Ely to Birmingham CrossCountry Luggage Question

[johnnyp_360]

Hi All
I am considering travelling from Ely to Birmingham New Street on a Friday soon with a large luggage bag and a snowboard bag.
I have checked the CrossCountry website and there does seem to be a limitation on taking luggage on their trains.
Firstly, Will the guard let me on with these two large bags and is there a luggage compartment? The train in question is normally a two car or a three car cl170. Secondly, Is there somewhere to stand or sit near the luggage compartment? I would like to be able to keep an eye on my baggage.
Many Thanks
John

 

[adtrainz]

Hi All
Is there a luggage compartment? The train in question is normally a two car or a three car cl170.

There is not a seperate luggage "compartment" , i.e a large cupboard or small room, but there should be racks throughout the train where you might be able to put your bags. These are in the normal passenger areas, normally near the doors.

 

[LexyBoy]

I have checked the CrossCountry website and there does seem to be a limitation on taking luggage on their trains.

The luggage you may take is defined by the Conditions of Carriage, which CrossCountry must comply with. Page 21 in the linked document shows that you may carry 2 articles of maximum size 90*70*30cm, which I'm guessing your snowboard bag (presumably containing a snowboard?) does not fit within. You may be charged a fee of half the adult fare for the journey for an item which is larger than this (in theory, unlikely in practice I'd have thought).

Will the guard let me on with these two large bags and is there a luggage compartment? The train in question is normally a two car or a three car cl170. Secondly, Is there somewhere to stand or sit near the luggage compartment? I would like to be able to keep an eye on my baggage.

I doubt you will have a problem taking your stuff on, assuming there is physically room for it. Travelling on a Friday with CrossCountry I'd be surprised if you have any choice but to stand with your luggage!

 

[johnnyp_360]

OK, Great. Thank you for the advice. Very Helpfull
Just another question, which set of doors would be closest to the luggage rack(s)/space?
I know this will be a busy train, so I am guessing other passengers would love me if I try to carry my luggage along the isle bumping into everyone and everything

 

[Talula]

Coach D on XC trains have a large luggage area, where the buffet used to be, you should be fine in there.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

OK, Great. Thank you for the advice. Very Helpfull
Just another question, which set of doors would be closest to the luggage rack(s)/space?
I know this will be a busy train, so I am guessing other passengers would love me if I try to carry my luggage along the isle bumping into everyone and everything

end of carriage luggage racks are near each door, however aim for Coach D as that is where the luggage shelves are.

 

[transportphoto]

Coach D on XC trains have a large luggage area, where the buffet used to be, you should be fine in there.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


end of carriage luggage racks are near each door, however aim for Coach D as that is where the luggage shelves are.

A 2/3 car 170 turbostar won't have a coach D, only an A and a C on the 2 car, an A, a B and a C on the 3 car, I think you are referring to voyagers

TP

 

[Talula]

A 2/3 car 170 turbostar won't have a coach D, only an A and a C on the 2 car, an A, a B and a C on the 3 car, I think you are referring to voyagers

TP

indeed i am! apologies.

 

[adtrainz]

This seating plan (scroll down to Turbostar and click on "full seating plan") shows where the luggage racks are.

http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/Customer_service/Our_trains.aspx#Tip3

 

[dvboy]

I doubt you will have a problem taking your stuff on, assuming there is physically room for it. Travelling on a Friday with CrossCountry I'd be surprised if you have any choice but to stand with your luggage!

Ely TO Birmingham on a Friday afternoon shouldn't be too bad really.

 

[johnnyp_360]

Thank you for the seating plan. That is usefull and interesting.

 

[johnnyp_360]

Success! Managed to bored the train with my huge board bag I did not get charged any extra for it so I'm happy. Thanks again for the advice.
I was actually speaking to an off duty driver on the journey. He was telling me of some of the even bigger things people take on train which suprised me. One exasmple, he said that someone brought a canoe on one of his trains. I can't even picture how that would even fit in an MU.

 

[calc7]

Has anyone heard of anyone being charged for massive items of luggage? I've heard of charges for bags on seats but that's a different thing. I'd genuinely be shocked if a TM got his tape measure out and proclaimed one's bags were oversized.

 

[cyclebytrain]

I once carried a large "briefcase" (as I referred to it) with me (148cm long, 60cm deep and 30cm wide) -but I had made some (unofficial) arrangements with the staff beforehand -particularly about getting it through the Euston & StP gatelines without damage!

 

[34D]

Has anyone heard of anyone being charged for massive items of luggage? I've heard of charges for bags on seats but that's a different thing. I'd genuinely be shocked if a TM got his tape measure out and proclaimed one's bags were oversized.

I heard of a chap who (20 odd years ago) took a full-sized set of railway jacks from euston to new street (in the brake).

 

[142094]

I've seen someone take a guitar, amp, sleeping bag and 3 large duffel bags onto a train before. Took him three trips from the platform to the train to get on.

The strangest thing I've seen was a massive papier-mache sphere taken on, must have been some sort of art project.

 

[Yew]

I have a kayak, it's about 2m long, 1m wide, and40cm high. I'm petty sure it would fit in the bike area.

And with the whitewater course at Holme Pierre point only on train ride away, I'm awfully remote to try.