Problems using Great Western with my bike

[Gone2far]

The bike storage in the new GW trains is a pair of hanging racks. I managed to get my bike on one ,but we had to just prop my husbands next to it as we just couldn't get it on the hook.
So, at the station (Unfortunately not a terminus, so all very rushed), my dh got his out ok, but I just couldn't get mine down. I was beginning to panic, as people were starting get on the train, and I had visions of ending up in paddington.

Luckily, a nice young man helped me get it off, but I just wanted to know if other people have had similar problems

Not Great Western, I am far away from you.
But bikes on trains has been stressful for me, lately.
I'm dismayd to get so little sympathy in real life.
A lot of people declare "Well if you didn't pay for a space why should you get one?"
I wonder if they say that to parents with buggies, wheelchairs, or huge suitcases.
If I have to pay £3/bike then I may as well drive (driving finally becomes firmly cheaper).

Twitter can be a good way to get attention of a company that doesn't want to provide what is customers would like.

I have given up trying to take my bike on trains. The only decent company is northern rail where you can just turn up and there is lots of space.

Transpennine used to be OK but now say you have to book in advance and don't get me started on longer journeys where you have to change trains across multiple companies, all with their own rules.

I now drive if I am taking my bike which is shit but they make life so much harder with the train.