Bicycle on the Train

kerry4sam

I've never brought a bike with me on the train before so...

~ Can anyone tell me whether it's a bad idea bringing the bike on the train on a Friday or Saturday with the increase in passenger numbers over those days?
~ Anyone ever have trouble bringing their bikes on the train before, in terms of having to keep an eye on it or your bike even getting damaged en transit?


/Irish Rail have a great deal going at the moment and it's more financially beneficial to take the train even with the 15euro charge for the bike.

Thanks for any & all advice,
kerry4sam

galwaycyclist

I brought the bike up and down to Dublin from Galway last Saturday. There is a funny arrangement of slots that take the bike at an angle. There is only space for two bikes. You should be able to get a seat within sight of it as its only a gap at the end of one carriage not a seperate compartment or anything. I got away with it - mine was the only bike both ways. I am not sure if there is a reservation system in place - I asked in Galway and they said I would have to do it in Dublin. There was a huge queue at the ticket counters when I got there so I didnt bother. Probably this time of year there aren't many tourists about.

kerry4sam

galwaycyclist wrote: »

I brought the bike up and down to Dublin from Galway last Saturday. There is a funny arrangement of slots that take the bike at an angle. There is only space for two bikes. You should be able to get a seat within sight of it as its only a gap at the end of one carriage not a seperate compartment or anything. I got away with it - mine was the only bike both ways. I am not sure if there is a reservation system in place - I asked in Galway and they said I would have to do it in Dublin. There was a huge queue at the ticket counters when I got there so I didnt bother. Probably this time of year there aren't many tourists about.

Cheers for that. I was looking on the IrishRail site and it required me to book a slot for my bike. Their were only two slots available on each journey though so suppose I'd better decide on my cycle-route and book. All seats around that bike slot were fully booked up though, that's why I enquired in here,
Wondering if people have had any trouble/interference with my bike. My lickle racer is not yet insured


/ on a side-note I wasn't sure whether this belonged in Commuter/Transport but opted for here as it's where I'd normally think to post queries relating to a bicycle.

Thanks galwaycyclist

086Jazzy

took my bike for the first time two weeks ago from Kildare to Claremorris. Like you I'd no idea what to expect but I found the bike rack right down the end of the train and got a seat next to it. Mine was the only bike on the train as well. Only downside i encountered was that all the people who had boarded the train between Heuston and Kildare had used the bike rack as a luggage compartment which meant i had to move the bike a bit in order to let people get their bags out. Otherwise it was a pleasant experience and definately worth it given Irishrail prices at the moment.

kerry4sam

086Jazzy wrote: »

took my bike for the first time two weeks ago from Kildare to Claremorris. Like you I'd no idea what to expect but I found the bike rack right down the end of the train and got a seat next to it. Mine was the only bike on the train as well. Only downside i encountered was that all the people who had boarded the train between Heuston and Kildare had used the bike rack as a luggage compartment which meant i had to move the bike a bit in order to let people get their bags out. Otherwise it was a pleasant experience and definately worth it given Irishrail prices at the moment.

Cheers for this.
Yeah the routes I was planning on travelling are fairly long so would like to be able to kick back and enjoy the journey without worrying about my bike you know

re: Using bike-rack as luggage-rack, that's what I am wondering about also with it being a w/end and extra people travelling back and forth.

There is a first-time for everything so I'll go ahead & book my tickets later as cc is at home (I've my num & exp date off but can't remember that damn sec code with my new card!).

Thanks 086Jazzy

kingoffifa

brought to bike to killarney from dublin. presuming from your name this might be of interest.

mallow to killarney - great job - somewhere to tie the bike down. as said previously the area is also used for luggage. best to get in early or very last and sort it out.

dublin to mallow is more annoying. you have to put it in the mail cart. there is nowhere to tie it down and often i have come back to find the bike on the ground. plus you would be a little worried about it.

good buzz cycling around train stations thou...

kerry4sam

kingoffifa wrote: »

brought to bike to killarney from dublin. presuming from your name this might be of interest.

mallow to killarney - great job - somewhere to tie the bike down. as said previously the area is also used for luggage. best to get in early or very last and sort it out.

dublin to mallow is more annoying. you have to put it in the mail cart. there is nowhere to tie it down and often i have come back to find the bike on the ground. plus you would be a little worried about it.

good buzz cycling around train stations thou...

Cheers for this but I've different routes though for this week-end I'll post in my cycling log once I know for certain the day I'll be travelling and where to.

Thanks for your tips & advice though kingoffifa. Mallow to Dublin could happen before y/ending for me

DUBintheSTICKS

Used it to travel from Kilkenny to Dublin, very handy and secure. Had seat right beside it.



Great service

kerry4sam

DUBintheSTICKS wrote: »

Used it to travel from Kilkenny to Dublin, very handy and secure. Had seat right beside it.

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg564/DUBintheSTICKS/07BA6E17-8721-453F-88EA-6EDEFFB077EE-4616-0000042A101C172F.jpg

Great service

Ah Lovely, cheers.

My only concern was that their were no seats available near to where my bike would be when I was looking at a few routes & I'd hate for something to happen my lickle racer you know when she is not yet insured by me. Hopefully I'll be able to find a nearby seating on a route near the areas I plan on cycling this evening when I've more time to look online.

Thanks DUBintheSTICKS

keithclancy

Could you not just lock it ?

dogsears

I've done this a few times and usually when booking the bike slot online the seat has been allocated as well, very close to the bike. I did have booking problems once (when Mallow to Cork was operated by bus as the railway was having works done) but spoke directly to Irish Rail and I have to say they could not have been more helpful. I would go so far as to say it might be worth a call to them to tell them about your concerns and see what they might say to help with these (hope you get someone as helpful as I did!).

NB On at least one journey the bike was in a special compartment, where it was attached a bit like the photo above but where the compartment was then locked by the guard - all I had to do on arrival was track down the guard!

rollingscone

I took my commuter to Galway the year before last and used the special compartment.

My only gripe is that my numbered seat was several cars away, but in the end there was plenty of space in the rear carriage.

slideshow bob

rollingscone wrote: »

I took my commuter to Galway the year before last and used the special compartment.

My only gripe is that my numbered seat was several cars away, but in the end there was plenty of space in the rear carriage.

The Galway-Dublin line new uses only the new rolling stock so the arrangement on that line is now as shown in the photo from DUBintheSTICKS. When you select a bike you get allocated a seat next to the bike rack. It's the way the online system keeps track of the number of bike slots booked.

Like dogsears I also had some queries when bringing a bike and the guy on the Irish Rail phone line was very helpful.

Rua_ri

I have brought a bike from Dublin - Galway on many occassions using the bike rack as outlined in the picture by DUBintheSTICKS.

Be careful if you have a triple chainring with a long rear derailleur.
My rear derailleur got damaged from the side to side movement of the train.
The bike rack cage was banging of the bottom of my rear derailleur.
Simple solution to this is to put the front wheel down and the back wheel up.

Rua