Traveling by train with your motorcycle should be a simple and pleasant experience. But the reality is completely different.
SNCF is still lagging behind and trying to welcome cyclists who are increasingly numerous to lead the train. If the Mobility Orientation Act (quarry) is stored by Regulation 4 to 8 bicycles that have not been dismantled on new regional trains (TER) and 8 seats in new or reconstructed national trains, it is still not enough.
Among the restrictions of reservations, limited spaces and fluctuating rules according to the type of train is to take a train with your headache. And the situation can stretch quickly to see the behavior of other passengers, some of which attack suitcases with their suitcases. By opening X (Ex-twitter)-or Pandor’s SNCF-We Pandor box, he reads many testimonies of lost users, or who has received more or less salty, even more or less justified in order.
Because it is not always clear, we will inventory to help you organize another way in France.
How to prepare a bike to travel by train?
- Before departure, Clean the bike, Especially if you plan to put it in the cover. It is better to transport and remove a clean bike than a dirty bike. This will prevent your hands full of black fats on the train and dirty the rest of your belongings. Clean and degrease the string well and grease it. There are enough drops. Take the opportunity to check your bike. Check that everything works.
- Do not forget to disassemble the bike if necessary. Buy a shipping cover, whose dimensions are suitable for your bike and justified on the train. The compact and lightweight cover for a ten -kilometer bikepacking has the advantage of downloading in a small bag to hang on its handlebars. The house must always be closed on the train.
- Do you have a VAE or wheel with disc brakes? Use Brakes. This will prevent your pads from holding up as soon as there is no other disk. Just a piece of stiff cardboard. If you want to remove the rear wheel easier, place the chain on the smallest shields (you on the right).
- Labo by bike.
- Remove the bags Once on board.
Rules for using your bike by train type (OUIGO, TER, TGV, etc.)
| Train | Conditions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ter | Reservation sometimes mandatory* for unhealthy round | Free or paid*for unhealthy bike, free for folded bike or under cover (130 x 90 cm) |
| Intermediate | Mandatory reservation for unhealthy round | 5/10 € for unhealthy bike, free for bike under cover (130 x 90 cm) or folding |
| Tgv inoui | 10 € for unhealthy bike, free for bike for dismantling under cover (130 x 90 cm) or folding | |
| Transilian | She only received the wheels from Monday to Friday, before 6:30, between 9:30 and 16:30 and after 19:30, Saturday, Sunday and holidays without time restrictions. Wheels forbidden outside these hours | release |
| Ouigo (classic and high -speed train) | Reservation compulsory. An unhealthy bike option is not offered for Ouigo trains. | Applies, 10 euros for unhealthy bike, 5 euros per folding wheel or wheel distribution wheel (130 x 90 cm maximum and weight ≤ 30 kg) |
For the time being, most trains are not accepted by a lie, tandem, tricycle, kargos and long.
A special train + wheels were set up for summer 2024. Their aim is to “simplify” the transport of train wheels. Nothing revolutionary, because the initiatives that have been carried out generally consist in the revision of the number of wheels and the systematization of the reservation through the “bike coupon”. The reservation is free or paid depending on the region (from 1 to 10 euros). Beware of the calendar that is not the same everywhere, it would be too simple … France Vélo Tourisme Web has joined on one page of the train initiative + summer 2024.
How to book your unhealthy bike location in SNCF Connect?
On the SNCF Connect application, Ask the type of wheel as soon as it is (no discussed, dismantled) and follow the information.
If it was laborious at the beginning of the reservation, improvements were made and regional and national information for organizing your trip exist quickly.
Like fleet of trains equipped with wheels placement is limited, it is necessary to do it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the B has the B to remove the bike and put it in the cover. This is what SNCF suggests for its application.
Other important information: If you change the train, you can book unhealthy bike. This is if you are traveling with an unhealthy wheel and switch from classic Ouig to high speed. Always check before boarding.
5 tips to travel by train with your bike with a quiet spirit (almost)
- Always arrives in advance at the station If you want to break the bike quietly, or get it on board and find a place. If you have to dismantle your bike, run away and not in front of the door or in the passages. Plan a small cloth to remove any dirt.
- Once on board, Make sure your bike does not bother on the train. If your bike is in the cover, approach the controller and check that the wheel can stay there. Avoid passing areas or doors.
- Take the wheel shipping cover and Multitool Removing wheels. The folded cover does not take up much space. Decathlon offers coverage for less than 20 euros. After folding in its storage case, it measures 25 x 15 cm. It is often less restrictive (and free!) Travel with the disassembled motorcycle. MacGyver in Badpipe style is not always accepted.
- Plan a little anti -theft You want to secure the bike. Some ways and trains configurations do not allow you to always look at it. When the train has several stops, it can quickly become stressful. Combiflex from Abus is really practical for this type of use. There is no need for a key anymore, because it works on the code. Take a version with a 120 cm cable, more practical than a shorter version.