Trains

falloffgirl

Just wondering about bringing bikes onto Trains.

I was on a train a few months ago (Galway --> Dublin) and some guy was told to get off half way there as he couldn't leave the bike on the train after such and such stop (he had a ticket for Dublin).

Anyone know why that would have happened?

Is it usually ok once you have a ticket (you need a bicycle ticket do you?) or are there certain times of the day when you can't bring one on or anything like that?

Edit: And what about intercity busses?

Thanks,
fog

mikemac

Most intercity trains have a "guards van" and you put your bike there.
I've done it once and couldn't believe you had to buy a ticket for a bike, I'd never heard of it.

But you can't realy bring the bike into a carriage.
It's taking up space and the if the train is going to packed with people, the staff won't let you.

Morgan

On intercity trails you need to buy a ticket for the bike and put it in the guards van. You can't bring bikes on suburban trains at all (except folders).

It's strange the guy being told he'd have to get off before Dublin - especially if he had a ticket. Was he expected to cycle the rest of the way?

flickerx

iarnrod eireann's policy with bikes on intercity trains seems to change with the weather, the whim of whoever is on duty, or any other non-linear sequence of events you can think of. the best thing to do, when you bring your bike on the train, is talk to the station manager from the place you're leaving from, and (i've said this before) make sure you get their name so when some low ranking idiot, whose breakfast roll didnt contain enough rashers earlier and subsequently in foul humour, comes around and tells you that your bike has to be taken off for union rules/health and safety/other nonsense, you can retort to them "but x the station manager said to me it was fine - you can call them up and ask". that will fend them off and allow you safe passage with your trusted steed.

ChipPanBuddha

I wish Irish Rail would allow "proper" bikes on suburban trains off peak. I hired a bike out over in London recently and it was really handy being able to pop your bike on the train. You can even take bikes on quite a large portion of the underground network as well.

72hundred

Its been said on forums before and it'll be said again - Google is your friend!

A quick search came up with these straight away:



http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/about_us/faq.asp?faq_id=31

Q. Can I bring my bicycle onto the train?
A. Bicycles can not be conveyed on DART or Commuter trains unless folded and suitably covered. On Intercity trains bicycles not folded and covered can be conveyed in the guards' compartment or the special cycle racks where provided. A valid ticket for the bicycle must be obtained before travelling. Please check at your local station before travelling.



http://www.railusers.ie/passenger_info/bikes.php

Irish Rail do not publish detailed information about carrying your bike by train in Ireland, so we have compiled this guide for passengers who wish to bring a bike on the train. Upcoming EU regulations will make such information a legal requirement.
Irish Rail will carry your bike on all Intercity branded train services for a fee. The fee depends on the distance you are travelling. The bike travels in the guard's van (either at the front or rear of the train) or in a special rack if provided. Folding bikes, if covered, are carried for free as normal luggage on all trains (also on Luas).
In general all trains shown as Intercity in the online timetable can carry bikes. All trains listed as suburban, also can however this cannot be guaranteed. Where a service is listed as Railcar, Arrow or DART bikes will not be carried. Space is limited and strictly on a first come first served basis.
Services you can carry your bike on:

• Dublin-Cork
• Dublin-Belfast
• Dublin-Tralee - direct services only
• Dublin-Mayo* - all Westport services, 16:05 to Ballina on Friday but not on Manualla Junction - Ballina shuttle
• Dublin-Galway* - but not on the 12:10 Dublin Galway or 16:15 Galway Dublin on Sunday
• Dublin-Limerick*
• Dublin-Waterford - but not on the 20:05 Dublin Carlow and 21:25 Carlow Dublin
• Dublin-Sligo* - 5:45, 7:00, 9:00, and 15:00 Sligo Dublin, the 11:05, 16:00, 17:05 and 19:05 Dublin Sligo.

* Space for only 2 bikes
Passengers should be aware that despite dedicated bike storage areas being provided on Dublin Sligo and Dublin Westport services Irish Rail staff have been known to refuse bikes so be warned, the space is certainly there. Irish Rail say you can bring your bike on Tralee - Mallow, Limerick Junction Limerick Ennis but then contradict this by saying bikes can only be carried on trains with designated areas for bikes, not all trains on these routes are so fitted, but bikes are generally carried.
Bikes will be carried on all Dublin Rosslare and Mallow Tralee services once these routes are operated by Intercity railcars in mid to late 2008.
Cost

The cost of bringing your bike depends on the distance you are traveling:

• €2.50 for up to 56km
• €4.00 for 57km-108km
• €5.50 for 109km-137km
• €8.00 for 138km+

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1201093023-Bicycles-&-Animals.pdf
Bicycles will be carried on Bus Éireann services in Ireland only if sufficient accommodation is available
for them in the luggage compartment of the bus/coach. There may be limited capacity available in the
luggage compartment, particularly during the summer months; therefore we cannot guarantee that
bicycles will be carried. Cost of carrying a bicycle on a bus/coach is €11.50 per single journey
irrespective of distance.




That second website's list isn't exhaustive as the complier seems to have concentrated on Dublin services only. For example I know myself the Limerick-Waterford service does take bikes.

Also the third link there illustrated that Bus Eireann charges €11.50 for any distance and only if there's space in the Bus. The condition of having the space makes travelling by Bus with a bike an uncertainty if you'll actually get onto a specific time of a service.

72oo

blorg

I've had my bike damaged on the bus before; never had any problem with the train. On the train you can stand your bike vertically, while in the bus luggage compartment it has to go horizontally, worth bearing in mind.

CheGuedara

I've had horrendous problems moving my bikes on trains - like others have said, Irish Rails policies on when, how, where, why and if a train or series of connecting trains are capable of transporting a bike from any part of the country to any other part of the country is subject to the tides, whims, foibles and quirkes of personality of everyone from the train driver, station master, trolley jockey etc etc , to the weather, time of the month, and almost any other variable known to man (cost of 80 Barrys Teabags in the nearest Centra?).

I transport my bike long distances by car now. Less hassle. You actually cannot transport a bike from dublin to tralee. ever. The train from mallow/tralee/mallow cannot accept a bike. crazy.

What I will say is 1. phone the station before you decide to travel, 2. tell them the journey you intend to travel and that you have a bike that needs to go too and 3. ask EXACTLY what trains are competent for your requirements. Get the persons name, and if they cant answer the question ask for the station master on duty. Then get their name. If they can't tell you then, I guess it's time to get the bib longs on and head away early that day....

falloffgirl

72hundred wrote: »

Its been said on forums before and it'll be said again - Google is your friend!

Believe it or not I did google the information before posting my question. I've heard contradictory information and I wanted to ask people who've actually brought their bikes onto a train. Which means now I have a much clearer idea of what the situation really is.

Sounds a bit of a hassle. Guess I'll just have to see what happens.

Thanks for the replies and the advise.

fog

Victor

Guards vans are disappearing and the situation is evolving. The fares have changed from the above, but I don't know what they are now. Charging fo the fare may be hit and miss outside main stations.

All Cork-Dublin and Dublin-Belfast trains should be able to carry up to about 10 bikes.

All of the brand new 22000-class trains (railcars) used on other intercity services can carry one and at a squash two bikes in a cupboard. Unfortunately, this is wheel over wheel storage, so the less capable of you may need assistance. The cupboard is opposite the wheelchair-accessible WC. These trains are normally in sets of three. If you have two 3-car sets, you will have double the capacity. However, standalone 6-car sets will only have the cupboard. The cupboard is currently being augmented by racks for another two bikes. They hope to have all of them fitted by the end of year.

Some of the older rail cars can take bikes and these are used on regional services. Finding out exactly which ones can be problematic.

On occassion, you might find that staff will permit a bike if the occupancy rate is very low - if the train fills up, you might be asked to remove the bike.

Sean02

So much speculation in most of the answers. Nobody seems to be able to get a definitive answer. Last year I tried to help some bike tourist get to Sligo from Maynooth. I was told by I E that there was no way no matter what type of train. to verify this at Connolly I was informed that there was only one or two routes allowing bikes I think Limerick and somewhere else. of course this is a typical stupid Irish answer particuarly in relation to cycle tourism. Anyhow at the end of the day intercity bus services are great and much cheaper, also because of the bit of competition they welcome bikes at a small charge. Question can you take your bike on Dublin Bus Airport to City ??.

stopped_clock

Apologies if this is OT, but may be of use if the forum is searched in future...

In London, you can take a bike on pretty much all tube lines (as has been said) at off peak times with the exception of the deeper lines (where you have to take an escalator to exit the stations). This is tremendously convenient, although less so at busy off-peak times (if you get me) when there are more than a few people standing in the carriage and you have to keep moving the bike out of people's way.

I think this is generally true of commuter trains too (and I did see a guy with a bike on one at least once). I don't see any reason why the DART shouldn't allow bikes off-peak.

On intercity trains (in the UK) the situation is complicated by the fact that there are so many different train operators. In theory each company has a "cycle policy" but success will depend on the route. Some trains (Virgin that I know of) have very limited space for bikes and will sell as few as two bike tickets for a train, but these spaces are usually quite secure in the engine compartment and with restraining straps. Booking in advance is essential. Generally, once you have a bike ticket (no extra charge btw) you're grand.

Are there such things as bike tickets on IE trains?

Also, I'm sure I've been somewhere where the city busses had bike racks on the front. I can't remember where, but I think it was either Europe or America:D.

penexpers

stopped_clock wrote: »

Also, I'm sure I've been somewhere where the city busses had bike racks on the front. I can't remember where, but I think it was either Europe or America:D.

They had bike racks on the front of the buses in Seattle - it's fairly common in the US I believe

Victor

Ta da! http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=5101

72hundred

Victor wrote: »

Ta da! http://www.railusers.ie/forum/showthread.php?t=5101

Proper order. Only right to see more space for bikes on trains.

paddyb

stopped_clock wrote: »

Also, I'm sure I've been somewhere where the city busses had bike racks on the front. I can't remember where, but I think it was either Europe or America:D.

In Vancouver, they have a rack on the front of every bus that holds two bikes

mcgratheoin

72hundred wrote: »

Bicycles can not be conveyed on DART or Commuter trains unless folded and suitably covered.

Gotta love that one -
"Bikes are only allowed if you cover them so nobody knows you have a bike with you" :eek:

ROK ON

Hi folks. My tuppence worth. I brought a bike back to Dublin the w/e on one of the new trains serving the Dublin route from Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow. No guards van, but there was a cupboard that would take 2 bikes. It is up to the station master however. The station master in Carlow had no problem, and helped me get the bike on and locked in the compartment. My advice is to phone a station, they will tell you what bikes GUARANTEE the passage of bikes. These are the trains with guards vans.
For the trains with bike cupboard, it is at the discretion of the station master. I think that the most difficult journey is the Mallow-Kerry route. Some of the trains have bike racks, some dont. It is left up to the staff at Mallow station, some of these guys are real helpful, some are pr**ks.

CheGuedara

ROK ON wrote: »

I think that the most difficult journey is the Mallow-Kerry route. Some of the trains have bike racks, some dont. It is left up to the staff at Mallow station, some of these guys are real helpful, some are pr**ks.

You're right, unfortunately the helpful lads there are in a minority. Have had fierce trouble there in the past. :mad:

There was even fightin' talk....

Dolani

Just back from Perth (Oz not Scotland). They really know how to treat cyclists on the suburban trains. Free of charge and into all stations off-peak. Only avoid Perth Central station with full-size bike during peak times - just pedal to the next station (500m). Cycle paths are well-marked, maps show the paths and identify the good and bad riding environment. What I wouldn't give for it here! The Sunset Coast is particularly nice. About 100k of paved track and rarely in close proximity to a car. Just sharing with pedestrians and their dogs.

Victor

mcgratheoin wrote: »

Gotta love that one -
"Bikes are only allowed if you cover them so nobody knows you have a bike with you" :eek:

In an incident, they don't want someone to be struck by a pointy bit.

This page has been updated with a link to bike fares and where services are reasonably certain to have bike spaces.

Mallow-Kerry should be OK for most services - the service will either have a suburban railcar with a few spaces or a guards van on a Mark 3 set.

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/bicycle_information.asp

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/Bikes on Services 2008.pdf

CheGuedara

Victor wrote: »

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/Bikes%20on%20Services%202008.pdf

Notice that you *should* be able to get a bike from Dublin Heuston to Tralee only at 18.30, Mon-Sat, but there is no capability to take a bike on a train from Tralee to anywhere else any time, any day...

Although, I suppose why would you want to leave