Boats on Public Transport

[clarky999]

So the only vaguely affordable flights to get to Uganda are from Manchester or Glasgow, which leaves me with a bit of a treck from Aberdeen... Does anyone have any experience of taking boats on trains or (National Express) coaches?

Cheers

[-Ginge-]

If its a playbot you can take it on a train as its under six foot. If it isnt tell them you're six foot and it's shorter than you. It'll fit in the hold spaace under a coach, it might be best in a boat bag though, and prewarn them that you have a large package...

[LucyLou19]

I think you'd be ok so long as you didn't go in commuter time, and prewarned the train so they can put it in the guards carriage :)

[Adrian Cooper]

Oh yes, the 'guard's carriage'. The carriage at the back of the train reserved for the guard and passengers' trunks; I almost remember this from the 1950s.

[Yew]

According to section 2, article 47 of the NRCoC

47. Large items of luggage and large articles
Large items of luggage and large articles may be conveyed in a luggage van if one is
available. You may have to pay a fee for this, but it will not be more than half the adult fare
for your journey. Luggage and articles conveyed in a luggage van must be clearly labelled
with your name, address and destination station and will not be released by staff until you
have proved ownership. The terms, conditions and restrictions which apply to luggage and
articles conveyed in luggage vans are set out in Appendix B.

The conditions set out in appendix B are;

A Train Company may refuse to accept Luggage or Articles in passenger
accommodation if any of the following apply:
• the restrictions listed in Condition 49 apply;
• the item would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors;
• the dimensions of the item exceed 100 x 100 x 100 cm; or
• in the opinion of the Train Company’s staff, the item is only suitable to be
conveyed in a luggage van.

Remember that between aberdeen and glasgow, and aberdeen and Manchester, there are Scotrail DMU's. These do not have a luggage car, so your boat would have to be carried in the luggage areas in either the vestibule or the passanger salooon. Then between Manchester and Glasgow, this would be a Virgin Pendolino or voyager, that again Does not have a luggage van, but a small area in the end standard class carriage.

I would suggest writing to Scotrail and virgin customer services With the dimensions of your 'parcel' and stating this it is low weight. Then if they say yes printing off the letter(s) and carring them with you. Finally, dont travel on a peak time commuter service :)

Yew

[Pat R]

Hi Clarky

I think that coach is more likely to accept your boat but prior written agreement is needed. A friend went by coach to Heathrow with no problem but on his return journey the driver refused to accept his boat. He had to ring a friend to drive to the airport to collect him.

Pat

[clarky999]

Cheers.

I guess there's no way you can courier a boat/get it delivered to the airport, and pick it up from a depot there?

[Pickle Lily]

I guess there's no way you can courier a boat/get it delivered to the airport, and pick it up from a depot there?

At that point, surely you'd be better off hiring a car or van (car is cheaper), chucking the boat in the back and driving yourself. Off hire it at the airport. Vice versa for the return.

[clarky999]

If I could drive, yeah ;D

[Pat R]

Hi Clarky

This may help in your decision.

Formal National Express Luggage Policy

You are allowed to take onto a service one or two medium sized suitcases or rucksacks (no more than 20kg per item) free of charge and one small piece of soft hand luggage. In this context hand luggage means something that is capable of being stored in the overhead rack or beneath the seat. With the exception of brief cases, no hard-shelled cases, wheelie bags or hard-framed rucksacks/back packs will be allowed on board.
We shall have no obligation to carry luggage in excess of the permitted amount or size but additional pieces of hold luggage, or ‘outsized’ items, will be permitted, subject to space being available, and on payment of a charge for each extra piece. The charges will be £10.00 single journey per item (one journey can be multi-leg) or £15.00 return journey per item.
Collapsible manual wheelchairs and folding pushchairs/buggies will be carried free of charge in the hold.
We may agree to carry, subject to available accommodation, additional luggage such as skis, surfboards and folding/dismantled bicycles, provided that they are packed in a suitable protective packaging.
If the customer pre-purchases excess luggage and there is insufficient room to take the luggage, he/she will have to wait for the next service where priority to board will be given.

Pat

[AnthonyS]

I take my playboat to and from uni on the train most terms. I called up CrossCountry first and was told it shouldn't be a problem. I just get a bike reservation for it and strap it to the bike rack. Takes up no more space than a bike and is no harder to get on or off the train.

[Bambi ina Boat]

You most definately have to book it in with North Eastern trains, they won't even let bikes on from Stonehaven to Aberdeen without a prior booking and have had to pick up friends before who have been caught out not knowing this regardless of your ticket they wouldn't let you travel.