Totally know where you're coming from. I commuted by train and bike everyday from Jan this year up until the Summer. Most of the time it was fine but occassionally you'd get an arse of a conductor who didn't like bikes and would make life difficult.
With those trains, there was a maximum of 3 bikes per train – absolutely ridiculous given the hundreds of people onboard! So often it was ok and you could squeeze and extra bike or two into the dedicated spot without encroaching into the isle – but like I say, sometimes they'd chuck me or others off because of 'health and safety' (ridiculous when there's plenty of space!)
Then it got much worse – in Spring when they introduced new trains with the bike storage in a middle carriage and provided storage that was near impossible to squeeze the bike into! One side is supposed to take two but only one mtb would fit and if your bike is heavy its really difficult to hang them – most people had to ask for help from other passengers. I swear this cahnge was to discourgae cyclists by making life for them so much harder.
It was extra annoying that there was a massive luggage area which easily fitted two bikes and some of the arsey conductors wouldn't let you put your bikes there because of 'health and safety' even though they are clearly safer tucked away there than anywhere else. Grrrrr, few things make me more angry!
It's such a flippin joke when the Gov are encouraging green travel and then the trains play silly games like this. The sad truth is that nearly all the cyclists I used to catch the train with now drive as they are sick of the hassle! 👿 Some have even resorted to folding bikes 😯
