Bikes & cyclists
Space for bikes on trains is limited so, to make your journey easier, make a reservation for your bike in advance.
Choose date & time
Close ✕You can book up to 90 days in advance.
Looking for dates further in the future?
Train operators can only release tickets for sale up to 90 days in advance.
But don't worry, you don't have to miss out - be the first to hear when tickets are available with our FREE ticket alert.
Email me when tickets become available
Your journey
Going departing after
You can take your bike free of charge on CrossCountry services.
You're advised to reserve a space for it before you travel - bike reservations are free and can be made via Twitter (@crosscountryuk) or through Facebook messenger (facebook.com/Crosscountrytrains) for services operated by CrossCountry. We are not able to reserve cycle spaces for travel on another train operator. Alternatively you can reserve a bike space at a station prior to travel.
On most of our trains we have two reservable bike spaces and one further space for unreserved bikes. Bikes without a reservation will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and can only be carried subject to space being available. If you have a folding bike, we request that you fold these up and place them in luggage racks.
Please check where you should store your bike when you make your reservation. Bikes must be carried in the designated area of the train - we can't carry bikes in aisles or vestibule areas as they can cause an obstruction.
Travel Advice
Please check whether any track improvement work is taking place which could affect your journey - see Travel updates. We're sorry but bikes can't be carried on any rail replacement road transport services.
You can find out where to store your bike on our trains here.
For information to help plan a cycle and rail journey including: station facilities, number of cycle parking spaces, local bike hire and cycle policies visit National Rail PlusBike – the one-stop shop for combined cycle and rail journeys. Download the PlusBike leaflet.
Restrictions
For safety reasons, our on-board staff can refuse to allow bikes on board if there is insufficient space on the train. As space is limited, we are unable to convey tandems, tricycles, bike trailers, motorbikes, scooters, e-scooters, mopeds or motorised bikes on any of our trains. Electrically assisted pedal cycles (EPAC, ebike or Pedelec) where power doesn’t exceed 250 watts, a license isn’t required, and the bike is the same size as a non-electric bike, may be carried subject to available space.
Our policy states we are unable to convey e-scooters on our trains.
To reserve a space for your bike and for more information call us on 03447 369 123 (Option 3)*.
*(Calls to this number are charged at 7p per minute, phone networks may charge an additional fee)
Hiring a bike
Brompton Dock, a folding bike hire company offers the public, including train passengers, anytime access to folding bikes at a number of storage docks situated on the CrossCountry network, providing an end-to-end travel solution.
CrossCountry passengers have access to docks at the following locations:
- Birmingham New Street
- Bristol Parkway
- Bristol Temple Meads
- Guildford
- Manchester Piccadilly
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Reading
- Southampton
- Stoke-on-Trent
Docks are situated within close vicinity of the station building, usually the station car park or entrance. For a full list of locations and details of how you can hire a bike please visit the Brompton Dock website for further information.