Got to shlep out to Bathgate to pick up the keys for my new digs on Monday and thought I might ride back to have a wee explore and check a few "maybe" routes spotted on google maps to see if they're actually a thing IRL. Looks like the 334s run that route so there's two spaces and no lifting required huzzah, but not having done the journey before am I better off starting in Waverly or Haymarket?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Bike to Bathgate by train - Waverley or Haymarket?
(9 posts)- Started 1 week ago by Yodhrin
- Latest reply from Yodhrin
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Posted 1 week ago #
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I would usually say Haymarket for convenience, if it's not in rush hour, and Waverley for better chances of getting a bike onboard when it is busy.
Lots of Edinburgh-Glasgow and Edinburgh-London trips were mainly why I bought a Brompton in the end!
Posted 1 week ago # -
Not sure many bikes on that train ever but as @arellcat says if you want to make sure you get on then Waverley. ALso at Waverley you can just cycle down at Haymarket you need to humph down the stairs or try the lift. Lot of options back to Edinburgh from Bathgate. Steepest but nicest is probably up into the Alps then along the tops to Fauchledean then onto Canal towpath at Niddry Castle though you ar then almost doubling back on canal meander. Depends what time you have.
Posted 1 week ago # -
The Edinburgh Bathgate line is my regular commute (I go to Livingston). Even at rush hour (8:13 train) I have no problem getting a bike on at Haymarket. Out of rush hour (or at least, against the main commuter flow) I would predict you would have no problem whatsoever. As well as 2 bike carriages per 6 carriage train (and you can get at least 3 bikes in those) there is lots of space by the door marked with a wheelchair (in fact some cyclists seem to prefer that area).
Posted 1 week ago # -
Thanks for the advice folks. I ended up going from Waverley but I think in future I'd chance the lifts at Haymarket, I'd forgotten how horribly busy Waverley was.
Posted 1 week ago # -
Stations i am aware of gip getting a bike on - Stirling, Pitlochry, Linlithgow Edinburgh Park,
Good ones - Curriehill, Ayr, and terminals like Central and Queen St and Waverley. Queen St low level bit busy when alighting
Sadly for the return by bike the Feb Easterlies that bring/dont bring The Beast are with us
Posted 1 week ago # -
"chance the lifts at Haymarket"? I've not had any particular problem with the lifts at Haymarket (I mean, I've had to wait my turn sometimes, but it has never been a big problem) - though I admit I usually carry my bike up and down the stairs.
Posted 1 week ago # -
I was travelling from Ayr on Sunday [no bike] and was keen to get slow train from Central but Scotrail had made that vanish despite the ticket guy confidently proclaiming they run every hour.
I had to move swiftly to Queen St to get out iof dodge before the Angry Rangers fans emerged from Ibrox.
Was just in time and just had rugby fans at Haymarket to negotiate. Glad no bike
Posted 1 week ago # -
@fimm Yeah mine is a ~33kg step-through ebike so stairs are best avoided. In terms of chancing it, eh, I always tend to get a bit paranoid when travelling, had an incident(not serious or anything) when I was quite wee that makes me dread missing things so I'm the person who always shows up 30+ minutes early and tries to avoid even small and purely theoretical obstacles - sure there's probably not going to be an issue with the lifts or a big queue or whatever, but there *might* be, says the creature that lives behind my eyes :P
I'll get a chance to find out anyway, have to go back out next week to sort something(there's always something) and forgot when I was making the appointment that it's during peak time for the tram so my usual lazy route out to Ingliston would potentially be an issue, just going to get the train to Uphall.
Posted 1 week ago #
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