Anyone taken their V8V on the car train to Livorno

[Laser Sag]

Autoslaap do air line style evening meal and rolls for breakfast as standard but you can book a meal in the restaurant if desired

[IanV12VR]

Anyone got any idea of the unloading procedure? On Le Shuttle you drive on and drive off. Just looked at the video on the Autoslaap sire and it looks like you reverse off? Not sure I fancy that if there is so little leeway for error. You would need to make sure you were the last one on the carriage. Any experience?

[Laser Sag]

IanV12VR said:

Anyone got any idea of the unloading procedure? On Le Shuttle you drive on and drive off. Just looked at the video on the Autoslaap sire and it looks like you reverse off? Not sure I fancy that if there is so little leeway for error. You would need to make sure you were the last one on the carriage. Any experience?

Not sure on that one, their FAQs section says it is usually first on first off. Wonder if they also take them off from the rear of the train at the same time to make it a bit quicker.

[IanV12VR]

Thanks for that. If using FIFO then should be drive on and off I would have thought. Their video does show someone reversing off but as you say could be to save time. I have emailed then so will let you know what the response is - if any.

[Laser Sag]

Be interesting to hear thanks, wonder if they will comment on the width of the Vantage.

[IanV12VR]

Got a quick response which advises as follows:

"Thank you for your email.
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage has been travelling with us several times.
We advise a maximum width of 1.85, but we can take cars with a width till 1.90.
The wider the car, the higher the risk of damage to your rims because of the bars aside the trailer.

At the destination you can drive your car off facing forward."


So the clearance to the bars is 3.5cm - less than an inch either side so not a lot of room to go off line before you hit the bars on very low profile tyres? I am still undecided

[Laser Sag]

Interesting reading Ian, I need to get 2 of my wheels refurbed, think I will leave it until after the trip to Italy now.

[montecristo]

Thank you Ian. I think I'll go for it. There can't be much damage at 2mph, it will be like hitting a very small kerb very slowly.

Or buy some Ben Hur protection.

[hanny1973]

I hadn't considered the train myself but it sounds like a good option. We usually holiday is Tuscany every summer and it would be great to take the car down there.

It's a bit pricey though, >£2k are there any alternatives?!

[W1111AM]

Just caught up on the gassing below. I am travelling down to Livorno now as well, 25th July on Autoslaap. after my magic Swiss Passes routes planned, we will be coming back on DB Bahn from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf. When are you travelling to Livorno?
I note the wheel width worries, got me worried too for my HRE's
Anyone got any more updates/experiences on either train company?

[Laser Sag]

No update William but I will be back by the 25th so will let you know how it goes on the Autoslaap.

Edited by Laser Sag on Friday 20th June 17:13

[W1111AM]

Laser Sag said:

No update William but I will be back by the 25th so will let you know how it goes on the Autoslaap.

Edited by Laser Sag on Friday 20th June 17:13

Crazy, I am getting on the train as you get off on the 25th . We board between 12-2pm!

If I know anything about the German's, I bet their DB Bahn trains are superior to the Autoslaap (anyway, what type of name is that, can't be a fetish train service to Italy can it ? I shall look for your smile to reveal the secrets!

[Laser Sag]

W1111AM said:

Crazy, I am getting on the train as you get off on the 25th . We board between 12-2pm!

If I know anything about the German's, I bet their DB Bahn trains are superior to the Autoslaap (anyway, what type of name is that, can't be a fetish train service to Italy can it ? I shall look for your smile to reveal the secrets!

Hi William

Back by the 25th in this instance means back on the 20th so my smile or lack of will have been on here as feedback for a few days before you set off.

[Laser Sag]

So after an eventful trip, another thread was started on my clutch problems, I can say that you would have to be a much better driver than me not to take out a rim when loading/ unloading at Livorno.
Denbosch is fine as apart from one carriage everything is in a straight line and although tight it is manageable. However if you are at the back end of the carriages for disembarkation(2nd off for me luckily) or when loading at Livorno then as the track is on a curve I would say it is almost impossible to avoid hitting the nearside front on each carriage.
I'm glad I left the refurb until after the trip!!!!
You might get away with it if you can get someone to act as your eyes at the front of the car but I think it would take an age to get on or off that way.

Also noted they had trouble with broken rear screens on several of the vehicles on the upper deck on both the Friday and Saturday journeys, they said pressure in the tunnels but am more inclined towards vandals with air rifles or similar.

So best bet is first 4 or 5 cars on at DenBosch(first carriage off at Livorno so straight) and last four or five on at Livorno(carriage nearest loading dock so no curve to contend with)
By the way if you are first car on at DenBosch then be prepared to wash the used toilet paper off your car at the other end, toilets discharge straight onto to the track at the back of the carriages.

As an overall experience it wasn't perhaps up to the standards I was expecting, think 30 plus year old rolling stock, food in the restaurant was good but if using both ways go for fish one way and meat the other or you get exactly the same meal on both trips (bit boring).
Air con was not very effective except in the restaurant car which made for a very hot return trip in particular, staff are very helpful and efficient and do their best to make up for any shortcomings.

[W1111AM]

Laser Sag said:

So after an eventful trip, another thread was started on my clutch problems, I can say that you would have to be a much better driver than me not to take out a rim when loading/ unloading at Livorno.
Denbosch is fine as apart from one carriage everything is in a straight line and although tight it is manageable. However if you are at the back end of the carriages for disembarkation(2nd off for me luckily) or when loading at Livorno then as the track is on a curve I would say it is almost impossible to avoid hitting the nearside front on each carriage.
I'm glad I left the refurb until after the trip!!!!
You might get away with it if you can get someone to act as your eyes at the front of the car but I think it would take an age to get on or off that way.

Also noted they had trouble with broken rear screens on several of the vehicles on the upper deck on both the Friday and Saturday journeys, they said pressure in the tunnels but am more inclined towards vandals with air rifles or similar.

So best bet is first 4 or 5 cars on at DenBosch(first carriage off at Livorno so straight) and last four or five on at Livorno(carriage nearest loading dock so no curve to contend with)
By the way if you are first car on at DenBosch then be prepared to wash the used toilet paper off your car at the other end, toilets discharge straight onto to the track at the back of the carriages.

As an overall experience it wasn't perhaps up to the standards I was expecting, think 30 plus year old rolling stock, food in the restaurant was good but if using both ways go for fish one way and meat the other or you get exactly the same meal on both trips (bit boring).
Air con was not very effective except in the restaurant car which made for a very hot return trip in particular, staff are very helpful and efficient and do their best to make up for any shortcomings.

Thanks so much for the heads-up, I am travel on Friday, DenBosch to Alessandria - looking forward to that now
Luckily I will have my track wheels fitted not my HRE's
so with your advice, my plan is: 4th car on, lower level on train, take my own food
The way back, we are going with the German DB Bahn from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf (I know the Germans are great at trains so fingers crossed this will be a better experience...)

[IanV12VR]

Thanks Kevin. Some very useful tips and thanks again for sharing.

[Laser Sag]

W1111AM said:

Thanks so much for the heads-up, I am travel on Friday, DenBosch to Alessandria - looking forward to that now
Luckily I will have my track wheels fitted not my HRE's
so with your advice, my plan is: 4th car on, lower level on train, take my own food
The way back, we are going with the German DB Bahn from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf (I know the Germans are great at trains so fingers crossed this will be a better experience...)

William you should be fine as I say all the boarding at DenBosch looked to be straight, can't comment on Alessandria unfortunately. You should be put on the lower level automatically so that won't be a problem.
If I did it again I would take a decent cold bag with what I class as a good French picnic in it ie half a chicken, bread, wine, cheese(not for me though)ham, beer etc as it would make a fine way to while away several hours. Don't let them see your alcholol though as that is a no no, take some milk as well, their coffee is OK but that powdered milk is not.
Be interesting to read your thoughts on the German train.
And of course hope you have a good time, we did even without the Vantage for a couple of days.

[Laser Sag]

IanV12VR said:

Thanks Kevin. Some very useful tips and thanks again for sharing.

No problem at all, I probably haven't covered everything so if anyone does have any questions then please ask away.

Ian is the V12 the same width as the V8 edge of wheel to edge of wheel?

Edited by Laser Sag on Monday 21st July 19:07

[IanV12VR]

Laser Sag said:

IanV12VR said:

Thanks Kevin. Some very useful tips and thanks again for sharing.

No problem at all, I probably haven't covered everything so if anyone does have any questions then please ask away.

Ian is the V12 the same width as the V8 edge of wheel to edge of wheel?

Edited by Laser Sag on Monday 21st July 19:07

I am pretty sure the V8S and the V12VR are the same width.

I had decided sometime ago not to risk my alloys on the train and quite fancied adding a few days to our trip by taking the ferry from Plymouth to Santander and then travelling across the South of France to meet up with the others in Livorno. The group will have 10 Astons on the train varying from DB6V through to another V12VR so the info you have provided will be of great help to those who will be on the train. All are fully aware of the risks and wanted to experience the train on the way down so hopefully that part of the trip will pass without too much excitement.

[W1111AM]

Laser Sag said:

W1111AM said:

Thanks so much for the heads-up, I am travel on Friday, DenBosch to Alessandria - looking forward to that now
Luckily I will have my track wheels fitted not my HRE's
so with your advice, my plan is: 4th car on, lower level on train, take my own food
The way back, we are going with the German DB Bahn from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf (I know the Germans are great at trains so fingers crossed this will be a better experience...)

William you should be fine as I say all the boarding at DenBosch looked to be straight, can't comment on Alessandria unfortunately. You should be put on the lower level automatically so that won't be a problem.
If I did it again I would take a decent cold bag with what I class as a good French picnic in it ie half a chicken, bread, wine, cheese(not for me though)ham, beer etc as it would make a fine way to while away several hours. Don't let them see your alcholol though as that is a no no, take some milk as well, their coffee is OK but that powdered milk is not.
Be interesting to read your thoughts on the German train.
And of course hope you have a good time, we did even without the Vantage for a couple of days.

Many thanks Kevin for the great advice. We are doing exactly as you recommended - taking a cool bag with yummy goodies and maybe a little alcoholic beverage! Maybe even take a live chicken so we can cause distraction to the guards by letting it lose in the train - we can then have a glass of wine