Bringing bike on inter city trains

billyhead

Folks,

How much extra does this cost and how to you go about letting the offcials know. I am travelling to Westport in a weeks time by train from Dublin and want to bring my bike down.

poochiem

€16 return, you have to buy it at the station (unless they've changed it recently and made it available online?) http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/bicycle_information.asp

There tends to be a single pair of bike 'slots' at the front carriage ~ although the staff told me it was in the middle 'usually'; and they say a minimum of 3 spaces on their website. You can't reserve them, first come first served and people use them as baggage racks if you're not there before them.

Give them a ring anyway as my info might be out of date since christmas.

blorg

You have to buy it in the station. €8 each way is for the longest journeys, it is cheaper for shorter ones.

Some trains have slots, some (e.g. Cork) the bike goes in the guard's van.

Note there are many lines including Wexford/Rosslare where you can't bring a bike (this is a "commuter" line.)

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

Esroh

blorg wrote: »

You have to buy it in the station. €8 each way is for the longest journeys, it is cheaper for shorter ones.

Some trains have slots, some (e.g. Cork) the bike goes in the guard's van.

Note there are many lines including Wexford/Rosslare where you can't bring a bike (this is a "commuter" line.)

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

I do know that there is def no guards van on Westport line at the moment. My brother as trying to bring the dog down from Dub last week and they would not let him bring the dog box as there was no GV to put it in. Not have plans to add GV in the future

superrdave

Ask at the station before going. Sligo line is a difficulty some of the time as is the Mayo line and I think the Waterford line is a complete no-go.

On the plus side, because NIR carry bikes free of charge on all services, the Enterprise offers free bicycle carrying, even if you are only going to Drogheda or Dundalk (I think). It is definitely free if you are going north of the border.

You'll get more information on the forum at www.railusers.ie.

blorg

Esroh wrote: »

I do know that there is def no guards van on Westport line at the moment. My brother as trying to bring the dog down from Dub last week and they would not let him bring the dog box as there was no GV to put it in. Not have plans to add GV in the future

Some trains without a guards' van have bike cupboards in the actual carriages instead. The Irish Rail bike page (linked above) indicates that they do take bikes on the Westport line. Might be no harm to double check at the station though.

Esroh

If its not a Friday. Then take wheels off and cable tie to the frame, cover in black plastic bags and sit in the single seat where there is space for buggies just inside the carrige on other side from the space for wheelchair occupants.