class 153 and a bike...help!

[D2022]

The train I get home from work is regularly a pair of 153s and is usually packed out. Every time I've been on it so far I've not been able to get my bike into the bike rack for the amount of bags in there. What should I do with my bike? Vestibule?

The guards seem aware of it and don't seem to fussed where I put it, I've actually had it halfway through the unit next to my seat before with no complaint, a no no I know but there was no where else for it.

Its become such an annoyance I have started staying an hour later and getting the ten past 5 train which is a nice HST, plently of space on that hehe

 

[AlexS]

In theory if it's full you shouldn't take it on there - a bike being carried on board a train is a privilege rather than a right. In practice, most train crew would appear to be unlikely to refuse you.

 

[D2022]

In theory if it's full you shouldn't take it on there - a bike being carried on board a train is a privilege rather than a right. In practice, most train crew would appear to be unlikely to refuse you.

Can you still buy those supplement tickets for a bike meaning they have to allow you on with one?

 

[krus_aragon]

Can you still buy those supplement tickets for a bike meaning they have to allow you on with one?

If you're talking about cycle reservations, then yes, these are available free of charge from any staffed station. I always get one as a matter of course if I'm taking my bike and travelling on an advance ticket, but you can get them for any type of ticket. I can't say whether it's necessary to show a valid travel ticket when you ask for one. It might be worth getting one and handing it to the guard if you're looking to prompt some action from them, or as a defence if you fear being asked to clear off with your bike.

I sympathise with you on the issue of getting your bike onto a 153: In my experience it's the most difficult type of train to get them on and off, particularly getting them round the corner through the 'dogbox' vestibule. I'm just lucky that I've only encountered them in West Wales and on the Heart of Wales line, where excess luggage isn't usually a problem.

 

[D2022]

If you're talking about cycle reservations, then yes, these are available free of charge from any staffed station. I always get one as a matter of course if I'm taking my bike and travelling on an advance ticket, but you can get them for any type of ticket. I can't say whether it's necessary to show a valid travel ticket when you ask for one. It might be worth getting one and handing it to the guard if you're looking to prompt some action from them, or as a defence if you fear being asked to clear off with your bike.

I sympathise with you on the issue of getting your bike onto a 153: In my experience it's the most difficult type of train to get them on and off, particularly getting them round the corner through the 'dogbox' vestibule. I'm just lucky that I've only encountered them in West Wales and on the Heart of Wales line, where excess luggage isn't usually a problem.

Not a bad idea, I take my bike every day so having something to wave for it might be useful. Thanks for that

153s are a nightmare, don't know what they were thinking when they put the bike space where it is

 

[jopsuk]

cycle reservations though aren't available on every train (and where they are available, are frequently mandatory). Generally only available on trains where seat reservations are available?

 

[185]

Cycles in the north of England however are generally turn-up-and-go subject to space. Few restrictions north of Birmingham, even XC TMs are ignoring the compulsory reservations fiasco.

 

[BestWestern]

Be wary of relying on reservations; they are something of a false promise on very busy services, unless you're boarding at the origin station. If the train arrives absolutely chocked solid you may still be unable to board, reservation or not, and plenty of Guards - me included I'm afraid! - wouldn't be delaying the service for ten minutes trying to turf standees out of the bike bay to squeeze you on

To be honest, if you travel on busy trains every day then your best bet might well be to get one of those natty folding jobbies. Or of course you could always chain it up at the station and travel without, but I'm assuming you need it at the other end!

It isn't constructive in the wider integrated transport sense, but sadly there are many journeys on our network where a bike just isn't a sensible prospect on peak time trains. Perhaps one day somebody will build some more stock! :cry:

 

[jopsuk]

I have on one return journey had cycle reservations on an EMT 158- when I boarded, I found there were reservation tickets (like on seats!) at the bike racks!

 

[142094]

Seen those on XC Voyagers as well. Not sure if the bike actually turned up.

 

[172212]

The train I get home from work is regularly a pair of 153s and is usually packed out. Every time I've been on it so far I've not been able to get my bike into the bike rack for the amount of bags in there. What should I do with my bike? Vestibule?

The guards seem aware of it and don't seem to fussed where I put it, I've actually had it halfway through the unit next to my seat before with no complaint, a no no I know but there was no where else for it.

Its become such an annoyance I have started staying an hour later and getting the ten past 5 train which is a nice HST, plently of space on that hehe

There seems to be a lot of space on the toilet side of the carriage, maybe you would be able to fit your bike there

 

[The Colonel]

Isn't a bike longer than a 153 . .

 

[D2022]

There seems to be a lot of space on the toilet side of the carriage, maybe you would be able to fit your bike there

what do you mean? On fgw 153s that's where the bike rack is anyways. Under the luggage rack.
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Isn't a bike longer than a 153 . .

haha ! My Kona was about 6 inches longer than a normal bike (being an extended downhill bike) and it was like trying to park a lorry in a space a smart car came out of. My Felt barely fits in the little rack and its a shorty.

 

[BestWestern]

There seems to be a lot of space on the toilet side of the carriage, maybe you would be able to fit your bike there

To be fair, a 153 can actually be preferable to other stock at times. You have a proper cycle bay at one end below the luggage rack, and then the disabled bay with the tip-up seats at the other end. Really quite a lot of potential bike space for a single carriage train!

 

[172212]

what do you mean? On fgw 153s that's where the bike rack is anyways. Under the luggage rack.
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No, I was referring to the LM examples.

 

[D2022]

what do you mean? On fgw 153s that's where the bike rack is anyways. Under the luggage rack.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

No, I was referring to the LM examples.

Ah sorry, my mistake.