I was leafing though the GNER inflight magazine today and as well as there being a 2 page article on York's cycling paramedic there was a notice about long trains and short platforms.
GNER have increased the length of some of their HSTs which means that they won't fit on the platforms of some smaller stations in Scotland and Yorkshire. If you board at one of these staions you need to put your bike in a temporary bike area in coach G and then move it to the guard's van at the next 'long' station. If you plan to alight at a short station you must move your bike from the guard's van to the temporary bike area at the last 'long' station before your stop. Staff will be able to help but I think it may be worth checking with GNER when you make the reservation whether you will be affected or not. There is a list of stations printed, some are only affected in one direction of travel. This stuff is probably on the GNER website in full.
What struck me was that the guard's van on an HST is in the engine unit at the coach A end. Coach G is probably around the buffet, about 2/3 of a train length from A. If you have a heavy touring bike and if they don't let you cycle along the platform then this could be quite time consuming move, especially if you have to do it twice.
"Colin Blackburn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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I was leafing though the GNER inflight magazine today and as well as there being a 2 page article on York's cycling paramedic there was a notice about long trains and short platforms.
I've jumped out onto the gravel before, instead of risking the train setting off while I'm pushing the bike through the coaches.
On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 09:59:38 +0100, in <[email hidden]>, "Colin Blackburn"
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What struck me was that the guard's van on an HST is in the engine unit at the coach A end. Coach G is probably around the buffet, about 2/3 of a train length from A. If you have a heavy touring bike and if they don't let you cycle along the platform then this could be quite time consuming move, especially if you have to do it twice.
Colin
In those circumstances I wonder if I would actually be quicker to stop the train twice to let you have direct access to the van? If the guard's van door is not locked along with the rest of the central locking system then it wouldn't be too much of a faff from a procedural point of view. It could simply be a case of. Stop, unlock, let passengers off, lock, move, stop, remove bike, go.
It would even be possible to unload the bike whilst in temporary storage and carry luggage directly into the guard's van through the internal door. This I admit *is* a faff. -- I remember when the internet was only in black & white. It only had a few pages but at least they all worked.
On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 10:34:18 +0100, Richard Bates <[email hidden]>
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On Fri, 16 Jul 2004 09:59:38 +0100, in <[email hidden]>, "Colin Blackburn"
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What struck me was that the guard's van on an HST is in the engine unit at the coach A end. Coach G is probably around the buffet, about 2/3 of a train length from A. If you have a heavy touring bike and if they don't let you cycle along the platform then this could be quite time consuming move, especially if you have to do it twice.
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In those circumstances I wonder if I would actually be quicker to stop the train twice to let you have direct access to the van? If the guard's van door is not locked along with the rest of the central locking system then it wouldn't be too much of a faff from a procedural point of view. It could simply be a case of. Stop, unlock, let passengers off, lock, move, stop, remove bike, go.
I have seen this done at Durham when the train has accidentally stopped short. The cyclist had to wait for passengers to get on and off then they moved the train a carriage length so he could get his bike off. It didn't seem too much of a problem.
I have seen this done at Durham when the train has accidentally stopped short. The cyclist had to wait for passengers to get on and off then they moved the train a carriage length so he could get his bike off. It didn't seem too much of a problem.
I have occasionally had this done for me at Micheldever too.
What struck me was that the guard's van on an HST is in the engine unit at the coach A end. Coach G is probably around the buffet, about 2/3 of a train length from A. If you have a heavy touring bike and if they don't let you cycle along the platform then this could be quite time consuming move, especially if you have to do it twice.
I once caught teh train from London to Beeston, taking my bike and full laden pannier set with me. All were safely loaded into teh guards van at teh very back of the train. Just approaching Beeston there comes an announcement about short platforms, blaah blaah, anyone disembarking should move forwards to coach whatever.
Cue three trips up the train - two with panniers and one with bike. Just made it in time before the train stopped.
Next time, I might try it with teh Trice and see what happens. (Of course, the chances of getting a recumbent tricycle on a train are vanishingly tiny....)
Next time, I might try it with teh Trice and see what happens. (Of course, the chances of getting a recumbent tricycle on a train are
^^^
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vanishingly tiny....)
Ian, what happened? Is this an impostor?
-- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) <URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/> "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
What struck me was that the guard's van on an HST is in the engine unit at the coach A end. Coach G is probably around the buffet, about 2/3 of a train length from A. If you have a heavy touring bike and if they don't let you cycle along the platform then this could be quite time consuming move, especially if you have to do it twice.
I once caught teh train from London to Beeston, taking my bike and full laden pannier set with me. All were safely loaded into teh guards van at teh very back of the train. Just approaching Beeston there comes an announcement about short platforms, blaah blaah, anyone disembarking should move forwards to coach whatever.
Cue three trips up the train - two with panniers and one with bike. Just made it in time before the train stopped.
Next time, I might try it with teh Trice and see what happens. (Of course, the chances of getting a recumbent tricycle on a train are vanishingly tiny....)
You'll certainly be able to fit the trice on one of the GNER type trains - I think the 125s, but it might be the 225's. I'd suggest making a tandem reservation though (2 normal bike reservations).
The luggage carriage where it will be stored is cavernous and has double doors. On the other type of train, there's less room and there's a cage where bikes get put.
