Bike travel back to Brum

Eight of us are cycling from Birmingham to London along the canal towpath over the weekend of 1-3rd July to raise a bit of money for charity. We were intending to travel back as a group to Brum from London by train. Unfortunately it seems Virgin will only book 4 bikes on any train, which I find surprising. Are there any other operators or options involving trains that we could use to get us all back in a single group?

Would there be any benefit in taking the underground to somewhere we could get all the bikes on a train?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Virgin do indeed have only four spaces for cycles, But neither London Midland (Euston - New St) nor Chiltern (Marylebone - Moor St/Snow Hill) specify any limit on numbers, nor do they require reservations. I would check with the operator to be on the safe side, but either may suit you.

If you can find a LM service that is diagrammed for 8 or, even better, 12 cars, then you will all be accommodated on the same train (but avoid peak times!). Though it would, of course, be quicker for 4 of you to get a Virgin train and the other 4 to follow 20 minutes later.

Also on a Virgin Train the bikes are safely stowed away in a special compartment. On London Midland or Chiltern, you would need to keep an eye on the bikes.

Someone with local knowledge or access to TRUST would be able to find out which LM trains from Euston are diagrammed for 8 or 12 cars. There probably aren't many that run as 8 or 12 cars all the way to Birmingham though, as splitting the train at Northampton is not uncommon.
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Another thought: I wonder how many you can get in the DVT on a Chiltern loco-hauled train? That would be a far better option than LM, quicker and more comfortable. I reckon they have space for 8, but whether they allow 8 or not is questionable.

yorkie said:

Another thought: I wonder how many you can get in the DVT on a Chiltern loco-hauled train? That would be a far better option than LM, quicker and more comfortable. I reckon they have space for 8, but whether they allow 8 or not is questionable.

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Cripes, there's room for about 88 bikes in a DVT. 8 should be fine I'd have thought on a Chiltern locohauled. I'd check with their Customer Relations folk just to be sure, but my guess is the guard would be fine with it.

yorkie said:

Someone with local knowledge or access to TRUST would be able to find out which LM trains from Euston are diagrammed for 8 or 12 cars. There probably aren't many that run as 8 or 12 cars all the way to Birmingham though, as splitting the train at Rugby is not uncommon.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they split at Northampton. I know that the 12 car rush-hour train I was on out of Euston a couple of months ago left 8 cars at Northampton.

To the OP: I'm sure you'll find one of the more enlightened TOCs (Chiltern?) will be accommodating, if you tell them that you will have been on a charity run.

Ferret said:

Cripes, there's room for about 88 bikes in a DVT. 8 should be fine I'd have thought on a Chiltern locohauled. I'd check with their Customer Relations folk just to be sure, but my guess is the guard would be fine with it.

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Whilst there may be (physical) room for large numbers of bikes in a DVT, I believe the maximum number that can be safely secured is four

Cheers,

Barry

barrykas said:

Whilst there may be (physical) room for large numbers of bikes in a DVT, I believe the maximum number that can be safely secured is four

Cheers,

Barry

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That surprises me Barry! Have they put an FGW style rack in there then now?

Chiltern seem pretty PR savvy- it must worth an inquiry to find out if they're able to make special arrangements.

Railjet said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they split at Northampton. I know that the 12 car rush-hour train I was on out of Euston a couple of months ago left 8 cars at Northampton.

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I don't know why I typed Rugby. I meant Northampton! Of course, they deviate from the route at Rugby, that's perhaps why I typed Rugby without thinking.

Ferret said:

That surprises me Barry! Have they put an FGW style rack in there then now?

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Nope. It's a pair of stands that pull out from the wall at around a 45 degree angle, with the bikes lashed to them with webbing "belts". Can't find an interior picture to demonstrate, sadly.

Cheers,

Barry

yorkie said:

Someone with local knowledge or access to TRUST would be able to find out which LM trains from Euston are diagrammed for 8 or 12 cars. There probably aren't many that run as 8 or 12 cars all the way to Birmingham though, as splitting the train at Rugby is not uncommon.

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I don't believe any LM services at all arrive with 8 cars at New Street. There simply isn't the platform space as I think they would have to take up both a and b platforms. When you factor in the number of Pendolinos and the odd HST and double Voyager that use the station, there just ain't the room.
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OP - it may be worth reading this:

http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/travelling-with-us/taking-your-bike

I don't think Chiltern will allow more than four bikes in a DVT. It won't hurt to ask though!

Railjet said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they split at Northampton. I know that the 12 car rush-hour train I was on out of Euston a couple of months ago left 8 cars at Northampton.

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AlterEgo said:

I don't believe any LM services at all arrive with 8 cars at New Street.

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I have yet to see a Desiro formed of more than 4 coaches on LM beyond Northampton on either the New Street or Trent Valley runs. They might exist in the morning peak, however I have not seen them during the evening rush hour. Most of the times the extra coaches only go as far as Northampton.