PlusBike is a one-stop shop for information to help people plan and make combined cycle and rail journeys easier. It offers information about cycle facilities at stations, cycle carriage rules, reservation details, and local cycle-hire availability through the National Rail mobile app and website.
One of these is the need for better information. Cycle-rail users are predominantly daily commuters, but PlusBike is also ideal for leisure users and those making new and unfamiliar journeys. Once you are in the 'Details' view, you'll see some icons displayed to the right of the train information. If you hover over the icons, you get more info. To see the PlusBike info, hover over the icon with the P and a small vertical bicycle.
This will show you:. So you want to split up your commute between bike and train, but what do you need? With a compact folding bike, you can get on any train. Note the word compact.
National Rail means bikes that are 'fully folding' and have 'wheels up to 20 inches in diameter'. If the folder has bigger wheels, carriage is at the guard's discretion. A compact folding bike is your best bet to avoid any cycle restrictions on trains as well as being a really handy piece of kit. You can buy Bromptons ready equipped with dynamo or battery lighting. If your night-time journeys will be lit by streetlights, you can get away with 'be seen' lights. Cateye's tiny Nima lights are little more than an inch across, each weighing just 20g including two CR batteries.
The translucent casing means that the lights are visible through degrees. There are four lighting modes: constant, flashing, rapid, and pulse. Each Nima will last for up to 80 hours before you need to change the batteries. As they're so small, they'll scarcely interfere with the Brompton's fold, so you can leave them on the bike permanently.
If you need to carry anything more than a minimalist load, you'd be better off using one of Brompton's excellent front-mounted frame bags. But this shoulder bag is small 12 litres , so you can't weigh yourself down too much; for shorter journeys, it will be fine.
At 28cm wide, it's big enough for a tablet or small notebook computer plus other office essentials. Better yet, as the Sling It is completely waterproof, you don't have to worry about them getting damp. A stabilising strap runs across your chest, to stop the bag swinging around while you're cycling, but can be unclipped for use on foot. Because the bag is so compact, you don't look like a bicycle messenger when you do get off the bike.
Also available in black, white, silver and grey, and in larger sizes if you have a bigger laptop. This lightweight windproof jacket is genuinely showerproof.
It won't keep you dry in sustained rain, which will get in through the seams and eventually through the fabric itself, but it doesn't immediately leak like some windproof clothing.
When you've got a folding bike that jacket is often enough weather protection you're probably not cycling very far to begin with, and you can jump on public transport or into a taxi if it's tipping down. You won't overheat easily either as it breathes well - the lightweight nylon fabric is supplemented with mesh underarm vents, the cut is slim, and the cuffs, hem, and neck are lightly elasticated.
It's a great just-in-case jacket to stash in your bag, as it weighs little over g and packs down to the size of your fist. Folding bike commuters have another thing to consider if they choose to wear a helmet: the helmet needs looking after in transit, not just at home and work. It'll rattle around in overhead luggage racks. Not strictly true, because the HST is quite roomy enough. To make a reservation, you are supposed to download a Cycle Booking Form, fill it in and email it back to cycle.
Reservations: or visit the website, download the booking form and email it to cycle. Passengers can carry folding bicycles on board, but the bike must be packed in a 'regulation size bike bag' the maximum allowable in France being cm x 90cm. The bag must be carried as part of the normal luggage allowance, clearly labeled and placed on one of the racks in the vestibule. A reular traveler has pointed out to us that as long as it can be shoe-horned into the bag, the bike doesn't nactually eed to be a folder.
Unusually, compact machines such as the Brompton can also be carried on the generous overhead racks. We've been told that it is now possible to book the bike on the same train: the booking service opening 10 days before departure, and bookings being available as late as 60 minutes before departure, but Eurostar says there is no such service!
A useful tip if travelling further afield by high speed train is to change at Lille Europe if possible, rather than Paris, as many long-distance services stop in Lille, giving a cross-platform change.
Cycling between termini in Paris is rather like London - about the same distances, and with similar traffic levels. Tel: email: new. First Capital Connect. The official rules are unchanged, but First Capital Connect is now forcing folding bike customers to fold their bikes before passing through the barriers see also attempts by Southern and Southeastern.
The company claims that this has always been the rule, but it has not previously been enforced. Owners of Bromptons and other folding bikes that can be wheeled should bear in mind that they ARE allowed to wheel the bike on its rollers. Thameslink is happy to carry bicycles between Bedford and Luton Airport Parkway inclusive at any time. Elsewhere, the company cannot carry bicycles on trains travelling towards London that arrive in London stations between Cyclists are asked to use the section of the train with tip-up seats, identified by a cycle symbol on the outside of the train.
Interestingly, Thameslink does not mention that bikes are now banned in and out of Brighton at peak times see Southern entry. Other restrictions:. Monday to Friday on services between Royston and Ely that depart from or arrive at Cambridge between First Great Western.
Reservations are no longer obligatory except on services arriving in London between Up to six bicycles still including one tandem on most services can be accommodated in Coach 'A' of High Speed Trains. However, on Mondays to Fridays, bicycles may not be carried on trains advertised to arrive at London Paddington between On most long-distance services reservations are free.
Bikes CAN be carried on these services without a reservation provided the guard can find space, but if a bike with a reservation is then brought on board, you may be evicted. On other local trains, bicycles cannot be booked, and are conveyed 'subject to space being available'. The 'two bikes per train' rule is interpreted differently by individual guards - some will allow much larger numbers, even on peak services, but some will not.
Groups of cyclists should treat rush-hour or peak summer season trains with caution. Locomotive-hauled trains with proper guard's vans operated until recently from Cardiff to Brighton and Bristol to Weymouth. These have been withdrawn, but a summer Saturday loco-hauled train is running once again between Bristol and Weymouth on summer Saturdays, offering plenty of cycle space. Interestingly, fGW is now organising bike hire, initially from Reading and Cheltenham stations in co-operation with On Your Bike see www.
Meanwhile, First Great Wwestern is trying to get a bclearer picture of how, why and where customers cycle. You can help by taking part in the survey at: www. There are prizes, including a folding bike hope it's not the one fGW was promoting a year or two back and a pair of Eurostar tickets. The fleet of High Speed Trains carries up to six bikes in the 'country end' power car, free, and without the need to book.
Short platforms at Eaglescliffe, Thirsk and Hartlepool mean that guards will put cycles to and from these destinations at the London end of the train. Surely that means the true capacity is 12 bikes? Well, yes it does. The company has also gone to some lengths to say it will welcome tandems and trailers, provided they do not exceed one metre in any dimension , but not tricycles, although they could probably be pursuaded, if you have a fairly compact machine.
All indicative of the 'can do' attitude of this new operator. Cheap fares, oodles of legroom, and plenty of bike space to York and the Yorkshire coast.
Cycles are carried free, except on trains due to arrive in Paddington between The operator reserves the right to limit bicycles at other times if trains are busy. Tel: email: queries heathrowconnect. Compact machines fit the overhead racks Tandems and tricycles: Unknown. Limited accommodation is available for cycles on Heathrow Express services, for passengers flying with their cycles from the airport.
Heathrow Express reserves the right to limit the number of cycles conveyed on each train to no more than three at busy times. Cyclists not travelling onwards by air may also use the service to and from Terminal 4, subject to space being available for airline passengers. Reservations: email: queries. Hull Trains welcomes cycles on all services. Although it is advisable to make a free reservation in advance, it is also possible to turn up and travel with your cycle subject to space being available.
Up to two bicycles can be carried in the Train Manager's Office in coach 'D'. Please ring The smallest, friendliest and most reliable railway company in the UK, Island Line operates aging Underground trains on the Isle of Wight. Up to four bicycles may be carried free and without booking at the Shanklin end of all trains, subject to the discretion of the guard.
In practice, the number carried off-peak is sometimes much greater. Tel: email: comments island-line. London Midland formerly Silverlink and parts of Central Trains. Routes: London Euston - Birmingham, Birmingham - Liverpool and local services in the West Midlands Folding bikes: Folding bikes are allowed on all services, but London Midland has recently followed Southern's lead by insisting that bikes are carried on the station concourse.
Latest news is that this restriction has been eased. Tandems and tricycles: Not permitted. Cycles are carried free of charge on all off-peak services Restrictions apply Monday to Friday Or not? Also available to Lille and Brussels, but not further south in France. People had to stay over and ride CS2 to the start much of CS3 is closed as part of the route. Bikes can be taken free of charge at any time on Merseyrail. Should be top of your list for bikefriendly rail service.
In general, folded bikes are accepted on UK buses if there is sufficient luggage space and the bike is either clean including having the chain on the inside of the fold, unlike many Dahon ones or bagged, while non-folding bikes are only accepted on a few special services, such as the Cambridgeshire Bike Bus Explorer. In metro 1.
Great article thank you. I really hope they re-look this. London I was cautioned this morning at 8am by a ticket hall staff member trying to bring my bike onto an overground train. I ignored it and went onto the train anyways which tend to be very empty. Does anyone know of a fine? Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Luckily, our national networks can help you get at least some of the way to your destination. Tyne and Wear Metro are holding a trial which allows cycles outside of peak times: Cycles are now allowed on trains between Callerton Parkway and Jesmond in either direction : Monday to Friday Comments What about the tube?
Joined up transport provision has a long way to go in the UK. Ring ahead is my best advice. Hi Andy, To be honest, transport provisions for bicycles are poor across most networks i would say. You can take any bikes on the Central line between Leyton and Epping during off peak hours. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
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