EuroStar then TVG

[Simon_m]

Hi there, I've seen a few posts in the past about your experiences taking the bike on the EuroStar and then the TVG. I've had a quick look at their sites and it seems cheap and easy enough. Looking to get some sun over an extended Easter weekend. Flights are real expensive except for getting down to Nîmes on Ryanair from Luton.

Anyway, the bike would be in a bikebox so not a problem. How have you found it? booking? problems? issues? etc? Thanks

 

[andym]

A couple of things (actually four things).

I'd suggest changing at Lille. There are then a couple of trains a day that go direct to the south of France without changing.I've been told that the people who unload the trains will let you pick up the bike on the platform rather than having to collect from the official collection place, but I don't know this from direct experience.

It depends a bit on how big your bike box is. eurostar isn't particularly an issue as you'll have to cough up £30 anyway, the major issue could be on the TGV. The last time I did this route all of the trains were doubledeckers with limit space in the luggage racks.

Book the TGV via capitaine-train.com - the sncf website for the UK market is a rip-off.

You might want to consider the night train from Paris Austerlitz as you can take undismantled bikes on it.

 

[robgul]

Quick comments:

Eurostar
- have a bike service but the deal is changing with boxed/unboxed bikes - call them to ask
- I don't think you can take a bike and get off at Lille (only Paris or Brussels)

Captain Train
- the best booking service AND you can book bikes with them online (unlike sncf)
- Lille - Marseille trains are usually more expensive than going via Paris (with about 80 minutes Gare du Nord - Gare Lyon transfer)
- not many TGV trains to S of France take bikes (at the moment - it's improving)

Alternative
- le Shuttle Bike Service through the tunnel to Calais (take HiSpeed St Pancras to Folkestone West) - then TGV and/or local trains (again Captain Train) southwards

Rob

 

[andym]

The changes to eurostar's bike policy only really affect people wanting to carry undismantled bikes. If you're planning on carrying your bike in a box or bag then it makes no difference (if you're wanting to travel with an undismantled bike then you may need to put your bike in a box provided by eurostar - not exactly a big deal).

The eurostar bike service does operate to Lille.

All non-folding bikes or those over 85cm long will need to travel with our registered luggage service, Eurodespatch. This is available from London, Paris, Lille and Brussels, and we have a couple of options for you to choose from.

http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/bikes

Cheapest fare from Lille to Nice is 79€ and from Paris 43€. I assume the eurostar fare would be a little bit cheaper. I've carried a bike in a bag from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon and nearby stations, and to be honest I'd rather pay a bit more for the easier change. If you have an undismantled bike then cycling across Paris is dead easy.

- not many TGV trains to S of France take bikes (at the moment - it's improving)

Do you have any more information on that? I was thinking 'well that's good news' but then I looked on voyages-sncf.com for a sample day (2 May) and sadly I couldn't find any services on the Paris-Nice line that had bike-carriage facilities (south-west France is another matter). Worryingly I also couldn't find the night train to Nice and Marseille that I referred to - even though I have a ticket for it for April (that may just mean that the tickets for the service haven't been released yet).

 

[srw]

Eurostar now go all the way to Avignon and Marseille all year round - no need to change (but on the way back you do need to get off the train at Lille for border formalities). We did it years ago to Avignon when it was just a summer service - a very civilised way to travel.

 

[Simon_m]

That's great, will look at prices again. I see from May, (i think), that from Kings Cross it is direct to France, no change at Paris. Was hoping to find some sun this easter.

 

[andym]

I'm sorry guys but you can't take bikes on the direct trains to the South of France. eurostar offer a courier service, but it isn't cheap.

We’re not able to accept non-folding bikes or those over 85cm long on Eurostar trains between London or Ashford and Lyon, Avignon and Marseille, but we can arrange for your bike to be picked up and delivered at your destination with our partner First Luggage. As a Eurostar traveller, you’ll get an exclusive discount.

All of the information is on the eurostar site, the link is in my previous post. It really is worth a quick look. (Yes I know: "Where's the fun in that?")

 

[Simon_m]

in a bike box it should be fine though?

http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/bikes

ah I see, it might be dispatched later but if it is oversized luggage, ie in a bike box, it should be ok?

 

[Simon_m]

Update, most flights to somewhere warm over easter were well expensive. Just checked again now and to Nimes with ryanair for two people and a bike is £291 return. Not bad at all! The train was going to cost around 232euro per person down to the South then the bike issue. hmmm

 

[chaingangclub]

I'm going to be covering this in a blog post soon, I travelled from London to avignon via Paris using the TGV and eurostar

 

[robgul]

I stand corrected on the bike to Lille bit (it WAS the case that you couldn't)

TGV trains south from Paris to the Med: very, very few (if any) have bike spaces (most are double-decker carriages) BUT they will in due course according to an SNCF chap I spoke last time I was on a TGV.

It's a shame that Eurostar doesn't take bikes to Marseille - they have to use the spaces for additional catering supplies for the 7 hour journey and passengers tend to have more/bigger luggage on that route so they also have to allocate some seating (with covers over the upholstery) to store cases.

As before - CaptainTrain.com is THE source of French train information/bookings with details of TGVs that do or don't take bikes - and the ability to book them with the passenger tickets in one transaction (unlike sncf)

Rob

 

[andym]

in a bike box it should be fine though?

http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/bikes

ah I see, it might be dispatched later but if it is oversized luggage, ie in a bike box, it should be ok?

If you book your box or bike on the train it will travel with you - so long as you turn up in good time. If you turn up without a reservation then the bike/luggage goes on the next available train. If your bike is in a box then there's a bit more flexibility, but if there's a big tour group then you might be out of luck. According to the ever-helpful eurodespatch people mid-mornings in summer can be iffy.

If you're in any doubt and the eurostar website doesn't answer your question then talk to the eurodespatch people. They are your best bet if you want a definite answer to the 'Can I ...?' questions.

 

[Simon_m]

ah right thanks for that info. I was thinking of a few weeks time, so out of season and it would only be the two of us. Really need more people on here to do the trip with bikes so to get real time feedback

 

[Simon_m]

something strange i have just noticed while "booking tickets" to get prices. on the English SNCF site, it seems to cost more to book a party of 2, then 2 individuals. Not sure if that applies to other sites like captain train etc. the SNCF is coming up cheaper if booked two single people.

 

[dellzeqq]

try Loco2. https://loco2.com/