Virgin Trains East Coast ‘working on’ online cycle reservations

I tweeted them (my favourite and only use for Twitter) and they said the function would be added to the new site. Positive but let's see...

A shame- unlike BehindTheBikeSheds, I've never had an issue with taking a bike on VTEC/EC/NXEC (wasn't something I ever tried in GNER days!). Even during mega disruption it's been ok- as far as securing (though of course not locking) your bike goes just do it, they're not allowed to move when there's a passenger in the "van" area.

Booking has always been a joy with that booking system, not happy they're changing it for the worse. So easy to use.

Sometimes the trains are in reverse formation, yes, but it's pretty rare- they try to keep them so that the first class is at the south end of the train. That means the bike spaces are at the south end on electrics (rear going north) and north end of the diesels (front going north).

Sadly the new "Azuma" trains will only have HST syle "hang up by the wheel" cycle storage

They've being fucking around with the reservation system since at least March when i couldn't book a single space between my connections ( Stevenage to Doncaster) on any train on any day from 6am to midnight, apparently no spaces left anywhere at all. Then when i went into the booking office, lo and behold there were spaces on the train I wanted to book, tried again in May and june and same thing. Contacted customer services and their std response is we'll get back to you in 28 working days.

Last couple of times visiting the folks I've just driven up to save the aggro.

The whole system is shite anyway, last train from Donny a few years back, train an hour late, told wrong end of the train for loading (it's usually at the rear) had to push past a hundred people to the other end of the train only for some stupid tart in a virgin outfit with the airhostess hat ask me if I wanted to get my bike on the train! Then tells me to not bother securing my bike because they are late ...what the actual fuck!

Then there's the diesel trains so you end up having to hang your bike by the front wheel and take your loaded bags off the pannier.

Then there's every single time, "I'm on the xx train, what end is it for bicycles", "have you got a reservation?" Oh ffs you know full well I have to have a fucking reservation and if you check your little sheet it'll tell you that a bike is reserved from your station numb-nuts!

Then there's the staff who don't give a shit, "can you let the guard know I'm getting off at XX" Sorry but I won't speak to the guard, you'll have to find him yourself"

Then there's being times when the guard simply forgets you've told him you're getting off with your bike at XX and they're about to pull out the station as you're waiting at the baggage coach like a plumb.

it might be cheaper than driving but the door to door including riding to Stev station (6 miles) and from Hull station to folks on the outskirts of the city (4.5 miles) it's a tad overall quicker by car even just pootling along.  I take the bike in the boot anyway and for the extra £12 it costs me in diesel and bridge toll it's worth it over the hassle and I can leave/arrive pretty much as i like.

It would be a bummer if they dropped this functionality. EC's old website not only lets you book bikes on their trains but also on other operators', even when those operators don't offer it on their own websites.

I'll be dropping them a note.