Travelling with your Bike by Train to Hampshire

Catching the train for your cycling holiday is fast and more environmentally friendly.  Hampshire has excellent rail connectivity from all parts of the country and big network across the county making it easy to travel with your bike and explore some of Hampshire’s finest routes.  Here’s our guide to travelling by train with your bike. 

South Western Railway

South Western Railway (SWR) network spans the whole of Hampshire and are very cycle friendly, travel with your bike for free. SWR operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis for travelling bicycles (except foldable bicycles which are accepted at all times).

Please note that if you are starting your journey  from London, no bikes (except foldable bicycles) are permitted to join trains departing from London Waterloo between 16:45 and 19:00.

You don’t always need to take your own bike, SWR have bicycle rental scheme where you  can hire a Brompton Bike from Southampton station, courtesy of their partnership Brompton Bike Hire. SWR will be adding more stations soon.

Cross Country

If you are want to get to Hampshire by train from Scotland, the North of England or the Midlands travel with Cross Country.  It is advised to reserve a space for your bike before you travel. Bike reservations are free and can be made via Twitter (@crosscountryuk) or through Facebook messenger (facebook.com/Crosscountrytrains). Alternatively you can reserve a bike space at a station prior to travel. 

Most of Cross Country services 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, these must be place them in luggage racks.

Please check where you should store your bike when you make your reservation. Bikes can't be stored in aisles or vestibule.

Southern

If you are travelling from Sussex with your bike Southern railway permit bicycles for free on their services. Please note that you are not permitted to join the train from Brighton Train Station during peak times 16.00 – 19.00 Monday – Friday (Excluding Bank Holidays).

Arriva

When travelling from Wales with your bike it is strongly recommended that you reserve your bicycle space as far in advance as possible (at least 24 hours in advance) as trains running between Wales and Hampshire only have a few carriages. Reservations for bikes are free, please call 03333 211 202. Please note that carriage of bicycles is always at the discretion of train staff, even if you have a reservation.
 

Find out more about travelling to Hampshire

Find out more about travelling in and around Hampshire