Transporting firearms by train in UK?

[jubnut]

last time i had a rifle in a hard case on a train a drunk came and sat by me and says "get it out mate , give us a tune , i love life music me " i told him i wasnt much good and could only get one note out of it

is "bang" a note?

 

[8x57]

As the thread title sugests, what are the rules on taking a stalking rifle and ammo with you on the train?

Indeed is it even permissable at all? ... and... if it is, What's the drill?

Journeying from Edinburgh to Inverness, rifle broken down and packed at less than 1m length luggage and obviously all "SECURELY LOCKED".


thatPlease advise, thanks~Tom

I believe that there was a proposal a couple of years back to introduce legislation to make it illegal to carry firearms on public transport and in particular trains. I am certain that BASC responded and pointed out that sportsmen have been regularly travelling to Scotland with cased firearms on trains for the last 100 or so years without causing a problem so why change the law now. I'm not sure what the legislation was perhaps it was part of a crime reduction bill or something like that, I'm not even sure of the outcome, but if you contact BASC perhaps they can inform you.

 

[deeangeo]

I believe that there was a proposal a couple of years back to introduce legislation to make it illegal to carry firearms on public transport and in particular trains. I am certain that BASC responded and pointed out that sportsmen have been regularly travelling to Scotland with cased firearms on trains for the last 100 or so years without causing a problem so why change the law now. I'm not sure what the legislation was perhaps it was part of a crime reduction bill or something like that, I'm not even sure of the outcome, but if you contact BASC perhaps they can inform you.

+1 - It's mandatory to declare firearms/ammunition at UK Border port of entry/departure i.e Eurostar, ferry port or airport & there's not usually a problem with this. Of course with Eurostar & certain ferries travelling to/through France, no military calibres allowed.

 

[richard1951]

is "bang" a note?

Yes a pound note every time you play it .

 

[Tamus]

I believe that there was a proposal a couple of years back to introduce legislation to make it illegal to carry firearms on public transport and in particular trains. I am certain that BASC responded and pointed out that sportsmen have been regularly travelling to Scotland with cased firearms on trains for the last 100 or so years without causing a problem so why change the law now. I'm not sure what the legislation was perhaps it was part of a crime reduction bill or something like that, I'm not even sure of the outcome, but if you contact BASC perhaps they can inform you.

I am currently waiting on a full written response from Scotrail customer services. Once I have it, or 7 days have passed without an answer (per the terms they allow themselves) I'll then decide what to do next, depending on what they do or don't say. Contacting BASC is one option, thanks for suggesting it.

Jimbo123 I've already read the document in the link you posted, You're the third person to post it in this thread, but thanks anyway. As for phonecalls... early indications are they'd probably give me the wrong answer. So I decided to pass on that. If I get the wrong answer in written response I'll be able to do something about it.

I'll let you all know the outcome(s) in due course.

 

[Tamus]

The correct answer, as I suspected all along is... Yes you can.

So, I've no idea why the published conditions suggest otherwise but here's the very "drill" I asked about, graciously explained.

"Dear Mr Xxxxx

Thank you for your email dated 14 March 2012.

I can confirm that if a passenger wishes to travel on a daytime service with a firearm (Rifle/Shotgun) they must carry the item in a locked case and rifle/shotgun MUST be broken if possible. Cartridges/ammunition must be carried separately to the firearm and if possible with a separate person. The license for the firearm must also be carried.

The customer must present themselves to the BTP at the station of origin, and be prepared to show evidence of the licence and also to have the gun checked.

Thank you for contacting ScotRail. If there is anything else we can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact us again."

 

[Chanty Wrassler]

The customer must present themselves to the BTP at the station of origin,

Tamus, well done for persevering, but this reply from Scotrail falls into the "you couldn't make it up" category. How many stations have a BTP presence? (How many stations have any staff at all after about 2pm?)

Meantime boorish/ loutish/ anti social drunken behaviour on trains is ignored by the ticket collectors (can't blame them, look what happened to the guy who got stabbed a wee while back)

 

[65X55]

yes you can

 

[Tamus]

yes you can

Thanks for that brief answer, to a small part of my original enquiry.

Go to post #46 (above) for the full answer on the correct procedure to follow, where possible, which is the proper authoritative answer I was actually looking for.

 

[varmint223]

Nice one Tamus , I can now go back to the rail staff who refused to let me board the train 2 years ago with a rifle.

 

[8x57]

Nice one Tamus , I can now go back to the rail staff who refused to let me board the train 2 years ago with a rifle.

Suggestion - leave the rifle at home when you confront them.

 

[.243Ady]

I wouldn't worry to much about the journey to your stalking ground, but the return journey would be interesting if you shot something

 

[kuwinda]

You think this has'nt been done?

You've never seen a roe buck butchered and inserted into an overnight bag? (and then taken to London on the sleeper, into work the next day and only thence to the freezer)

You obviously shoot with some very staid individuals.

 

[.243Ady]

I was thinking Red , huge bag, bad back, blood leaking from bag on train, rifle, armed response unit to welcome you back
Led a shelterd life in Norfolk.