luggage?

[saj]

hi everyone, before i ask my question i'd like to say thanks for all your kind advice the last time i posted here, it was very much appreciated ....just a quick update me and my baby traveled home on the cross counrty train, we had a great journey, my only grumble about traveling on the cross coutry trains(from scotland to wales) is that there is no buffet cart... but that's a whole other thread lol..... i'm babbling so i'll get straight to it and my apologies if this may seem a dumb question but i have googled the net and i cant find any information on it at all, so here i am hoping some kind reader will reply to me ....


my question is can i send luggage on the train in advance of my journey? i am about to move to scotland and i would like to send all my luggage up ahead of me so i can hopefully have a stress free journey, it's no fun traveling with a 9 month old baby and a whole load of luggage lol i'll be traveling from swansea to dundee... first i get on the great western service then one change at bristol parkway to dundee on the cross county service.

i think i've coverd everythig .

 

[causton]

You may want to consider a service such as http://www.sendmybag.com

 

[First class]

You also need to bear in mind that the railway has a scale of charges for taking luggage on the train. Basically 3 reasonable size bags for free, then £5 per extra bag, so long as those extra bags do not exceed the dimensions or are not on the list of banned items, e.g. furniture.

Items conveyed for free

In passenger accommodation:

2x items of Luggage or Articles with maximum dimensions of 90 x 70 x 30 cm and a weight not exceeding 50kg.
1x additional items of Luggage or Articles with maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20 cm and a weight not exceeding 50kg

Items conveyed for a fee

Fee not exceeding half the adult fare for the journey subject to a maximum charge of £5.00 single or £10.00 return:

In passenger accommodation:

each additional item in excess of a passenger’s free allowance
any item with dimensions exceeding 90 x 70 x 30 cm and with maximum dimensions of 100 x 100 x 100 cm and a weight not exceeding 50kg.
Musical instruments with dimensions not exceeding 100 x 100 x 100 cm and the weight not exceeding 50kg

Items not carried

Items of Luggage or Articles with dimensions exceeding 150 x 150 x 100 cm or with a weight exceeding 75kg
Surfboards except on First Great Western High Speed Services for a fee applies not exceeding half the adult fare for each Surfboard subject to the maximum charge maximum charge of £5.00 single or £10.00 return.

1) Canoes and Sailboards
2) Motorcycles, mopeds & motor scooters
3) Dangerous goods – inflammable liquids, explosives
4) Unloaded Guns (although may be subject to individual Train Company dispensation)
5) Loaded guns
6) Furniture

Items that can be refused

A Train Company may refuse to accept Luggage or Articles in passenger accommodation if any of the following apply:

1) the dimensions of the item exceed 100 x 100 x 100 cm; or
2) the item would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors;
3) it may cause injury, inconvenience or a nuisance or it may cause damage to property;
4)there is not enough room for it;
5)the loading or unloading may cause delay to trains; or
6) it is not carried or packaged in a suitable manner.
7)in the opinion of the Train Company’s staff, the item is only suitable to be conveyed in a luggage van.

Any Train Company’s staff may refuse to accept an item of luggage, an article, an animal or a cycle even if it has been conveyed by train in the past. This Condition applies from the start of the journey and also if a change of train is needed.

 

[saj]

You also need to bear in mind that the railway has a scale of charges for taking luggage on the train. Basically 3 reasonable size bags for free, then £5 per extra bag, so long as those extra bags do not exceed the dimensions or are not on the list of banned items, e.g. furniture.

i understand that, but it doesnt really answer my question.... if i take my luggage to the train station, can i hand over my suit cases and have them taken to another station where someone will be there to pick them up? obviously i expect there to be a fee, but i dont know if that's possible, i was told by a friend that they sent up i bicycle up by train but that is going back a few years and wernt sure if it's still possible now.
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You may want to consider a service such as http://www.sendmybag.com

thanks i'll definitely look into this site, have you had any dealings with them?

 

[ainsworth74]

if i take my luggage to the train station, can i hand over my suit cases and have them taken to another station where someone will be there to pick them up?

Nope that sort of thing is not possible luggage is only conveyed normally if your with it at the same time I think your best bet will be to contact a company like causton suggested.

 

[causton]

thanks i'll definitely look into this site, have you had any dealings with them?

Haven't dealt with them personally but they were featured on a major student site I use, so I assume they are a reputable firm. As others say you can't take your luggage up beforehand unfortunately, so you could send i.e. a large bag up with the company I linked to (or similar) and take a couple of lighter small objects on the train

 

[saj]

Nope that sort of thing is not possible luggage is only conveyed normally if your with it at the same time I think your best bet will be to contact a company like causton suggested.

well that's cleared that up lol thanks ainsworth74
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Haven't dealt with them personally but they were featured on a major student site I use, so I assume they are a reputable firm. As others say you can't take your luggage up beforehand unfortunately, so you could send i.e. a large bag up with the company I linked to (or similar) and take a couple of lighter small objects on the train

thanks causton, looks like that's what i'll have to do

 

[Oswyntail]

Ah, I'm all nostalgic for the good old days, when you could take your trunk to your local station, and it would be delivered to your destination a day or so later. Of corse, there are no parcels vans running around now

 

[ainsworth74]

Ah, I'm all nostalgic for the good old days, when you could take your trunk to your local station, and it would be delivered to your destination a day or so later.

I never used such a service myself (what with not even being born when it existed and all ) but my mum once told me about how when she went on holiday with her parents they would load up a big trunk with most of what they needed and have it sent on in front of them so it would be at the station when they arrived. Such a service could be quite handy these days, but alas I doubt the finances would ever stack up.

 

[wintonian]

The service I beloved was operated by Red Star Parcels which were owned by British Rail, I also beloved it was a loss making buissness due to the increase of car use and hulage company's.

I'm sure someone will correct me if that's not right.

 

[Zoe]

Virgin were considering sending luggage by road a few years back for summer services to the Westcountry.

 

[Flamingo]

The company that First deal with is http://www.carrymyluggage.com/

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1872

Never had any dealings with them, though

 

[reb0118]

As a side issue. What's the script re excess baggage in the guards van? For example on EC Anglo-Scottish services or the Sleeper? As an example what should be paid for 10 large items (2 of which exceeded 1.5m in one dimension) and 10 small items inc two childrens car seats with various other assorted polly bags &c? Most fitted into the van however there was 3 overloaded luggage trollys. 2 adults and 2 (non ticket holding) infants travelling.

 

[Welshman]

Ah, I'm all nostalgic for the good old days, when you could take your trunk to your local station, and it would be delivered to your destination a day or so later. Of corse, there are no parcels vans running around now

That brings back memories of my student days!!
Dare I mention there also used to be the "British Road Services" where a green lorry would even collect and deliver to your door!

 

[Flamingo]

As a side issue. What's the script re excess baggage in the guards van? For example on EC Anglo-Scottish services or the Sleeper? As an example what should be paid for 10 large items (2 of which exceeded 1.5m in one dimension) and 10 small items inc two childrens car seats with various other assorted polly bags &c? Most fitted into the van however there was 3 overloaded luggage trollys. 2 adults and 2 (non ticket holding) infants travelling.

Plan ahead, get to the station in plenty of time, ask the platform staff where you need to go, if possible ring the day before to the TOC so the guard can be notified.

Basically, if it's going to delay the train by any significant amount, it ain't gonna happen, so be as organized as possible.

Don't do what the guy did last week, which was walk up to me at a station and say "Hold the train, I've got a lot of luggage to get in from my car". He walked away, I blew the whistle and went.

 

[island]

As a side issue. What's the script re excess baggage in the guards van? For example on EC Anglo-Scottish services or the Sleeper? As an example what should be paid for 10 large items (2 of which exceeded 1.5m in one dimension) and 10 small items inc two childrens car seats with various other assorted polly bags &c? Most fitted into the van however there was 3 overloaded luggage trollys. 2 adults and 2 (non ticket holding) infants travelling.

As I understand it, the cost per item is half the adult fare for the ticket type held to a maximum of £5 single/£10 return. Two large items and one small are permitted free of charge per ticketed passenger. Prams (folding or not) and carrycots are not counted. Items over 1m in any dimension cannot count as free items and must be paid for regardless.

So in this situation, the passengers are liable to pay for 6 large items and 6 small items (if you're charitable and count the car seats as carrycots), which will be £60.

As regards the logistical side, what Flamingo said!

 

[reb0118]

No, I was the guard on the sleeper the other day when this chap turned up with the 3 trollys with about 30 mins prior to departure. By the time we'd finished loading there was 5 mins to go. The Station Supervisor was livid. I charged the boy for 5 cases @ £5 ea which didn't seem too unreasonable. Just wondering if any exceptions apply to luggage that can fit in the van.

Once had a boy go ballistic 'cause he couldn't fit his table though a 156 door as the last time it was a 170 and he got it on no bot
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other. I wish all my trains had vans.