Bike on a train around France

Afro · 6 December 2007 17:03

Terry-Moto (06/12/2007)

Afro (05/12/2007)

Things are looking up…I was looking into using the Motorail train to get me to the south of France from Calais, but then discovered the prices start from £300 and the service only runs during the summer

After much Google searching and Google translation, I have found that the French national railway service SNCF run Autotrains (automobiles on trains).

It works like this…

You buy a ticket, they load your vehicle on the train and send it to your required destination.

You follow on another train overnight or during the day to meet your vehicle upon arrival. Probably a good thing that you can pay for extra insurance for the vehicle and accessories, just incase it doesn’t look quite the same when you next see it :laugh:

They run this service throughout the winter and summer, and if I’m reading correctly, a single ticket from Paris to Lyon, with my bike in transit (with me following) costs just 73 Euro :crazy:

I need to call and double check this though as it seems too cheap.

This service is not well publicised in the UK (I couldn’t find any non French website) so my conspiracy theories point to Motorail trying to sew up the market…Hmmm :hehe:

I had to Google translate the pages, but here are links to the details

Price guide (bikes called Motos)

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.voyages-sncf.com%2Fguide%2Fautotrain%2Fservice_hiver%2FParis_Lyon.htm&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8

Booking tickets

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.voyages-sncf.com%2Fguide%2Fautotrain%2Fvehicule.htm&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8

Will call tomorrow…Need to brush up my French now :rolleyes:

I’m sure thats wot I said :DHave a look on here www.snfc.com French guy that works in me office recons they will be able to help

Thanks Tel although the information is not on the www.sncf.com and is definitely not on www.snfc.com as this is the website for ‘Sara Freder the Psychic Reader’.You’re a dozy kent, but I luvs ya.

Terry-Moto · 6 December 2007 17:42

Sorry mate, I was on the freight site and me French mate who told me bout it said just knock the freight off the site name and your be able to suss it :ermm:

Maybe you should of registerd on the sikicks site and she would have pointed you in the right direction

You doing the rideout sunday ?

Afro · 6 December 2007 17:53

No worries mate and thanks for the info anyway…Not doing the Sunday rideout…Trying to save money for the trip…Hope you guys have a good day though…Weather’s not looking too good at the mo.

Benelli_Boy · 6 December 2007 18:03

Afro (06/12/2007)

Benelli Boy (06/12/2007)

If you insist on taking your bike, and also insist on NOT taking help when offered :P, then you won’t be interested to follow this link http://www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorrail/autotrain/default.asp (which is the English link to what you’re describing, reached in 2 seconds, after 3 clicks, using the maninseat61 link I gave you days ago:P:P, with no need for French translations).

If you insist on not reading then you will continue to fail to notice that I’ve examined the Motorail option and deemed it too expensive, hence the first post that says…

Afro (03/12/2007)

Besides Motorail Europe, are there any cheaper operators that allow train travel with your bike onboard?

Thanking you!

You will also fail to notice that the Motorail service runs in the summer only, hence my other post…

Now go away!

:laugh:

Just joking. B.boy

Me too (just joking), but seriously, that link I posted does take you to a UK site where they talk about the idea you describe (Autotrain. Put bike on one train. Follow on on another train. Just thought it would help you if you could do it in English)

Afro · 6 December 2007 18:11

Benelli Boy (06/12/2007)

Afro (06/12/2007)

Benelli Boy (06/12/2007)

If you insist on taking your bike, and also insist on NOT taking help when offered :P, then you won’t be interested to follow this link http://www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorrail/autotrain/default.asp (which is the English link to what you’re describing, reached in 2 seconds, after 3 clicks, using the maninseat61 link I gave you days ago:P:P, with no need for French translations).

If you insist on not reading then you will continue to fail to notice that I’ve examined the Motorail option and deemed it too expensive, hence the first post that says…

Afro (03/12/2007)

Besides Motorail Europe, are there any cheaper operators that allow train travel with your bike onboard?

Thanking you!

You will also fail to notice that the Motorail service runs in the summer only, hence my other post…

Now go away!

:laugh:

Just joking. B.boy

Me too (just joking), but seriously, that link I posted does take you to a UK site where they talk about the idea you describe (Autotrain. Put bike on one train. Follow on on another train. Just thought it would help you if you could do it in English)

Ahhh…Now I see Cheers BB