Bikes

Train travel with a bike

At Avanti West Coast, bikes and train travel go hand in hand whether you’re cycling as part of your commute or heading further afield for an active weekend away.

Taking bikes on the train has never been easier, with bike reservations making it a breeze. Bike reservations are mandatory, but it’s free to make a reservation, and you’ll have a stress-free journey without worrying about how to get your bike to your destination and back.

How to book a bike reservation

There are a few ways to book a bike reservation on an Avanti West Coast train.

When booking your ticket

The easiest (and best) way to book your Avanti West Coast bike reservation is to do so when you’re booking your train ticket. Whether booking on our website or the app, you can choose to reserve your bike under ‘travel extras’.

After booking your ticket

You can also reserve your bike space after you’ve made your booking. Simply log in, head to ‘My Account’, and find your booking. Once selected, click ‘Manage booking’ then ‘edit travel extras’.

At the Ticket Office

You can also make a reservation at the station by visiting any staffed Ticket Office.

Over the phone

You can call us on 0345 528 0253 and select option 5. Here, you can speak to our team who can book the reservation for you.

Please note you will need to print your bike reservation for it to be valid, so please ensure you do so prior to boarding.

Tips for taking a bike on the train

• Please ensure your tickets and bike reservation are collected/printed in good time. You can do this on the day, or in advance of your journey at any station with a ticket machine.
• When taking your bike on the train, be ready to board at least 10 minutes prior to your train departing. Be sure to speak to staff who can tell you where to stand, and open the door to the bike storage if they need to.
• Please ensure all bags and panniers are removed from the bike.
• Once onboard, check in with the Train Manager and let them know you have a bike. They’ll arrange for the bike storage area to be opened on arrival at your destination.
• If you’re booking a seat reservation at the same time as your bike, we’d recommend being seated as close as possible to your bike to easily retrieve it when getting off. You won’t be able to wait in the bike area during your journey.
• If your train is cancelled, please head to the Ticket Office to get help booking your bike on the next train with bike spaces available.
• For children’s bikes (ages 5 and below), you will not need a reservation.
• Travelling south from Haymarket? Your bike can't be loaded there due to the short platform, so you'll need to book and travel from Edinburgh Waverley in order to travel with your bike.
• Travelling to or from Motherwell? Your bike can't be loaded there for operational reasons, so you'll need to book and travel from Glasgow Central with your bike.

All property is left at the owner’s risk. First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Limited, trading as Avanti West Coast is not liable for any loss, theft, or damage to property.

Bikes we do and don’t accept on Avanti West Coast trains:

Bikes we do accept on trains:

• Standard bikes, with the following maximum dimensions:
• On our Pendolino trains, a maximum bike length of 210cm when stored vertically, or 150cm when stored horizontally.
• On our Evero trains, if your bike handlebars are 70cm or over and there’s another bike in the storage area, you may need to store your bike by the rear wheel.
• On all our trains, if your bike tyres are wider than 5.5cm, you may need to let air out of your front tyre to store your bike safely in the racks. If your bike has tyres measuring over 7.4cm or rims deeper than 50mm, you’ll need to book two bike spaces.
• Any bikes which can’t be correctly and safely stored in the onboard bike storage may be refused.
• Folding bikes, which can be stored securely in luggage racks without a reservation if the wheels are under 20" in diameter, or should be reserved and stored in our bike area if larger.
• Tandems (on Pendolino trains only, and two reservations are required).
• Road legal e-bikes, provided they are similar in size to a standard bike:
  
  
  • These are electric bikes that are pedal-assisted with a motor that generates a maximum continuous rated power output of 250 watts and do not provide electrical assistance when travelling at more than 15.5 mph.
  • For more information, please read the full e-bike policy.

Bikes we don’t accept on trains:

• Unbooked bikes
• Motorcycles
• Tricycles
• E-scooters

For safety reasons, bikes not in designated areas of the train will be removed.

Train station bike storage

Are you a regular cycle commuter, or need to leave your bike at the station when you travel? You can sign up to use our Bike Hubs at:

• Birmingham International
• Coventry
• Preston
• Rugby
• Runcorn
• Stafford
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Warrington Bank Quay
• Wigan North Western

They’re fully enclosed, secure spaces with 24-hour key fob access and have CCTV monitoring for added security. There are plenty of spaces at each station, and some even offer bike hire and maintenance to make it even easier to get around on two wheels.

Learn more about our Bike Hub

All property is left at the owner’s risk. First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Limited, trading as Avanti West Coast is not liable for any loss, theft, or damage to property.