Greater Anglia is advising cyclists planning to take part in this year's Dunwich Dynamo that they may not be allowed to take their bicycles back to London by rail after the event, which takes place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July.
The Dunwich Dynamo is an annual two-hundred-kilometre (120-mile) overnight ride from Hackney in East London to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. It begins at the Pub on the Park in Hackney's London Fields and ends at Dunwich Beach.
There are six cycle spaces on each of Greater Anglia's intercity trains, but the operator says that this is is not sufficient for the large number of cyclists expected to take part in the event.
On Saturday 1 July, Greater Anglia will apply its usual six-cycles-per-train rule on its main line trains, and will require cyclists to reserve these spaces in advance. Six cycles will also be allowed on local services, with places allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Greater Anglia will not allow cycles to be taken intercity or local services to or from Ipswich on Sunday 2 July, or on local services on Monday 3 July.
This is the same advice that the company gave last year, with the same explanation.
Just as last year, James Steward, Greater Anglia Area Customer Services Manager, said: “Unfortunately we are unable to support the Dunwich Dynamo as we are unable to offer mass transit for the large number of cyclists involved
“Our intercity trains have six cycle spaces each and there is no limit on the number of folding bikes we can carry, but this is not sufficient for the number of event participants.
“We are advising cyclists to find an alternative way to transport their bikes back to London.
“We're sorry not to be able to help participants, but these restrictions are in place for the safety of our passengers and these rules will also help to maintain a reliable and punctual service. We would like to thank the cyclists and organisers in advance for their cooperation and understanding.”
