Day 8: Bikes on trains😡
I'm writing this sitting next to Freya and Olly on the train, seeing Fife from a different perspective. I'm raging inside. I did wonder if we'd have difficulties getting our bikes on the train, and, sure enough, we did.
We stayed in student accommodation last night, and cycled to the train station escorted by Philine this morning, to get the only train we'd been able to book two bikes on this weekend (weeks ago), thereby missing out on a bit of time in Edinburgh.
Philine was allowed onto the platform to help us, and when we found the conductor he told us there were already two bikes on the train, so we couldn't get on.
I explained our situation, I showed him the printed email from Scotrail customer relations (one of a long trail of emails I'd had to send in organising this one, simple thing). I explained our journey and it's purpose. He sent and spoke to the couple who had put their bikes on the train. It turns out they'd been told by Scotrail just to show up with their bikes and if there was space they could get on. And the conductor didn't have a note of our booking, so he'd let them on. Clearly, the reason they'd been told just to show up was because all the trains were booked up for bikes. They had to get off, which put them in a very frustrating situation of having to wait around for a train they could put their bikes on. The conductor was put in a very difficult situation of having to do this and having to have discussions with frustrated and upset people about lack of bike space. And these are apparently newly commissioned carriages!
This is the space for bikes on these new carriages:
And here's most of the rest of our stuff:
Managed to stow most of it away in the appropriate places, and I took the front wheel and mudguard off Olly's bike to make it fit a bit better.
And we were waved off by Philine..
And got comfy for the journey..
There will be a few emails written following this. How on earth can we move to a sustainable future if this part of travel isn't sorted out for people. There need to be guard's carriages on all trains. People need the reassurance that they can get their bikes on the train. And it needs to be sorted out quickly.
Kristina
Hi Kristina. Superb blog thank you. Enjoyed reading a lot. Well done to you all. As keen leisure and commuter cyclists in Inverness, my wife Lizzie and I share similar huge passion for traveling by bike plus with out child from the word go. Absolutely thrilled to see what you have all done- huge congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI'm a rail enthusiast myself, travel regularly bike on train & share the same immense frustration of the current Inverness- Edinburgh new refurbished carriages on the High Speed Trains (HSTs) only having 2 small bike spaces in an inadequate cupboard on 4 coach train, when for 40 years those trains have carried 6-10+ bikes per train in the power cars either end. Essentially currently Abellio running Scotrail have the worst bike provision ever on the Inverness- Central belt route. I've previously written to Scotrail and local MPs but then covid came alone and it all went quiet because noone used trains. Now the issue is hugely important and something has to be done. There is huge opportunity next year with re-nationalisation of the franchise but political pressure is hugely important too.
Scotrail have this week on the Glasgow to Oban line started the best news for cyclists for years with an extra 'Highland explorer' coach with 20 bike spaces on (for trailers and tandems too!)- only on 2 services a day but still amazing- imagine if such a coach was put on Inverness- Central belt, it is just what we need. However the current rolling stock prevents this being easy.
I am really keen to raise more pressure politically and via Scotrail for the bike provision and keep pressure on as it has to change, currently hoards of cyclists daily are prevented from using the trains because they can't get bike on. There is huge demand and when compared to the continent, it us so frustrating why we're in this position. Really look forward to being able to raise a united voice on the issue and your trip to Holyrood is absolutely fantastic. Again well done
Duncan and Lizzie, Inverness
Thank you so much for your comments, Duncan. I feel really fired up by the bikes on trains issue. I'm planning to send a follow up email to Liam Kerr, he's also a rail enthusiast, and managed to persuade bus companies in Aberdeen to take small bikes on buses, and he's on the Net zero, energy and transport committee. You seem to have a lot of knowledge on the bikes on trains issue, would be keen to chat to you about it - what would be the best way to contact you?
ReplyDeleteHi Kristina, sorry for delay in reply, I was involved in a serious bike accident and have been in recovery mode. It would be great to speak regarding above. Email probably best - my email is db5244@my.bristol.ac.uk or do let me know if phone works better.
DeleteMany thanks
Duncan