For the first time in ages yesterday I took the bike on the train, in this case on First Great Western. The cycle racks were full, but I was spared a wait by two cyclists getting off when I wanted to get on.
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
Stagecoach are the same thing as First Group AFAICT. When they took over Scotrail in the not too distant past the cycle rules stayed pretty much as they were: they "welcome" cyclists, but not if there's more than 2 of them on a train, and not if they're on tandems or trikes or have trailers. Reservations are not usually needed with exceptions for some routes, but are recommended and free. No better or worse than it was before AFAICT.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
I wonder if they have been briefed to say things like this to encourage their customers to write in support of their 'fantastic' service. I've never been much of a fan of the First Great Western operation, however I have to say I've not experienced many hassles with them, which is rare for taking a bike on a train. Stagecoach are responsible for South West Trains, amongst other things, who have very strict rules about bicycle carriage (ie banned from peak time trains going into / out of London). The National Express group, who is the other bidder, currently own Wessex Trains, who also had a short time of bicycle bans (dropped, after considerable pressure from customers) and still have severe restrictions, ie max 2 bikes per train, even where there is space for 8-12! Guards are relatively flexible these days though..
Stagecoach are the same thing as First Group AFAICT.
Oooops, actually wrong, sorry!
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
Stagecoach have the South West Trains franchise (SW of London). They are seriously anti-bicycle.
Paul
-- CTC Right to Ride Representative for Richmond upon Thames
On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:39:59 GMT, Paul Luton <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
In message <[email hidden]>
al Mossah said:
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
Stagecoach have the South West Trains franchise (SW of London). They are seriously anti-bicycle.
However outside of rush hours - which I completely sympathise with, people with bikes getting on trains at rush hour severely slow up boarding - there's plenty of provision on all the surbaban services in southwest London.
I submit that on or about Sat, 01 Oct 2005 19:57:21 GMT, the person known to the court as [email hidden] (Jim Ley) made a statement (<[email hidden]> in Your Honour's bundle) to the following effect:
Quoted message said:
people with bikes getting on trains at rush hour severely slow up boarding
Depends on the train. On Virgin Voyagers, HSTs and Thames Turbos it is a non-issue. On the new Adelantes, designed by an idiot, the train staff have to let you into the bike stowage, then you have to walk back round the outside of the train and reboard.
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
Stagecoach have the South West Trains franchise (SW of London). They are seriously anti-bicycle.
They do seem to have softened of late. For the last three months I've been using them about 6-7 times a week, usually on a line that requires reservations 24hrs in advance. This includes in peak times, and so far I've snuck on with no problems at all. The guards have never uttered a word, even when i don't use teh bike area. I'm fearing its the lull before a storm.
I occasionally use FGW Link (ex Thames Turbos) and they can sometimes be difficult due to having no space whatsoever and they need the bike being looked after in the vestibule for the whole journey.
Chatting to the train manager, he mentioned that if Stagecoach get the Great Western franchise, there will be no cycle provision. Can anyone comment on whether there is a precedent for this anywhere? What do Stagecoach do on their other franchises (if any)?
Stagecoach have the South West Trains franchise (SW of London). They are seriously anti-bicycle.
They do seem to have softened of late. For the last three months I've been using them about 6-7 times a week, usually on a line that requires reservations 24hrs in advance. This includes in peak times, and so far I've snuck on with no problems at all. The guards have never uttered a word, even when i don't use teh bike area. I'm fearing its the lull before a storm.
I occasionally use FGW Link (ex Thames Turbos) and they can sometimes be difficult due to having no space whatsoever and they need the bike being looked after in the vestibule for the whole journey.
I now always avoid Virgin, as the few times I've tried to use them the guard has been obnoxiously difficult, and they also have abysmal reliability.
Stagecoach have the South West Trains franchise (SW of London). They are seriously anti-bicycle.
I've not found them too bad although I always take the Brompton on them but many of the trains have a dedicated cycle storage area.
On my journey out yesterday it was full of five *very* large army holdalls. Coming home it was occupied by a full set of golf clubs, a case, and a lad on the floor.
Stagecoach have the South West Trains franchise (SW of London). They are seriously anti-bicycle.
I've not found them too bad although I always take the Brompton on them but many of the trains have a dedicated cycle storage area.
Yes but for some lines this is two spaces per train and when I wrote to express appreciation for these the response was that space labled two bicycles meant that a maximum of two could be carried no matter how empty the train. On several occasions this summer I have been able to get onto an off peak service out into Surrey/Hampshire only because the guards do not enforce SWT management policies. ( for which I nominated them for an award).
Paul.
-- CTC Right to Ride Representative for Richmond upon Thames
