Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Tandems => Topic started by: Chris S on 16 July, 2009, 05:53:55 pm

Title: Trains without cycle facilities
Post by: Chris S on 16 July, 2009, 05:53:55 pm
Has anyone succeeded in carrying a tandem on a train that only has door vestabules - and no cycle facilities, such as those used between Cambridge and Kings Lynn?

I want to try and get Mrs S onto Reg's ride in August - but doubt she'll manage the whole 50 miles to Lynn, so need a duck-out plan to rail. I fear the wrath of First Capital Connect will be swift and jobs-worth if we try and get a tandem on one of those trains :(
Title: Re: Trains without cycle facilities
Post by: rogerzilla on 16 July, 2009, 05:55:32 pm
It was bad enough with a solo when I did it in 2007 from King's Lynn to London.
Title: Re: Trains without cycle facilities
Post by: HTFB on 16 July, 2009, 08:06:51 pm
It is fine on the Southeastern trains, which are the same rolling stock. We can get the tandem on and off without trouble; on each side of the door there are two rows of only four seats with a wider part of the aisle in the middle, and I lean the tandem against these with the front wheel sticking into the vestibule area.

Their policy (http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/Main.php?iCmsPageId=262) looks promising, since it doesn't mention tandems at all. Southeastern just don't recognise tandems as a separate problem, and are admirably pragmatic.
Title: Re: Trains without cycle facilities
Post by: Butterfly on 16 July, 2009, 10:11:36 pm
We've taken tandems on a couple of different trains where we were in the doorways, including a very busy Sunday train coming back from the tandem ride to Windsor, which Zipperhead was also on.  Not had any problems, although whichever side you put it to, to allow passengers on, they always want to go the other way ::-) :).