Matthew Roman Kopinski on a hot issue for train-using cyclists

IN May 2016, Great Western Railways introduced a booking only policy for non-fold-up bikes on their HST (high speed train) services. This includes a lot of commuter services into Oxford.

Booking can be done by phone or online, by the 6pm deadline on the day before you travel. You can also book at the station.

Promoting active travel? Promoting connected journeys by cycle and public transport? A new fleet of high speed trains with only three bike spaces? This is an interesting policy change to say the least. I asked commuters using GWR services on the Cotswold line for their feedback. I simply asked ‘what do you think of the new policy? Has this put you off using the train? And, has this put you off using your bike on the train?’ The responses I got show the difficulties this policy has put in the path of just some of the cyclists that have used the GWR services without fear of rejection for years.

While some commuters have found time and organisation to book their bikes on the trains, others have continued to put their bikes on trains without reservations. Confusion between drivers and train managers has resulted in a degree of success with the latter approach, but it is not a relaxing way to travel. Others have tried, and have been prevented from putting their bikes onto trains without a reservation.

Some have ditched the train and taken to their bikes; and some have ditched the train and taken to their cars or buses.

The policy seems to be hitting the flexible rural commuters particularly hard. People who cycle in one direction and want to get the train home (but can’t know in advance which one or how long the working afternoon will take). A commuter of level-headed fame remarked: “I think this policy is dreadful. Making it harder to bring a cycle is a backward step, when we should be encouraging two-wheeled transport, not making it more difficult. Surely the solution is to increase bike capacity rather than make it more difficult to take a bike on. I now have a folding bicycle, but would value the flexibility to cycle in on a real bike and get the train back. The policy has driven me to using the park and ride on occasions, rather than peddling in and getting the train back. So it has probably achieved their not-so-well hidden agenda.”

I’ve signed this petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/bike-reservations-on-trains-the-beginning-of-the-end and sent a complaint yesterday to Great Western. The general consensus amongst cyclists using GWR is that GWR seem to have scored a spectacular own goal with their change of policy regarding bikes on their HSTs.

In their literature, they encourage the acquisition of perhaps a Brompton folding bike. But adding at least £700 to the annual commuting bill is beyond many.

Good luck on the trials and tribulations of your train travel with bicycle on GWR in the future. Let’s hope that the policy is reversed to keep our commute flexible and friendly in the future.