GWR Bike Policy

[bb21]

If reservations are compulsory you do not need any system of communicating it to the train at all. You simply need the passenger to show it. Then they can be made right up to departure.

This is still "turn up and go", near enough, and it is how VTWC do it.

What if the passenger has no means of making a reservation? By turn-up-and-go I was specifically referring to turning up at the station without a reservation.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What if the passenger has no means of making a reservation? By turn-up-and-go I was specifically referring to turning up at the station without a reservation.

That would need addressing. To me it would be best addressed with a software mod to "online" TVMs to allow them to do it. Edge cases could be handled by allowing a reference number to be obtained by telephone, which the guard could, if he felt there was doubt (i.e. too many supposedly reserved cyclists turned up), verify by phone himself.

 

[bb21]

That would need addressing. To me it would be best addressed with a software mod to "online" TVMs to allow them to do it.

That goes back to my point that if we could implement real-time on-train reservation it would probably solve the problem.

Reserve by text or a dedicated portal connected to the NRS. The technology is probably out there. Whether there is a will to change the current approach is a different question.

 

[Philip Brown]

I also travel with my bike for leisure, mostly catching the train home at the end of a ride. Thus having a 2 hour cut off for compulsory reservations is impractical - if nothing else one never knows when you may have a mechanical!

I am considerably less knowledgeable on the mechanics of various TOCs' reservation systems than many on this forum clearly are, but I would add that if XC can offer a 10 minute SMS seat reservation system, then could GWR not do the same for cycle reservations?

I have no problems with GWR implementing a policy of compulsory cycle reservations for their peak trains, provided the cut off for reservations is much closer to the time of boarding than the present limit of 2 hours.

To slightly edit bb21's earlier excellent quote:

We either have a first-come-first-served policy with reservations being cut a certain amount of time before the train leaves the origin station; or allowing reservations to be made right up till the last minute before the train departs but no turn-up-and-go facility. It is not possible to implement both.

 

[bunnahabhain]

We do need a better system than turn up and go, and compulsory reservations is going to be the only solution, but how that is implemented is another question entirely ad a guard I like to know whether I have any bikes reserved on my 15x units or not as it means on routes with a huge amount of luggage I can utilise the bike spaces to increase my luggage capacity.

The main issue for me is actually peak time commuters who bring their bikes on the train, one of the worst I've worked I had to refuse over 12 bikes as a 158 turned up vice a 156. I had two bikes board at the origin and they confirmed they were travelling to the final calling point. So I arranged with our PIS controller to get announcements and PAs at every stop saying there were no cycle spaces left. Not one person payed any attention and locked their bike up. Some people don't help themselves!

 

[James H]

There's an adjournment debate in the House of Commons today on GWR's bike policy.

 

[plymothian]

There's an adjournment debate in the House of Commons today on GWR's bike policy.

You can read the transcript

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commo...1126000002/GreatWesternRailway’SBicyclePolicy

 

[bb21]

Makes one wonder how much public money is wasted on pointless sessions. :roll:

Lobby GW, or if necessary, involve the DfT. You are an MP, not a powerless peasant.

 

[SephenWorceste]

How will the reservation system manage the new IEP train. Cycle storage distributed about the train, short platforms, selective door opening and doubled up trains with no way between the two. Chaos when a train is the wrong way round.

Best wishes, Stephen.


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[Buttsy]

It seems a bit odd that there is this hoo-ha regarding bikes on 125s, surely there is a large area at the rear of each power car that used to be for the guard and post traffic that could be used...

 

[bb21]

It seems a bit odd that there is this hoo-ha regarding bikes on 125s, surely there is a large area at the rear of each power car that used to be for the guard and post traffic that could be used...

I think they are doing it more in preparation for the new trains.

 

[Buttsy]

I think they are doing it more in preparation for the new trains.

Fairly dos

 

[Flamingo]

It seems a bit odd that there is this hoo-ha regarding bikes on 125s, surely there is a large area at the rear of each power car that used to be for the guard and post traffic that could be used...

Except for the Start and finish stations, in most cases the dwell time does not allow for using this without causing delay.

 

[jimm]

How will the reservation system manage the new IEP train. Cycle storage distributed about the train, short platforms, selective door opening and doubled up trains with no way between the two. Chaos when a train is the wrong way round.

If people have reserved, GWR will know who they are and, one would assume, in most cases, will get a mobile phone number/email for them, allowing the possibility of alerting them to any short-notice changes. Or train managers might just use their initiative...

A reverse-formation HST can perfectly well pose problems with bikes right now in cases where there is a short platform with a starting signal at the platform end, first class is at the front of the train and coach A is way off the platform at the back. Most GWR train managers of my acquaintance are pretty good at warning people and getting them to move bikes into a coach that will be on the platform to avoid this problem.

 

[Coolzac]

Here is a situation that is going to occur

Passenger reserves space on a HST going to Cornwall. Gets on a connecting train to Reading but it is late. When they get to Reading they have missed the HST and their cycle reservation. Next few trains have all cycle spaces booked. What happens?

 

[Flamingo]

Here is a situation that is going to occur

Passenger reserves space on a HST going to Cornwall. Gets on a connecting train to Reading but it is late. When they get to Reading they have missed the HST and their cycle reservation. Next few trains have all cycle spaces booked. What happens?

Well, that scenario is nothing new, there has always been a limited number of bike spaces, and whether reserved or first-come-first-served there is always the risk that if not on the reserved train that something might happen.

It's no different in essence than the passenger finding there are no seats left. The reservation for an earlier train will not automatically entitle them to a seat on any other train (regardless of reason).

 

[WelshBluebird]

Well, that scenario is nothing new, there has always been a limited number of bike spaces, and whether reserved or first-come-first-served there is always the risk that if not on the reserved train that something might happen.

It's no different in essence than the passenger finding there are no seats left. The reservation for an earlier train will not automatically entitle them to a seat on any other train (regardless of reason).

I guess the difference is that if a passenger with a reservation misses their train then usually they will still be able to get on the next train.
With the new bike policy, you miss your reserved train and you can't get on the train at all (unless you abandon your potentially very expensive bike).

Now I really don't claim to know the answer (because something does have to be done, I have had to climb over bikes on various services way too often), but I do think these issues have to be addressed at some point.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I guess the difference is that if a passenger with a reservation misses their train then usually they will still be able to get on the next train.
With the new bike policy, you miss your reserved train and you can't get on the train at all (unless you abandon your potentially very expensive bike).

Now I really don't claim to know the answer (because something does have to be done, I have had to climb over bikes on various services way too often), but I do think these issues have to be addressed at some point.

The answer is, as I've said, to allow reservation up to departure as all the other TOCs requiring reservations do, which can be achieved because there is no need to mark reservations where they are compulsory (be that bike, seat or whatever).

Once that is done, if you do miss your reserved train, you reserve on the next one instead, or the next one when it isn't full. Which is not really any different from a situation without reservations - in both cases if it's full it's full - all it means is you're not jostling for who gets priority on the platform.

 

[Flamingo]

I guess the difference is that if a passenger with a reservation misses their train then usually they will still be able to get on the next train.
With the new bike policy, you miss your reserved train and you can't get on the train at all (unless you abandon your potentially very expensive bike).

Now I really don't claim to know the answer (because something does have to be done, I have had to climb over bikes on various services way too often), but I do think these issues have to be addressed at some point.

No, Coolzac asked what would happen if the trains following the reserved train were all full, so the bike couldn't get on. There is no change, as that is the exact same as it would always have been. If there is no room, there is no room. If there is a slot and unreserved, then the bike can go in it - as always.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, Coolzac asked what would happen if the trains following the reserved train were all full, so the bike couldn't get on. There is no change, as that is the exact same as it would always have been. If there is no room, there is no room. If there is a slot and unreserved, then the bike can go in it - as always.

Not under this rule, which requires reservation two hours in advance, unlike every other TOC which requires bicycle reservations.

 

[Flamingo]

Not under this rule, which requires reservation two hours in advance, unlike every other TOC which requires bicycle reservations.

No, up to six bikes can still be carried without a reservation if there is an unreserved space for them. But boarding is not guarenteed without a reservation. Priority goes to those with reservations.

The purpose of this policy is to get cyclists used to making reservations for when the IEP's come into service, as they have less bike spaces. Or get two bikes and leave one at either end (hence the increase in bike storage in many stations). Or get a folding bike. Or take up jogging (joke).

Look at the link here

You can read the transcript

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commo...1126000002/GreatWesternRailway’SBicyclePolicy

 

[Bletchleyite]

I stand corrected.


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[SpacePhoenix]

What will happen on an IEP if the cycle storage area is already rammed with people standing on a busy train?

 

[Flamingo]

What will happen on an IEP if the cycle storage area is already rammed with people standing on a busy train?

Good question, well presented...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Must admit for that kind of reason I prefer the idea of the old First North Western combined luggage/cycle rack - luggage up top, cycles below, not really any room to stand or sit there.

 

[jimm]

What will happen on an IEP if the cycle storage area is already rammed with people standing on a busy train?

On the IEPs, the bike storage areas are lockable, so people might find it a bit tricky to use them for standing space without a member of staff on hand to open them up.

Picture showing the rather hefty-looking sliding door

http://www.rail.co.uk/images/8459/original/9-Bike-storage-area-by-Phil-Marsh.jpg

 

[Domh245]

On the IEPs, the bike storage areas are lockable, so people might find it a bit tricky to use them for standing space without a member of staff on hand to open them up.

Picture showing the rather hefty-looking sliding door

http://www.rail.co.uk/images/8459/original/9-Bike-storage-area-by-Phil-Marsh.jpg

The implication I read was that the if the surrounding area was full of standees. As for the question, I would guess that unless you have a way with words to persuade the standees to move, and the guard is on your side, you're ****ed

 

[bb21]

The implication I read was that the if the surrounding area was full of standees. As for the question, I would guess that unless you have a way with words to persuade the standees to move, and the guard is on your side, you're ****ed

Pretty much.

Bikes don't have priority over bodies, so if the train is full, tough. (One might argue that they do when the train is not full for safety reasons, but not if the train is full.)

 

[Domh245]

Pretty much.

Bikes don't have priority over bodies, so if the train is full, tough. (One might argue that they do when the train is not full for safety reasons, but not if the train is full.)

It'd be a shame if that is to be the case, as the bike would take up no standing space (assuming that there is some left in the cupboard), but I suppose that there is nothing to be done about it now. It could have been quite cool to see if they could have had a form of external access to the bike cupboard for just this eventuality, although it'd have been nigh on impossible with the pocket door setup

 

[jimm]

The implication I read was that the if the surrounding area was full of standees. As for the question, I would guess that unless you have a way with words to persuade the standees to move, and the guard is on your side, you're ****ed

It says if the bike storage area is rammed - not the area around the bike storage area. I'd just ask people to move.

All this is hypothetical anyway, as usual relying on the doom-laden scenarios that seem to be favoured by so many here.

There will be lots of extra seats provided overall, so maybe lots of people won't be standing in the first place. I'd venture to suggest that it's rather less likely to be an issue on a GWR IEP than getting at the bike spaces on an XC Voyager can be...

Never mind that there will be more trains running, so that if we return to the Reading-Cornwall angle, there will be 2tph most of the day at least as far as Exeter, and the nine-car sets will have 10 bike spaces - there are four in a five-car set - so there will be a fair few extra bike spaces available, on top of the extra seats.