Anyone gone to the Alps by train?

[RhythMick]

We're heading out there at Easter and I was looking into the options. Been told it's a great experience

 

[Radchenister]

Mate of mine is out there that way for the second time this season, he's got a place there, flash git - not jealous honest. Eurostar to Paris and a swap I think, then all the way to Bourg-St-Maurice: easy access to many mountains and ski resorts from there (it's in the Isere Valley).

 

[TVC]

A couple of years ago we did the Swiss Alps in the Jungfrau and the Eiger. Flew to Zurich (you can take the train via Paris if you want), then rail to Interlaken with a weeks pass for the mountain railways in the area. Great walking and some of the best scenery in Europe. We went with these people:

http://www.stc.co.uk/walking_holidays_jungfrau.html

We stayed in a small family run hotel in Wengen at the beginning of the season in June, would certainly go again.

 

[Radchenister]

I've flown to either Geneva, Lyon, Munich, Milan or Zurich and picked up a hire car. When young, before kids and full of life/energy, I used to drive it in one hit; as a family, we've driven several times, taking our time and staying in Campanile or Formule1 (+ the occasional posh hotel) to make the journey part of the fun.

I've never used the train but would love to, as it is reported to be very civilised, the reports I got recently are that Mrs Mate sat watching films, mate was on internet, kids played like at home rather than fighting and arguing. If you sort a hire car or taxi/train/bus the other end, or are off on your bikes, then it's got to be one of the best ways to travel.

If you're in a position to do it, I would go for it - it's on my list of opportunities missed and I will aim to achieve it some day.

 

[TheDoctor]

I have.
Pros
It's less hassle than flying, quicker than driving and nicer than both.
And the scenery is good, the trains are comfortable and you can always get up and go for a walk. To the bar, if nothing else

Cons
It's a royal faff if you're taking skis
Then, depending which trains you take
You always seem to end up waiting ages at Lille, and there's no left luggage office
Or you get no sleep on the overnight Eurostar to Bourg St Maurice
Or you don't get any skiing till Sunday on the daytime Eurostar to B St M, so you might as well have driven

If you're travelling with just a rucksack or case, then yes, it's ruddy brilliant.
If you're taking skiing kit, I wouldn't.
And if you're taking a bike, Eurostar have made it extra-hasslesome

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Yes, but never with a bike or winter sports equipment. And it helps that I love train travel and would rather eat worms than voluntarily fly if trains are available.

 

[TheDoctor]

I can personally vouch that Sicily is a bloody long way away by train.
Barcelona is closer, but even Corsica is only an overnight ferry and a day on the train.
And a weekend tour of Champagne by train and Brompton is a very good, if slightly silly, thing to do.

 

[Globalti]

Everybody should travel once in their life on the TGV, it's an amazing train. First the lines are so smooth that there's almost no rocking movement and second it's so fast and powerful that the lines go up and down some very steep hills, there's no need for a flat route as there was in the old days of steam trains. The train attacks hills with a rise in the motor noise then there's a feeling of lightness as you go over the crest and sinking as you drop down the other side.

 

[TheDoctor]

I know.
Seems a bit of an overreaction - I've never seen anyone else with a bagged bike on there.

 

[Hover Fly]

I used to do London to Lille with a bagged cycle fairly often. To be honest I do see their point, one bike could take up an entire luggage shelf and could stick out into the passageway. I was never keen on doing it and when I knew in advance I was taking a bike would travel first class and arrange with the train crew to travel in the separate compartment which I think was meant for criminals (it had one comfortable seat and a bench with manacle attachments). I managed to travel at quiet times so was usually the only one with a bike, I can imagine the disruption 3 or 4 cycles could cause.

 

[TheDoctor]

I travelled in the coach that has space for a wheelchair.
Fewer seats but just as much luggage space, and you could stick a bike in the wheelchair space if it wasn't needed.
I love the way that a Eurostar train can't cope with a bike bag, but is perfectly suitable for 766 pairs of skis!

 

[thom]

I've done London to Geneva and then Geneva to Chamonix. Also Grenoble to London.
Both were done with bike boxes. I really liked it because I prefer not to fly.
The London - Paris section required pre-sending the bike because as a large package it would not go on the same train as me. On the way back, the bike was on a different train and I picked it up the day after.
I think you have an RER connection in Paris between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est but if you are outside rush hour you are kind of OK if you take your time.
You need to make some kind of reservation for the bike on the TGV but with that, everything is cool.
On my trip through Geneva and on to Chamonix, the train out of Geneva went from a quiet station on a local line. It's a nice journey on those trains if slow but they have place on the trains for sports equipment like bikes hung up or skis, so it is straightforward and pretty civilised.

Have you any specific questions ? Which part of the Alps are you trying to go to ?

 

[Hover Fly]

I think you have an RER connection in Paris between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est but if you are outside rush hour you are kind of OK if you take your time.

Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est are practically neighbors, Gare de Lyon is the terminus for trains to the alps and is on RER line D.

 

[TheDoctor]

I got from G de N to G de l'E in under ten minutes, and that included getting the Brom out of the bag and unfolding it.
G du N to Gare du Lyon - we've done it in 35 minutes but we practically gave ourselves heart failure in the process. Doing it with a bike box doesn't bear thinking about.

 

[thom]

I got from G de N to G de l'E in under ten minutes, and that included getting the Brom out of the bag and unfolding it.
G du N to Gare du Lyon - we've done it in 35 minutes but we practically gave ourselves heart failure in the process. Doing it with a bike box doesn't bear thinking about.

Yes, Gare du Lyon is the one - I did it alone with bike box (with wheels), backpack and large luggage. If you take your time to find the lifts, it is OK.