In reply to Flinticus:
Hi
I have circumvented the Bus and Train rules about transporting bikes a few times. I just didn't tell them that my dodgy looking package was actually a bike.
Removed the wheels, wrapped both of them together fully in heavy duty black bags and Gaffer tape.
Then wrapped the frame in black bags and Gaffer tape with extra padding on the forks, dropouts etc (balls of kitchen roll wrapped in Gaffer for extra padding).
These two packages can even be taped together with a mini wheel attached to the rear dropouts of the frame like a wheelie suitcase.
For the return journey, take the bags and tape in a rucksack and repeated the whole wrapping process.
It's a bit of a faff but it depends how much you want your bike with you.