New Eurostar Bike Policy

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
greyingbeard
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Re: EuroStar new bike storage policy

Post by greyingbeard »

Go by ferry, can leave the heavy panniers etc on the bike.
Britain is an island after all
mercalia
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by mercalia »

well people should be put in people boxes - take off their legs and remove the head :lol: squeeze more in that way? :wink:
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bovlomov
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by bovlomov »

mjr wrote:I looked at http://www.ORR.gov.uk and I can't figure out what even requires them to take luggage at all!

Have you been on a Virgin train? Some of them have such little luggage space that if you are the third person on the carriage to bring a large case (not huge, just large) then you'll have to store it in the aisle.
oneten
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Re: EuroStar new bike storage policy

Post by oneten »

I can imagine having to dismantle a loaded touring bike would be a real inconvenience. I was fortunate that I could simply wheel mine on to the German IC trains fully loaded with panniers, tent etc. However,this Italian cyclist I met in Bremen travelling back to Italy had to bag his dismantled bike for an express train.

No doubt having people put their dismantled cycles in an individual 'bike box' will save space for Eurostar, but if demand is that great, why aren't they making a bike carriage available to offer more space? Oh I forgot...not as profitable - sorry.
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tyreon
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by tyreon »

Bovlomov on Virgin trains: Exactly! On a slightly different note,but related: Wonder what happens if x3 wheelchair users turn up to catch the train? Or,the disabled or elderly on those electric scooter jobs! No go? Aint we all living longer!

And which is why I'm still waiting to hear about Megabus(look down table of contents)
PH
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by PH »

CTC have a campaign running, I think probably too late for this one, but I've added my voice anyway
http://www.ctc.org.uk/news/20151014-cyc ... s-eurostar
simonhill
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by simonhill »

Re the CTC campaign, here is the email they sent me.

Dear Simon,

Over the summer, CTC learned from a member that Eurostar is planning on altering their cycle carriage policy, making it impossible to travel with them without boxing up your cycle first. There had been no consultation with cyclists about this change, and we now need your help to stop this policy before it's introduced on 1 November.

We believe this change in cycle policy is wrong on a number of levels:

Wrong because it throws a spanner in the works for new cyclists unfamiliar with dismantling their cycle;
Wrong because it discriminates against people who use their cycle as a mobility aid; and
Wrong because Eurostar is not practising what it preaches in terms of making sustainable travel easier.
Across Europe we are seeing intercity trains switching to provide services which will allow the carriage of a complete cycle, right as Eurostar abandons it. This is why CTC, with the support of the European Cycling Federation (ECF), and together with the Belgian, Dutch, French and German cycle bodies wrote to the CEO of Eurostar, Nicolas Petrovic, calling on him to engage with cycling bodies and reverse the planned policy.

We now are calling on CTC members, supporters and cyclists from across the world to express their support for CTC’s 'Zero stars for Eurostar' by writing to them using our simple online tool.

It will only take a quick minute to send the letter off, but your voice and support will help demonstrate to Eurostar that cyclists have a right to enjoy convenient train travel like everyone else.

Thank you so much for your support. You can keep updated on this ongoing campaign via the CTC website http://www.ctc.org.uk

Yours in cycling,

Sam

Sam Jones
Campaigns & Communications Coordinator

CTC, the national cycling charity
Web: http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaigns

CTC National Office
Parklands
Railton Road
Guildford
GU2 9JX
bohrsatom
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by bohrsatom »

Other than saying that your bike needs to go into one of their boxes, I've found zero detail about how to get your bike to fit inside.

So I asked them on twitter:

hi @Eurostar - re: your new bike boxes, what do I need to do to put my bike in one? Do I need to remove pedals, etc? Can you clarify. Thx


@robwatkins The wheels will have to be removed, and possibly some other bits and pieces as well, depending on the size of your bike.


@Eurostar these other bits and pieces... what might they be? And will you have any bike tools available to use?


@robwatkins Mostly the bits that could stick out. We'll provide help and tools for dismantling at the station.


"Possibly some other bits and pieces"... hmmmm. I can see this going well.
simonhill
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by simonhill »

Can you imagine being asked to remove the wheels of your car to make it a bit lower to go under the tunnel!!

The more they get asked these simple questions, the more ridiculous they will realise this is.
groberts
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by groberts »

simonhill wrote:Re the CTC campaign, here is the email they sent me.

Dear Simon,

Over the summer, CTC learned from a member that Eurostar is planning on altering their cycle carriage policy, making it impossible to travel with them without boxing up your cycle first. There had been no consultation with cyclists about this change, and we now need your help to stop this policy before it's introduced on 1 November.

We believe this change in cycle policy is wrong on a number of levels:

Wrong because it throws a spanner in the works for new cyclists unfamiliar with dismantling their cycle;
Wrong because it discriminates against people who use their cycle as a mobility aid; and
Wrong because Eurostar is not practising what it preaches in terms of making sustainable travel easier.
Across Europe we are seeing intercity trains switching to provide services which will allow the carriage of a complete cycle, right as Eurostar abandons it. This is why CTC, with the support of the European Cycling Federation (ECF), and together with the Belgian, Dutch, French and German cycle bodies wrote to the CEO of Eurostar, Nicolas Petrovic, calling on him to engage with cycling bodies and reverse the planned policy.

We now are calling on CTC members, supporters and cyclists from across the world to express their support for CTC’s 'Zero stars for Eurostar' by writing to them using our simple online tool.

It will only take a quick minute to send the letter off, but your voice and support will help demonstrate to Eurostar that cyclists have a right to enjoy convenient train travel like everyone else.

Thank you so much for your support. You can keep updated on this ongoing campaign via the CTC website http://www.ctc.org.uk

Yours in cycling,

Sam

Sam Jones
Campaigns & Communications Coordinator

CTC, the national cycling charity
Web: http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaigns

CTC National Office
Parklands
Railton Road
Guildford
GU2 9JX


Here's the answer I just got back from Eurostar:

Good afternoon,

Thank you for contacting us regarding our cycle policy.

I would first like to reassure you that the luggage policy has been designed to use the space on our trains more flexibly for the benefit of all customers, including cyclists.

As you correctly point out, bikes will now need to be carried in a bike box. Any-sized bike boxes will be accepted, and Eurostar will happily provide a padded bike box to customers who would rather not travel with one. Please also rest assured that our staff are trained and ready to assist to ensure it is a seamless experience for our passengers.

When packaged in this way, it means that we can look at carrying more bikes than before depending on the demand from passengers, which I’m sure you will agree is good news for the cycling community.

I hope this will help clarify the situation, and reassure you that our cycling customers continue to be important to us.

Kind regards,

Eurostar Traveller Care
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hondated
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Did I miss this

Post by hondated »

Just been over to CGOAB and seen this :
http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action? ... arded=true

Is it something I missed on here.
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mjr
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by mjr »

Their staff are trained and ready to assist? What cycle mechanic qualifications do they hold and are they insured against any mistakes causing a crash?

If I rolled up with my Nexus-hub-geared roadster, could they really assist? It still takes me about 10 minutes and some cursing to get the wheels out, plus longer to get it all back in the right order and aligned properly and I've done it a few times now. (That's why I usually patch the tube without removing the wheel.) Taking the wheels out only shortens it by about 30cm. To make it much smaller means removing handlebars, rack and mudguards too. Or are they offering a 2x1x½m box? And a handtruck to move such an awkward large box?

Suggesting this is "for the benefit of all customers, including cyclists" is doublespeak of the highest order. This feels like they want to shunt the remaining cyclists who have put up with the bizarre Eurostar restrictions to date onto other modes of cross-channel transport.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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iviehoff
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by iviehoff »

mjr wrote:
iviehoff wrote:
Psamathe wrote:I'm surprised their operating licence allows them to do things like this. Regulator ?

You clearly have a rather over-optimistic view of the regulation of such things.

I looked at http://www.ORR.gov.uk and I can't figure out what even requires them to take luggage at all! Is there a kindly railway expert here?

ORR is the wrong place to look. A train company's operating contract (franchise agreement) is with a funding body such as DfT, Scottish govt, etc. These vary considerably from case to case.

I've just downloaded Virgin Trains' franchise agreement https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... eement.pdf and the word bicycle does not appear in all 449 pages of it. The word "luggage" appears only once, where it clarifies that a fare can be charged for luggage.

However in Abellio Scotrail's franchise agreement, extending to over 600 pages, http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/sys ... ersion.pdf the word bicycle appears quite frequently. Condition 9 is entirely about bicycles. But ultimately all they really require is that so far as is reasonably practical, subject to availability, make reasonable provision for carriage of bicycles (unfortunately it isn't letting me copy the exact wording), which as we know means very little. Abellio have not always been very open-minded down at Anglia, where they brought in more restrictive rules than the preceding franchisee in relation to Stansted Express services. Which since they are nearly always very empty when I travel on them, is unnecessary.
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robgul
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Re: New Eurostar Bike Policy

Post by robgul »

I've asked Eurostar for the dimensions of the boxes that they will provide* ...

IF there like the boxes that Wiggle use to deliver fully-built bikes (you just turn the stem/bars 90 degrees ... as you do on the Bike Express bus) then that could be an acceptable ... and possibly better than the dangly racks ... solution.

My breath is not being held on either getting an answer, or getting an answer with a full-size box.

Rob

* and also confirmation that they will be available at St Pancras, Paris & Brussels
E2E http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
HoECC http://www.heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
Cytech accredited mechanic . . . and woodworker
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