Find out more about taking bikes on trains in the uk. The following intercites lines do not usually need a reservation for bicycles. Taking bikes on french trains a guide for cyclists. Go to the booking office a day before with all the documents photocopies like insurance, bike registration certificate. The rules for taking bikes on board differ for each carrier and train operating company toc, so its best to check before booking your trip. Folding bikes are allowed on all french trains as hand luggage if theyre bagged and often also if theyre not. Here are some tips that will help you to make an informative decision on how you should take your bike on train or not. I have read that there is a possibility of carrying bicycles on tgv trains, however my long term experience indicates differently.
Bike reservations whether a bike needs to be reserved to take on board. One way to reduce the cost of car rental is to book on the internet from the usa and to use an airline discount or other code. Bring your bicycle onboard part of the joy of a journey by train is the ability to explore the stops along the way, and what better way to do that than by bike. Sep 21, 2009 virgin trains cycle policy dictates that you call and book a place for your bike before travelling. At national rail we encourage the combined use of train and bike. For a list of trains and stations check out the accompanying map and schedule. We strongly advise that you pre book your bike space before you travel to avoid disappointment. Transporting your bicycle by train, bus, air or car in europe. There is space for 2 fullsize bikes in each train some services are made up of more than one train. All trains have limited bike space, typically three to six spaces per service. Due to on train space restrictions and for customer and staff safety, we are unable to accommodate tandems, tricycles and nonfolding cycle trailers on our trains. Using the french sncf website to book bikes on trains.
Scotrail dont allow motorbikes or mopeds, including electric mopeds on any of our services. Strain has introduced oneway traffic in the new bike compartments to make it easier and faster to get on and off. You can book and pay for this conveniently in one step when you buy your ticket for all intercity and eurocity trains in germany. Cycles in a larger bag up to 120 cm, 15 single or unfolded bikes 25 single from brussels, 29 from paris may be indicated on the day of departure in the registered baggage service.
You can find out if your train has bike accommodation by simulating a research for your travel on the website. It is self service and there is no booking required just turn up and go. Where you cant book a spot, spaces are given on a first come first served basis. New highspeed trains go slow on provision for cyclists. Italo italy you can take a folded bike on italo trains free of charge, if it is stored in a bike bag and its no larger than 120 x 90cm. Please note, fully assembled bikes are generally not allowed on board tgv trains, which are the trains from paris to nice. You can also reserve a spot onboard for your bike at travel centres and stations, right up to the time of departure. If you are travelling on an intercity train, you must book a space for your bike in advance. The other advantage of regional trains is that theyre often 2550% cheaper. Xtra bikes on the strain cycling embassy of denmark.
Most commuter train companies have an outright ban on nonfolding bikes at peak hours. Bicycles on trains in italy some travelers rent bikes for a few hours of riding in the chianti countryside, or book a spot on a bike tour of a city as a different way to explore. Longdistance trains may let you on, but youll usually need to book. Take the opportunity to discover numerous great destinations. This will reduce the bikes weight and make it easier for you when lifting your bike onto the hook. Read the instruction posters in the cycle space area. Secure your bike by hooking it onto the metal hoops provided.
Virgin trains cycle policy dictates that you call and book a place for your bike before travelling. Reservations for bikes are mandatory on all our intercity express trains and you must have evidence of your reservation with you when you travel. Bikes without a reservation will be accepted on a first come. Bikes on trains our on board services emr east midlands. While all bikes go on the train for free, sometimes you may need to book a space onboard for your fullsized bike. Traveling with bicycles on trains in italy italiarail. In general, trains with a seat reservation system also have a bike reservation system. Book your train tickets and check train times online at great western railway. Buy train tickets and check train times great western. If these bike spaces are already full, you may not be able to bring your bike on board. In europe, trains are generally as fast, and often much faster, than automobiles. You wont be charged for bringing your bike on board.
I am travelling in a group of 5 on a bike tour of the mosel and rhine. Bike carriage on uk trains is free, though many train operating companies now require users to book bike space ahead of travel, either online or, as with gwr, by calling the companys customer. If youre travelling at peak times, bear in mind that commuter services usually have very limited space. Collect your ticket from any station with our quick and easy booking tool. However, the most common train for longdistance travel is the highspeed intercity express or ice. You have to collect it from destination parcel office within 6 hours of train arrival for early morning trains, this timer starts form office opening time i. Only true folding bicycles bicycles specifically designed to fold up into a compact assembly are acceptable. Travel at low price with tgv, tgv bruxelles france and intercites prems tickets and find low fares with eurostar, tgv lyria, thalys and izy. I have used the tgv from paris to lyon and other destinations since 1985. If the folding bike can be placed under the seat, packaging is not necessary. Folded cycles are carried free of charge and without restriction, except for the additional requirements for the following specific services. To travel with your bike, you need to book a space separately to your train ticket.
For fully assembled bikes or folded bikes that do not meet the criteria above, please contact eurostar directly to book you bike into their luggage service. Within germany, there are many intercity and regional trains with special bicycle places. Paris, strasbourg, bordeaux, nice, lyon, marseille, london, amsterdam, and more. The size of the bike storage is the same on all of our trains. On c2c and stansted express, the folding bicycles should be transported in a protective carrying case.
I will introduce you to the different types of trains including comments on classes of passengers, smoking sections, bicycle cars, and reservations. You can take your bicycle or a surfboard on a sydney or intercity train for free at any time. You can bring a folding bike on any emr train service, provided it can be stored safely in the luggage racks. This is particularly true for local trains, but also most intercity ic trains. Book cheap train tickets with the low cost train ouigo. Bike hire at stations or nearby with links directly to them. Oct 26, 2009 even worse, the government is proposing that the longerdistance highspeed trains to replace much of the existing fleet will have even fewer spaces for bikes with space for just four bikes on. You can travel with a bike on nearly all domestic longdistance and commuter trains. Bikes on transit regional transportation authority.
If you are ready then you must book train ticket in online or at railway reservation counters. Take your bike by train from the uk to france, italy, spain. Only two bikes are allowed per trains at the following stations. If you are booking the bike parcel as luggage, then you must be ready to travel along with the bike in train. You need a bicycle ticket and reservation to take a bicycle on an intercity train. On c2c and stansted express, the folding bicycles should be. Folding bikes under the dimensions of 34 x 15 x 48 860 x 380 x 1120 mm are permitted on all trains in lieu of a piece of carryon luggage. If you are found travelling with a bicycle during peak times, you may be asked to leave the train until an appropriate service is available. For all other trains in the uk, there are similar rules. Folding bikes are treated as luggage and can be stored in the luggage areas.
These tend to be longdistance mainline and intercity services. I want further add that if you book bike by parcel. Bikes on trains on board carriage rules about taking bikes on a train specific to your rail journey, how many bike spaces are available and what types of bikes are allowed. If the service displays a bike icon see right then the train can carry bikes. Transporting your bicycle in europe by train, air or car. Travel regionally and discover germanys most beautiful spots. If youd like to ride our rails with your bike, we offer a number of different services to transport your bike onboard.
Folding bikes that are placed in the luggage rack must be packed in a cover, bag or suitcase for safety reasons. Take your bike by train from the uk to france, italy. You can bring your bike aboard any sncf train as long as theres space available. Please note, to avoid damaging the ontrain electrical circuits, scotrail cannot allow e bikes to be charged via the plug sockets on our trains. Folding bikes and bicycles that have been dismantled do not need a reservation if they are in a bicycle bag that can fit above or underneath your seat. Reserve your preferred seat via the graphical seat display. Even worse, the government is proposing that the longerdistance highspeed trains to replace much of the existing fleet will have even. Trains on the algarve line have a dedicated compartment with special hooks for holding bikes. Seville metro is a new system and only has a few lines but allow bikes on all the trains except during rush hours on working days 7. Folding bikes under the dimensions of 34 x 15 x 48 860 x 380 x 1120 mm are permitted on all trains in lieu of a piece of carry on luggage. Eurostar trains folded bikes in a bag under 85 cm travel free.
If your intercite train does need a bicycle reservation, you need to book your bike in when you buy your own ticket a surcharge of 5 or 10 usually applies. In those early years this was indeed no problem, provided of course that the bike was appropriately packed in what used to be called a tgv bike bag available in france. Be aware though that while some lines have plenty of regional services, other are much more limited. If youre planning to take your bike on the train, find out everything you need to know before you travel with great western railway. Bikes placed in a bike bag measuring 120 x 90cm front wheel dismounted and folding bikes can be carried free of charge.
As space is limited, we are unable to convey tandems, tricycles, bike trailers, motorbikes, scooters, mopeds or motorised bikes on any of our trains. Bike spaces must be booked before the day you travel they cant be reserved on the day. To reserve a space for your bike and for more information call us on 03447 369 123 option 3. Pictures of forms and my bike being packed are at the end of the answer. I understand that there is an express train on this route, which takes bikes. Due to ontrain space restrictions and for customer and staff safety, we are unable to accommodate tandems, tricycles and nonfolding cycle trailers on our trains. On commuter trains, bikes can be transported free of charge in the designated spaces.
Amtrak bike faqs amtrak tickets, schedules and train routes. Bikes on trains, belgiumluxembourg cyclechat cycling forum. Trains in germany are as complicated as they are anywhere. Passengers with foldup bicycles are permitted to travel at any time as long as they are contained in a carry bag and are within the following dimensions, 90cm x 70cm x 36cm. Bike rack equipped cars will be available on select weekendholiday and select weekday trains from april through october. Bikes must have a reservation tyres measuring over 7. The south shore lines bikes on trains program is now being offered on two a. On most of our trains we have two reservable bike spaces and one further space for unreserved bikes. Even if you can find a space, squeezing a bike into a packed train of commuters is no fun for you or them.
On eurostar trains travel between france, belgium and the uk at the london, paris, lille europe and brussels terminals, bikes must be checked in at the luggage checkin desks. To make sure it travels on the same train as you, book in advance from. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Following that, i offer a few tips on trains for travelers. On that line, you must book a space for your bicycle and pay a 5 fee to bring it aboard trains nos.
Trains reach all corners of france taking your bike on french trains need not be a hassle if you do a little research prior to departure and know which trains allow bikes and which dont. Board book april 4, 2017 by bob bianchini author 5. They are normally clean, comfortable, on time except perhaps in southern italy and the mediterranean region of france, flexible, and economical. The reservation for your bicycle is included in the price. If youre a cycling enthusiast, who is traveling throughout the country with your own two wheels, you should be familiar with the rules about carrying a bicycle. Jul 01, 2019 5 your bike travels free aboard daytime intercites trains not requiring reservations, except on the quimpernantesbordeauxtoulouse line. With a little patience, its easy to book using this link.
The first strains with double space for bikes are now up and running. Taking bikes on trains in spain cycle tours in spain. Taking your bike on a train in the uk is free, but you may still need to book a space for your bike. Some intercites trains require reservations for bikes and some do not. You must book your bike space at the same time as your train ticket this can not be done online. Railjet trains have bike racks for up to 6 bikes, you can add a reserved bike space to your booking for 3 if you book from zurich to anywhere in austria using the austrian railways website. Bikeable city masterclass keynote speakers and more denmark has appox. These can be found on the web for various rental companies and airlines or affinity groups. You can book your bike as parcel in train is two ways.
Folding bikes are allowed on all french trains as hand luggage if theyre bagged and often also if. Rail europe does not currently offer bike reservations for these trains so you should book directly with the rail operator. How to make a bike reservation for french trains online. Flying through the parks, the woods, and your neighborhood in the fresh air can be a wonderful escape from your daily stresses and worries.
1191 681 1105 1574 16 544 1239 278 396 977 365 82 1197 153 607 1564 364 256 276 1275 794 1154 1504 563 137 1010 913 64 398 755 1477 527 827 803 847 530 83 223 738 272