Tag: Arriva

October 29th – much to my irritation, I had to make an unexpected trip to Telford mid-morning. The weather was miserable and it was a grim morning – but one thing that always raises a smile is the quality of the bike storage on Arriva Trains Wales services. One of the best examples of bike provision I’ve ever seen, there are 2 spaces in every 2 car set. There’s a steel wheel support rack with car-style seatbelt to hold the bike in the rack. The whole thing is near a decently wide door with good clear access.

The space is a little cramped, but with manners and consideration it works well and is miles better than other companies, who may well allow bikes but don’t actually provide any means of securing them.

This just makes cycling life a little easier, and is very welcome.

October 28th – 6:00pm, Walsall Bus Station. Oops. The bus was touching the railings, and I suspect the driver was touching cloth. Although no significant damage appeared to have occurred, the bus was halted here for some time.

Ironically, the advert on the side is promoting bus driving as a career. 

March 7th – A short visit to Telford again today. A foul commute to Shenstone first thing; heavy rain and a thankfully assisting wind made for a damp, miserable start to the day. Leaving Mid-afternoon, I emerged blinking into a sunny, if breezy afternoon. I took an Arriva train back to New Street. Thankfully, it was one of the refurbished 158 sets. Old 158’s (and their siblings, 153 ‘dogboxes’) are possibly the worst trains to get bikes on and off, with a narrow bike bay that is almost impossible to get an adult bike into. The refurbished units have made the best of a bad job by opening the bay out, fitting it with wheel bender racks and a curious seatbelt securing arrangement that actually works quite well. The solution is still cramped, however, and the doors make these trains challenging. 
I was also taken with the clearly well used and loved ladies Dawes already in the rack; almost a Mixte frame, but not quite, that seems like an unusual arrangement at the back triangle. Love the panniers though, and the clip for the bar-basket. I never came into contact with the owner, sadly. It looks like a fun bike to ride.