GWR cutting down bike reservations

[Benjwri]

This week I am taking my bike home from uni on the train and just thought it might be worth highlighting the absolute farce I have had to go through to get a reservation.

First things first, they appear to have cut the number of bike spaces down as I received a reservation for ‘Coach B’ rather than one of the two spaces. Although I can see why they might do this given how unfit for purpose the spaces are, this means a 5 car only has one bike space…

Now for my actual criticism as getting that reservation was tricky. Firstly GWR’s reservation system on their site seems to be broken for bikes, whatever I did I was unable to reserve one, including just trying the IET part of the journey (more on this in a minute). Their site also provided no details on why it failed, and the same happened when trying to book a ticket and reserve through that flow. As mentioned this occurred on every service I tried.

I did remember Trainline allowed bike bookings and so gave it a go through them, which exposed what has happened here, and was presumably stopping me booking with my ticket on the GWR site. Previously services which aren’t IETs, and therefore don’t have reservable bike spaces, had some kind of unreservable flag, however this has been changed and the system now displays every one of those trains as fully booked, making it impossible to make a bike reservation on any itinerary involving a non IET train, this is including Turbos, which have just had new bike spaces put in while being refurbished, and against their stated bike policy which claims they accept bikes on every train on a first come first served basis.

Trainline was able to offer me a reservation if I booked only the IET part of my reservation as one ticket, however this added £10 onto the overall cost. I did eventually get a reservation from a ticket office.

However I will need to take my bike back September time and the nearest ticket office open when I’m not working is a 45 minute drive away. Is anyone able to provide a way I can obtain a bike reservation for this without that drive?

 

[thelongestroad]

You can send GWR an email or message on Twitter/Facebook etc.

 

[Benjwri]

You can send GWR an email or message on Twitter/Facebook etc.

Something to try, yesterday they redirected me to the booking office.

 

[plymothian]

GWR have effectively abolished bike reservations with the exceptions of:
on the Night Riviera
trains arriving at Paddington 07.30 - 09.30 Mon-Fri except Public Holidays
trains departing Paddington 16:00 - 19:00 Mon-Fri except Public Holidays

All other times and routes are now TUAG subject to space availability

 

[Benjwri]

GWR have effectively abolished bike reservations with the exceptions of:
on the Night Riviera
trains arriving at Paddington 07.30 - 09.30 Mon-Fri except Public Holidays
trains departing Paddington 16:00 - 19:00 Mon-Fri except Public Holidays

All other times and routes are now TUAG subject to space availability

They’ve made them TUAG but reservations still exist on IETs, and given issues I’ve had in the past with GWR staff on them I prefer to have a reservation.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Last year I reserved a cycle space from Reading to Castle Cary on the Friday morning the week before Glastonbury Festival. The packed 5-car train arrived with the cycle area stacked to the ceiling with passengers' luggage and I was unable to board. The next train to Castle Cary was two hours later so I took my bike into Paddington to make sure (using RTT and Opentraintims) I was the first to board and stow my bike. Sure enough, on arrival back at Reading, there were two cyclists who were also unable to board because my bike was blocking their space!

 

[Adsy125]

Something to try, yesterday they redirected me to the booking office.

They happily gave me a reservation on Twitter a couple of days ago when I explained that the website wasn't working. It was a two train journey, and each time I had a reservation for a different bike space, so they're definitely not only selling one space.

 

[dangie]

Train companies on one hand say they support cycling and encourage the carrying of cycles on trains, then on the other hand make it nigh on impossible to do so.

Note: I remember this was in their advertising blurb up to a few years ago, I don’t know what it is now.

 

[Atomix330]

Cycle reservations can also only be made if you are collecting a paper ticket. The GWR system does not allow you to book the reservation as a digital ticket and will not allow you to complete a transaction unless you select "collect at station."

 

[kkong]

Cycle reservations can also only be made if you are collecting a paper ticket. The GWR system does not allow you to book the reservation as a digital ticket and will not allow you to complete a transaction unless you select "collect at station."

I don't think that's correct.

Anyone with an account on the GWR website can make a post-purchase bicycle reservation for a train right there and then without the need to hold a ticket (paper or otherwise).

A typical 8-digit format CTR code is provided in the reservation confirmation, but there is no need (indeed, it's not possible) to collect paper reservation chits at a TVM.



[Image shows a screenshot of the GWR website "your bookings" page, with a "Make a seat/bike reservation" button clearly visible]

 

[andylikestrain]

I was booking the sleeper by phone the other day and when I first asked for a bike reservation I was told they don’t do them and that I’d have to take my bike into the cabin!
As I’ve taken bikes on the sleeper before, I asked them to double check and they were able to make a bike reservation. But if I hadn’t checked and turned up expecting to put the bike in the cabin with me…

 

[Benjwri]

I don't think that's correct.

Anyone with an account on the GWR website can make a post-purchase bicycle reservation for a train right there and then without the need to hold a ticket (paper or otherwise).

A typical 8-digit format CTR code is provided in the reservation confirmation, but there is no need (indeed, it's not possible) to collect paper reservation chits at a TVM.

View attachment 160667

[Image shows a screenshot of the GWR website "your bookings" page, with a "Make a seat/bike reservation" button clearly visible]

It's theoretically possible on the site, but the actual functionality is currently not working. It's possible the post you're replying to is referring to a change on policy and as such it has been intentionally disabled?

You are correct it was possible at least last September.

 

[kkong]

It's theoretically possible on the site, but the actual functionality is currently not working. It's possible the post you're replying to is referring to a change on policy and as such it has been intentionally disabled?

You are correct it was possible at least last September.

I can't speak for bicycle reservations made for GWR-operated trains.

But I have been using the site for some time to make reservations on ScotRail services as recently as this week.

It is true on ScotRail's website that any journey you try to book which involves a bicycle reservation will only allow fulfilment to paper ticket (I assume due to a specification requirement to print the Passenger Copy and Cycle Copy reservation coupons?).

I wonder if this is what @Atomix330 is referring to, being implemented the same way on the GWR website / app.

In which case, a solution would be what I have been doing: book without the bike reservation with your retailer of choice, then make the bike reservation immediately afterwards using the GWR website.

 

[modernrail]

I was booking the sleeper by phone the other day and when I first asked for a bike reservation I was told they don’t do them and that I’d have to take my bike into the cabin!
As I’ve taken bikes on the sleeper before, I asked them to double check and they were able to make a bike reservation. But if I hadn’t checked and turned up expecting to put the bike in the cabin with me…

Crackers!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jun 2024 ==

I can't speak for bicycle reservations made for GWR-operated trains.

But I have been using the site for some time to make reservations on ScotRail services as recently as this week.

It is true on ScotRail's website that any journey you try to book which involves a bicycle reservation will only allow fulfilment to paper ticket (I assume due to a specification requirement to print the Passenger Copy and Cycle Copy reservation coupons?).

I wonder if this is what @Atomix330 is referring to, being implemented the same way on the GWR website / app.

In which case, a solution would be what I have been doing: book without the bike reservation with your retailer of choice, then make the bike reservation immediately afterwards using the GWR website.

I am confused. Are we saying there definitely has been a change of policy on GWR and you can’t book bikes on anymore?

 

[Benjwri]

you can’t book bikes on anymore?

You definitely can book bikes, but ease of doing so varies. You seemingly can't do it on their website anymore.

 

[modernrail]

You definitely can book bikes, but ease of doing so varies. You seemingly can't do it on their website anymore.

Thanks for the reply.

Their website seems incredibly clear that you can (and that there is a dedicated space on the sleeper). Screenshots attached.

Very frustrating if they have gone backwards on this. even more so if they have not updated their own website. It is ridiculous and always has been not to have an integrated ticket/bike booking option. It obviously needs to happen at the same time or you could be left with a ticket but no bike spot.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I’d have to take my bike into the cabin!

The stewards would not let that happen.

 

[andylikestrain]

The stewards would not let that happen.

I thought as much, even if they were happy to let me, I don’t think it’d be possible unless I had a fold away job!

 

[Deepgreen]

Yet another thing that has worsened ludicrously under privatisation - bikes on trains. It should be welcomed and encouraged as part of a sensible, integrated transport policy but it's so hard it puts many off bothering. I used to do it very frequently under BR, but every time recently has been hard work and dispiriting. The old Anglo-Scottish (and many other Inter-City) rakes had a full brake that allowed many bikes to turn up and go, but now every square centimetre of space has to be accounted for.

 

[modernrail]

Yet another thing that has worsened ludicrously under privatisation - bikes on trains. It should be welcomed and encouraged as part of a sensible, integrated transport policy but it's so hard it puts many off bothering. I used to do it very frequently under BR, but every time recently has been hard work and dispiriting. The old Anglo-Scottish (and many other Inter-City) rakes had a full brake that allowed many bikes to turn up and go, but now every square centimetre of space has to be accounted for.

Yeah it has become ridiculous. The IEP design is a shambles and the spaces on most suburban trains have this ridiculous multi-use set-up, often with the bike space/please give priority to bikes sticker so tiny it is pointless. What they cannot at the very very least put a clearly marked hatched area with bike symbol on the floor and a bloody great bike sticker on the window I do not know. Pretty much every train I have caught on the continent seems to be run by people with at least half a brain in this regard.

Honourable mention to GA as the exception.

Meanwhile we have trains carting a lot of fresh air a lot of the time. I would love to see some of those flexible design carriages/seats become a reality.

 

[al78]

Yet another thing that has worsened ludicrously under privatisation - bikes on trains. It should be welcomed and encouraged as part of a sensible, integrated transport policy but it's so hard it puts many off bothering. I used to do it very frequently under BR, but every time recently has been hard work and dispiriting. The old Anglo-Scottish (and many other Inter-City) rakes had a full brake that allowed many bikes to turn up and go, but now every square centimetre of space has to be accounted for.

Cyclists are a minority and don't contribute much to the balance sheet, so don't matter. Same when local authorities are providing cycle infrastructure, they do the cheapest crappiest job possible so they can tick a box, to hell with whether it is actually an improvement. The UK's attitude to environmental issues and sustainability is mostly blah blah blah, greenwash and lip service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2024 ==

What they cannot at the very very least put a clearly marked hatched area with bike symbol on the floor and a bloody great bike sticker on the window I do not know.

Probably wouldn't make much difference. On shared use pavements/paths, there is a bloody great bike symbol on the ground to denote the shared space yet pedestrians will insist on walking in the middle of that half of the path leaving the pedestrians only half empty, so no cyclist can legally get past them without their cooperation. Moving over to the pedestrian only side to let an oncoming cyclist past is too much to ask. You can put as many big prominent signs up as you like but if people can't be bothered to look at them and take notice, there is nothing you can do. We live in a world where people are engaged in their own little dream world where no-one else exists but them.

 

[Malaxa]

Cycle reservations can also only be made if you are collecting a paper ticket. The GWR system does not allow you to book the reservation as a digital ticket and will not allow you to complete a transaction unless you select "collect at station."

I only ever use paper tickets and have coincidentally just booked two cycle-accompanying advance return trips on GWR with the greatest of ease on their website. OF course, what transpires on the return journeys, joining mid-way along the route back to Paddington is another story waiting to be told. In the past I have had no problem.

 

[modernrail]

Cyclists are a minority and don't contribute much to the balance sheet, so don't matter. Same when local authorities are providing cycle infrastructure, they do the cheapest crappiest job possible so they can tick a box, to hell with whether it is actually an improvement. The UK's attitude to environmental issues and sustainability is mostly blah blah blah, greenwash and lip service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jun 2024 ==


Probably wouldn't make much difference. On shared use pavements/paths, there is a bloody great bike symbol on the ground to denote the shared space yet pedestrians will insist on walking in the middle of that half of the path leaving the pedestrians only half empty, so no cyclist can legally get past them without their cooperation. Moving over to the pedestrian only side to let an oncoming cyclist past is too much to ask. You can put as many big prominent signs up as you like but if people can't be bothered to look at them and take notice, there is nothing you can do. We live in a world where people are engaged in their own little dream world where no-one else exists but them.

I agree a proportion of people are like that but it would be nice to give the remainder a fighting chance of knowing they are actually in/dumping their luggage in the bike spot. It also makes it much easier to negotiate their moving. As far as I can see there is zero downside and it is an incredibly low cost improvement.

 

[75A]

Bring back the luggage area & tge Guards area.....