Are some rail companies trying to deter cyclist passengers?

[styles]

Avanti's Voyagers had the bikes behind a lockable door between the driver's cab and the leading passenger doors, though it was never really locked in my experience. Presumably that too is a part of the train that deforms in a collision and passengers aren't supposed to be riding in. Any train operated with a Mk3 or Mk4 DVT uses the same arrangement as on a Pendo.

Hmm maybe it was a Voyager. It was a few years ago and I'm a bit crap with rolling stock.

I assume the Pendos are the same these days, but I've moved off Avanti as my main operator in the past few years so not sure.

 

[moonarrow458]

Greater Anglia is very cyclist-friendly in my non-cycling eyes. I've seen the staff at Cambridge happily pile about 12 bikes into the bike area of a (nearly) full and standing evening peak service to Ipswich. Some had to be turned away, but the staff ensured there were no bikes blocking doors or vestibules.

6 spaces on all IC/rural services should certainly be the norm. It was probably better in the days of DVTs!

In the case of the 90+mk3+DVTs on the GEML services to Norwich, whilst yes there was plenty of space for bikes in the DVT, getting the bikes into the DVT was another matter, particularly if you were shorter or a bit weaker with a heavier bike, the gap up was very tricky to lift a bike up into the DVT. The 745s are much much better in this respect with their level boarding. Another issue with the DVTs for cyclists was they required staff to open them, and on more than one occaison we arrived to Liverpool Street, the guard having buggered off without opening it, and then having to spend 10 minutes trying to find soneone who could unlock the DVT. So DVTs are certainly not the magic bullet they are made out to be.

But yes Greater Anglia and the franchises that proceeded them have typically been very good with accomodating cyclists. I remember 6 bikes being squeezed onto a full and standing single cl153 service from Norwich to Great Yarmouth on a summer day, plus 2 buggies. People had to stand in the back cab and toilet to ensure everybody fitted onboard.

 

[saismee]

In the case of the 90+mk3+DVTs on the GEML services to Norwich, whilst yes there was plenty of space for bikes in the DVT, getting the bikes into the DVT was another matter, particularly if you were shorter or a bit weaker with a heavier bike, the gap up was very tricky to lift a bike up into the DVT. The 745s are much much better in this respect with their level boarding. Another issue with the DVTs for cyclists was they required staff to open them, and on more than one occaison we arrived to Liverpool Street, the guard having buggered off without opening it, and then having to spend 10 minutes trying to find soneone who could unlock the DVT. So DVTs are certainly not the magic bullet they are made out to be.

The unusual setup of the DVT being at the back makes it even worse if the conductor disappears! Quite a long trek down the platform to find any staff.

 

[Bald Rick]

The unusual setup of the DVT being at the back makes it even worse if the conductor disappears! Quite a long trek down the platform to find any staff.

It’s was only at the back in one direction

 

[saismee]

It’s was only at the back in one direction

Most journey's are London-centric (and Liverpool Street was highlighted in their post), so the DVT being at the back is likely more of a headache in this case than most. At intermediate stations the guard can't bugger off (or I hope they wouldn't!!!) so it's less of an issue.

Really I just wanted to bring up the trivia that the locomotive was on the "wrong" end

 

[riceuten]

I wouldn't say they want to deter all bikes, but they certainly seek to limit them, where demand exceeds supply. There would be little economic justification in adding additional bike space on most (but not all) trains. Rush hour restrictions are rarely, if ever enforced, and a full sized bike on a commuter train is definitely a hindrance.

 

[miami]

My sister's off on a 3 month tour of Europe, starting with a ride to Carlisle, 1033 to Newcastle, arriving 1202, then 40 minute ride down to the docks and boat to Amsterdam, where boarding was between 1400 and 1600 - so over 3 hours of padding, and hardly "peak time".

Train broke down, got into Prudhoe 50 minutes late and no more movement.

They were told that replacement bus would come at some point but wouldn't take their bikes.

As such they had to phone a taxi company to take them, spending over £100 to get them to where they needed to go.

In the end it looks like the train eventually left Prudhoe nearly 3 hours late, arriving in Newcastle at 1510, so they could have *just* made it

I assume they can claim their original tickets back, but no chance on the taxi.

Trains are great, you can do things like take your bike on them. Until things go wrong, in which case you're on your own.

 

[Haywain]

As such they had to phone a taxi company to take them, spending over £100 to get them to where they needed to go.

Wasn't cycling from Prudhoe an option?

I assume they can claim their original tickets back, but no chance on the taxi.

I can't see that Northern would cover the full cost of a taxi to the ferry port as that is considerably further than Northern were carrying them. And refund rules say that a refund for an abandoned journey are only due after returning to the origin. However, that's not to say that Northern shouldn't be providing compensation, and I would suggest writing to them rather than trying to use the Delay Repay process.