New Long Distance Trains & Cycle Spaces

[whole diary]

[adamr7747]

Hi All,

A Train Manager told me the other day that when the new whizzy long distance trains come in, they'll only have 2 cycle storage spaces, instead of the current 6 (+ space for more in the power car if the staff are feeling friendly!).

Can anyone confirm this, or tell me how to find out if its true? If it is, does anyone know of a way of trying to get GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to improve the situation? My regular route will go from being easy to take a bike on to almost impossible without booking way in advance

Adam

[paul7575]

Hi All,

A Train Manager told me the other day that when the new whizzy long distance trains come in, they'll only have 2 cycle storage spaces, instead of the current 6 (+ space for more in the power car if the staff are feeling friendly!).

Can anyone confirm this, or tell me how to find out if its true? If it is, does anyone know of a way of trying to get GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to improve the situation? My regular route will go from being easy to take a bike on to almost impossible without booking way in advance

Adam

I think it is possible, but no way of knowing to be honest.   The 5 car and 9 car draft IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) layouts shown on DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s website a few years back had a number of storage compartments in one or more of the vestibules, but IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) they were shown as "bike and bulk room".   I think it will depend what GWR choose to use the various spaces for.

2 spaces in one coach on a 5 car.   4 spaces in total in two adjacent coaches in a 9 car.   Depends how many bikes you can get in one of these spaces, it could be 4 or 8 altogether, firstly if you can fit two in each space, and secondly if that's what they eventually provide.

This topic was previously discussed about half way through this thread: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16790.0

Paul

[stuving]

...
This topic was previously discussed about half way through this thread: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16790.0

Paul

The post here has a picture of one of the hanging spaces, of which there will be two. The previous plans also had two, i.e. 4 bikes per 5-car train (and twice that per 9-car), but together whereas Hitachi have moved them to different carriages.

The IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) requirement (non-high density) was for 8 bikes per 8-,9-, or 10-car train, and separately for 8 m³ of excess luggage space (in addition to shelves in stacks as well). However, these were later combined so the same space has to do both.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hi, Adam!

While I am obviously delighted to see that your first post on the Coffee Shop forum has already resulted in two very helpful responses, I'm also rather mortified that we've apparently overlooked your recent arrival! 

May I therefore offer you a slightly delayed but nevertheless very warm welcome to our discussions here.