Can you take a bike on a train from dublin to Portlaoise?

armabelle

Hi!

I want to buy a bike but live in Portlaoise. There are fewer options here and want to buy in dublin but then have to get home with it. My car is small (kia rio) and I am tall and the bike will be a bigger mountain bike so was thinking of taking the train if I would be allowed to get on it with my bike. Can this be done?

thank you!

Banjoxed

armabelle wrote: »

Hi!

I want to buy a bike but live in Portlaoise. There are fewer options here and want to buy in dublin but then have to get home with it. My car is small (kia rio) and I am tall and the bike will be a bigger mountain bike so was thinking of taking the train if I would be allowed to get on it with my bike. Can this be done?

thank you!

Short answer is yes, if there is room on the train. There is a charge. There are some limitations on bringing bikes on trains. A quick google of Irish Rail Bicycles brings up the full details regarding bikes: http://www.irishrail.ie/travel-information/bicycle-information

LXFlyer

Banjoxed wrote: »

Short answer is yes, if there is room on the train. There is a charge. There are some limitations on bringing bikes on trains. A quick google of Irish Rail Bicycles brings up the full details regarding bikes: http://www.irishrail.ie/travel-information/bicycle-information

No charge on the Heuston/Portlaoise all stations stopping trains as they fall under the commuter category (but only off-peak and at weekends).

armabelle

thanks for all the advice, I got back with my new bike on the train but there were only two places for two bikes and mine was the last place left. I don't know what happens when those places become full but my guess is that you cannot board the train. I think two bikes per train is a too little. They should make some more spaces for bikes.

LXFlyer

armabelle wrote: »

thanks for all the advice, I got back with my new bike on the train but there were only two places for two bikes and mine was the last place left. I don't know what happens when those places become full but my guess is that you cannot board the train. I think two bikes per train is a too little. They should make some more spaces for bikes.

That would mean less space for people which is the primary purpose of the train!

end of the road

armabelle wrote: »

thanks for all the advice, I got back with my new bike on the train but there were only two places for two bikes and mine was the last place left. I don't know what happens when those places become full but my guess is that you cannot board the train. I think two bikes per train is a too little. They should make some more spaces for bikes.

sadly it isn't doable. the trains used on this service are intercity style trains.

armabelle

lxflyer wrote: »

That would mean less space for people which is the primary purpose of the train!

Yes but people on bikes is more people. trains are hardly ever full...they were almost empty saturday

LXFlyer

armabelle wrote: »

Yes but people on bikes is more people. trains are hardly ever full...they were almost empty saturday

You do realise that those trains operate across the entire network, and that while the particular trains you were on might not have been full, during the week certain trains are crammed with passengers?

schemingbohemia

Going to be serious issues when the Déise Greenway opens in Waterford this August. Lots of people will want to bring their bikes down to cycle the Greenway and 2 bikes a train won't cut it. They should run one of the Commuter trains down early on Saturday and Sunday mornings (the 29000 class) and back in the evening.

end of the road

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Going to be serious issues when the Déise Greenway opens in Waterford this August. Lots of people will want to bring their bikes down to cycle the Greenway and 2 bikes a train won't cut it. They should run one of the Commuter trains down early on Saturday and Sunday mornings (the 29000 class) and back in the evening.

jesus no . bad enough connolly long distance routes still having to endure them things without inflicting them on poor waterford passengers (mind you i'm sure they would) inflict them on waterford if it benefited their "operational requirements"
i agree with your points about bike provision but IE "operational requirements" will insure a 2900 will never run out of heuston again.

LXFlyer

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Going to be serious issues when the Déise Greenway opens in Waterford this August. Lots of people will want to bring their bikes down to cycle the Greenway and 2 bikes a train won't cut it. They should run one of the Commuter trains down early on Saturday and Sunday mornings (the 29000 class) and back in the evening.

That is not going to happen - the 29000s are firmly on the Connolly side of the house.

Westport seems to cope all right.

TheExile1878

armabelle wrote: »

Yes but people on bikes is more people. trains are hardly ever full...they were almost empty saturday

I suggest you try the evening train back to Portlaoise, if you're not on 20 minutes before you're not getting a seat.

Sure let's make it worse just so a bike can get on.

beauf

armabelle wrote: »

thanks for all the advice, I got back with my new bike on the train but there were only two places for two bikes and mine was the last place left. I don't know what happens when those places become full but my guess is that you cannot board the train. I think two bikes per train is a too little. They should make some more spaces for bikes.

If not full sized bike. Then some better facilities for folding bikes. Lot more common now. They fit on the existing luggage racks.

Del.Monte

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Going to be serious issues when the Déise Greenway opens in Waterford this August. Lots of people will want to bring their bikes down to cycle the Greenway and 2 bikes a train won't cut it. They should run one of the Commuter trains down early on Saturday and Sunday mornings (the 29000 class) and back in the evening.

Of course they could bring their bikes to Waterford from Dublin via the South Wexford line - if it were open - as could Continental bikers wanting to reach the Westport/Achill Greenway from Rosslare Harbour if the Athenry/Claremorris section were open. Joined up thinking ha,bloody ha!