Woo - Woo, I LIke trains, Me!

[Pedaldog.]

Hard to figure out whether this is Knowledge or folders fodder but....

Iff'n I were to take a folded bike on the train with me, what is the state of play regarding it being Luggage as it's folded. Would it need to be covered or what?
It's a Dahon speed TR and it doesn't fold anywhere near as small as a brompton.

[mike]

I'm pretty sure you can just fold it up and take it on any train - that's what seems to happen round here anyway.  Not terribly popular when the train is packed.

[rogerzilla]

Some operators require the bike is covered, but in practice few people bother.  On a Brompton the chain won't touch anyone's clothes or the seats anyway, because it's inside the folded package.

[Pedaldog.]

The Dahon has the 3 X 7 gears so there is a nice oily rear mech' knocking about!
Would a totally lightweight (ripstop nylon) cover just to keep dirt off other peoples luggage be accepted?

[Palinurus]

When I had an Airnimal I'd take it on the train folded and hope it wasn't too busy. I kept a bin liner and some electrical tape in my pannier in case anyone insisted it was covered. No-one ever did.

[Pedaldog.]

I like the idea of bodge when necessary! Thanks for that idea!

[rower40]

In 10+ years of Brompton ownership, I've never had a problem on any train.  But the Isle of Wight Hydrofoil from Southampton to Cowes asked me to cover it up - and I'd left the cover back home in Derby.  Ooops.  So the next day, when I returned to the mainland, I took the (slow) vehicle ferry rather than the (fast) pedestrian one.