this might give you a more better perspective of width available,

Click image to enlarge

So if you go flexi plus can you go over height?

Reading the blub Flexiplus is only for cars under 1.8m? CURRENT : FFRR 2012 4.4 TDV8
GONE : Discovery 4
GONE : BMW M5
GONE : L322 Range Rover
GONE : 2007 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
GONE : SAAB 9-3 VECTOR SPORT
GONE : BMW M3
GONE : SIERRA COSWORTH
GONE : LOTUS CORTINA
GONE : MK1 MEXICO
GONE : MK2 RS2000

You go where you're put. Never paid for flexi plus, but each time I've crossed (at least once a year) I can be out in either carriage. If busy, you end up in the full height carriage. Coming back from skiing earlier this year all SUVs were out in with the coaches. I shared a carriage with 2 Discos and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Land Rover owners all chatted amongst themselves. The Jeep people just stayed in their car. Tells you something I suppose!

You can use flexiplus with vehicles over 1.8 metres however you can't access the flexiplus lounge and get your 'free' packed lunch. (a new one is being built in the next year or so to address this). However you'll still benefit from the priority boarding and the flexibility of your ticket (turn up any time and get on next train, amend booking whenever, fully refundable etc)

It doesn't cost any more to use the single deck (vehicles over 1.8m), however there is around half the capacity on the single deck, which you have to compete with Coaches, vans, caravans, long trailers etc. So you have a greater chance of getting on the train you want if you choose the double deck.

Size wise the single deck wagons can each take a 15metre coach with a box trailer on the back, so fitting a Range Rover on them isn't a problem. The double deck wagons will take a Range Rover in access mode without any difficulty, it's no worse than parking in a supermarket car park. It looks tight, but you still have a few inches above your satnav antenna. However the tip is when boarding the train resist the temptation to 'swing wide' before driving on, just keep no more than a metre from the platform edge and steer into the train gently. If you swing wide you just make it really difficult to straighten yourself up when you get on board. Driving past the toilets it means you have to steer around them, but so long as you go carefully and not too fast it's ok (the road way has a 'layby' bit opposite the toilet for you to do this). Don't stop next to the toilets while you're loading, keep back a bit and wait for the crew member to call you forward. They will guide out and around so you're parked with a bit of gap either side and are able to get out of your car.

Being as we all have automatics, make sure you apply your handbrake, not just leave it in Park (as many people with automatics do. it's the law that you apply your handbrake when leaving the vehicle anyway!). But consider the train weighs 3000 tons, travels at just under 90mph and it can fully stop from full speed in 800 metres (within its own length), it's not going to do your gearbox a lot of good, if you only hold it on Park.


guess where i work........

Zirconblue so just to clarify, I can book Flexiplus and when ready to board just head the normal way to overweight vehicles.

Not too bothered about the Plus Lounge to be honest. CURRENT : FFRR 2012 4.4 TDV8
GONE : Discovery 4
GONE : BMW M5
GONE : L322 Range Rover
GONE : 2007 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
GONE : SAAB 9-3 VECTOR SPORT
GONE : BMW M3
GONE : SIERRA COSWORTH
GONE : LOTUS CORTINA
GONE : MK1 MEXICO
GONE : MK2 RS2000

That's right, when you check in, buy a flexiplus ticket or use the flexi check in lane if you've prebooked, and follow the route without the height barriers. you'll be queued up with the high vehicles. I can't remember if there is a specific allocation lane for high Flexiplus vehicles (as staff i rarely use it). You should still get priority boarding, but bear in mind that doesn't mean you'll be at the front of the train, you may well end up at the back of an earlier train.

The lounge is being relocated in the next year or so, so that i'll be accessible to high and low vehicles. There is lots of work being done on both terminals to deal with all the extra traffic in the next 5 years.

Yup, just put a 322 on a standard carriage for the first time because there was no room in the "high" space and can confirm they go on, but my god aren't they close to the 1.85m height barrier (even when locked in low).

I truly expected something to touch the height barrier!

Do they actually touch it in normal mode? 2016 (L405) Autobiography in Black with Ivory - for ULEZ
2014 (L405) VSE in Black with Ivory
2011 (L322) VSE in Black with Ivory
2005 (3.2 V6) Porsche Cayenne in Black with Savanna
1999 (P38) VSE in Burgundy (?) with Sand

My 2007 used to rub the roof antenna on the bar across the approach - even lowered, but plenty of room once actually on the train

I always go in the overheight never been directed to the twin deck carriage or been delayed.
Watched Sports go in the twin deck it looks very tight on height. Mine was a blue one!

Some L405 in standard height pics here

Always FlexiPlus and standard height for me

They look a lot worse that it is as they drive on. Just keep it steady and not too fast so it doesn't bounce.

VW Transporters, Merc Vito's, and most of the 4x4's all fit, though they don't 'look' like they will. There are some roof boxes that wont go even when fitted to relatively small cars. Defenders, are far too close for comfort.

Although the barriers and height detectors are set at 1.8m, i think the actual train is 2m to allow a margin for error.

had a rant at the bloke in the kiosk, who wasnt going to let me onto the high bays one time. He relented when i pointed out that i had actually booked the high bay in the first instance. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

you can always get a place as a high vehicle, it just depends how long you want to wait. There is twice the capacity for low vehicles and there aren't trailers or long vans to worry about so you have more than double the chance of getting straight onto your chosen departure if you go with the low vehicles.

Personally i'd choose the double deck (low vehicles), because you're going to avoid the risk of being stuck with coach loads of screaming kids.

A D3 at access height goes in the low carriages, handy when travelling with kids as there are more loos

Alistair wrote:

My 2007 used to rub the roof antenna on the bar across the approach - even lowered, but plenty of room once actually on the train