Railtrails Australia: bikes on trains & cycling tourism

South Australia’s urban rail system has bike carrying capacity, at least for off peak services. Railtrails Australia is keeping an eye on how other State railways are responding to the bike carrying issue.

In Victoria there is an increasing number of rail trails and a growing visitor/tourism interest in using trains to gain access to trails. The issue of bikes on country trains is therefore attracting attention.

The newer Sprinter trains in Vic have very limited capacity for luggage and no facilities for carrying bikes. The even newer trains coming into service will apparently be not much better.

Older V/Line trains do have a guards cum luggage van,and can also include a D van, although these are not fitted internally for damage-free storage of bikes and there are only four or five D vans still in service.

V/Line admits having a problem. Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club, Railtrails Australia, Bicycle Victoria and two railtrail committees – Murray to the Mountains and East Gippsland – have taken their concerns about poor customer service and lack of facilities to V/Line management.