Bikes on Buses and Trains

Buses

If you want to take your bike on a bus in Norfolk and the fens, it seems you can if it folds and you put it in a carry bag/box, except for the few services which are standing-room-only. In practice, you'll probably be allowed a cleanish folded unbagged bike, as long as the bus isn't too full and you're not an idiot about it, but I'd take a bag if you've got one, just in case. You are very unlikely to be allowed to take a full-size bike on and even a bagged or boxed full-size bike will be at the mercy of the driver because it's oversize luggage.

The Formal Details

Lynx operate the Marham, Three Holes and some Hunstanton coastal routes. Lynx Frequently Asked Questions says "Unfortunately normal bikes are not allowed on board a lynx bus. However if you have a bike that fully folds up you're welcome to bring this on board and stow it in the luggage pen."

First operate the Excel Peterborough-Lynn-Norwich-Yarmouth route. First Eastern Counties conditions of travel section 7.8: "Folding bicycles are permitted on board our buses, provided that they are stowed safely and that they do not block the aisles or access to seats."

Stagecoach runs the 505 Lynn-Spalding route and some services from Wisbech. Stagecoach conditions of carriage: "Folding bicycles, safely and securely stowed in the designated luggage area in a suitable bag or box, may be carried on all vehicles".

Go To Town operate town circulars, Tuesday Wisbech-Three Holes-Downham Market services and some weekly shopping services and say "Non-folding bicycles may not be carried on any WNCTP Ltd vehicles. Folding bicycles, safely and securely stowed in a suitable bag or box, may be carried on all vehicles" in their conditions of carriage.

Coach Services (number 40 to the Brandon/Thetford area) tweeted: "Folded bikes will be accepted in a suitable carrying bag that can be safely stowed."

We have no information on the occasional services from Sanders, Fowlers, Peelings or Eagles but expect them to have similar rules.

Further Afield

For travel further afield, try atob magazine's information on coach services. Why is it so difficult to take bikes on English buses? Our colleagues at Bath Cycle Campaign tried to help bring American-style bike racks to England, but ran into a brick wall of a government agency.

Trains

Sheffield Cycle Routes keep a Google Doc of train booking methods and policies. There's a more detailed but less current bikes on trains page at cycle.travel and some details at atob magazine too.