[Closed] bikes on trains- how?

even if you can book the bike online, in my varied experience it's a waste of time anyway. book the tickets then go to the station and collect them and go to the ticket office to specifically book the bike on all the parts of the journey. they may need to give you another ticket for the bike.

whatever you do, do it in person in advance and you should be fine.

to add, they definitely have no problem refusing you on with the bike if not pre-booked, i've had it happen on a virgin train out of london.

You have to call them with your booking reference to book your bike on and they do it over the phone.
It take about ten minutes with a call to Mumbai.

having experienced the vagaries of booking something like that remotely i would not trust any process that didn't involve me attending in person, online or telephone.

Some trains you need to book, some you do not. You cannot book bikes on the trainline.com - only in person.

tends to be small local trains you don't need to book

Actually, you can book bikes on trains online. Use eastcoast.co.uk - which you can use for other journeys, not just ones on the East Coast line.

Sheffield to Hope will be on of our sheds on wheels (Northern). We have a two bike per train limit with no pre-booking so it's first come first served. Depending on the Traction used there's often space for more than two bikes but you're completing for space with wheelchairs and pig ignorant mothers who refuse to collapse their small car sized push chairs!

I don't work that line but on other lines Trains get rammed on Saturday. Good luck!

I don't know about Loughborough to Sheffield, but Sheffield to Hope Valley shouldn't be a problem - there were about 6 or 8 bikes on the train last Sunday, and no-one was stopping people from boarding with more bikes...

I have had no problems taking my bike on the train. Check to see if its a northern rail service if it is you should be ok.

redspottedhanky.com lets you book cycle reservations now

I have never booked my bike on, just used politeness and a smile. I just ask a platform guard where I should put my bike, usually its a specific carriage that has a bike rack and sometimes its a whole carriage devoted to luggage. If the latter then make sure you are on the ball at your station so the train doesn't leave before you have retrieved it.

As others have said. Sheffield - Hope will not be a problem. Event though officially I think you can only get two bikes on per train the guard usual just lets more on, as the majority of people on the train are walks/climbers/bikers anyway.

Loughborough - Sheffield.
This will depend on the train. If it's a London train then you usually need to book. If it's a sprinter then you'll be fine, there is usually space for two bikes, and you cana even site with your bike.

Sorry to hijack this slightly. Im taking my bike up to Edinburgh on the train tomorrow. Have booked it on etc but was wondering if people tend to lock their bikes up while on the train or are you not allowed? Just nervous that someone might nick it at one of the stations.

Its virgin trains up and first transpennine on the way back fwiw.

Cheers

crispo - In theory you are not allowed to lock it. If you can sit next to it do so - or if its in the guards van then sit next to the van and watch out of the window at every stop

As already mentioned the trains on that Sheffield - Manchester line are ancient rattly old things but they do have proper bike storage areas. No need to book, just turn up. In theory 2 bikes max but even during rush hour I've seen 6-8 crammed in there. You won't have a problem from Sheffield out to Hope, loads of bikers, walkers etc use that line so they're used to it.