Transporting TVRs through France - on train!

[MTY4000]

Myself and a friend are taking our cars touring through Europe (Tamora & Tuscan) - Route Napoleon, Monaco, Italian Lakes, Alps then back through Germany (incl. Nurburgring - time permitting).

We are starting from London and will be travelling to France by Eurotunnel. There is then a big slog through France to get to the start of Route Napoleon - looks like about 500/600 miles or so.

We are 'considering' booking the cars onto a train for the 500/600 or so miles through France (e.g. potentially travel overnight) to maximise the amount of time we can spend driving the fun roads. [no possibility to extend the trip due to work commitments so time is at a premium...]

Any PHers transported their cars through France like this? or know the best way to begin enquiries?

I believe SNCF provide a service - but we have only the basic French at our command to discuss with the helpdesk.

Thanks in advance for any guidance,
Ian

>> Edited by MTY4000 on Monday 5th September 15:00

[blondemoment]

Hi Ian

Bookings for SNCF can be made in the UK through Rail Europe, so don't worry about a language barrier!

If you're worried about ground clearance, do give them a call - they are very helpful.

Hope this helps!

Jo

[Hughesie2]

MTY4000 said:

500/600 miles or so.

Sounds like a 6 hour drive to me, Peage and petrol stops inc

[MTY4000]

Thanks Jo, Hughesie very much appreciated.

Will contact Rail Europe to talk costs / practiacility and ground clearance - phew!

6 hours by car (with rests!), that would be absolutely fine but not sure if we'd have a driving license or our cars at the end of it! [unless speed limits are significantly more relaxed than in the UK].

Ian

[Hughesie2]

MTY4000 said:

[unless speed limits are significantly more relaxed than in the UK]. Ian

Gotta catch ya


Average cruising speed when we went to lemans was 125/130 and thats with increased Gendarme prescence on the autoroutes...

:keepempeeled:

[MTY4000]

Train fairly expensive for 2 people with two cars. £300 per car - and limited dates available.

Would make sence for a family contemplating the same thing though.

Looks like it's an v early start for us and a long drive, good job we like driving and have TVRs to do it in.

Thanks again for the help.
Ian

[rmaurer]

My wife and I put our Chimaera on the Motorail back in 2002, travelling from Calais to Avignon. It worked out at around the same cost as driving down and wasn't too bad a service. A few tips:

- Refuse to leave your keys at check in and drive your car onto the carriage yourself. I saw several cars being wheelspun onto the ramps and saw a BMW nearly airborne as they tried to jump from carriage to carriage Clearance was ok although the exhaust rubbed slightly when loading, but the car was fully laden.
- If you've held onto your keys, make sure you get the first bus from the passenger station to the car unloading place. Otherwise everyone will be waiting for you and getting grumpy
- If you are a heavy sleeper and under 6 foot, you'll sleep ok (if travelling overnight). I found the beds were a bit too short, and the driver seemed to slam the brakes on every 30 mins whick kept waking us up
- You'll arrive at around 5am the next morning if getting the overnight train - I felt shattered so was happy to only have a short hop before stopping.

Hope that helps. Enjoy it, European driving in TVRs is awesome!
Ross

>> Edited by rmaurer on Monday 5th September 21:15

[MTY4000]

Thanks Ross, very good advice. Cost: I'll reapprase the costs - it is trus petrol, tolls etc could well add up.

5:00 start sounds ideal as we would like to be on the Route Napoleon relatively early (before the traffic builds up)... I feel a plan coming together.

ps I'm 6ft 3 and broad shouldered so I won't plan on getting much sleep.. and no one is getting anyware near my keys after your description. I can feel the 'red mist' decending just at the thought of it.

Ian

[Podie]

Thought about the train, but myself and the missus decided to drive instead - far more fun.

Drum4it even went all the way to Gibraltar... and back.

[julianc]

Podie said:

Thought about the train, but myself and the missus decided to drive instead - far more fun. Drum4it even went all the way to Gibraltar... and back.

Ditto last year - we thought driving from Lancashire to Cannes was too far and hence should we take the train, but we then came to our senses and decided we'd got the Tamora to drive her!

Julian

[MTY4000]

Hi Julian,

Please may I ask how long did it took you to drive from Calais to Cannes?

Based on your experience can we realistically drive from London to Grenoble (start of Route Napoleon)in one day? We do not mind an early start.

Nice Tamora btw.

Ian

>> Edited by MTY4000 on Tuesday 6th September 13:17

[k77-widow maker]

rmaurer said:

My wife and I put our Chimaera on the Motorail back in 2002, travelling from Calais to Avignon. It worked out at around the same cost as driving down and wasn't too bad a service. A few tips: - Refuse to leave your keys at check in and drive your car onto the carriage yourself. I saw several cars being wheelspun onto the ramps and saw a BMW nearly airborne as they tried to jump from carriage to carriage Clearance was ok although the exhaust rubbed slightly when loading, but the car was fully laden. - If you've held onto your keys, make sure you get the first bus from the passenger station to the car unloading place. Otherwise everyone will be waiting for you and getting grumpy - If you are a heavy sleeper and under 6 foot, you'll sleep ok (if travelling overnight). I found the beds were a bit too short, and the driver seemed to slam the brakes on every 30 mins whick kept waking us up - You'll arrive at around 5am the next morning if getting the overnight train - I felt shattered so was happy to only have a short hop before stopping. Hope that helps. Enjoy it, European driving in TVRs is awesome! Ross >> Edited by rmaurer on Monday 5th September 21:15

hear hear!!

But it's so funny watching them trying to get out of the car!!

[griffman]

did the train journey a year ago and will NEVER do it again. had issues in paris re getting the car on, the train carriages where nothing like you see on there lovely web site and am only 5ft 9 and found the beds nasty. we decided to drive back(instead of making the return on the train)and found the journey a pleasure with lots of lovely roads and scenery and people in towns who where more than happy to stop and chap.

[MTY4000]

Thanks all,

We have decided to drive - thanks for all the advice, very much appreciated.

Can not wait to get on the road now.

Ian

[targarama]

Driving really is no hardship, esp. if you have a second driver. Even at a 90mph cruise on the Autoroute is isn't too boring (Except between Reims and Dijon - oh, that's half the journey, oops).

[k77-widow maker]

MTY4000 said:

Thanks all, We have decided to drive - thanks for all the advice, very much appreciated. Can not wait to get on the road now. Ian

You know it makes sense!!

[TVRspirit]

Hi MTY 4000,

We are just at the end of route Napoleon down to Grasse in Opio!!! Come to meet us...

Romain