Warrington Bank Quay-Crewe

[Multiple Unit]

Now Virgin Trains Say that you have to have reservation for your bike to travel on there trains but what happens if you cannot get a reservation and you don't know until the time closer to the trains arrival or departure time at the Station that you need to take your bike with you.

Can you Travel Via another route ie..From Warrington Bank Quay to Chester then to Crewe even if the ticket say route Direct as effectively you are still going on a route that is Direct as there is nothing to say that you cannot change or that a Train cannot run to Crewe Via Chester.

Or could you get off at Runcorn East and cycle over to Runcorn Main_Line Line Station and use the London Midland Service.

If you look at buying a Ticket form Runcorn East to Crewe the rout e also says Direct but the Journey Planner says Change at Warrington Bank Quay.

Is it the Paltform Satff or the Guards Discretion as to weather or not yo can take you bike on without a reservation ?

 

[ChrisTheRef]

If it says "direct", you have to catch a train which calls at both stations, joining at WBQ and alighting at CRE. No changes are allowed.

 

[Multiple Unit]

If it says "direct", you have to catch a train which calls at both stations, joining at WBQ and alighting at CRE. No changes are allowed.

But as said If you look at buying a Ticket form Runcorn East to Crewe the rout e also says Direct but the Journey Planner says Change at Warrington Bank Quay and if you need to take bike and cannot get a reservation what do you do ?

 

[tony_mac]

If it says "direct", you have to catch a train which calls at both stations, joining at WBQ and alighting at CRE. No changes are allowed.

I'm afraid that isn't true. There are definitely various route 'direct' fares where no through train exists.

If the NR journey planner says that the ticket is valid, that that is supposed to be a definitive answer that the ticket is valid.

 

[cyclebytrain]

Travelling without a reservation is at the TMs discretion. Travelling between Warrington Bank Quay and Crewe they are almost certain to allow it -provided you can physically fit it on the train (not always the case for that particular route)

 

[yorkie]

If it says "direct", you have to catch a train which calls at both stations, joining at WBQ and alighting at CRE. No changes are allowed.

Do you have a source for that?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is it the Paltform Satff or the Guards Discretion as to weather or not yo can take you bike on without a reservation ?

It's the guard's train, so it's their discretion. As they have to unlock the doors on Pendolinos you have to ask and if they say no there isn't much you can do if they say no. As it is 1 stop, and there is space for the bike, most would probably show common sense and allow it - after all, it wouldn't matter if a bike is on at the next stop if you're getting off anyway.

Do you want a single or a return? I may have a solution...

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Do you have a source for that?

Nope, just using common sense, stupid idea with NR I know

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Should common sense not also have said that it is a route restriction? after all, it is 'route direct'. If it was for direct services would it not have been 'route direct services only'?

I did think that 'rte direct' fares were being changed to a sensible routeing, Manchester-Shrewsbury changed from 'rte Direct' to 'rte Not Wolverhampton' a couple of years back I think.

 

[nedchester]

A Warrington to Chester is valid via Crewe according to the routing guide.

 

[rail-britain]

Virgin Trains say that you have to have reservation for your bike to travel on their trains but what happens if you cannot get a reservation and you don't know until the time closer to the trains arrival or departure time at the Station that you need to take your bike with you

Book the reservation as soon as possible
If reservations have closed (two hours before the train leaves its originating station) then contact Virgin Trains directly and see how many reservations were completed - 08719 774 222
Ask them to complete a reservation and obtain a reference number