"one" trains and bikes....

Mr R@t (2.30zi) said:

whats the score about taking bikes on these trains?

I was exploring (on foot) some areas of Norfolk at the weekend and meeting
up with some friends in the region - didn't mind the walk but thought that
it would be a pleasant place for a bike ride...

I have a few experiences.

I used the train from Norwich to London to get to the Dunwich Dynamo
earlier in the month. Booked in advance, £5 + £3 for the bike. All
worked fine, platform staff very helpful, brilliant value - and train
was 5 minutes early into Liverpool St.

Some of the older rolling stock has very limited space; I'd advise
booking to avoid disappointment - or at least to give you a leg to stand
on should things start to go t*ts-up on the day.

The other line I can use (living in mid-Norfolk, I have a 50/50
decision) is the Kings Cross/Kings Lynn (via Cambridge) line. Here you
have to park the bike in the doorway, which can make you unpopular if
it's busy. You also need to keep your eyes on the bike - don't fall asleep.
There are restrictions about what times you can carry a bike on these
trains - no bikes south of Stevenage during the morning rush for example
- check the old WAGN website for specifics.

HTH
Chris

Mr R@t (2.30zi) wrote on 18/07/2006 14:01 +0100:

Quoted message said:

whats the score about taking bikes on these trains?

I was exploring (on foot) some areas of Norfolk at the weekend and meeting
up with some friends in the region - didn't mind the walk but thought that
it would be a pleasant place for a bike ride...

I used to live in the region which had Great Western and SWT trains and
there was all sorts of bureaucracy to get a bike on a train, a lack of
space, and other problems (saw them mentioned in another thread)

But round here the TOC is "one" and there is all sorts of spin on their site
about how they encourage bikes on trains.

However I am sceptical about how true this is at the frontline (when dealing
with station stuaff guards etc) and surely if they are *that* good the
trains will run out of space quickly?

How do you go about it? I've never actually taken a bike on a train
before....

Do I need to book in advance at the station or on the internet?

I think this is the lot that took over from Anglian who won lots of
awards for their cycle friendliness. Hopefully the new lot haven't
beaten all that good training out of the staff they inherited.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Mr R@t (2.30zi) said:

However I am sceptical about how true this is at the frontline (when
dealing with station stuaff guards etc) and surely if they are *that* good
the trains will run out of space quickly?

I use Anglia/One every couple of months, picking up the Ipswich train from
Newmarket (yes it /is/ heavy :-), and then going to Colchester, Felixstowe
or north to the stations 15km inland from the coast. The staff are
consistently friendly and seem pleased to see a cyclist. On the weekends
there can be several cyclists but I've never failed to get on.

They are also very good when trains are late or canceled, always for
Railtrack problems IME. When a coach came to collect strnaded passengers
in Bury once, the coach couldn't take my bike, so One organised a
people-carrier taxi just for me & the bike.

Quoted message said:

How do you go about it? I've never actually taken a bike on a train
before....

Stand on the platform with your bike about half-way down, as the train
goes by examine the doors of the leading carriage for a bike or wheelchair
sign. If it's got one trot to the front of the train, if it hasn't trot
to the back. Mainline trains should in principle have the guard's van at
the same end (eg always at the Norwich end for the Norwich-Ipswich-London
trains), but there /are/ expections and it's a long gallop if the train is
12 or 14 cars.

Quoted message said:

Do I need to book in advance at the station or on the internet?

They recommend boking, but I've never bothered in about 6 or 7 years and
never had a problem.

Mike

Following on from Mr R@t (2.30zi)'s message. . .

Quoted message said:

whats the score about taking bikes on these trains?

I was exploring (on foot) some areas of Norfolk at the weekend and meeting
up with some friends in the region - didn't mind the walk but thought that
it would be a pleasant place for a bike ride...

Basically (Norfolk and Suffolk) you can pay a pound extra. I don't
bother booking - not been a problem in the past. (But newer staff are
not as good as they used to be.)

However this is the railways so it can't be that simple. Sigh. Some
intercity trains want exorbitant amounts for certain parts of the route.
Some get snotty (result of newer trains - errr 'Progress'😉 if you don't
book. The 170s have space for 2 bikes but often carry more. Time
restrictions on the London side of Shenfield on some trains. Bottom
line is you'll have to ring.

Tip: Bearing in mind the wind in the forecast is often less than that
on the ground you can buy a one day Norfolk/Suffolk rover/ranger ticket
for about a tenner and plan your journey as 'cycle with the wind' then
'train against the wind'.

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the exam marking business failed
[email hidden]
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

Mr R@t (2.30zi) said:

whats the score about taking bikes on these trains?

Quoted message said:

How do you go about it? I've never actually taken a bike on a train
before....

Do I need to book in advance at the station or on the internet?

Google groups. Yuk! but i digress 🙂

I live in Woodbridge and use the train from Ipswich to London quite a
bit. I bought my Grasshopper at Bike fix in London, and have had no
problem when I turned up at Liverpool street without a ticket for the
bike. I had to take the bike back to have teh disc breaks fitted (the
wrong SON turned up first time round) and again had no problems
unbooked in either direction

And it's rare to catch the train and there NOT to be at least one
cyclist and bike traveling. The train staff always seem helpful.

I have a question to add (since I haven't taken a bike on a train for
ages):

Do people lock their bikes when using goods/guards vans? Is locking OK
and allowed?

Can't quite remember, but I've got a feeling I used to leave my bike
unlocked. Anyone could've nicked it easily.

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

I have a question to add (since I haven't taken a bike on a train for
ages):

Do people lock their bikes when using goods/guards vans? Is locking OK
and allowed?

Can't quite remember, but I've got a feeling I used to leave my bike
unlocked. Anyone could've nicked it easily.

~PB

Last time I took my bike on a train (1st GW - Swansea to Bristol Parkway)
there was a sign saying "Please leave bikes unlocked" or some such. I felt
very nervous, but it was still there at the end of the journey. The Virgin
Voyager hangers used on the next bit of my journey to Birmingham were a bit
of a faff, though - the top hook was a long way up and my arthritic
shoulders didn't like it. (Apparently, Virgin now require pre-booking on
all services)

--
Regards
Alex
The From address above is a spam-trap.
The Reply-To address is valid

Mike Causer said:

Stand on the platform with your bike about half-way down, as the train
goes by examine the doors of the leading carriage for a bike or wheelchair
sign.

Thats only true of the 156s or 153s, with the 170s the Bike Accomodation
is in the same place of the wheelchair.

Quoted message said:

Mainline trains should in principle have the guard's van at
the same end (eg always at the Norwich end for the Norwich-Ipswich-London
trains), but there /are/ expections and it's a long gallop if the train is
12 or 14 cars.

If you travel on an InterCity which has the newer DVT on the Norwich
end, make sure you inform the Guard where you want to get off, as with
these they do lock the sliding door to the luggage area, and at some
intermediate stations don't return to the van end to open up.

Your alternative is what I do - carry a railway T Key for unlocking the
sliding door on DVT should guard be in the middle.
The Older DBSOs (Which there are very few now, they are the ugly things
in Anglia Green) aren't a problem as they van isn't locked.

As for other cyclists I boarded at Sudbury a couple of Sundays ago and
because some bike tour had abandoned at Gt Waldingfield there were 9
bikes onboard the 153 (single car unit)!

I've also experienced overcrowding in the bike racks of the Felixstowe
153 during School Holidays. The best units for bikes on the local lines
are the 156s as they have a larger area to put them.

"One" run the service to Darsham, by the end of the Dunwich Dynamo. The
last two years they have had upwards of 25 bikes on their little 3
carriage service. They don't like it very much, but they always let us
on - probably because we are the only customers, and there are more of
us than them! Physically getting that many bike in can be interesting :-)

Alex Potter said:

Pete Biggs said:

I have a question to add (since I haven't taken a bike on a train for
ages):

Do people lock their bikes when using goods/guards vans? Is locking OK
and allowed?

Can't quite remember, but I've got a feeling I used to leave my bike
unlocked. Anyone could've nicked it easily.

~PB

Last time I took my bike on a train (1st GW - Swansea to Bristol Parkway)
there was a sign saying "Please leave bikes unlocked" or some such. I felt
very nervous, but it was still there at the end of the journey. The Virgin
Voyager hangers used on the next bit of my journey to Birmingham were a bit
of a faff, though - the top hook was a long way up and my arthritic
shoulders didn't like it. (Apparently, Virgin now require pre-booking on
all services)

ShankFord said:

Your alternative is what I do - carry a railway T Key for unlocking the
sliding door on DVT should guard be in the middle.

Where do you get these then?

--

JimP

" " - John Cage

Jim Price said:

ShankFord said:

Your alternative is what I do - carry a railway T Key for unlocking the
sliding door on DVT should guard be in the middle.

Where do you get these then?

A proliferation on eBay - just one at random:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-T-Bar-Railway-Carriage-Coach-Key_W0QQitemZ230007819598QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4130QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ShankFord said:

Thats only true of the 156s or 153s, with the 170s ...

Err yes, but for we non-trainspotters neither the timetables nor the
trains themselves announce what type they are. So it's still a matter of
guess and gallop along the platform.

Mike

David Martin wrote on 18/07/2006 23:02 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Jim Price said:

ShankFord said:

Your alternative is what I do - carry a railway T Key for
unlocking the sliding door on DVT should guard be in the middle.

Where do you get these then?

A proliferation on eBay - just one at random:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-T-Bar-Railway-Carriage-Coach-Key_W0QQitemZ230007819598QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4130QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Steady now guys and gals, don't all bid at once or the price will go
through the roof ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Mike Causer said:

Err yes, but for we non-trainspotters neither the timetables nor the
trains themselves announce what type they are. So it's still a matter of
guess and gallop along the platform.

Sorry, wasnt thinking!

153s are the single car units, 156s are two car units, both of these
have central gangways on the front. They all have a sticker showing the
disabled symbol on the front (above the window on non drivers side) - if
you see the sticker then the bike accommodation is at the other end.

If you want to get familiar with that they look like:

153: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_153
156: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_156

A 170 is the 2 or car unit, they look and are more modern with a full
width cab/no gangway:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_170

With these if you see the Disabled sticker, the bike accommodation is in
the 2nd door on that carriage.

Ben Barker said the following on 18/07/2006 21:10:

Quoted message said:

"One" run the service to Darsham, by the end of the Dunwich Dynamo. The
last two years they have had upwards of 25 bikes on their little 3
carriage service. They don't like it very much, but they always let us
on - probably because we are the only customers, and there are more of
us than them! Physically getting that many bike in can be interesting :-)

"Progress" means that they can't sling an extra guard's van on like they
used to if they knew there would be a load of bikes. I used to take
bikes on trains a lot up until about 20 years ago (student days!), and
it was much easier then. No pre-booking, just open the guard's van and
put the bike in. Make sure that at the destination, the guard's van
actually reached the platform before getting out - a couple of times the
train had to shuffle forward so I could get my bike off!

Good old British Rail - they also had seats that you could sit in
without scrunching your knees under your chin. I also don't remember
trains being as late or cancelled as much as they are now. Progress, huh???

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Mike Causer said:

Err yes, but for we non-trainspotters neither the timetables nor the
trains themselves announce what type they are. So it's still a matter of
guess and gallop along the platform.

The train does ID its self, the number on the front will read either
153xxx, 156xxx or 170xxx

Quoting Paul Boyd <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Good old British Rail - they also had seats that you could sit in
without scrunching your knees under your chin.

And BR food was once cheap and nasty, which would also represent an
improvement on today...
--
OPTIONS=name:Kirsty,menustyle:C,female,lit_corridor,standout,time,showexp,hilit
e_pet,catname:Akane,dogname:Ryoga,fruit:okonomiyaki,pickup_types:"!$?=/,scores:
5 top/2 around,color,boulder:0,autoquiver,autodig,disclose:yiyayvygyc,pickup_bu
rden:burdened,!cmdassist,msg_window:reversed,!sparkle,horsename:Rumiko,showrace

David Damerell said the following on 19/07/2006 14:21:

Quoted message said:

And BR food was once cheap and nasty, which would also represent an
improvement on today...

Too right - much better than expensive and nasty!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Thanks for your help everybody (including the trainspotters' guide; didn't
realise there was /that/ much variation in rolling stock here - last went
trainspotting in 1985)

I think the ticket Peter refers to may be called an "Anglia Plus One Day
Pass" now; very useful tip (I have already noted the effect of coastal
winds!) as I have lots of friends in the area who are a bit too far for just
a bike journey but would be easily accessible by bike and train.

"one" seems a lot better than other TOCs in this respect..

I won't be opening up guards' vans with T-keys thobut as I am a British
Asian and nowadays that could get me into all sorts of trouble...

Alex
--
Mr R@T / General Lighting
Ipswich, Suffolk, Untied Kingdom
http://www.partyvibe.com