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Cycling by Train

Introduction

The following information gives an insight into train company policy regarding bicycles. The list is not comprehensive and train enquiries can be made to the National Rail Enquiry Service on 08457 48 49 50. Cycles are carried on the trains of all train companies operating on the National Rail Network but each company has its own policy about taking cycles on their trains.

Anglia Railways

Tel: 01473 693333

London Liverpool Street - Norwich & Harwich International and local services in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire

Anglia Railways welcomes cycles on all local and mainline services. Up to four cycles accepted on local trains and six on mainline trains. The flat fare is £1 per single or return journey on local trains and for journeys between Colchester and Norwich. Although it is advisable to reserve a space in advance (reservations are free), it is possible to turn up and travel with your cycle subject to space being available. Ticket holders receive the benefit of the unique Anglia-ETA cycle recovery scheme - if your cycle breaks down or is stolen in the Anglia area you will be recovered and taken to the nearest train station. On mainline services between Norwich/Harwich and London, the cycle carriage fee is £3 per single journey (reservation essential).

Arriva Trains Merseyside

Tel: 0151 702 2071

Local services around Liverpool.

Cycles are carried free of charge at any time, space permitting.

Arriva Trains Northern

Tel: 0870 602 3322

Transpennine Express trains across the North and local trains in Yorkshire and the North East.

Most Arriva Trains Northern services have space for two bicycles. On Transpennine Express and Leeds -Settle route, reservations are strongly recommended; reservations are free to customers. On other routes, reservations are not required and bike space is allocated on a first come first served basis. On the following routes, bikes cannot be carried during peak hours (07.00 - 09.00 and 16.00 - 18.00 hours): Hexham - Sunderland, Darlington - Saltburn, Leeds - Harrogate -York, Beverley - Hull, Hull - York, and Hull - Gilberdyke.

c2c

Tel: 01702 357640

London Fenchurch Street - Southend Central and Shoeburyness

We welcome bicycles free of charge on services where they can be accommodated safely. Bicycles are not permitted on weekday services that arrive in London between 07.20 and 09.30 or leave London betwen 16.30 and 18.40 (some exceptions apply). If you plan to travel with a group of three or more cycles, please contact our Helpline on 01702 357 640.

Central Trains

Tel: 0121 654 1200

Most local and long distance services in Central England and Wales.

Central Trains welcomes customers with bicycles on all local and long distance services. Bicycles are carried free but long distance trains have only two cycle spaces, so advance reservation (costing £3) is essential. Long distance services are:

• Liverpool - Nottingham - Norwich
• Birmingham - Telford - Shrewsbury - Aberystwyth
• Liverpool - Birmingham -Peterborough - Stansted Airport
• Nottingham - Birmingham - Cardiff

Chiltern Railways

Tel: 08705 165 165

London Marylebone - Aylesbury & Birmingham Snow Hill

Passengers with bicycles are welcome on Chiltern railways but we are unable to accommodate bicycles at our busiest times. Bicycles are carried free and without reservation.

Connex

Tel: 0870 6030405

London - South East England

Cycles are carried free on all services except those times to arrive in London between 07.00 - 10.00 or depart 16.00 - 19.00 Monday to Friday.

First Great Eastern

Tel: 08459 505000

London Liverpool Street - Southend, Colchester and Ipswich.

Welcome bicycles free of charge on services where they can be accommodated safely. Monday to Friday, unable to accept bicycles arriving or departing London at peak times, although there may be exceptions where older rolling stock is used, allowing cycles to be carried in the guard's compartment.

First Great Western

Tel: 08457 000125

London Paddington - Bristol, South Wales, the Cotswolds and the West.

Advance reservations are required at £1 per single journey. If booking later than two hours before the train leaves its starting point, the fee is £3 per single journey, space permitting. Up to six bicycles can be accommodated in Coach 'A' of all trains On Bristol - Bath - Oxford - Bicester services, there is no booking requirement and no cycle carriage fee.

First North Western

Tel: 0870 241 2305

North West England and North Wales.

Local services: 
Cycles are carried free of charge on all services at the discretion of the conduvctiopr (especially at peak times) but space is ;limited to two cycles per train on first come, first served basis. Groups of three or more must phone to enquire about availability.

Longer distance services:
Reservations are essential on most services, including Birmingham to North Wales. Reservations can be made at certain ticket offices or call the cycle reservations line 0845 60 40 231. There is a maximum of two cycles per train.

Great North Eastern 
Railway

Tel: 08457 225 225

London King's Cross - Yorkshire - North East England - Scotland.

Bicycles are carried free of charge. Advance reservations are essential. Spaces, which are subject to availability, should be reserved at least 24 hours before departure. Maximum of five cycles per train.

Hull Trains

Tel: 01482 215745

London King's Cross - Grantham, Doncaster, Selby, Brough and Hull.

Welcome cycles on all trains. Although it is advisable to reserve a space in advance - reservations are free - it is possible to turn up and travel with your bike subject to space being available.

Midland Mainline

Tel. 08457 125 678

London St Pancras - East Midlands - South Yorkshire (including Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield).

Cycle carriage is available on all High Speed trains with an advance reservation and payment of £3 for a single journey. Each High Speed Train has space for up to four bicycles. Turbostar Trains have space for up to two bicycles. It is not possible to make advance reservations for bicycles on Turbostar Trains and spaces are only available on off-peak services. A charge of £3 is made on Turbostar Trains.

ScotRail

Tel: 0141 332 9811

Most services in Scotland, and London Euston - Scotland Sleepers.

Bicycles are carried free on all ScotRail services, but space is limited (ScotRail aim to provide between two and six spaces per train), so free reservations are essential on long-distance trains to Inverness, Aberdeen, Stranraer, the West Highlands and Far North. The London to Scotland 'Caledonian Sleeper' carries up to six bikes, but space must be reserved in advance. A special road vehicle will carry bikes between Inverness and Wick/Thurso from late May to late September.

South West Trains

Tel: 023 8021 3600

London Waterloo - South West London and South West England

Bicycles are welcome on many South West Trains' services. Usually there is no charge and no need to book in advance. However, there are some exceptions. Space is limited on trains between London Waterloo, Salisbury and Exeter; between Reading and Brighton; and on some Waterloo to Southampton trains. Reservations at a charge of £3 per single journey apply on these trains.

Thames Trains

Tel: 0118 908 3678

London Paddington - Reading, Oxford, Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Generally, bicycles are allowed on Thames Trains services free of charge if there is room for them. However, on Mondays to Fridays, bicycles may not be carried on trains advertised to arrive at and depart from London Paddington at certain peak times.

Virgin Trains

Tel: 08457 222 333

CrossCountry: Scotland - North - Midlands - South & South West England

Carry up to four bikes, with some services carrying up to ten. A £3 advance reservation is required for each single journey. Some exceptions apply.

West Coast: London Euston - West Midlands - North Wales - North West England and Scotland.

West Coast services carry up to four bikes, with a £3 advance reservation required for each single journey.

Wales & West

Tel: 0870 9000 766

Local services in the West of England & Wales, plus Alphaline services from Cardiff to Holyhead, Manchester, Birmingham, Portsmouth, London Waterloo and the West of England.

Most long distance and Alphaline services carry two bicycles, with a £1 (booked at least two hours in advance) or £3 reservation fee. On local services, bicycles normally travel free without booking, although restrictions apply at peak periods.

West Anglia Great Northern Railway.

Tel: 08457 818919

London - Cambridge, Chingford, Enfield, Hertford, Kings Lynn, Peterborough, Stansted Airport, Stevenage & Welwyn Garden City.

Bicycles are welcome free of charge where they can be accommodated safely, but exceptions, which are mainly peak period travel, apply.