North Somerset Cycle Campaign

UPDATE - First Great Western now run the trains franchise - so far they have continued with the much the same policy as Wessex but be vigilant for changes as they (directed by central government) have reduced the number of trains despite increased demand (December 2007)

UPDATE - Wessex drop blanket cycle ban (02 February 2005)

After extensive pressure from local and national organisations and the public, Wessex Trains have dropped their ban on cycle carriage on peak time trains. They still restrict the number of bicycles per train to a maximum of 2 for peak and off-peak trains, turning away customers even where there is available capacity. On many of their services they do not offer reservations, making rail travel involving connections further down the line a lottery for cyclists. We want to see these restrictions altered to allow cyclists to make use of already available capacity and allow reservations on all services.

The original campaign

We all want to see more cycling and better integration of cycling facilities with other forms of transport. So you might be surprised to learn that Wessex Trains introduced a policy in May 2004 to turn away some of their most loyal customers by refusing to carry bikes for 4 hours per day and also drastically cutting cycle capacity (with a maximum of 2 non-reservable cycle spaces per train) at other times.

We at North Somerset Cycle Campaign want to see the unnescessary off-peak cycle restrictons modified or abolished, because we believe it will force cyclists across the South West to find alternative methods of transport.

Even the Government’s own advice urges train operators to “ensure, as railway rolling stock is refurbished or renewed, that there is sufficient flexible space on all passenger trains to carry bicycles".