4.7 Accompanied Animals & Articles
Conditions 23 and 24 of the NRCoT detail the limit to the amount of animals luggage you may travel with, although this may not be enforced on less busy services.
4.7.1 Animals
You are allowed up to 2 accompanying domestic animals. Dogs must be kept on a leash and all other animals must be in a carry-cage at all times. Additional animals are charged up to £5 single or £10 return. An animal may be conveyed in a train’s luggage van, if one is available. Dogs and any baskets or pet carriers must be clearly labelled with the customer’s name, address and destination station.
Animals which cause a nuisance to other passengers may be refused entry to or removed from trains or stations by railway staff, including when changing trains at interchange stations
On
First Great Western Night Riviera sleeper services, only assistance dogs may travel in Sleeping cabins; other pets must be conveyed in the guard’s accommodation in a suitable pet carrier.
On
Caledonian Sleeper services, pets are only permitted in berths when the owner has exclusive use of the cabin. There is an £80 cleaning charge levied (except for guide/hearing dogs), and the animals must be booked at least by 4pm 2 days prior to travel, and you will be issued with a letter of authorisation. If pets are added to an original booking, a £10 administration fee may apply. Pets are not permitted in the seated coach on this service.
4.7.2 Luggage
In addition to the luggage allowed under the NRCoT, you may take additional items for a fee of no more than £5 single or £10 return per item.
Below are amended extracts from
The Manual:
- Passenger accommodation in this context means the parts of trains with seats or sleeper berths including luggage stowage areas
above, beneath and behind seats and adjacent to doorways.
- A luggage van, in this context, means the part of some trains provided specially to convey parcels, packages, cycles and larger
items of Luggage.
In passenger accommodation:
- each additional item in excess of your free allowance (as defined in the NRCoC)
- any item with dimensions exceeding 90 x 70 x 30 cm and but no more than 100 x 100 x 100 cm and weighing no more than 50kg.
In the luggage van (if the train has one):
- Items of Luggage or Articles with maximum dimensions of 150 x 150 x 100 cm, weighing no more than 75 kg
- Skis, ski-boards and golf equipment
- Surfboards - only on First Great Western services on flows to Newquay, St. Ives, Penzance and Barnstaple, with ticket type SFB (£5), if space is available and subject to time restrictions.
Luggage and Articles conveyed in a luggage van must be clearly labelled with the passenger's name, address and destination station.
Items not carried
- Items of Luggage or Articles with dimensions exceeding 150 x 150 x 100 cm or with a weight exceeding 75kg
- Surfboards
- Canoes and Sailboards
- Motorcycles, mopeds & motor scooters
- Dangerous goods – inflammable liquids, explosives, guns
- Furniture
Other reasons luggage may be refused
A Train Company may refuse to accept Luggage or Articles in passenger accommodation if any of the following apply, either at the start of a journey or when changing trains:
- the item would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors
- it may cause injury, inconvenience or a nuisance or it may cause damage to property
- there is not enough room for it
- the loading or unloading may cause delay to trains
- it is not carried or packaged in a suitable manner.
- in the opinion of the Train Company’s staff, the item is only suitable to be conveyed in a luggage van.
4.7.3 Lost Property
Lost property must be handed in to rail staff or the
BTP if found, who will issue a receipt. The station or train operator will then attempt to contact the owner, who may collect the property from the appropriate Lost Property Office or pay the cost of the property being sent by normal Post Office services.
Operators can levy a charge for retrieval of lost property, as well as a storage charge per 24-hour period. Retrieval fees are caps at different rates depending on the item. Maximum charges vary from £2 for umbrellas, gloves etc to £20 for laptops and video cameras. Total charges, including storage, must not exceed £5 for umbrellas, gloves etc though to £25 for laptops etc. If any item of lot property is or contains cash, 10% of the amount found, capped at £10 charged by the operator as an administration fee.