Great Western Coffee Shop

Bicycles, Dogs, Pushchairs, Umbrellas, Babies, Luggage, Cans of Petrol, Wheelchairs, Mobile Phones, Horses, Alcohol, Pizza and Surfboards ...  I'm writing an FAQ ... please comment on my list below (and any photos I can use of a passenger with all of these ...  ;D )

If you're travelling by train, you can typically take all of your paraphanalia with you - that's good news for me as I travel to present training courses, and often have quite a bit to carry. The underlying rule is that the passenger should be able to manage whatever he / she has with him / her.

But as far as the train company is concerned, it would be a nightmare if everyone took everything they were allowed, and indeed the whole thing would be impractical. Furthermore, many of the things that are allowed are taken free of charge, but cost the train company in terms of space occupied can be considerable.

Bicycles:  Passengers are normally allowed to take a bicycle free of charge.  However, there is a limit to the number of cycles on each train, and there are some further restrictions (reservations required or no cycles) on some trains.  Fold-up cycles which count as normal baggage are exempt from the limits.

Dogs: Each person is allowed up to 2 dogs. They must not get on the seats and must be well behaved. Dogs are allowed on the London Underground, but not on Manchester trams.

Pushchairs: Children's puchchairs and prams are allowed. You may be asked to collapes pushchairs

Umbrellas: Allowed, of course .. one of the baines of the life of the lost property department, as more umbrellas are taken onto trains than are brought back off

Babies: Travel free of charge, if accompanied by a fare paying passenger.

Luggage:  I think you're technically allowed two pieces of luggage and size limits are stated

Cans of petrol:  No - hazardous, and it's a "no" to guns and other hazardous goods too

Wheelchairs:  Disabled wheelchairs are allowed, but there are limits when it comes to self propelled diasbility chairs - largely due to the risk of them tipping over / being unable to be loaded. Rules vary by train company and station - please check

Mobile Phones:  Allowed ... by you may be required to turn the off in quiet carraiges on some services.  The quiet carriage rues are a little fuzzy at times - silently sending texts is probably OK, but may technically be in breach of the rules.

Horses:  Sorry - you cannot take your horse (unless it's "my little pony") on trains these days, even though horse boxes were a major feature of train travel in Victorian times. Smaller pets such as cats may be taken in baskets.

Alcohol:  A few trains are "dry" - i.e. there is a ban on alcohol (and I suspect that may even be a ban on alcohol in sealed containers) - notably the later Saturday trains from Weymouth. On most trains, you can take your own alcohol, and even buy it from the buffet!

Pizza and other food:   Yes, you can take your own food on the train, and you can sometime buy food on board too - and of course you can eat it.  We have even heard of a takeaway delivering food to a train an an intermediate station ...

Surfboards: I understand that you'll be charged for carriage of your surfboard, but you can take it with you.

Not sure how region-specific you plan to make this - but Scotrail ban all consumption and carrying of alcohol between 9pm and 10am.  The only exception is the Caledonian Sleepers.

National Conditions of Carriage say you can take three items of luggage subject to certain restrictions.

So the baby must pay if the adult travelling with it doesn't. Can just imagine now a TM asking a baby for a fare!

Almost ...


So a baby / young child could travel at no charge with a five-to-fifteen child, for example its teenage mother who would pay half fare if aged 14 or 15.  However, if Mr and Mrs Smith won a prize of "two tickets to anywhere", they can't take Brat Smith  (aged 3) with them as they haven't paid a fare.

---

I'm looking to be writing this for TransWilts and connection users, so I think I can include Scotrail in the "most" exclusion.   Luggage sizes ... may add those in.

I think this gentleman would have found your FAQ quite handy then!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13437279

 ;D

Appendix B of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage sets out most of the rules, I know XC won't take surfboards, even on HSTs as a company policy, however a word with the TM may result in some leniency if you're travelling no farther than they are. Prams and pushchairs must be capable of folding, when I was a wee one and we were travelling by train we always used the basic, almost deckchair-like pushchair for ease of carrying.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/NRCOC.pdf)

I am afraid that I have taken a few prohibited items on trains, including a chair (did not know at the time that furniture was prohibited)
On another trip I conveyed four cats, in a suitable basket but this was larger than that permitted.
A friend took a shotgun, unloaded and in a locked case.

I have taken fireworks which are probably classed as explosives.

Was this in case the cats got a bit teasy ?

It turns out some scientists take their lab with them on the tube: http://occamstypewriter.org/mindthegap/2013/04/03/in-which-i-dream-of-going-viral/

This chap was taking a Hot Pot Cooker onto a Cardiff Central Service. You can just see it resting on the window sill

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dZ_Ut6kbEFo/UnEpAbbeMvI/AAAAAAAAAOs/pIlqzGjr5wA/w329-h585-no/20131029_195651.jpg)

My personal things I have taken on the train include:

• Compaq DL360 Rackmount Server; Fits into an HST Luggage Rack nicely
• HP XW4400 PC in a Suitcase which I took onto Spain
• UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply - Very Heavy) for HP XW4400 PC which also went to Spain
• Assortment of Network and Telephony Cables
• Cable Cutters, Crimp Tools, Multimeter and Screwdrivers
• My Black Labrador Dog; Billy
• Tin of Paint and paint brushes in sealed containers
• A close friends Ann Summers erm... "Party Supplies" (Don't Ask!)
• Prescription Medication some of which without a valid prescription are registered as Class C substances
• Electric Drill

Quite a few are more than frowned upon. I hold a valid prescription for the Class C substances so I tick that box in case there is any doubt ;) The tin of paint only happened once when I was moving house and my ceiling needed painting. The rest are tools of the trade which are secured in their cases. However they probably could be classed as offensive weapons if a Police Officer was feeling particularly vindictive... :o

Travelling to a historical reenactment event (not in period costume) but accompanied by a large rucksack, very heavy small (cabin hand luggage size) wheely suitcase, 9foot (blunt) spear and sword and short (14") knife and hand axe (all blunts) and a shield. To be fair the hand weapons were all in a hockey stick bag and padlocked, the spear fitted on the luggage rack OK once I got it through the door and vestibule, the problems were the shield (28" diameter) which jammed everywhere including the ticket gatelines, and the small suitcase which was so heavy because it contained my mail armour so it wasnt easy to lift onto the racks.

No comments from  staff or problems with other passengers (!) even when returning late at night.

Oh, you spoilsport, IanL, fancy not wearing your combat outfit!

You're rather more likely to be done for 'going equipped (http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/public_disorder_-_guidance_for_prosecutors_on_charging_public_order_and_other_offences_(august_2011)/#going)' with that little lot, young trout! :o ::) ;D

Bloke sat in 1st Class from Plymouth this evening with a Sony Vaio all-in-one PC, watching 'The Dark Knight Rises'.

He had what looked like a custom built case for it as well.

Also, under fives can be 'used' to get discounted fares for Family & Friends Railcard holders.

My personal record includes one large ikea bag full of clothes, a large suitcase, a small bag and not forgetting a mountain bike... That was an interesting journey!

On a recent trip my luggage though not bulky, was well in excess of the permitted weight, about 120 KG.
Consisted of sealed lead acid batteries, so in bulk less than "normal" luggage but very heavy. Fairly easly handled with 4 small strong bags and a luggage trolley.

Some years ago I conveyed a large roll of armoured cable, this was placed in the power car of an HST without problems. I took the wise precaution of wearing an orange overall, thereby IMPLYING that I was staff but without actually making any false claim.
No attempt to evade the fare was made, I had a valid ticket, though no one asked for it.

The 1430 Edinburgh to KX was delayed for 6 minutes at Berwick yesterday, due to passengers with excess luggage being accommodated. So 9 late off Berwick resulted in lost pathing beyond Newcastle and a 28 minute late arrival into London. That's the other side of travelling more than you are entitled to.

True, though in my case no delay was caused due to careful planning on my part. 120 kilos of batteries if suitably packed are loaded or unloaded as quickly as normal light luggage.
The large drum of cable was loaded with assistance, and unloaded quickly.

I have had passengers on board with......upright Dyson vac, plasma tv, chest of drawers , wicker chair, metal bed frame. professional fishing gear, golf clubs, 100 flower pots, sack truck ...

Are gas cylinders allowed ? if containing non flammable gas ?
I recently carried a cylinder of carbon dioxide on a local train without problems, but not certain if it is actualy allowed.

CO2 has a classification of Dangerous Goods even though it is non-flammable and non-toxic. Class 2, I believe.

The National Rail Conditions of Carriage specify that 'Dangerous Goods' may not be carried on passenger trains and one would assume they'd used the same classifications as for other forms of transportation.

I know you can take a dog with you on the train, but I'm unsure of the rules with regards the seats.  Last time I took Echo with me on the train, a member of staff approached me and said "You're not allowed to have the dog on the seat, madam" to which I replied "She's not on the seat, she's sitting on my lap - she sulks if she can't look out of the window".  The gentleman rolled his eyes heavenward and wandered off, shaking his head.  I'm not sure whether he could have insisted that I made Echo sit on the floor?

The NRCoC state
So to me that means Echo can have a seat as long as you pay for her to have that seat.

Of course, just because there's rules doesn't mean that everyone follows them ...

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/chairontrain.jpg)

Aldgate East, 4th Feb 2014

But the NRCoC also state:-

I guess it is possible that a large dog sitting in front of an empty seat would effectively render it occupied, which might be where the charge point comes from.  Or maybe it's only relevant for the scenario of a container placed on a seat.

Perhaps she was worried about not getting a seat.  (Puts bringing your own decaf teabag into context*) ;D

* See other thread http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13625.0 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13625.0)

Yes, but Echo wasn't sitting on the seat, or in front of a seat, she was sitting on my lap, where she was taking up less room than if she had been sitting on the floor!  I guess we had the other passengers on our side, as they were all grinning conspiratorially at Echo, I think the conductor, or whatever they're called these days, couldn't be bothered to argue.

I have always believed that dogs and other animals are not allowed on seats even if the seat is paid for, but would presume that a dog on the owners lap is fine.

On a near empty train I must admit to having placed a dog on a seat, but only after protecting the seat with a blanket carried for the purpose.
No matter how empty the train may be, most people would object to a seat covered in dog hair from the previous journey. Therefore officialy, NO DOGS ON SEATS, unofficialy it seems to be turned a blind eye to provided that there are plenty of vacant seats, AND the seat is protected by a clean blanket or other suitable article.

Ive seen someone (attempt to) use a microwave in the quiet coach on a late night service. Needless to say it tripped the plug sockets.

Hair straighteners.
George foreman grill.
 

Taking chairs on the underground may not be unique to the picture I took ...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2566684/Was-Hammersmith-Sit-y-line-Tube-passenger-avoids-battle-seat-bring-office-chair-journey.html

There's a whole gallery of them...
http://usvsth3m.com/post/77698382197/anarchy-in-the-uk-hipsters-are-taking-their-own-chairs

From Arriva Trains Wales ... http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/AssistanceDogs/


It says nothing about payment for the blocked seat, and I would suspect that payment is not required

Dog
Pushchair
Suitcases
Bicycle
Backpack
Children
Umbrella

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/takeme.jpg)

In the final planning stage of the Melksham Carnival Walk for Saturday (all welcome  ;D ) and the group is going to comprise entirely things that you can take with you on the train. Each to be labelled in the parade with a "take me on the train" logo.

Question - have I missed anything out?   Would anyone else like to join, normally or exotically, within the guidelines?  Delighted to have you, pick up ahead of time from Melksham Station / drop off afterwards available.   Also available on the way back - limited lifts to Chippenham as the last train will be gone north before the parade ends.

P.S. "Wheelchair" difficult to ask anyone ... but I would be delighted to help push someone in a wheelchair around if there's someone who's appropriate and willing to do that for us.  An important group of users, but there's a sensitivity to asking.

........a train set  ::) :P  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wooden-Circular-Train-Travel-Case/dp/B00C1ZXC7K

A horse?

(http://now-here-this.timeout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/horse-train1.jpg)

 :P ;) ;D

Yeah ... I was the one to attend a very serious rail conference and wave a 1/72 model of 153382 around and say "we need[ed] a train".   Those of you who have a copy of the line brochure will note that 153382 appears in the illustration above the time summary inside, on a Swindon train at Trowbridge.   Perhaps I should take a model of a class 172 on the walk?

And on the same basis as I don't want to go back to a horse drawn tram - this is not Wrexham and I am not taking a pony  ;)

A Compaq DL360 G1?

(http://denisg.net.free.fr/images/dl360g1.gif)

It was in 2008 back in my days of being in Taunton... Said Server fits just nicely on the Large Luggage Rack of a HST.

I have also transported an HP ML115 G5 Server, HP XW4400 Workstation and Several Tools/IT Servicing Equipment which upon a stop and search by a Police Officer could and has in the past left me with a few questions to answer...! :-\ :-[

I don't have one to hand.   Are you joining us tomorrow, and if so can you being one along?  ;D

With thanks to @bjm2000uk (http://twitter.com/bjm2000uk) on Twitter. This lovely photograph:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BsbWQdnCUAAPS9L.jpg)

How Many bikes allowed on one train?

From the previous photograph, I would say two - a tricycle and a spin cycle