Its official - bikes are allowed on trains

Itsfixed

So if you're prevented from taking your bike on the train ("provided they are easy to handle and the rolling stock permits"), you can point to Irish Rail's passenger charter, which supposedly guarantees the right to do this.

From the Irish Times today:

MEPs agree rules to compensate rail users facing long delays

Jamie Smyth in Strasbourg

MEPs have agreed new rules guaranteeing rail passengers compensation if they face delays and the right to take their bicycles on to trains.

All cross-border rail services will also be opened to competition from January 1st, 2010, under a new European directive agreed yesterday.

MEPs voted in favour of the "third railway package" following more than two years of tough negotiations with officials from EU member states.

Under the new rules, passengers on cross-border trains in Europe will be entitled to 25 per cent compensation when they are delayed for an hour or more and 50 per cent compensation when a delay is two hours or more. There should also be easier access to rail transport for people with disabilities, with the directive recommending that companies put in place non-discriminatory access rules for wheelchair users.

Bicycle users should also benefit from a recommendation that bicycles should be welcome on trains, provided they are easy to handle and the rolling stock permits.

Barry Kenny, a spokesman for Iarnród Éireann, said the new measures should not have a major impact on the company because it had already introduced a passenger rights charter that guaranteed similar or higher levels of compensation for its customers.
© 2007 The Irish Times

Victor

Itsfixed wrote:

Barry Kenny, a spokesman for Iarnród Éireann, said the new measures should not have a major impact on the company because it had already introduced a passenger rights charter that guaranteed similar or higher levels of compensation for its customers.

And of course the new trains (3-car sets) being delivered can carry one bike each. Yes, one bike, better not try to go on a cycling tour down the country with friend(s).

Itsfixed

Victor wrote:

And of course the new trains (3-car sets) being delivered can carry one bike each. Yes, one bike, better not try to go on a cycling tour down the country with friend(s).

Really?! That's crap. How do you know this? Does it say this on their website?

Victor

No, they would never actually share useful information like that.

A friend worked on the Bord Failte cycling strategy.

Sample http://www.failteireland.ie/Word_files/developing_markets/Cycling-Strategy-Western-Region.aspx

kenmc

Itsfixed wrote:

Under the new rules, passengers on cross-border trains in Europe will be entitled to 25 per cent compensation when they are delayed for an hour or more and 50 per cent compensation when a delay is two hours or more.

Great. We live on an Island. No compensation for us :rolleyes: And our trains are the most delayed I've ever seen.

flickerx

I just want to say that 5 of us got the train from Dublin to Ennis recently with our bikes (changing twice), and then back from Galway to Dublin, with absolutely no hassle whatsoever, the staff were helpful and the trains were all on time, in fact I think the one coming home was a few minutes early.

So Iarnrod Eireann are OK today in my book.

Ghost Rider

As far as I know, there has never been an issue with taking bikes on inter-city trains, with the exception of the Dublin - Wexford line. The issue was always with commuter trains.

the_syco

There's a major difference with being allowed to have your bike on the train, and actually getting it on. Esp @ rush hour.

Mr. Presentable

Agree with flickerx. As far back as the 1980's a bunch of us regularly took our bikes on the train whenever we were touring The Ring of Kerry, The Antrim coast or Connemara. Never been an issue.

Itsfixed

kenmc wrote:

Great. We live on an Island. No compensation for us :rolleyes: And our trains are the most delayed I've ever seen.

Er, excuse me but we do have a border on this island, so this new compensation rule should apply if travelling between Dublin and Belfast, for instance.

jaycummins

can you take bikes on he dart? or is it just for the intercity trains?

Ghost Rider

Nope. Bikes aren't permitted on the Dart.

jaycummins wrote:

can you take bikes on he dart?

blorg

It's just intercity, but part of the problem is that many inter-city routes (such as the aforementioned Dublin-Wexford) are now "commuter" routes where bikes are not allowed. You need an intercity route with an intercity train (e.g. with a guard's van.)

kenmc

Ghost Rider wrote:

Nope. Bikes aren't permitted on the Dart.

How about folding ones? They're allowed on the luas.
I wonder if removing the wheels would count as "folding"

kenmc

Itsfixed wrote:

Er, excuse me but we do have a border on this island, so this new compensation rule should apply if travelling between Dublin and Belfast, for instance.

Fair enuff, I wasn't aware of the existence of NIR, thinking that as it was all Iaranrod Eireann the border wouldn't apply. Although I put money on the answer from IR to a request for compensation being along the lines of "Sure we're all the one these days"

Victor

nipplenuts wrote:

Agree with flickerx. As far back as the 1980's a bunch of us regularly took our bikes on the train whenever we were touring The Ring of Kerry, The Antrim coast or Connemara. Never been an issue.

Well with the new improved future there is no guard's van.

Just a bicycle cupboard.

blorg

Folding ones are allowed, yes. Taking off the wheels doesn't count, no!

What's this about no guard's van and a bicycle cupboard Victor- is this the one bike per train thing? Any more info?

TinyExplosions

kenmc wrote:

How about folding ones? They're allowed on the luas.
I wonder if removing the wheels would count as "folding"

Well, having one off doesn't work... Someone nicked me wheel a couple weeks back, and they wouldn't let me on the luas with my single wheeler

kenmc

uni-cycles aren't allowed either?

blorg

I would suspect you would get away with a uni-cycle.

Tayto2000

I went touring with some friends in the UK a few years ago where they have a two bikes per train rule unless there's a guards van. As there were three of us, we packaged up one bike each time we had to train anywhere and put it back together on the platform when we arrived. Take off the wheels, turn the handlebars sideways, collapse the saddle into the frame and take off the pedals, put it in a bag and voila, instant luggage. We had it down to a fine art by the end of the trip, we were like F1 pitstop mechanics

Frog Brother

that is a pain the arse, i cycle a fixe from the northside to dun laoighre. it got problem once and i brought it back on the dart. no one said anything, but then again i didn't ask!!! i was thinking in SF you can bring your bike on the BART ( the equiv. of dart but with a carpet) outside rush hours.

maybe the same here would be nice!!!

Civilian_Target

kenmc wrote: »

Fair enuff, I wasn't aware of the existence of NIR, thinking that as it was all Iaranrod Eireann the border wouldn't apply. Although I put money on the answer from IR to a request for compensation being along the lines of "Sure we're all the one these days"

Its basically impossible to get compensation on the Dublin - Belfast line, the reason being, the cause of the delay has to be the train company's fault. And half an hour late on a 2 hour journey is actually a lot! But 99% of delays are due to either bomb scares, person on track or flooding, none of which IE is responsible for...

Blowfish

Frog Brother wrote: »

that is a pain the arse, i cycle a fixe from the northside to dun laoighre. it got problem once and i brought it back on the dart. no one said anything, but then again i didn't ask!!! i was thinking in SF you can bring your bike on the BART ( the equiv. of dart but with a carpet) outside rush hours.

maybe the same here would be nice!!!

I did the same on the Luas once and got away with it too. I guess it's just down to luck of the draw really.

marty mannering

I run an electric bike business. goeco www.goeco.ie & found this topic interesting because we made it a point when marketing our electric folding bike to speak with irish rail. A conventional bike will cost you 16 euro from Limrick to Dublin if space allows & its upto the gaurd on the train...

Folding bikes, we gave them legislation from Europe & argued the fact that a folding bike should travel without question (as long as you can carry it on like baggage) & should be free of charge. They agreed & have scrapped the charge for a folding bike.........

We are constantly in discussions with local authorities & the government on behalf of the bicycle, all be it the electric bicycle, its hard but we wont stop knocking on doors.