Bikes on trains

[Colm Moore]

RUI have a page dedicated to the carraige of bikes on trains here: http://www.railusers.ie/passenger_info/bikes.php

An updated list of services that can carry bikes is included here: http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/Bikes%20on%20Services%202009_19012009.pdf

Note, other than Cork-Dublin and Dublin-Belfast, very few trains now have guards vans. On the new intercity railcars (22000s) bikes can be carried in the same carriage as the wheelchair space. The basic availibilty is one bike in the cupboard in 3-car trains (two cupboards on a 6-car train). A rack to carry a further two bikes is being fitted to the entire fleet and has been fitted to all 6-car trains and about half of the 3-car trains.

Any number of folding bikes can be carried as normal luggage. It is preferred if the are covered.

[sublimity]

Note, other than Cork-Dublin and Dublin-Belfast, very few trains now have guards vans.

We should cherish the Mk3s that are still operating on some routes.

[Colm Moore]

Today's National Cycling Policy promises more bikes on trains and trams.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
-------------------------------------------------
DATE: 20th April 2009

HEADLINES

National Cycling Strategy: Official attitudes must be tackled say cyclists
National Cycling Strategy: Cyclists say new policy is groundbreaking but officials must experience roads and traffic while using bikes.

BODY

Cyclist.ie broadly endorses the government’s newly released National Cycling Policy Framework. [see http://www.transport.ie/pressRelease.aspx?Id=85] “Government interest in cycling is welcome and we expect that many more commuters will swap the frustration of endless gridlock for the freedom of cycling” said Dr. Darren McAdam-O'Connell, vice chairperson of Cyclist.ie, Ireland’s national cycling lobby group. “Regular cyclists have long known that cycling is the easiest, most practical and efficient way to get around our increasingly crowded cities. Recognition and promotion of cycling by policy makers is long over due. We strongly welcome a document that contains many of the measures that cyclists have been demanding for a long time, such as stronger measures against urban speeding, on-road cycle training in schools, improved driver training curriculum, dismantling of dangerous multilane one-way systems and permitting of bike carriage on trains and buses."

However, the cyclists say that while the government’s cycling initiative is “groundbreaking” in its vision, its success will depend on a fundamental change in attitudes in official circles. Without this change, Ireland may not see the projected increase in cycling numbers. Cyclist.ie chairman, Dr. Mike McKillen, said that “there is 'institutional blindness' to cyclists road safety needs among too many public officials who deal with cycling issues. In the last two decades the number of officials and politicians using a bike has plummeted so that most decision-makers, such as roads engineers and Garda management, are now car drivers with little practical knowledge or understanding of cycling in traffic". Cyclist.ie, fears that government funding will be wasted on ill-conceived cycling projects unless knowledge and attitude deficits are tackled first. Cyclist.ie therefore particularly welcomes the proposal to require cycle training for all road engineer

s. “We assume this will involve on-road training in real traffic situations, and hope it will be extended to all senior officials involved in policing, designing, or managing Ireland's transport infrastructure.”

The need for training in cycling issues is perceived to be particularly relevant to management within An Garda Siochana. While strongly welcoming the emphasis on enforcement of traffic law relating to cyclists, Dr. McKillen stated that "Garda management doesn't seem to view it as necessary to tackle traffic infringements that impact cyclists safety, from cyclists not using lights at night to drivers who overtake cyclists dangerously close and at speed."

Dr. McKillen finished by saying that “unless those who are responsible for our roads are forced to experience them directly as cyclists, there is little chance of any real change in the attitudes and policies that caused the current situation. Without this attitude shift any NCP will fail and we will not see a return to the situation where school children start cycling once again to school"


ENDS

NOTES

Cyclist.ie, the Irish national cycling lobby group, made a comprehensive submission on the Governments cycling strategy including among various recommendations:
• Increasing the number of cyclists (more cyclists means lower accident rates as motorist awareness increases)
• On-road training for cyclists
• Training motorists to interact with cyclists
• Updating the rules of the road and enforcing them for all road users
• Reducing traffic speeds and volumes in our towns
• Improving road surface maintenance
• Redesigning roads to take account of the presence of cyclists
• Providing appropriate cycle facilities

Cyclist.ie's policy document can be read here: http://www.cyclist.ie/documents/National

[Colm Moore]

The Swiss seem to be getting it right (as they tend to): http://igvelo.ch/english.php#stat

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/bicycle_information.asp

Bicycle Information

On Intercity services Iarnród Éireann can carry a minimum of three bicycles: Dublin’s Heuston to/From Ballina, Westport, Galway, Limerick, Ennis, Tralee, Cork, and Waterford. Dublin Connolly to/from Belfast and Sligo. Bicycles are only accepted on a first come first serve basis. Charges below:


Fares 2009 ~ Bicycles
Distance Examples Fare Zone Single Return
Dublin -
up to 56km Kildare/ Drogheda A-E €2.50 €5.00
up to 108km Gorey/ Muine Bheag/ Tullamore/ Ballybrophy F-H €4.00 €8.00
up to 137km Templemore/ Athlone/ Longford/ Kilkenny/ Enniscorthy J-K €5.50 €10.50
over 137km Cork/ Limerick/ Tralee/ Galway/ Mayo/ Sligo/ Waterford L-U €8.00 €16.00

DART or Commuter trains bicycles cannot be carried unless folded and suitably covered.

Bicycle Hire

Do you want to enjoy the best the Irish Countryside has to offer after stepping off the train? If so the various bicycle hire companies below can offer you the freedom at your own pace - rent a bicycle. With their extensive local knowledge, they are on hand to help answer any questions you may have regarding cycling in Ireland. Furthermore they will provide you up to 10% off bicycle hire for Iarnród Éireann customers whether you are interested in renting for an hour, a day or a week. So what are you waiting for saddle up!

[markpb]

On Intercity services Iarnród Éireann can carry a minimum of three bicycles:

A minimum? Surely they mean a maximum.

[Colm Moore]

Well, for intercity its either 3 on a 22000 (6 on a 2x3-car train) or a nominal 6 on a Mk3, Mk4 or Enterprise. I think 2700s are the only other trains with specific provision for bikes.

All trains can carry folding bikes as normal luggage.

[Colm Moore]

Official website: www.dublinbikes.ie

Useful colour-coded map showing bike availibility: www.dubsonwheels.com

[Colm Moore]

http://cuffestreet.blogspot.com/There's been a good take up of the Cycle to Work scheme by Irish Rail employees. 230 applications have been made from the 4,500 staff who work for Irish Rail. That's a 5% take-up rate, which is pretty impressive, given that so many of their staff live a short walk from rail stations. I went on to discuss the bikes on trains issue. I've been in endless correspondence with the company on this one. With the elimination of "guard's vans" it's been difficult in recent years to get your bike onto trains. Mr. Fearn says however that all inter-city trains are once again taking bikes. There's space for three on three carriage sets, and six on six-car trains. I raised the cost of travelling with a bike which can be as much as €8 on a single journey. Mr. Fearn pointed out that the three bike places involved the elimination of four seats, and that the spaces have to pay for themselves. One bit of good news is that from June it will be possible to pre-book space for bikes on the Irish Rail web-site, which is welcome news. Hopefully the website will provide better information on this topic, and API so that people can build better timetable or realtime info apps as @Ciaran_Lee suggested to me on Twitte . I still believe more needs to be done for cyclists. In Holland, 40% of train journeys involve a cycle to or from the station. A simple improvement would be to provide better cycle parking at stations. There are improvements underway at Connolly, but almost all other stations could benefit from improved cycle parking. Cllr. Mark Deary asked me to mention the need for secure bike-parking at Dundalk Station, and Mr. Fearn said he would investigate this. The Government's Smarter Travel document recommends that bikes should be taken off-peak on suburban rail, and Mr. Fearn said he will introduce a pilot scheme on the Maynooth and Drogheda services shortly. I urged him to implement this recommendation on the DART as soon as possible.

[Padna]

Not sure what Mark Dearey is on about. There is a bike parking area at Dundalk Station. I guess how "secure" it is depends on the quality of your lock!

[tigger1962]

I regularly parked my bike in dundalk station. I admit I was afraid of it being stolen the first few times but its as secure as anywhere else in Dundalk. It would be nice though to have a slightly more secure location say where only commuters have access..

[Thomas J Stamp]

we were approached by a provider of a bike locker system some years ago, for placement in stations, and we were very supportive, but it may have floundered somewhere as we have not heard any updates in a good while.

[ccos]

At most largish stations in Holland they have a manned indoor bike storage (and moped) area, you can park for a daily (about a euro), weekly, monthly or annual rate. bike repairs, accessory sales and bike hire are also provided. Similar services are also offered at some stations in many other countries, I know most stations in Ireland probably wouldn't support such a venture but I find it surprising that none do, surely at places like Dun Laoghaire, Kildare and Drogheda these sort of facilities could be provided.

[ThomasJ]

there was an incident a couple of weeks ago at tara street where a guy with a large bike was being escorted off the southbound platform. it was strange that he wasnt spotted on arriving at the station

the station officer also had security with him which i thought was slightly over the top the guy was harmless!

[Colm Moore]

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Sutton
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[huggy]

Hi Guys
Been using the bike on the train from Newbridge to Hueston over 2 years now and I’m hearing there is a wind of change coming, where RPU will be placed in stations in the mornings stopping users with bikes boarding.

I’m very annoyed by this, I’m very aware of the privilege and allow other passengers to board and alight ahead of me.

Is there any official word on this change? I don’t want to get to the station and be turned away and miss a day’s work some random morning, I’ve had a bike stolen from Newbridge, so would not be keen on leaving bike there.

Thank you in advance

[Jamie2k9]

They will probaly just stop people who havn't booked a space onboard. Most trains have 4 but some have 2.

[huggy]

I use the train 5 days a week, In all honesty I dont book, I spoke to a more friendly member of the RPU a good while ago and he said the fact I have an annual ticket mitigated me not booking.


Going of tangent but and just for information theres 3 bays for bikes in the bike carriage:)

[Jamie2k9]

I use the train 5 days a week, In all honesty I dont book, I spoke to a more friendly member of the RPU a good while ago and he said the fact I have an annual ticket mitigated me not booking.


Going of tangent but and just for information theres 3 bays for bikes in the bike carriage

Is this contained in the T & C's of the annual tickets? if not then I suspect it dosn't mean you can take a bike or its just an area that needs to be clarified.

[Colm Moore]

You can take a folding bike as luggage.

If you have a full sized bike on an intercity train, you need a ticket.

If you have a full sized bike on an commuter train / DART, you can't use in at peak time, but it is free off-peak.

An alternative would be to get two cheap bikes, one for each station.