Train to the South of France ??
Discussion
Has anyone got any experience of putting their car on the car-train to the South of France ? We have driven it for the past few years but it wastes time, is tiring and even the French m'ways loose their appeal after a few hours.
The ferry takes too long so the train is appealing but i would be concerned if I was not allowed to park/offload the car. Not sure the average rail-worker would know how to get into or out of a TVR.
The ferry takes too long so the train is appealing but i would be concerned if I was not allowed to park/offload the car. Not sure the average rail-worker would know how to get into or out of a TVR.
I checked last year about putting the car on the train to Avignon, but it worked out stupendously expensive compared to driving, even factoring in extra nights' stays in decent hotels. I suppose if you also factor in the extra 1000 miles round trip worth of servicing costs that might make it seem less burdensome.
Having said that, I have a friend who did it in his Elise on a regular basis, and didn't have any problems.
Pete
>> Edited by pete on Tuesday 20th January 21:37
Having said that, I have a friend who did it in his Elise on a regular basis, and didn't have any problems.
Pete
>> Edited by pete on Tuesday 20th January 21:37
There are trains from Middle- and Northern Germany to Narbonne in the South of France this year.
Düsseldorf is just two hours from Amsterdam Harbour.
We used Munich - Narbonne for a Spain trip last year, sadly - for us - not available this year.
Ride on and off the train was only done by the carowners and we all watched the trainworkes while they where securing the cars and bikes.
When booking tell them its a softtop, that gets your car on the lower deck and is saver.
Leave no valuables in the car, what would tempt some French to empty your car on that long trip in all quietness.
It is expensiv, but different rates depending on dates, or maybe risk a last-minute booking.
The advantages are two relaxing nights on the train, having nice dinner and breakfast and a relaxed holiday start and finish.
It makes sence if you take real car costs, petrol and
road tolls into acount and if you are just two.
We have used Autotrains quite often on Club Tours, no troubles yet.
If it rains, wash your car very soon, railway dirt turned out to be extremely agressive, esp. on bright cars.
I love driving and am not at all a train fan, but we did 3.500 miles in Spain anyway. If we hadn´t taken the train, we would have had our first breakdown already long before we have had reached Spain.
Martin
Düsseldorf is just two hours from Amsterdam Harbour.
We used Munich - Narbonne for a Spain trip last year, sadly - for us - not available this year.
Ride on and off the train was only done by the carowners and we all watched the trainworkes while they where securing the cars and bikes.
When booking tell them its a softtop, that gets your car on the lower deck and is saver.
Leave no valuables in the car, what would tempt some French to empty your car on that long trip in all quietness.
It is expensiv, but different rates depending on dates, or maybe risk a last-minute booking.
The advantages are two relaxing nights on the train, having nice dinner and breakfast and a relaxed holiday start and finish.
It makes sence if you take real car costs, petrol and
road tolls into acount and if you are just two.
We have used Autotrains quite often on Club Tours, no troubles yet.
If it rains, wash your car very soon, railway dirt turned out to be extremely agressive, esp. on bright cars.
I love driving and am not at all a train fan, but we did 3.500 miles in Spain anyway. If we hadn´t taken the train, we would have had our first breakdown already long before we have had reached Spain.
Martin
Motorail (can`t remember the website) runs trains from Calais to Avignon and Nice. I`ve used them and I think it works out reasonably well compared to petrol, tolls and accomodation although I only ever go one way (normally back.)
You need to sign a disclaimer if your car is a soft top (in case it blows off!)and they do have a history of kerbing alloys on fat cars. If you ask you can load your car yourself - I didn`t once and had two alloys on my porker kerbed but SNCF paid up. If you do go - they inspect your car for damage before it goes on the train so make sure you agree with them!.
I would use it again.
You need to sign a disclaimer if your car is a soft top (in case it blows off!)and they do have a history of kerbing alloys on fat cars. If you ask you can load your car yourself - I didn`t once and had two alloys on my porker kerbed but SNCF paid up. If you do go - they inspect your car for damage before it goes on the train so make sure you agree with them!.
I would use it again.
Ffirg 005 said:
So people say it's expensive... how expensive? Any examples or is there a website somewhere to look up fares?
You can try the Belgian Rail website:
www.b-rail.be/internat/E/destination/index.html
Cheaper than French rail or it was when my nephew used it a while ago.
Try www.voyages-sncf.com/autotrain/homepage_autotrain.htm - sorry I couldn't find an English page. You will also probably want www.tgv.com/EN for the French TGV fast train service. You could also look at www.sncf.com/indexe.htm for normal French train services.
I looked at this last summer but our timing was such that it was alot more expensive by train. If you are not quite peak season it worked out similar in costs to driving.
>> Edited by icamm on Wednesday 21st January 12:15
I looked at this last summer but our timing was such that it was alot more expensive by train. If you are not quite peak season it worked out similar in costs to driving.
>> Edited by icamm on Wednesday 21st January 12:15
I looked at the train for the French part of my Spanish trip last August, it was about £350 one way.
As opposed to driving, 800 miles @ £200 fuel and tolls and no messing about with timetables, but 12 hours driving.
May well be doing the same thing again this year so would be interested if anyone gets some prices quoted.
As opposed to driving, 800 miles @ £200 fuel and tolls and no messing about with timetables, but 12 hours driving.
May well be doing the same thing again this year so would be interested if anyone gets some prices quoted.
Just checked the rates for Düsseldorf - Narbonne Return: 1 car/1 Person
Cheapest GBP 353,--
Highest GBP 1.120,--
Depending on time of year and what category you want to travel.
More at
www.autozug.de
Klick to Englisch
Cheapest GBP 353,--
Highest GBP 1.120,--
Depending on time of year and what category you want to travel.
More at
www.autozug.de
Klick to Englisch
burriana500 said:
I looked at the train for the French part of my Spanish trip last August, it was about £350 one way.
As opposed to driving, 800 miles @ £200 fuel and tolls and no messing about with timetables, but 12 hours driving.
May well be doing the same thing again this year so would be interested if anyone gets some prices quoted.
That's what i found for August as well - not surprising as it is peak season. However, if you out off-peak then the price was only just over £200 which would have been alot more tempting as it goes overnight and you get the night-train with a bed. So you get the day in Paris and then sleep on the way down to the South coast and away you go the following day. Rather than 12 hours on the motorway and having to pay for a hotel for the night.
>> Edited by icamm on Wednesday 21st January 17:11
www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorail/
This should get you the details for Calais/Le Sud.
I`ve tended to pay about £300/350 in July/August travelling overnight. This has been bearable when you consider the petrol, tolls, traffic and overnight stay that you`d otherwise spend.
They don`t run all year though - there`s normally a break between the skiiing and sun seasons!
This should get you the details for Calais/Le Sud.
I`ve tended to pay about £300/350 in July/August travelling overnight. This has been bearable when you consider the petrol, tolls, traffic and overnight stay that you`d otherwise spend.
They don`t run all year though - there`s normally a break between the skiiing and sun seasons!
Has anyone had any recent (last 12 mths) experience of the French raileurope option? I am checking now and for July travel, it is almost £1,200! Had hoped to have a week driving in Italy, but this could curtail that idea! Any other options which reliably transport the car without concern about quality of car care ?
Mustang Baz said:
Has anyone had any recent (last 12 mths) experience of the French raileurope option? I am checking now and for July travel, it is almost £1,200! Had hoped to have a week driving in Italy, but this could curtail that idea! Any other options which reliably transport the car without concern about quality of car care ?
I find the autoroute works well. Go through Belgium/Germany for no tolls and less annoying speed traps. Once warmed through the car should be fine trundling along at motorway speeds, you don't have to go at it like you're Clarkson racing the train
A few years back me and a mate took our m/bikes on the ferry Dover-Calais then rode to Lille in the p*ssing rain and used the motorail overnight to Nice - all pre-booked of course. No problems at all everyone very considerate when loading and unloading . . even the French! Woke up the following morning to blazing mediterranean sunshine and temps in the 90's!
I used the French Motorail to go to the South of France with the Wedge. Loaded the car on at Calais, sorted myself out into the cabin. Good sleep and wake up the next morning in the South of France. I had to get the Wedge off as the guys couldn't sort out the imobiliser 
All in all a good service, IIRC it isn't that cheap but it does mean you get to where you want relaxed and refreshed and with you P&J to swan around in.
www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorail/
Don't forget you need to add your channel crossing to this...
All in all a good service, IIRC it isn't that cheap but it does mean you get to where you want relaxed and refreshed and with you P&J to swan around in.
www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorail/
Don't forget you need to add your channel crossing to this...
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