Simon Geller said:Self & Spouse took bikes to Beziers by E* & TGV in September. .......
Quoted message said:................ I tried hard to find a Lille
connection from Beziers via the varios web sites but to no avail. I
was therefore less than happy when a TGV to Lille came in at Beziers
a few minutes before our one to Paris! I still can't find any trace
of this service on Rail Europe.
Rail Europe is pretty useless once you step ouside their blinkered world
view (which assumes everyone goes via Paris, and only has a small selection
of potential onward connections).
Use the SNCF website (in French, the English translated bits are often
truncated/shortened), or the DB website if heading outside France.
Quoted message said:Before booking I checked with Rail. Europe as to whether you could
book bikes on the TGV, but was told you had to put them in bags.
Inspecting the train at Gare Du Lyon I discovered a compartment with
hooks for again about 6 bikes, seemingly unused.
Again SNCF website is probably more use.
I suggest you book tickets with a proper rail travel agent, eg. Ffestiniog
Travel, will give you many more options than RailEurope. They will charge
you a booking fee, but its usually worthwhile if your journey is anything
but the simplest. They can also reserve the cheapest discounted seats even
though the booking windows vary (eg. three months for Eurostar, two months
for SNCF TGV, or similar).
Quoted message said:So in sum, null points to Eurostar, & only a few for SNCF for
bike-friendliness I think. We would do it again but will re-think our
approach - bags with wheels on, or expensive folding bikes are options
we are looking at.
I think folding/splitable bikes is the way to go if doing it regularly. If
occaisional, then its bags or other transport methods.
- Nigel
--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/