Bikes & Cyclists
Space for bikes on trains is limited so, to make your journey easier, make a reservation for your bike in advance.
On this page, you can find information on:
- How to book a bike space
- On-board bike rack locations
- Travel advice
- Restrictions (e-scooters & e-bikes)
How to reserve a bike space
You can reserve a bike space only when booking your ticket through our website; this option is not available through our app.
Look for the bike icon in the search results. You will be able to see how many bike spaces are available and whether a reservation is required, when you hover over the bike icon.
Select your ticket as normal, and in the following screen you can check a box for your bike reservation, and continue with your ticket purchase as normal. Currently, train tickets with a bike reservation are only available from station ticket machines.
Alternatively, you can reserve a bike space at a station prior to travel, or via X (@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.
If you'd prefer to call us to reserve a space for your bike or for more information, you can call us on 03447 369 123* (Option 4).
You can take your bike free of charge on CrossCountry services
You're advised to reserve a space for your bike before you travel. Our trains all have two reservable bike spaces. There is one additional space available on our Voyager trains only, for an unreserved bike. 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. Customer travelling with E-Bikes (not exceeding 250 watts), you must be able to lift and stow your bike into our bike racks provided.
Please check where you should store your bike when you make your reservation. Bikes must be carried in the designated area of the train and must be suspended from the front wheel into the top hook with the rear wheel positioned into the lower-level guide - we can't carry bikes in aisles or vestibule areas as they can cause an obstruction.
Where are the bike racks located on-board our trains?
Not sure how to tell which type of train you're traveling on? You can visit the About Our Trains page for more information.
Bike racks are in Coach D on Voyager trains:
Bike racks are in Coach F on Voyager trains with on-board shop:
On our Turbostar trains, the bike racks are located near the Disabled toilet in Coach C:
For safety reasons, this train can accommodate a maximum of two bicycles at any one time. If this limit is exceeded, you may be asked to de-train and wait for the next available service. More information on how to reserve a bicycle space can be found here.
On our refurbished Turbostars trains, the bike racks are located at the opposite end of the Disabled toilets and wheelchair spaces:
Please note: If you are seated on a fold-down seat, you may be required to vacate it to accommodate a customer boarding with a bicycle.
For safety reasons, this train can accommodate a maximum of two bicycles at any one time. If this limit is exceeded, you may be asked to de-train and wait for the next available service. More information on how to reserve a bicycle space can be found here.
Travel Advice
Before travelling, please check our Service Updates page to see if any track improvement work is taking place which could affect your journey. We’re sorry but bikes can't be carried on any rail replacement road transport services.
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.
Restrictions
For safety reasons we do not permit e-scooters on-board our trains. These pose a significant fire risk, and our on-board staff have the right to refuse you boarding our train.
We reserve the right to stop passengers from boarding when;
- There is insufficient space to allow for bikes where a bike reservation has not been made.
- Transporting bikes with oversized frames and tires.
Space is limited and we are therefore unable to convey the following on any of our trains; tandems, tricycles, bike trailers, motorbikes, scooters, e-scooters, mopeds and motorised bikes.
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 that we are unable to convey e-scooters on-board and we do not permit charging of any bikes on our trains.
*(Calls to this number are charged at 7p per minute, phone networks may charge an additional fee).