Bikes on trains in the UK

GWR today. Didn't even bother trying to get it in. Had the usual put it in the hooks chat with the buffet guy. Three of us said they don't fit. He said they should. We said they don't. That was that.

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what was on the buffet?

3 cans of stella for a tenner

Oh, and your mum.

Good deal that.

GWR from Cardiff; those frigging hooks.

Good job I had advance warning and brought a couple of toestraps, and that only two of the 4 “spaces” were reserved. Conductor said “those hooks are terrible aren’t they?” Yes they are.

Rocked up to Edinburgh Waverley unaware that you needed a bike reservation for LNER. Jobsworth on the platform wouldn’t let me on, despite the fact there were no other bikes on the train and I only wanted to go one stop. Queue for the ticket office was 10 deep and I missed the train.

Anyway, shout out to the wonderful lady at the ticket office who sorted me out with an explanatory note and then ran across the station with my reservation (which wouldn’t print initially).

Faith in humanity restored somewhat.

Yeah, it sucks but you can’t just rock up to a station in the uk without checking the need for bike reservations these days.

If it’s a national route (however far you’re going) you probably need a reservation, if it’s a local commuter train you’re probably fine.

Only been caught out once before when both spaces were already reserved and the bikes and their owners on the train. Not the case here.

That came out more passive-aggressive that I intended. Apologies.

I wasn’t aware a reservation was mandatory on LNER, unlike other services where spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis.