Cycle Reservation in National level possible?

[hkstudent]

At the moment, a cycle reservation has to be booked with a specific TOC directly.
However, when a journey involves multiple TOCs, things can get tricky as the availability of cycle space is not known beforehand. And, even booking online won't be able to generate a cycle reservation as involving multiple TOCs.

With the future GBR in mind, would it be possible to set up a nation-wide platform for cycle reservation (with reasonable reservation fee if required), to ease the pain?

 

[Bletchleyite]

At the moment, a cycle reservation has to be booked with a specific TOC directly.
However, when a journey involves multiple TOCs, things can get tricky as the availability of cycle space is not known beforehand. And, even booking online won't be able to generate a cycle reservation as involving multiple TOCs.

Neither of these is true.

With the future GBR in mind, would it be possible to set up a nation-wide platform for cycle reservation (with reasonable reservation fee if required), to ease the pain?

There is already a national system, you just need to find one of the sales sites that will do it as most won't. I forget which one does these days.

 

[CyrusWuff]

There is already a national system, you just need to find one of the sales sites that will do it as most won't. I forget which one does these days.

Atos WebTIS (still used by Great Western and Transpennine Express) has the option to request cycle reservations. It should also be possible to get a reservation (subject to space being available) from most Ticket Offices up until a few minutes before departure.

 

[cyclebike]

Yes, the "Mixing Deck" interface allows one to add a cycle reservation (where available) at the same time as a seat reservation. You can purchase tickets, along with reservations, for any TOC

I do agree, however, that this is not an ideal situation and cycle reservations really should be available from all booking platforms

 

[Wallsendmag]

They're available on LNER webtis now I believe.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jul 2021 ==

Atos WebTIS (still used by Great Western and Transpennine Express) has the option to request cycle reservations. It should also be possible to get a reservation (subject to space being available) from most Ticket Offices up until a few minutes before departure.

Worldline and I believe you can get a reservation after departure on our services now.

 

[cyclebike]

They're available on LNER webtis now I believe.

Only for LNER services, I believe

 

[SuspectUsual]

Only for LNER services, I believe

Correct.

More generally, it seems to me to be a good example of how disjointed a system we’ve allowed to develop, one which makes life unnecessarily complicated for customers

 

[Bletchleyite]

Correct.

More generally, it seems to me to be a good example of how disjointed a system we’ve allowed to develop, one which makes life unnecessarily complicated for customers

Why is that when they are a standard thing?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Why is that when they are a standard thing?

Because when I need to book via LNER for a round trip including LNER, Scotrail and TPE, it’s not possible to buy tickets and reserve seats and bike spaces at the same time

 

[Bletchleyite]

Because when I need to book via LNER for a round trip including LNER, Scotrail and TPE, it’s not possible to buy tickets and reserve seats and bike spaces at the same time

No, what I meant is why do LNER not do them for every TOC when they are a standard feature of NRS (or whatever it is now)?

 

[SuspectUsual]

No, what I meant is why do LNER not do them for every TOC when they are a standard feature of NRS (or whatever it is now)?

Sorry, misinterpreted what you said

No idea, but they don’t. The fact that it may actually be technically possible makes it even worse!

 

[Wallsendmag]

Sorry, misinterpreted what you said

No idea, but they don’t. The fact that it may actually be technically possible makes it even worse!

The answer is surprisingly simple, you aren’t supposed to ToD cycle reservations so we issue them by eTicket.The only problem with this is that the standard for cycle res eTickets hasn't been set yet so we can only issue reservations on our services.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The answer is surprisingly simple, you aren’t supposed to ToD cycle reservations so we issue them by eTicket.The only problem with this is that the standard for cycle res eTickets hasn't been set yet so we can only issue reservations on our services.

So TOCs just need a quick chat! That's, er, helpful of them. Why not ToD?

 

[Wallsendmag]

So TOCs just need a quick chat! That's, er, helpful of them. Why not ToD?

As we found out it causes all sorts of problems. Standards are never just a quick chat unfortunately but it's in hand.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As we found out it causes all sorts of problems. Standards are never just a quick chat unfortunately but it's in hand.

Good. I know it's a minor thing but it's important to those who need them.

 

[hkstudent]

Neither of these is true.



There is already a national system, you just need to find one of the sales sites that will do it as most won't. I forget which one does these days.

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As mentioned by SteveM70, it is not possible to book a cycle reservation when booking online, especially when trying to use the e-ticket option.
I think many people are booking tickets online, so that's a stronger issue...