Travelling with a bike on the TGV
Travelling with a bike on the TGV
Shortly I will be cycling from Caen to Montpellier and returning to Caen via Paris by TGV. My bike - partly dismantled - will be in a CTC plastic bike bag. Has anyone else travelled on the TGV with a bike and what has their experience been? I have heard many accounts of the difficulties of taking a bike on french trains.
- jamesgilbert
- Posts: 316
- Joined: 5 Feb 2013, 4:25pm
- Location: Lyon
Re: Travelling with a bike on the TGV
The TGV you will be taking from Montpellier to Paris doesn't have any bike spaces, so you are right, you will need a bike bag. The maximum dimensions are 120cm by 90cm, and it will just be considered like normal luggage. The train will probably be a double-decker, and if you can I'd recommend trying to get the bike upstairs as the luggage racks are huge.
If the bag is larger than these dimensions then you may have problems. The instructions on the SNCF website are quite clear: http://www.bikes.sncf.com/your-bike-on- ... in-france/
The Paris to Caen train takes bikes free of charge, so no need to worry about that part of the journey.
If the bag is larger than these dimensions then you may have problems. The instructions on the SNCF website are quite clear: http://www.bikes.sncf.com/your-bike-on- ... in-france/
The Paris to Caen train takes bikes free of charge, so no need to worry about that part of the journey.
Re: Travelling with a bike on the TGV
.... and if you are booking French railway tickets take a look at www.capitainetrain.com - brilliant service and online bike bookings (where you can) on TGV trains.
... more and more of the TGVs are taking bikes wheeled on - may be worth having a look at the online timetables (not all trains on the same route take bikes - have a look at services either side of your preferred time)
Rob
... more and more of the TGVs are taking bikes wheeled on - may be worth having a look at the online timetables (not all trains on the same route take bikes - have a look at services either side of your preferred time)
Rob
E2E http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
HoECC http://www.heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
Cytech accredited mechanic . . . and woodworker
HoECC http://www.heartofenglandcyclingclub.org.uk
Cytech accredited mechanic . . . and woodworker
Re: Travelling with a bike on the TGV
I took a bike wheeled on to the TGV from Paris to Bordeaux. It was all very easy. The hardest bit was getting our bikes from street level to the concourse at Montparnasse Station!
Got my tickets from the voyages-sncf call centre. They were very helpful except for when it came to explaining the tickets. It wasn't clear whether we'd be sitting next to our bikes, in the same carriage as our bikes or even in a different carriage. And as there was nothing on the ticket to state that we had a bike reservation I predicted some difficulty when it came to boarding the train.
It turns out I needn't have worried. The bikes were stowed leaning against some fold-up seats and we had our own block of seats right next door. I think the seats are only available to those with bikes, so showing we had them reserved was enough evidence to get our bikes onto the train.
I'd definitely do it again.
Got my tickets from the voyages-sncf call centre. They were very helpful except for when it came to explaining the tickets. It wasn't clear whether we'd be sitting next to our bikes, in the same carriage as our bikes or even in a different carriage. And as there was nothing on the ticket to state that we had a bike reservation I predicted some difficulty when it came to boarding the train.
It turns out I needn't have worried. The bikes were stowed leaning against some fold-up seats and we had our own block of seats right next door. I think the seats are only available to those with bikes, so showing we had them reserved was enough evidence to get our bikes onto the train.
I'd definitely do it again.
Re: Travelling with a bike on the TGV
Thank you for all your replies. I was simply getting anxious - needlessly so it seems. But thank you.