Cycle carriages - repurposed class 153 on West Highland - other opportunities?

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Cycle carriages on the West Highland Line - Launched on 19th July 2021

Will the new GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) with a mandate to grow leisure traffic and encourage healthy and sustainable travel be bringing more cycle and better luggage provision on trains to Weymouth, and Newquay, and Oldfield Park for the Two Tunnels, and London for tourists wanting to cycle around the capital, and Okehampton, and Minehead for Exmoor and for Butlins, and Malvern and Barmouth and Brighton ...



https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotrail-highland-explorer

In summer 2021, we launched our Highland Explorer carriages along Scotland’s famous West Highland Line. These carriages were a UK^▸ (United Kingdom) first and have helped hundreds of cyclists make the most of the fantastic outdoor opportunities available on the stunning west coast.

As well as having seating for 24 people, the Highland Explorer carriages have been especially designed to support active travel by providing the space and storage needed to transport 20 cycles, skis and other large items of sporting equipment. You’ll be able to immediately spot the Highland Explorer carriage as it has an eye-catching livery, depicting iconic views from the West Highland Line.

When travelling with a cycle on the West Highland Line, cycle reservations are mandatory, and must be made when booking your ticket.

[Ralph Ayres]

The underlying problem on many lines is that the trains just aren't long enough.  These modified Class 153s(?) are a clever quick-fix for this particular line, but in general give trains enough carriages to fit everyone who is travelling along with their luggage which might include bikes, and you wouldn't need anything as extreme as this.

(and whatever you do, don't think those diabolical vertical bike cupboard arrangements on Cross Country are a good solution to anything!)

[broadgage]

And stop downgrading trains.
A 5 car train is NOT an improvement over an 8 car HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)).
Banning surfboards is NOT an improvement over carrying them. Esp. to Newquay, a place famous for surfing.
New trains without luggage vans or equivalent spaces are NOT an improvement over HSTs with luggage area and space in the power cars.
The very limited and hard to use cycle spaces are NOT an improvement over the previous arrangements.