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Cycling, Rail transport, Transport, UK news - November 4, 2019

Do rail companies need to change their bike policies?

While vertical storage is an effective use of space, it deters cyclists from using trains

Do you ever get the feeling you’re not wanted?

I recently took a trip to Sheffield from my home in York. My plan was to travel by train and cycle at each end.

We're on the way to the #CycleontheSenedd, going from Reading to Cardiff...and are having "fun" with the new #GWR cycle spaces, as our bike won't fit their hooks when there are two. Spot the difference between how @GWRHelp cater for cycle carriage and how it's done elsewhere... pic.twitter.com/jYcsz43oqs

Hi @CrossCountryUK - because your bike spaces are too narrow, this person has been obliged to take up a space meant for two bikes and block one of the doors. Since it’s an ebike it’s probably far too heavy to lift up to the hook, even if the bars did fit into the space. pic.twitter.com/oJfiZVw6IG

There’s literally no point in reserving bike places on @GWRHelp - people get on without them, then with the two actual reservations, you can’t both fit in to the incorrectly lit spaces While navigating all the ‘unreserved’ bikes and prams pic.twitter.com/hpkKW93DGC

This was my 29" wheel MTB with panniers squeezed in to a GWR from Newbury to Reading last Monday. TBH I didn't bother trying to hook up my front wheel. Ticket inspectors passed a couple of times and didn't question the rear sticking out. I did not reserve. pic.twitter.com/64YpIE92qD

As more and more people choose rail as their preferred mode of transport, managing the finite interior space on trains becomes even more important to support all types of customer. This increase in demand for seats and luggage means vertical bike storage offers the best solution for the limited space we have available. We introduced vertical storage on our trains over 10 years ago and this is now common on Britain’s railways, including on the latest high speed long-distance trains currently being introduced with other train operators.

Ensuring our services are inclusive for all our customers, including cyclists, is something we keep under constant review. However, with only 12 months remaining, there is no opportunity to change the design of cycling provision in our current franchise. Although not a huge issue in terms of customer feedback, with only 13 contacts regarding the storage of cycles over the past year, we would be happy to raise this in our ongoing dialogue with the Department for Transport on options for the future of CrossCountry.

We recognise that some customers preferred the storage for bikes in the separate guard’s van on our older trains. However, we had to find space for cycles on the train, while improving space for customers and luggage without cycles. The guard’s van was not ideal either – it meant cyclists had to walk to the very end or very front of the train to store their bikes, go and find their seat and then head all the way back when they wanted to depart.

It also meant an added risk of delay as it could be difficult for customers to get to the end of the train within the scheduled times. The guard’s van also took up the space of about 80 standard class seats on every train – an important consideration given the increasing passenger numbers on the rail network.

Listening to customer feedback, at GWR we do however accept that in practice there have been occasions when the dedicated cycle space is used by other customers to store their luggage, and we are working with Hitachi to further improve onboard signage.

As we introduce new Azuma trains across our network, collecting feedback from our customers is as important as ever. LNER is currently gathering feedback from customers travelling with bikes to help us understand how we can make improvements. We’ll be reviewing this with our engineering team to identify where improvements can be made. Any customers who require extra help as part of their journey with us can book assistance on the LNER website.

Scrapped HS2 bike path 'five times better value than HS2 itself'

Campaigners argue that the business case for the project was a ‘no-brainer’

A scrapped “emerald necklace” cycleway up the spine of the country alongside HS2 would have delivered a return on investment of up to five times greater than the rail project itself, an FoI request has revealed – but neither the government nor HS2 Ltd will fund it.

A 50-page report outlining the business case for the national cycleway, obtained by the Guardian, reveals health, congestion and economic benefits of between £3 and £8 per £1 spent. The return on investment of HS2 itself, meanwhile, is just £1.5-£1.7 per £1, according to the National Audit Office. Campaigners say completing the cycleway should have been a “no-brainer”.

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Do rail companies need to change their bike policies?

Scrapped HS2 bike path 'five times better value than HS2 itself'

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