Bikes on Trains

Myself and a friend did a similar trip this May. Make sure you book up your bike reservation nice
and early on the local routes within Scotland and also if you want to take the Sleeper to Inverness
(which is what we did). If you want to use the Sleeper, then you need to keep on at ScotRail -
they've not got really geared-up to book bikes. And is only space for 6x bikes on the Sleeper, and
for 2x on the Inverness-Kyle route.

But we had a great trip. Don't take a chance with the bikes on the train - make reservations.

Richard

Simon Parker said:

Hi,

After spending the last weekend admiring the scenary whilst working in Scotland, I have decided to
have a touring holiday up there next year (or maybe this year if I get a move on..). I would
certainly like to include a ride round Loch Ness. Has anybody got any advice on taking my bike up
there on the train. I live in the Midlands (near Burton On Trent) and would like to get to
Inverness..

Many Thanks

Simon

Simon Parker' email hidden in said:

Hi,

After spending the last weekend admiring the scenary whilst working in Scotland, I have decided to
have a touring holiday up there next year (or maybe this year if I get a move on..). I would
certainly like to include a ride round Loch Ness. Has anybody got any advice on taking my bike up
there on the train. I live in the Midlands (near Burton On Trent) and would like to get to
Inverness..

Many Thanks

Simon

Scotrail Short Breaks - travel before easter and you get a free upgrade to first class sleeper car.
If two of you travel then that means you get a double room each, therefore there is plenty of room
for bikes.

My fiancee and I paid 200 quid each and got first class sleeper travel form London to Edinburgh,
daytime transfer to inverness and two nights in 4* hotel, and 1st class travel to kyle of Lochalsh.

Extra nights at hotel in inverness are only 10quid per person.

Love and hugs from Rich x

(any grammar or spelling or typing mistakes are entirely down to having too mant pints after
workl tonight!)

--
Two cannibals eating a clown. One says to the other, "Does this taste funny to you?" To reply
replace the obvious bit with "richard"

Simon Parker said:

Hi,

After spending the last weekend admiring the scenary whilst working in Scotland, I have decided to
have a touring holiday up there next year (or maybe this year if I get a move on..). I would
certainly like to include a ride round Loch Ness. Has anybody got any advice on taking my bike up
there on the train. I live in the Midlands (near Burton On Trent) and would like to get to
Inverness..

Book well in advance. I've got an Inverness to London single for £26.50.
--
remove remove to reply

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 22:27:49 +0100 someone who may be Richard Bates
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

If two of you travel then that means you get a double room each, therefore there is plenty of room
for bikes.

I wouldn't want to put a cumbersome bike in a sleeper compartment, even if it could be manoeuvred
down the corridor and into the compartment. Far better to put them in the van, despite the stupidity
of removing the main doors from the vans. Two Bromptons fit in with no problem though I gather.

Quoted message said:

My fiancee and I paid 200 quid each and got first class sleeper travel

I would have paid less and travelled in the same compartment. They have single bunks for anyone who
is concerned about propriety. I imagine any hanky panky would be rather uncomfortable in one of the
bunks. I must give it a try sometime just to check:-)

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

Simon Parker said:

After spending the last weekend admiring the scenary whilst working in Scotland, I have decided to
have a touring holiday up there next year (or maybe this year if I get a move on..). I would
certainly like to include a ride round Loch Ness. Has anybody got any advice on taking my bike up
there on the train. I live in the Midlands (near Burton On Trent) and would like to get to
Inverness..

A number of options.

ScotRail day time service from Edinburgh or Glasgow - a train north of Perth every 2 hours or less.
Limited to 2 bikes per Turbostar or Express unit - hopefully they'll be doubled up over the summer,
but don't count on it.

ScotRail Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston with some pickups on the WCML. Can carry 6 bikes
comfortably in the gaurds van.

GNER - 1 train per day from London up the ECML. Space for about 6 bikes again, plus far more
comfortable than a ScotRail Turbostar, and a proper buffet 🙂

You could always go to Fort William though. Again, there's the Caledonian Sleeper (same train from
London as the Inverness one, but they split at Waverley) or there's three trains per day from
Glasgow QS. These have space for 6 bikes (or even 12 depending on the number of coaches and whether
the gaurd has given some of the bike space over to luggage or not). Far prettier route as well IMHO.
Then use the Great Glen Cycle Route up to Inverness and then back down the other side of Loch Ness.

Always make reservations though.

Some useful websites: scotrail.co.ukscotrail.co.ukOpen ↗ gner.co.ukgner.co.ukOpen ↗ thetrainline.comthetrainline.comOpen ↗

Regards, Ewan

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Latest photo collection added 17-July-03: photos.eatnet.org.ukphotos.eatnet.org.ukOpen ↗ scot-rail | scotland's online
railway community @ groups.yahoo.comscot railOpen ↗

Many thanks for the info..

Regards

Simon

"Ewan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Simon Parker said:

After spending the last weekend admiring the scenary whilst working in Scotland, I have decided
to have a touring holiday up there next year

(or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

maybe this year if I get a move on..). I would certainly like to include

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ride round Loch Ness. Has anybody got any advice on taking my bike up

there

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on the train. I live in the Midlands (near Burton On Trent) and would

like

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to get to Inverness..

A number of options.

ScotRail day time service from Edinburgh or Glasgow - a train north of Perth every 2 hours or
less. Limited to 2 bikes per Turbostar or Express unit - hopefully they'll be doubled up over the
summer, but don't count on it.

ScotRail Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston with some pickups on the WCML. Can carry 6 bikes
comfortably in the gaurds van.

GNER - 1 train per day from London up the ECML. Space for about 6 bikes again, plus far more
comfortable than a ScotRail Turbostar, and a proper buffet 🙂

You could always go to Fort William though. Again, there's the Caledonian Sleeper (same train from
London as the Inverness one, but they split at Waverley) or there's three trains per day from
Glasgow QS. These have space for 6 bikes (or even 12 depending on the number of coaches and
whether the gaurd has given some of the bike space over to luggage or not). Far prettier route as
well IMHO. Then use the Great Glen Cycle Route up to Inverness and then back down the other side
of Loch Ness.

Always make reservations though.

Some useful websites: scotrail.co.ukscotrail.co.ukOpen ↗ gner.co.ukgner.co.ukOpen ↗
thetrainline.comthetrainline.comOpen ↗

Regards, Ewan

--
Latest photo collection added 17-July-03: photos.eatnet.org.ukphotos.eatnet.org.ukOpen ↗ scot-rail | scotland's
online railway community @ groups.yahoo.comscot railOpen ↗