Are SWT and South Central trains anti-cyclist?

[Ianmel]

Looks like my weekend rides will have to be more local in the future. South West and South Central Trains are bringing in new trains which for each four car unit will only take a maximum of two bikes. At the moment with the old slam door trains i think you can get about ten in the guards van. When i wrote to complain about the lack of space provided SWT said that they had to put more seats in whilst providing limited (ha, ha) space for bikes. Funny that, i have just read their e-motion magazine and on page 5 they tell us they are refurbishing their class 455 fleet of London suburban trains and due to passengers not liking to sit in the middle of a row of three seats, they are taking away 10 seats per carriage so they only have a two-plus-two configuation of seats. Surely they could take out a couple of seats to provide two more spaces for bikes and keep all their passengers happy?

[Sam]

Ianmel <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message news:<hDvgc.112972$pK2.36421@fe08.usenetserver.com>...
> Looks like my weekend rides will have to be more local in
> the future. South West and South Central Trains are
> bringing in new trains which for each four car unit will
> only take a maximum of two bikes. At the moment with the
> old slam door trains i think you can get about ten in the
> guards van. When i wrote to complain about the lack of
> space provided SWT said that they had to put more seats in
> whilst providing limited (ha, ha) space for bikes. Funny
> that, i have just read their e-motion magazine and on page
> 5 they tell us they are refurbishing their class 455 fleet
> of London suburban trains and due to passengers not liking
> to sit in the middle of a row of three seats, they are
> taking away 10 seats per carriage so they only have a two-plus-
> two configuation of seats. Surely they could take out a
> couple of seats to provide two more spaces for bikes and
> keep all their passengers happy?
>

I'm on the Hastings line into London and am really going to
miss the slam-door stock when it finally disappears
completely. The new trains offer less leg room; they can be
suprisingly noisy/creaky; a lot of people can't figure out
how the door to the disabled toilets works (bikes get parked
nearby, so I'm forever explaining it to them); and the old
guard vans, in addition to offering so much more room for
bikes, could be a great place to just stretch out and relax,
off-peak at least.

[Martinm]

scott@bikereader.com (Sam) wrote in message news:<4c8efff8.0404181127.15fbf7a5@posting.google.com>...
> Ianmel <usenet-forum@cyclingforums.com> wrote in message
> news:<hDvgc.112972$pK2.36421@fe08.usenetserver.com>...
> > Looks like my weekend rides will have to be more local
> > in the future. South West and South Central Trains are
> > bringing in new trains which for each four car unit will
> > only take a maximum of two bikes. At the moment with the
> > old slam door trains i think you can get about ten in
> > the guards van. When i wrote to complain about the lack
> > of space provided SWT said that they had to put more
> > seats in whilst providing limited (ha, ha) space for
> > bikes. Funny that, i have just read their e-motion
> > magazine and on page 5 they tell us they are
> > refurbishing their class 455 fleet of London suburban
> > trains and due to passengers not liking to sit in the
> > middle of a row of three seats, they are taking away 10
> > seats per carriage so they only have a two-plus-two
> > configuation of seats. Surely they could take out a
> > couple of seats to provide two more spaces for bikes and
> > keep all their passengers happy?

I would have to say SC are definitely pro cyclist, they have
relaxed the age old ban on taking bikes into London in the
peak, and are even saying now you can do it on new stock
subject to a wheelchair needing the space (fair enough). The
new Uckfield line stock has an actual bike carrier with
straps (OK its next to the loo but that's about the best
area, and that is on a two coach train!) But they are
probably having their hand forced by modern train design
(the last BR/otherwise multiple unit with a separate guards
van was probably the class 312 in 1976).The class 159 has a
little slot to park a bike in, but they charge you £3 for
it; SC is free throughout where allowed.