Bikes on Trains
On this page you will find information on taking your bike by train.
You can find out train times and fares – as well as the names of train operators – from www.nationalrail.co.uk Unfortunately you can no longer make cycle reservations on line.
Local Trains
In general, you can take your bike free of charge on trains throughout SE England. The main restriction is that you cannot take your bike (unless folded) on trains arriving in London in the morning weekday peak period or leaving London in the evening peak period. Similar restrictions apply to trains arriving at or departing from Birmingham, Cambridge and Brighton.
Individual operators’ definitions of ‘peak period’ vary as follows:
| Operator |
Morning |
Evening |
||
|
From |
To |
From |
To |
|
| c2c |
07:20 |
09:30 |
16:30 |
18:40 |
| Chiltern Railways (a) |
07:45 |
10:00 |
16:30 |
19:30 |
| First Capital Connect (King's Cross - Cambridge / Peterborough) (f)(h) |
07:00 |
09:29 |
16:00 |
18:59 |
| First Capital Connect (Bedford - Brighton / Sutton) (i) |
07:00 |
10:00 |
16:00 |
19:00 |
| First Great Western |
07:45 |
09:45 |
16:30 |
18:30 |
| Gatwick Express |
No time restrictions |
|||
| Heathrow Express (c) |
No time restrictions |
|||
| London Midland (a) |
07:00 |
10:00 |
16:15 |
19:00 |
| National Express East Anglia (b) (g) (h) |
07:45 |
09:45 |
16:30 |
18:30 |
| South East |
07:00 |
09:59 |
16:00 |
18:59 |
| Southern (d) |
07:00 |
10:00 |
16:00 |
19:00 |
| South West Trains (e) |
07:15 |
10:00 |
16:45 |
19:00 |
Notes:
- Similar restrictions apply to trains arriving at / departing from Birmingham at these times throughout their journey.
- Restrictions apply only between London and Shenfield.
- Priority is given to air passengers
- Similar restrictions apply to trains arriving at / departing from Brighton at these times throughout their journey.
- There are currently no restrictions on services beyond Guildford and Hook except on Waterloo – Salisbury – Exeter trains, where reservations are required (no charge). Bicycles cannot be carried on services from Clapham Junction to Richmond - Hounslow - Feltham between 07:45 and 09:00.
- Bicycles are never carried between Moorgate and Drayton Park.
- Bicycles are never carried on Stansted Express trains.
- Bicycles are not carried between Royston / Audley End and Ely on trains serving Cambridge from 07:45 to 08:45, except the 07:15 and 07:45 from Kings Cross.
- The restriction applies to trains passing through central London between these times.
Depending on the type of train, you may have to:
- Put your bike in an area with tip-up seats (often indicated by a bicycle logo on the outside of the carriage).
- Stand with your bike near the (sliding) doors.
Check with the operator or the blue pages of the National Rail timetable if you wish to take a tandem or a tricycle on a train.
Save money on local train journeys by buying a Network Railcard. These cost £25, last a year and entitle you - and up to three people travelling with you - to a 1/3 discount on fares in S.E. England. You can also buy a six-zone one-day Travelcard from national rail stations for the price of a four-zone card. The main restrictions are that on Monday to Friday you cannot travel before 10:00 or with a ticket costing less than £10; nor can you travel on Eurostar, the Gatwick Express or Heathrow Express.
Long Distance Trains
There are generally no restrictions on folded bikes, except that Midland Main Line insist that they fit onto luggage racks.
You can take a non-folding bicycle on most long-distance trains, though you will usually need to reserve a place, which you will have to do at a station. The arrangements for trains to/from London are as follows:
| Operator | Notes |
| National Express East Anglia | Maximum 6 cycles per train. |
| Eurostar | Cycles must be packed in a regulation-size bike bag. (free) |
| Eurostar | Unfolded and unpacked bicycles. (£20) |
| First Great Western | Maximum 6 cycles on High Speed Trains. |
| Great North Eastern Railway | Maximum 5 cycles per train. |
| Midland Mainline | All High Speed Trains. TurboStar trains available only outside peak hours and cannot be reserved. |
| Virgin Trains | Maximum 4 cycles per train. |
On these services, bicycles are generally carried in a luggage compartment at one end of the train.
Cyclists have reported difficulties loading / unloading bikes at smaller stations with short platforms or no station staff, e.g. Berwick-on-Tweed, Northallerton, Bodmin Parkway.
Check with the operator or the blue pages of the National Rail timetable if you wish to take a tandem or a tricycle on a train.
You will usually be able to secure the cheapest fare for yourself by booking for a specific train at least a week in advance.
The Underground and Overground
You can take an unfolded bicycle with you free of charge on certain sections of the London Underground and Overground (see below). You cannot travel between the hours of 07:30 - 09:30, and 16:00 - 19:00, from Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
Bicycles are permitted on all sections of the Overground and the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines.
Bicycles are permitted on other lines where they do not run through tunnels.
Bicycles must not be taken on moving escalators.