserved bikes :(
Posted 1 year ago # -
Chaos continued when 2 cyclists with reservations trued to get on at Dunkeld and weren't allowed to...
Turned out that they had oversold the bike reservations...
Train guard was a bit flustered but ook it with good grace
Posted 1 year ago # -
“
@ScotRail
shambles.2 bikes booked on 11:12 Dunkeld/birnam- Aviemore. Train arrives, guard refuses us as "bike spaces full w unbooked bikes"
If we had suitcases instead of bikes on you come
If you have bike booking system, why no attempt to control it?
And why so anti bikes?
“
https://twitter.com/willstewneuro/status/1662790575689482240?
Posted 1 year ago # -
...and that's why more bikes are carried on cars than trains.
Exactly the same thing used to happen 20 years ago.
Remind me... on the HST units all bikes are now in the coaches and the 'guards' space in powercar is not used?Posted 1 year ago # -
I really want to use the train more to get round for bike packing trips, linear trips become available but I can't be bothered with boarding anxiety. Am I going to get my trip started, am I going to get home. Nah I'll just take the car.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Self-fulfilling prophecy though innit!?
If people give up so easily and just take the car, will they be inclined to campaign for better public transport...?
Will the public transport operators ever see the need to better cater for bikes if no bikes turn up...?
Nothing personal @steveo, I also feel your pain
This is why I also believe it's so important for people to give up car ownership - when you don't have the (easy*) choice, it forces you to campaign for better things
*i.e. you might have to hire a car
Posted 1 year ago # -
I know exactly what you mean but he multi million pound (now state owned) companies have to blink first and show good faith that people will use the service, the current system of proving there is demand by having people waiting on the platforms or fighting for the scraps is hopeless.
Thing is for me its not even the easy option, the household negotiations for me to have the car for a few days are a pain its much easier for me to say I'm going away for these days but you can have the car if you need to entertain the kids. I don't really like driving if I've been away camping, I'd rather get an hours nap on the train. The train should be the easy option but I don't have the constitution for a day on the platform* I admire anyone who attempts it with kids.
*Sunday highland service only two or three trains between lunchtime and evening and it only takes a few cyclists getting on before you.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Germany, last year.
After ‘express’ was stopped and everyone had to get on ‘local’.
Wasn’t travelling with bikes (fortunately!)
Clearly ‘things happen’ but many trains in some European countries start with more room for bikes.
It’s about 25 years since SR abandoned the £3 single bike charge - after a campaign involving Spokes…
Improved provision for bikes has developed slowly.
Generally staff attitudes/willingness to help have improved noticeably.
I’m much more often on trains where no booking is required, which can have challenges.
Basically SR doesn’t have enough rolling stock so trains that normally are 5 coach can turn out to be 2.
The 2 being a 158. I don’t think any of them still have the ludicrous ‘cupboard’ allegedly designed for 2 bikes.
So redesigns/internal configurations have been done. SOME have room for 2 bikes, some 4 - some only have bike symbols outside ONE carriage.
Arguably that’s entirely SR’s fault, but i don’t actually know if it owns them!
Some 3 car 170s only have space for 2 bikes.
Such realities all add to the discouraging of anyone who is not a keen bike/train ‘enthusiast’!
Posted 1 year ago #
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