Bicycle in Transit in Europe
-
- Posts: 194
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:27 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby Brenchen » Mon Oct 29, 2012 5:10 pm
I am currently in France, and looking to go to London for a few days via train. For the ones that have been on this trip or something similar, knows that usually you need to first transit from one train station to another in Paris first, which goes through a series of subway lines.
Once you get on the station and get on the train towards the UK, then you get out at Liverpool (this was what I was told) and you change a train again before reaching London.
The the questions I have are; with all these transiting, including going through customs, am I allowed to carry my bike fully assembled (because I will be riding it) through these parts, also does London Underground allow me to carry a bike as well?
Thanks in advanced.
Brendan
- toolonglegs
- Posts: 15463
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
- Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby toolonglegs » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:01 pm
Eurostar... You can't take an assembled bike, you can book a bike though, 20 or 30 euros each way and it goes to a separate drop off point... Not sure if it has to be partially disassembled though.
London tubes...depends, not in rush hour, not on certain lines so depends where and when you are going.
-
- Posts: 194
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:27 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby Brenchen » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:04 pm
Proly spend a bit more and just take a taxi...
- Sprocket
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:07 am
- Location: Perth, WA
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby Sprocket » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:05 pm
Looks like you would need to bag it for the Eurostar part anyway, unless you want to cough up £60 for the return trip. You can find most of the information you need about the international part of your trip here: Eurostar
- Sprocket
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:07 am
- Location: Perth, WA
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby Sprocket » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:06 pm
- il padrone
- Posts: 22931
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
- Location: Heading for home.
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby il padrone » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:20 pm
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
- toolonglegs
- Posts: 15463
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
- Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby toolonglegs » Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:52 pm
-
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 7:34 pm
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby scirocco » Tue Oct 30, 2012 9:53 pm
There are high speed trains to Lille along lots of routes, including from Marseilles/Nice/Avignon/Lyon, from Toulouse, from Bordeaux, from Nantes/Rennes and from Strasbourg. But there may only be one or two trains per day so plan ahead.
In the UK you most definitely do not get out at Liverpool although I bet the Scousers wish you could. You arrive at St Pancras in London. Customs will not care one way or the other if the bike is fully assembled or in a box.
- toolonglegs
- Posts: 15463
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
- Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby toolonglegs » Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:00 pm
-
- Posts: 412
- Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2011 7:34 pm
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby scirocco » Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:11 pm
If in a box it needs to be less than 120cm x 90 cm as well. Eurostar will take your fully built up bike for 30 quid or free in a bag/box.
- Sprocket
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:07 am
- Location: Perth, WA
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby Sprocket » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:34 am
1. Take it on board, dismantled and in a bike bag (housse). Place in luggage area at ends of carriages. Free.
2. Reserve a place for it on one of the specific TGVs that takes bikes. Various options how to determine if your train takes bikes. Probably just easiest to ask at the station. Cost 10 euro. Doesn't need to be dismantled.
3. Send it unaccompanied luggage to your destination. Cost 80 euro.
I guess another option would be to see if you can accompany the same thing (ie getting to Lille) on the regional trains. Depends how far you are travelling from Brenchen.
-
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:43 am
- Location: Shellharbour
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby GregLR » Mon Nov 19, 2012 12:32 pm
I know it's rather late to come to this thread, but for the record these links provide information on which London Underground lines it's allowable to take bikes and when (as toolonglegs said, off-peak) - usually where the station platforms and tunnels are at or close to the surface, rather than deep underground:toolonglegs wrote: London tubes...depends, not in rush hour, not on certain lines so depends where and when you are going.
http://www.squarewheels.org.uk/bike/LUbikes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/ ... be-map.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This link provides info on taking bikes on other public transport in London as well as the Tube, including the London Overground rail network:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/11701.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I thought I'd post this info because I came by it last year when my partner & I travelled with our loaded touring bikes on the Underground and Overground. We spent time in London before & after our British 'end to end' tour.
Back in 2003 I also took my loaded tourer on the Paris Metro, when some sections of the RER were closed because of major upgrade work. I was travelling from Charles De Gaulle airport to Versailles by the RER through central Paris but had to change onto several Metro lines to continue the journey due to the RER closures. It was a real pain hauling the bike up and down stairs, and along narrow crowded pedestrian tunnels, when I had to change lines. Actually, this is also a feature when taking a loaded bike on the London Underground as well. As someone else commented, it may be easier to ride to get to where you are going.
Greg
- elStado
- Posts: 2363
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:27 am
- Location: Syd, NSW
Re: Bicycle in Transit in Europe
Postby elStado » Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:07 pm
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.