Author Topic: Bikes on Eurostar  (Read 3347 times)

Bikes on Eurostar
« on: 04 April, 2019, 01:49:03 pm »
Does anyone have any experience of getting bikes on the Eurostar from Lille to London?
I just spoke to Eurodespatch to try to book 2 bikes on this journey but they said you couldn’t book bikes from Lille, it is just a ‘walk on service’ and they couldn’t tell me availability. I’m not sure I fully understand what this means in practice so can anyone help?

Thanks.
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Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #1 on: 04 April, 2019, 04:04:07 pm »
That's right, the train only makes a brief stop at Lille with no time to load bikes.
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Tim Hall

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Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #2 on: 04 April, 2019, 04:27:10 pm »
I've put a bike on at Lille, two years ago.  When we did it (five of us) my chum who did the organisation, had spaces booked.  We rocked up at the station, handed the bikes over to the tender care of some railway employees and went to drink beer*.  When the time came to get on the train, we spied our bikes in the care of the railway bods at the correct place on the platform so they could be hurled on to the train.



* we also watched a drunk man piss over the edge of the balcony, fortunately missing the OLE cables.
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Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #3 on: 08 April, 2019, 12:25:53 pm »
Thanks all. In the end, we couldn’t be arsed to deal with the hassle so we are going to cycle to Dunkirk or maybe Calais and just rock up and buy a ticket. I’m pretty sure you don’t have to book if just a foot passenger with a bike.
I am often asked, what does YOAV stand for? It stands for Yoav On A Velo

Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #4 on: 08 April, 2019, 01:35:23 pm »
That's the way I would do it with a loaded bike.
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quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #5 on: 08 April, 2019, 03:19:27 pm »
Thanks all. In the end, we couldn’t be arsed to deal with the hassle so we are going to cycle to Dunkirk or maybe Calais and just rock up and buy a ticket. I’m pretty sure you don’t have to book if just a foot passenger with a bike.

The ticket office for the Dunkirk sailing is inside the port. You'll have to follow the traffic route through passport control, then keep following the line to a small booth/barrier, tell the person there that you need to buy a dfds ticket, and they open the barrier, and point you to a small hut.

At least, that's what it was last time I used it, it may have changed, YMMV etc...

J
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Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #6 on: 09 April, 2019, 03:38:29 pm »
Just found out something odd: DFDS from Dunkirk or Calais to Dover is for vehicles only, no foot passengers, but a cyclist counts as a vehicle, so that’s all right then.
I am often asked, what does YOAV stand for? It stands for Yoav On A Velo

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #7 on: 10 April, 2019, 03:40:53 pm »
That is weird. I'm getting the ferry from Dunkirk back to Dover on Sunday night. Bit pissed off as I want to stay in Roubaix to watch the race but I fret that won't leave enough time to cycle to the port (allowing time for mechanicals), and it isn't clear if I'd be sure of getting a bike on a train to Dunkirk in that region.

Dropped the SNCF an email asking about it but predictably they've ignored it. Oh well can always watch the highlights at home...
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Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #8 on: 10 April, 2019, 04:14:13 pm »
Why wouldn't you? Apart from TGVs, French trains are very bike friendly. Here's the page for TER trains in the relevant region:

https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/gares/ter-intermodalite/combinez-vos-deplacements/train-et-velo

It says bikes allowed on all TER trains but avoid rush hours if you're not using a folded/disassembled bike.

Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #9 on: 10 April, 2019, 05:45:44 pm »
Just found out something odd: DFDS from Dunkirk or Calais to Dover is for vehicles only, no foot passengers, but a cyclist counts as a vehicle, so that’s all right then.
They load the bikes on the same way as cars etc so guess there is just no passenger only gangway. Did Dunkirk to Dover with the bike last year, was good and easy, except food facilities in Dunkirk terminal were terrible. I was in need of post ride snacks. They only had snack machines and none of them were working. Food on the boat was good though

bludger

  • Randonneur and bargain hunter
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #10 on: 10 April, 2019, 10:05:03 pm »
Why wouldn't you? Apart from TGVs, French trains are very bike friendly. Here's the page for TER trains in the relevant region:

https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/gares/ter-intermodalite/combinez-vos-deplacements/train-et-velo

It says bikes allowed on all TER trains but avoid rush hours if you're not using a folded/disassembled bike.

Problem is I don't know what the demand will be like. It's the evening of Paris Roubaix, the train might be packed with people who've done the sportive the day before and I might not be able to get a spot for the bike on a train that permits arrival at Dunkirk in time for the ferry
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Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #11 on: 10 April, 2019, 10:27:30 pm »
That's right, the train only makes a brief stop at Lille with no time to load bikes.

Not quite true.  You can book bikes on to Eurostar from Lille - I’ve done it myself (as has Tim’s chum). 

The real pain in the arse can be if you rock up for the ‘walk up’ option, where you may find yourself having to partially dismantle the bike to get it through the x-ray machine.
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Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #12 on: 10 April, 2019, 10:29:50 pm »
Why wouldn't you? Apart from TGVs, French trains are very bike friendly. Here's the page for TER trains in the relevant region:

https://www.ter.sncf.com/hauts-de-france/gares/ter-intermodalite/combinez-vos-deplacements/train-et-velo

It says bikes allowed on all TER trains but avoid rush hours if you're not using a folded/disassembled bike.

The TGVs are getting better as well.  There’s now bike spaces on the newer models - although booking them is a bit hit and miss. 
Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

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mcshroom

  • Mushroom
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #13 on: 10 April, 2019, 10:42:05 pm »
Just found out something odd: DFDS from Dunkirk or Calais to Dover is for vehicles only, no foot passengers, but a cyclist counts as a vehicle, so that’s all right then.
They load the bikes on the same way as cars etc so guess there is just no passenger only gangway. Did Dunkirk to Dover with the bike last year, was good and easy, except food facilities in Dunkirk terminal were terrible. I was in need of post ride snacks. They only had snack machines and none of them were working. Food on the boat was good though

On the Cairnryan-Larne ferry, foot passengers jump on a bus which then drives them on the ferry, and off the other side.
Climbs like a sprinter, sprints like a climber!

Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #14 on: 11 April, 2019, 08:18:23 pm »


Not quite true.  You can book bikes on to Eurostar from Lille - I’ve done it myself (as has Tim’s chum). 


That’s not what Eurodespatch told me, they refused to take my booking- unless there is some other way to book a bike onto Eurostar.
I am often asked, what does YOAV stand for? It stands for Yoav On A Velo

Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #15 on: 11 April, 2019, 09:22:31 pm »


Not quite true.  You can book bikes on to Eurostar from Lille - I’ve done it myself (as has Tim’s chum). 


That’s not what Eurodespatch told me, they refused to take my booking- unless there is some other way to book a bike onto Eurostar.

You can book it as registered luggage between London - Lille - London, via EuroDespatch.
 
I’ve not found EuroDespatch that good on the phone/online. They’re best in the flesh if you can get to one of their offices.  The guys in Lille were really helpful. 


Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

Green Party Councillor

Re: Bikes on Eurostar
« Reply #16 on: 12 April, 2019, 10:18:12 pm »
London to Lille yes, did that myself a couple of years ago but not the other way round, at least not one way. But that was over the phone. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now.
I am often asked, what does YOAV stand for? It stands for Yoav On A Velo