Last winter before retirement I had a cold I could not shift (one of my reasons for retiring). Given that I am likely to get bronchial infections I decided to commute by train and bike for a few weeks that winter.
Problems
1. We, the regular commuters from Cardiff westward, were warned a year earlier by a friendly guard that from next week bicycle reservations are required. So the next day we all had reservations and another guard told us Well done. Then the bike reservations were never checked again so we stopped annoying the ticketing staff. Until one day shortly before the first class 800 turned up only two of us were waiting a hst turned up. Surprisingly no bicycles were taken off the train, it would normally be a full load. A jobsworth guard demands we have reservation and refuses to let our bikes on to the empty bike storage area.
2. The ticketing changes we start getting reservations with carriage assignments b00, b99, h00, or h99. HSTs were still turning up. The first class 800 turns up we find our place and encounter the bike hangers in the cupboard. I find it easy to put my bike in. A small lady cyclist was not strong enough to put her bike onto the top hook so I helped. A friend with a mountain bike initially had problems but he developed some advanced twisting technique and had not more problems. It was always awkward for me because I have slightly wide flat handlebars on my commuting bike.
3. Over the next few weeks we were occasionally treated to a light display by the seat reservations flashing different colours. Then one morning I get on and to my amazement the on train reservation systems was fully working. The bike box said "Reserved to Bridgend". As I got off the bike box said not reserved, I was impressed. The next day I go to to get my new ticket. There is no carriage number on the bike reservation. I am not impressed. At Cardiff the regular westward bound commuters spread our selves out and it mostly works. Irregular cycle travellers have not got a clue where to go. They usually ended up following one of us. So too many want to get on at the same place.
4. There are two few reservations available. GWR decided only to offer 4 places on an a double five set. In coach b at the c end and coach h at the j end. We all know that there are 4 cabinets for bikes. Either side but not the central coach. So one Saturday I go to get reservations from Jane at Radyr station, and I am told that there are no reservations left for that train. So that morning instead of catching my usual train in I ride into town and get on the slightly earlier ATW service (no reservation needed). There were a couple of cyclist already on the train. The guard comes to inspect the tickets and they show him their reservation for the train I would normally used. He said the reservation were not needed on ATW services. I thought about killing them. The next day I tell a fellow regular commuter. She says she was the only one yesterday there was room everywhere.
5. As mentioned above the enclosing cabinets make it very hard for slightly unusual bikes. One morning I got on and there was an e-bike with panniers still attached. No way I could put my bike in next to it. When the guard came I showed that I had a reservation. He comments that he has not found the owner of that thing who does not have a reservation because only one person had a reservation this morning (me).
6. There are no indications outside the carriage to indicate that there is a possibility of bike storage. One evening when travelling without my bike, imagine that. I had to redirect a cyclist who thought there would be bike storage near every door.
7. The cabinets must go, The bike hooks would be much easier with out the inside wall. The class 158 trains used to have a thin lockable compartment for parcels that was reused as a bike slot. Allegedly for two bikes but one was awkward. The wall was removed and it became easy to fit two bicycles. In fact it was quite normal from bridgend to cardiff at 5:32 ?? for there to be four bikes there without obstructing the gang way. I have seen twice as many but that upsets the guard because the gangways must be kept clear.