SWT cycle policy

[Charlie2555]

Does anyone know if it costs any money to reserve a place for bicycles on South West Trains services? The route I would take is the Waterloo to Exeter line. According to their website, "If you are travelling on our London Waterloo to Salisbury/Exeter/Bristol services you will need to reserve a space for your cycle"

I would probably go from Gillingham to Basingstoke. The trains are the three car Class 159 DMUs. Where do I put my bike on these trains and is it necessary to secure it?

Thanks very much for your help
Charlie

 

[wintonian]

Does anyone know if it costs any money to reserve a place for bicycles on South West Trains services? The route I would take is the Waterloo to Exeter line. According to their website, "If you are travelling on our London Waterloo to Salisbury/Exeter/Bristol services you will need to reserve a space for your cycle"

I would probably go from Gillingham to Basingstoke. The trains are the three car Class 159 DMUs. Where do I put my bike on these trains and is it necessary to secure it?

Thanks very much for your help
Charlie

There is no cost for reservations.

Trains on which cycles are barred from (AM & PM peaks to/ from Waterloo) are shown in the timetables.

You cycle will go in the coach with the bicycle symbol on the doors exterior (I can't remember which one it is)

If it is necessary to secure it then there will be straps and instructions on how to do so, you should not (I seem to recall) however use any lock on your bicycle.

As additional info:

Cycle Policy

Where possible we welcome cyclists on our trains, but we run a busy service and space for cycles is limited. For the safety and comfort of all our passengers we have restrictions on when and where cycles can be carried.

If you have a small folding cycle you can bring it on any of our trains, provided there is space for it to be safely stowed and it doesn't cause an obstruction.

Peak time travel restrictions apply from Monday to Friday at stations shown on the cycle restrictions map. Please use our downloadable timetables for details of which trains have restrictions.

In the area bounded by London Waterloo, Reading, Hook, Alton, Guildford and Dorking, cycles may not join or leave trains due to arrive at London Waterloo between 0715 and 1000 inclusive, or which leave London Waterloo between 1645 and 1900 inclusive.

At stations between Clapham Junction and Feltham / Strawberry Hill, cycles may also not join or leave trains which are due to leave Clapham Junction between 0745 and 0900.

If you are travelling on our London Waterloo to Salisbury/Exeter/Bristol services you will need to reserve a space for your cycle. You can reserve a cycle space at any staffed station or through our Customer Service Centre. Please book at least 24 hours in advance of travel.

Cycles may be carried at any time to and from most stations on the Guildford - Ascot line. Please see the cycle restrictions map.



At stations outside the restricted area, cycles can be taken on peak services where space permits. These services can be extremely busy and we ask that consideration is given to other passengers when taking cycles on these trains.

Even when there is no restriction, we cannot guarantee to accept cycles and spaces are allocated on a 'first come - first served' basis. Our staff have the right to refuse a cycle if there is not space for it to be safely carried.

SWT

 

[vikingdriver]

It goes in the London end of the country end coach (if that makes sense and providing the unit is the right way round!). Two spaces per unit.

 

[wintonian]

It goes in the London end of the country end coach (if that makes sense and providing the unit is the right way round!). Two spaces per unit.

In layman's terms thats the front of the last coach (or the rear of the first coach).

Of course if you have a 6 or 9 car 159 then there are many possibilitys.

 

[vikingdriver]

In layman's terms thats the front of the last coach (or the rear of the first coach).

Of course if you have a 6 or 9 car 159 then there are many possibilitys.

Or even a 10 car combo of 158/159s with bits backwards, forwards, probably even sideways!

 

[wintonian]

Or even a 10 car combo of 158/159s with bits backwards, forwards, probably even sideways!

If any of it does arrive sideways then it will probably be quicker to cycle and be several hours before the next one!

 

[krus_aragon]

If it is necessary to secure it then there will be straps and instructions on how to do so, you should not (I seem to recall) however use any lock on your bicycle.

My interpretation of the bike locking issue (in the general case, not SWT-specific):

Don't lock your bike to the train. You can lock your bike to itself, to shackle a wheel so it can't be ridden (as a deterrant to theft). Above all staff don't want to have to take a hacksaw to a train to remove a forgotten bicycle at the end of the day.

 

[AlexS]

If you lock your bike to a train or anywhere on a station where it's not permitted to be locked to (IE a lamppost, sign or similar) then you should be prepared to find your lock has been broken with a set of bolt-cutters or similar by a member of staff as it can be necessary to move bikes around at times. The only place on the railway you should lock your bike to is a station cycle rack. This particularly refers to any halfwits that for some stupid reason put their bikes in the walkway into the train office in the cage area of a HST then lock it up, blocking the emergency exit from the carriage, when there is ample space inside the cage itself.

 

[D2022]

Or even a 10 car combo of 158/159s with bits backwards, forwards, probably even sideways!

You forgot upside down and inside out.

 

[brianthegiant]

Charlie,

Gillingham to Basingstoke is a 1 hour journey with 3 intermediate calling points, so it would be a good idea to reserve for your bike if you can.
If you miss the train you reserved for, on a subsequent train if there aren't bikes already reserved then you would generally be able to get your bike in on a 1st come first served basis, at the discretion of the train manager. Some managers observe the rules on maximum number of bikes more leniently than others and depending how busy the train is.

Helps to sit near your bike, in case it needs shufflling as other cyclists get on or off, etc.

I agree with others that locking bikes on train is a bit of a nuisance, also as bikes often need to shuffled a bit to get other bikes on, or for trolleys to pass if there is one.

If you encounter issues on this route with cycles or want local tips I would encourage you to get in touch with your local cycling group of there is one or the ctc if there isn't, either will likely be in communication with SWT re provision for cycles.
www.cyclenation.org.uk/groups/groups.php#region9