First time I’ve seen this. On an intercity train in Andalusia, Spain.
Doubly useful because they also serve to hold the bike in place. In France some trains have (lockless) racks with bungees which you pull over the bike.
Both ideas seem to be experimental replacements for the more common hanger racks (where you hang the bike by the wheel). Those were never great for tourists with paniers and they’re becoming untenable in the era of weird-geometry bikes and, um, fat lazy electric ones like the one you see there.
I don’t fully understand the coin-operated part yet! Is it like a shopping trolley where you get the coin back at the end? And does anything stop someone else coming and unlock it? Or do you use your existing lock to tie it to this cable?
I certainly prefer these to the hanger racks. Those are just awful and add so much stress, especially when you join the train in the middle of a route, people are milling around, and you’re trying to jam this bike into a really awkward space while people stream past you. I actively avoid taking my bike on those routes because it’s so stressful, the strap/bungee alternatives are much better.
Yes.
You turn the key and out comes the key! Like coin-operated lockers in train stations. Better not lose the key!
Agreed about the hangers. It’s always a mess, they only really suit skinny racing bikes. And everyone else needs to babysit their bike if only to stop it rolling away.
This time with the lock I actually went and sat in a normal seat elsewhere for once! I’m sold.
Ohhhh, that’s awesome! I want one of these on my trains :D