Really good to be reminded of the questions that concern people who are not regular train users. Shared here as it may be useful to other guests.
Good evening. Just a few questions in regards to bikes on trains. I'm wanting to travel with my bike from Melksham to London via Swindon. I can't get this information from GWR▸ . I know I have to reserve. I travel off peak. On the fast service I have to travel from Swindon and I'm told there's a bike compartment on the train. Unfortunately the train doesn't spend long on the platform so hopefully I can find the section quickly. I don't know if bikes can be secured within the compartment. And can bikes be placed in the gangways on the local service? Or does this train also have a separate section?
The journey from Melksham to London is made on a local/regional train without reservations to Swindon, where passenger change onto a long distance express with reservations and allocated seating and cycle spacesHi, thanks for contacting us. We've received your message and appreciate your getting in touch.
The train departure board at both Melksham and Swindon show which carriages stop in which zones on the platform, so you can be in place before the train arrives; they also show which carriages have the bicycle spaces though if you have a reservation from Swindon that will also include the carriage letter.
On the local train, there's a luggage / cycle are within the main passenger compartment with a fork (not sure if that's the right term) into which you can wedge the front wheel.
On the main line train, there's a separate compartment for cycles. It's quite small and off to one side of the corridor between carriages, and has hangers onto which you hood the front wheel.
