Bikes on trains

Our policy on cycles

With so many great places to cycle in the South East it’s not surprising that people want to take their bike on the train. Find out more about cycling by train, when and where you can take your bike.

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Ticket to ride?

You can take your bike on any of our Off-Peak services, which includes any time at the weekends and on Bank Holidays.

If you have a folding bike (one which folds in more than one place, such as a Brompton) this can be taken on any train, at any time. But they must be folded before being taken onto the platform and remain folded throughout the journey. You can also hire a Brompton folding bike at four of our stations – find out more about our bike hire scheme

If you have a regular, non-folding, bike, you can't take this on our peak time services arriving or departing from London, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays). 

Peak times are –

• Arriving into London: between 7am and 10am
• Leaving London: between 4pm and 7pm

Please note, if you are travelling in the "opposite direction" during these times then you can take your non-folding bike (i.e. you can take your bike on a train leaving London between 7am and 10am).

Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays)	Folding bikes allowed	Non-folding bikes allowed
Trains arriving into London between 7am and 10am	Yes	No
Trains leaving London between 7am and 10am	Yes	Yes
Trains arriving into London between 4pm and 7pm	Yes	Yes
Trains leaving London between 4pm and 7pm	Yes	No
Trains running on routes which don't serve London (e.g.   Sittingbourne to Sheerness) any time	Yes	Yes
Trains running to / from London at all other times not listed       above	Yes	Yes
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays	Yes	Yes

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Electric bikes, tandems, tricycles

You can take an electrically-assisted pedal cycle as long as it’s similar in size to a normal cycle. Power-assisted cycles without traditional cycle-style pedals aren’t allowed. We don’t allow tandems, tricycles, handbikes, motorcycles or cycles with trailers on our trains.

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Bike security and storage

If you’re bringing your bike on the train, please don’t lock it to any part of the train or leave it unattended. 

If your bike would obstruct other passengers when they’re getting on or off, or standing, we may ask you to remove it – or not to bring it on board – even at times when bikes are normally allowed. If a member of train or station staff asks you to remove your bike from the train, you must do so. If we can’t let you board because there’s no room for your bike, our staff will help you find another train.

Most of our stations have bike racks or lockers. For full details, check our station information.

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Bikes on rail replacement bus services 

If your train is cancelled you won’t be able to carry your bike onto a replacement bus service.However, you might be able to fit a folding bike in the luggage area if there’s enough space.

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Secure cycle hubs

At selected stations, Southeastern has introduced additional secure cycle parking within hubs with restricted access limited to users who register for the service. The hubs are fully enclosed and have dedicated lighting and CCTV and a guaranteed space for your cycle.

These following Southeastern operated stations have secure cycle hubs:

• Ashford International
• Canterbury West
• Dartford
• Elmstead Woods
• Folkestone West
• Gravesend
• Greenhithe
• Knockholt
• Maidstone East
• Orpington
• Paddock Wood
• Strood
• Chatham
• Tonbridge
• Slade Green
• Whitstable
• Clock House
• Elmers End
• Petts Wood
• Welling
• Sidcup

New hubs with reduced fees opened in 2023:

• Birchington-on-Sea
• Dover Priory
• Folkestone Central
• Marden
• Margate
• Walmer
• Westgate-on-Sea

Opening soon:

• Swanley

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Questions about our services?