Cyclists and Northern Rail

[Greenback]

I find it rather ironic that Bradley Wiggins has inspired more than a generation, but there is insufficient capacity for people tot ake their new bikes anywhere by train.

 

[jon0844]

Bradley didn't take his bike on a train though, he rode it instead!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Eagle]

Bradley didn't take his bike on a train though, he rode it instead!

No, it was delivered to the Olympic village in a lorry.

 

[Jonny]

Two bikes per train, why should it carry more.

They (or should I say we, not done it myself for a year though) are usually the most marginal passengers especially on local services when we're extending our range; on a local service we effectively have an alternative means of transport to hand. If forced to resort to that alternative when there's a cycle-specific problem with the trains and then something happens, it might reflect badly on the railways.

 

[northwichcat]

No, it was delivered to the Olympic village in a lorry.

Not just one bike though, multiple bikes and spare wheels!

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Well I've been taking my bike on trains for the best part of 20 years and I find it strange Northern should be coming in for so much criticism as in my experience they're the best TOC for bikes by far.

Recently I took the bike out to Garsdale from Leeds on a 158 + 153 working. To her great credit (and my amazement) the guard somehow managed to cram no less than 9 bikes on the train, at each stop coming out onto the platform to advise the boarding cyclist the best place to put their bike. She could quite easily have done the jobsworth "2 bikes only" attitude but no, thanks to her, 9 cyclists enjoyed a fine day out.

Personally I find TOCs who insist on compulsory reservations the worst, in particular EMT. I would much rather take my chance on the cycle spaces being unoccupied rather than face some stroppy guard refusing to let me on even when the space is vacant just because I haven't prebooked. The other issue with prebooking of course is that on a day's cycling it's very difficult to estimate how long your ride will take and whether anything unexpected such as bad weather or a puncture will mean you need to get a different train back.

So no, I'm happy with Northern's turn-up-and-go policy and, so long as it's not the last train of the day, will respect the guard's wishes if he feels the train is too crowded for my bike. It's a pity the OP didn't do the same.

 

[BestWestern]

Personally I find TOCs who insist on compulsory reservations the worst, in particular EMT. I would much rather take my chance on the cycle spaces being unoccupied rather than face some stroppy guard refusing to let me on even when the space is vacant just because I haven't prebooked.

Sorry to be pedantic, but if the TOC has 'compulsory' reservations then the Guard is compelled to decline unbooked cycles due to the company's chosen policy, rather than doing so because he or she is "stroppy".

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Sorry to be pedantic, but if the TOC has 'compulsory' reservations then the Guard is compelled to decline unbooked cycles due to the company's chosen policy, rather than doing so because he or she is "stroppy".

I disagree. I have met EMT guards who have let me bring my bike on a "compulsory reservations" train before when it's been quiet. Surely they have the ultimate say on their train - it's not as if they would be disciplined for being too helpful is it????

 

[Cheds]

Dear haddock - the OP hastens to note that he observed this situation and was not the cyclist!

The OP also notes that there were around 11/12 people on the train as I left Carlisle, growing only slightly towards Whitehaven. It would be very hard indeed to argue it was 'too crowded'. The obvious counter at the point of departure - that it may be too crowded later on in the run - is always available to a guard based on previuos experience or knowledge of specific circumsatnces, but is also avaialble to a 'stroppy' guard!

Hence we are back at lack of consistency.

If the minimum is two bookings per train, why not allow two bookings per train and pot luck for anyone else? This has a degree of certainty for pairs or singles on fixed trains. Those who don't know how long their cycling will take have to take pot luck any how presumably?

 

[BestWestern]

I disagree. I have met EMT guards who have let me bring my bike on a "compulsory reservations" train before when it's been quiet. Surely they have the ultimate say on their train - it's not as if they would be disciplined for being too helpful is it????

They may do, if a manager happened to be lurking.... It depends on the attitude of the company; if they want it to be compulsory only then they may not appreciate Guards allowing non-reserved cycles on as it effectively undermines their policy. Don't get me wrong, I dislike cycle reservations in general and much prefer the 'first come first served' policy, but it would be unfair to pillory a Guard who simply implemented his employer's chosen policy, however daft it might be.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Interesting points on EMT trains. Personally never had a problem boarding casually at Leicester or Peterborough on compulsory reservations trains with a bike back to Nottingham.
In July booked a cheap advance ticket again but this time with a bike from Nottingham to Norfolk & Back. The seat reservations were not attached (yet again) never mind bikes! The return leg was cancelled and I had no problem travelling on other trains. The bike registration process seemed a waste of time.
Yesterday I bought a ticket at Ely with bike to return to Nottingham and again no problem.
I have yet to see 'compulsory reservations' enforced on a EMT service and hope I don't!