Anyone taken their V8V on the car train to Livorno

Anyone taken their V8V on the car train to Livorno

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Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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Hi All
Thinking of taking the V8V down to Italy and looking at the possibility of using the Auto Slaap car train from Den Bosch to Livorno to give more time down there.
Has anyone taken their V8V on the car train? was it OK, their website says 1.85m outside edge of wheel to outside edge of wheel and I make the Vantage 1.87m by my measurements. Don't want to pay for something I won't be able to get on.
I currently have the sportspack wheels on mine are the standard wheels any narrower? or have a different offset?

I know there will be plenty of responses to say drive it there and back but I want to weigh up the different options.

Any help gratefully received.
Kev

MollyGTi

2,353 posts

153 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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I don't know quite what the Livorno car train is like but we took our V8S on the Oberwald train so you might like to look that up for comparison.



The surrounding passes were all closed and this was the only way to get to our hotel. Unfortunately I can't find any photos of the carriages that I can share but they were an open-sided frame arrangement and going through the mountain tunnel sat in your car but not driving it felt quite bizarre! ….. All added to the Alpine Tour experience though smile (Petrolhead Nirvana Alpine North 2012)

AMDBSNick

6,990 posts

161 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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Molly,

Shouldn't you be doing some knitting instead of messing around on here hehe

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
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Thanks Molly will see what restrictions that train shows up on the internet.

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Wednesday 29th January 2014
quotequote all
No where near the restrictions on that one as there is on the Livorno one but thanks for the suggestion Molly.

IanV12VR

2,749 posts

154 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
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I hope someone does reply to this one because my AMOC Area is planning a trip down to Tuscany in September and are going to go on the railway to cut down on driving. If anyone does have experience of using the service it would be great to hear from you.

I am not convinced it will be OK so it would be good to put my mind at rest.

avinalarf

6,438 posts

141 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
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IanV12VR said:
I hope someone does reply to this one because my AMOC Area is planning a trip down to Tuscany in September and are going to go on the railway to cut down on driving. If anyone does have experience of using the service it would be great to hear from you.

I am not convinced it will be OK so it would be good to put my mind at rest.
This may help you....
Italy is the most popular motorail destination of all, and no wonder. Although there are no motorail trains from Calais or Paris, there are excellent motorail trains from 's Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands & Düsseldorf to Livorno & Alessandria in Italy. 's Hertogenbosch & Dusseldorf are just 2½-3½ hours drive from the channel port of Dunkirk. Here are those options in more detail:

Dutch Motorail (www.autoslaaptrein.nl, click here for details) runs overnight high-quality motorail trains from 's Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands to Livorno (near Pisa, ideal for Tuscany) and Alessandria (north of Genoa, in Piedmont), once a week on Friday nights between April & October. 's Hertogenbosch is a 3 hour drive from Calais or only a 2½ hour drive from Dunkirk, or there are direct ferries from Newcastle, Hull & Harwich to Holland, making it especially convenient if you live in East Anglia, the North of England or Scotland. With proper sleepers as well as couchettes, an elegant restaurant car, great staff and (on the Livorno run) a wonderful evening journey along the scenic Rhine Valley past the famous Lorelei Rock, this is a great way to get you and your car to Italy. See here for details & an illustrated account of the service.
German Motorail (www.dbautozug.de, click here for details) runs overnight high-quality motorail trains from Düsseldorf to Alessandria once a week April-October. Düsseldorf is a 3 hour 45 minute drive from Calais, a 3 hour 20 minute drive from Dunkirk or a 2 hours 30 minute drive from Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam or Amsterdam where the ferries from Harwich, Hull & Newcastle arrive. With online booking, cheap Auto Spezial fares if you pre-book and pick your dates carefully, economical couchettes and modern sleeping-cars, some with private toilet & shower, this is also an excellent way to reach Italy with your car.
There is also info on the seat61 website.



Edited by avinalarf on Thursday 30th January 17:05

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Thursday 30th January 2014
quotequote all
The Auto Slaap site is very good but in the literature it states a maximum width from outside edge of wheel to outside edge of wheel of 1.85m and my measurement as best as i can get is 1.86m. While 10mm isn't much difference I was hoping to find out if there is any tolerance on their measurement. Logic says there must be or else people would be taking out wheel rims all the time but someones personal experience would put my mind at rest on the matter.

montecristo

1,043 posts

176 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
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Laser Sag said:
The Auto Slaap site is very good but in the literature it states a maximum width from outside edge of wheel to outside edge of wheel of 1.85m and my measurement as best as i can get is 1.86m. While 10mm isn't much difference I was hoping to find out if there is any tolerance on their measurement. Logic says there must be or else people would be taking out wheel rims all the time but someones personal experience would put my mind at rest on the matter.
Any update on the width allowed? On their reservations page, you can book a car up to 1.69m in width.

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
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Hi James

From the booking confirmation form max sizes are:-

2.13m wide
1.85m outside of wheel to outside of wheel
1.55m high standard
1.55m to 1.68m high on request (only a few spaces per train for the extra height)

Hope that helps.
Kev

MollyGTi

2,353 posts

153 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
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Ah - are we talking something more like this? wink


Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
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Hi Molly

A lot more civilised as its about an 20 hour journey. Cars go onto open double decker transport carriages and are locked into place using bars infront of and behind the wheels between rails set into the carriage floor.
Passengers have choice of seats or compartments with seats that convert into beds, restaurant on board for evening meal, breakfast, bar etc.
Arrive in Livorno offload car and enjoy Italy.

Chunnel is very useful for the short hop to France though.

montecristo

1,043 posts

176 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
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Laser Sag said:
Hi James

From the booking confirmation form max sizes are:-

2.13m wide
1.85m outside of wheel to outside of wheel
1.55m high standard
1.55m to 1.68m high on request (only a few spaces per train for the extra height)

Hope that helps.
Kev
Thank you. I'll go out and measure the wheel to wheel on the Vantage. Since the specs say 1.865m width, it looks like the train is not an option.

(either way, it's good to know about this train, I wasn't aware of it)

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Sunday 2nd February 2014
quotequote all
James
I am working on the fact that the wheel to wheel measurement must have some tolerance built in as it must be for getting between the rails on the carriage and I can't see them being set at the 1.85m or else most people would be running over the rails while driving along the carriage.
The video on their web site shows a 911 turbo waiting to board and they are about as wide as the Vantage.

wokkadriver

695 posts

241 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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Laser Sag said:
James
I am working on the fact that the wheel to wheel measurement must have some tolerance built in as it must be for getting between the rails on the carriage and I can't see them being set at the 1.85m or else most people would be running over the rails while driving along the carriage.
The video on their web site shows a 911 turbo waiting to board and they are about as wide as the Vantage.
Best you get your tape measure out and check!
Aston's spec sheet states the maximum width without mirrors is 1866mm, the tyres don't stick out as far as/further than the bodywork (unless you've slammed it like a Golf tongue out )

I had no idea about these train options - thanks for the tip!

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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Hi Jonnie
According to my measurements the Vantage is 1.855 to 1.86 metres wide tyre edge to tyre edge. Overall width gives around 150mm clearance.
Will find out early July if I have made a mistake, hoping not.

DBDV8

60 posts

128 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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I used the DB Autozug from Dusseldorf to Munich although I was on 2 wheels at the time.
There was a lot of nice machinery on the train and the vehicle carriages are open to the elements.
I found it rather expensive and the sleeping arrangements are very cramped. Especially for 5 bikers with all their kit!!
Never spotted an Aston on the train but there were plenty 911's

Laser Sag

Original Poster:

2,860 posts

242 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
quotequote all
Hi Dave
The Autoslaap site shows a 911 Turbo waiting to go on board so am hoping not to have a problem but we will see.

It is quite expensive but it gives more time for actually exploring around Tuscany rather than driving through France which we have done a lot.
It works out about the same cost as driving down there once fuel, hotels, food etc are taken into account.

montecristo

1,043 posts

176 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
quotequote all
DBDV8 said:
I found it rather expensive
It is expensive, although by driving you'd be looking at around £300 of petrol, and a night's hotel, and wear/tear.

DBDV8

60 posts

128 months

Monday 3rd February 2014
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montecristo said:
DBDV8 said:
I found it rather expensive
It is expensive, although by driving you'd be looking at around £300 of petrol, and a night's hotel, and wear/tear.
Yeah that's why we took the train option as well.
My bike needs a drink every 100 miles and tyres don't last very long, together with tedious riding on the Autobahn it was worth it in the end.
I don't recall there being a buffet compartment on that particular train. We did get a "breakfast in a bag" dropped off in the morning by the conductor. We did bring our own "refreshments"