******This video is specifically about long distance trains in Spain. Apparently I didn’t spell it out enough. Yes, you can roll on to regional and local trains.
@@PathLessPedaledTV I guess everyone's experiences vary, but we ship our stuff all the time in Spain and Europe, it's always been very affordable (YMMV) and very reliable except be careful with holidays (especially in Italy)
@@cimacoppicustom We receive packages all the time and it is the bane of our existence. Policies and protocol between carriers is so varied and inconsistent. Some will call. Some won't. Some will drop off at a pickup spot. Some won't. Some will send an estimate for Monday and it will unexpectedly arrive on Saturday (literally happened today). It is so varied that unless you can budget a several day window I wouldn't personally count on it for a trip.
Any info on what routes? Last time I biked out to Corrour station I spoke to a guard on the northbound train who said it was still first come, first served, no booking...Imagine being stuck out there or at Rannoch hoping to get your bike on a train and each one that passes is (bike)"full" and won't let you on. And not all services are Scotrail we have LNER, TransPennine etc
That's absolutely wild that you need to go through airport level security to get on a train in spain! In the Netherlands, you simply show up and get on board, simple as that whether going to work or to another country.
I think the simple explanation for this is three letters - ETA. They just haven't changed since that was a threat - and then of course this anti terror angle was reinforced with the Attocha attacks and the failed plot on France's TGV....
Agreed. But its just in the speed-trains. Regional Trains don`t have a security check and often got space for bicycle. But they`re slow and have a low frequency (sometimes just two per days), compare to other countrys.
@@frazergoodwin4945 albeit there has been ETA attacks, Spain did not have this kind of security measures until the Islamic terrorist attack of 2004 which killed almost 200 people.
Great content as usual! Thanks so much. I live in the French region of Switzerland and traveling with the velo on train is VIP. Every train has multiple wagons with dedicated velo space, no cases or wrap needed. 12chf for a velo day pass in addition to your ticket cost but most times I just buy two individual passenger tickets if it's less than 12chf, and that works. This system changes the way you ride. You can go anywhere and simply jump on a train or bus and you'll be home in a couple hours. Come check it out! 🚲🚂🇨🇭
I loved that Cyclists' Special video! I watched it many times as I was getting psyched up for the Lake Pepin 3-speed tour 10 years ago. I can still hear the narrator asking "Rugby?! Who wants to go to Rugby?"
We just finished two months in France and Italy with our 20" Bike Fridays. Your experiences sound very much like the variety of challenges we faced with bikes on trains. We never knew what to expect! Glad to find your site!
Back in the 80s I did a bike tourthrough south of France, along Mediterranean then up to Seville and on to Granada. Shipped bike by train from Granada to Valencia and hitch hiked the same stretch to pick it up. Was no problem. Great trip.
The Rodalies Renfe regional trains do allow full size bikes, sometimes hang up zones and sometimes in oversized luggage sort of spots depending on the model of train. They are just much slower trains. They are first come first serve but many of them have multiple cars with space. Used them a bunch and its been pretty easy.
In Sweden, bicycles are not allowed on high speed trains. But here in southern Sweden, the regional trains, like Öresundståg, allow bicycles if there is space. Öresundståg operates from Denmark, across the Öresund Strait and into Sweden. Travelling with your bicycle is permitted, but you share this dedicated space with prams and baby carriages. A maximum of 6 bicycles/carriages is allowed. But because these cars also accommodate travelers landing at Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen, depending on the time of day, you could have difficulty finding space for your bicycle due to the numbers of arrivals and huge amounts of luggage. The key for us is to choose the right time of day and we know that there are usually several cars dedicated to bicycles further along the platform, i.e. we don't have to choose the nearest car.
Spain is the only country I've encountered the airline security style entrance to a train (other than the Cross channel Tunnel Eurostar services) and most other national rail services in the EU have specific bike spaces, on high speed and intercity services that take bikes (e.g. German ICE trains) but you do need to book the specific bike space in addition to your seat reservation for these. Local trains mostly have a limited number of bike spaces depending on the specific service too, but these are not bookable in advance and so are on a first come first serve type deal. Worst country in the EU for bikes on trains? Sweden. They are not allowed (other than on the service from Denmark across the Oresund bridge and those that are disassembled and covered - or folders and covered.) This despite the fact that Sweden's loading gauge (the width of the bridges and tunnels not the track) is wider than most of the rest of the EU (except the Baltics and Finland).
I should add that French high speed services - either Thalys (now confusingly rebranded Eurostar) or TGV have no bike compartment so only take dissembled bikes in bags or bike boxes (box case is what I've used). This is not the case though for the Eurostar channel tunnel service that has a limit to luggage dimensions smaller than a bike box of max 85cm. For this train if your traveling on the Brussels-London-Brussels then you can book your bike for them to take for you and collect at the destination station. But if you're traveling Paris-London-Paris then the same deal only applies to dissembled bikes in bags or bike boxes(?!?) and both trains require advance booking for this service too.
Airline style security seems weird. It's not an airline why do they feel they need this when France, Germany, italy etc. who have similiar high speed lines don't. I understand for Eurostar as it's international (and leaving the EU) but for Spain?
When in Spain we use the Media Distancia or Regional trains which accommodate full bikes. We just cycled Merida to Madrid with a few train rides to help out.
Amtrak is the worst for bikes!!! It's a disaster to bring a bike on a train. Though the Marc in Maryland has great bike transportation. They retrofitted old cars that removed half the seats for a ton of bike racks. It's amazing to use!
My wife and I took a full size Ebike on a train in the Netherlands. We had to pay for a bike ticket, I think it was 8 euros. It was during the off hours, not sure you can during peak hours. The weather was really bad 35 mph winds and it was a lifesaver. We also hoped a boat on the Rhine in Germany when it was raining, cleared up and we got off and road the rest of the way. You need to be flexible. At least you have options.
I don't know how about Spain, but in Poland it's usually easier to travel with your bikes on local trains, rather than on the long range ones. Additionally, you don't have to cover your bike here. Usually there're hangers for bikes, but they're fairly limited in number (like 8 spots in the whole train). You also have to buy a ticket for your bike for 8 PLN (~2€).
Maybe it sucks in Spain, but I have taken the train in France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, (full sized bike) and I never had any big complaints. Sure, it is an adventure sometimes getting on the train, but in the end, you get to your destination. Also the train in Luxembourg is great, and it is also free. The best I have experienced so far is Switzerland. I always take the regional trains, instead of the high speed trains ( I heard that TGV in France is horrible for taking a bike).
just came back from spain, and yup spain is not easy with the trains. But alsa (bus) was clearly easier, cheaper and just needed to dismount the front wheel, put a bag over the bicycle and its done !
Great channel Russ. I find your content really helpful for the sort of riding I do 👍 Keep up the good work and it'd be great to see you and Laura cycling in the UK. My partner and I have the Coasts and Castles tour in Northumberland planned for next July, we're really looking forward to that. Best wishes from Belfast, UK.
In Italy getting a fully-sized bike on a high-speed train is virtually impossible but the vast majority of regional trains accept bikes. Dedicated carriages with hooks or on newer trains three bike slots per carriage with charging ports for ebikes. A day bike ticket costs under 4 euros. I think Italy has a great and affordable rail service although few Italians will agree with me.
In the past me and my partner did bike trip through spain, more specifically through Andaluzia. Reading all about trains we discovered this limitations that the long distance trains had. We then only looked at the media distancia trains which I assume all have some space and hooks to carry fully mounted bikes. But the network of the media distancia is quite limited. In the end of the journey we went back home to portugal by Alsa bus. Over there you can pay 15 euro and carry the bike mounted with just some soft cover that alsa also sells.
I do appreciate the Frontrunner train in Utah (yes I know it's regional so not a direct comparison), as it does have bike specific train cars where you can store a number of bikes, though during peak times the cars are often packed with people and bikes.
Great video as always! Unfortunately days of CTC video are of bygone era here in UK. Long distance services usually have a dedicated luggage & bike section, but these require advance reservation and there's only a few spaces per service meaning you have to plan far in advance. Regional services are usually more flexible
The only US high-ish speed rail (Acela and Brightline) do not allow full-sized bikes. You can take the wheels off and load them in a box. For regular intercity trains it depends on the route. For example, Capitol Corridor in Northern California and the Surfliner in Southern CA have bike racks.
Found in Portugal its fairly easy to get a full size bike on trains uncovered. Can be daunting at peak commuter times. Somd cars have a 'dedicated'space with some velcro ties.
Is this only for the high-speed trains? Haven't been in Spain yet, but in Italy and Austria you can just bring your full size bikes on (most) trains, for the longer distance higher speed ones you need to book a bike ticket in advance, because spaces are limited, but on regional lines they usually have plenty of room (tho still need a bike ticket of course). My biggest gripe is that online ticketing doesn't sell bike tickets for international lines, so last time i had to book such a ride, i had to opt for the slower combination of multiple regional trains with transfer at the border, as the ticket office at the station was not yet open.
Yes that's the only way from France to Spain on the regional trains with your bike - via PortBou. You can get them on the Flixbus but they need to be "wrapped" or boxed - I thinks it's to stop the oil from the chain getting on other people's luggage
@@JohnPilling25 Some flixbuses (at least around where i live) have rear bike racks, those don't need wrapping for the bike, but they each carry only 3-4 bikes
didn't travel in spain (with my bycicle), but I did it in france, belgium, netherlands, germany, denmark, sweden and norway and it was super easy, just hop into the train with my loaded bike (front panniers, seatbag, framebag). It was dead-easy every time.
Seating on the French TGV high-speed trains is reserved only. There are information panels on the platform to indicate where to stand for the rail car corresponding to the reservation.
Hi, I travelled with my full size bike and panniers on the Ave train from Barcelona to Madrid and then on Alvia to Jerez de la Frontera on November this year. Please note the Renfe website states you need to order a bike ticket on Ave and Alvia and place your bike into a bag no longer than 120cm (e.g. the one sold in Decathlon) - easily met by removing the wheels. Very similar rule for the Alsa bus (I travelled last year from Santiago to Madrid with my full size bike). So not as bad as it sounds :-)
Come to Switzerland! You can bring a full-size bike on the trains without any problem. You just have to buy a ticket for it. Some cars have a place to hang the bike up - there's a hook for your front wheel. You have to pay around $2 extra for a reservation for that place.
I don’t know about the experience of others, but I’ve taken a full size bike plenty of times around the uk with no problems at all. Booking in advance is a must though.
EU regulation 2021/782 says all NEW and renovated train sets need at least 4 bike spaces, however trains easily last 10 years or more between renovation so change will be slow but coming. Spain is the only EU country who does the security scanner because of terrorist attacks in the past. I feel like the information where the bike car or the one with your reservation is, is really crucial, but a lot of train companies do a great job providing that at the platform or in their app. Travelling with a bagged aup full-size 29er in Spain, my shoulder was definitely sore from these laden 100m sprints you are talking about!
That's kind of crazy the difference between this and what I experienced in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, France, and Switzerland. Speaking specifically about Germany because it's what I experienced most: there is very little, if any, security other than roaming officers. Most of the local and regional trains you can just roll onto and the long distance (ICE: Intercity express) usually have a bike specific car with hooks. No covers needed, but it does cost extra to take a bike and locking up to the bike hook/rack is recommended for obvious reasons. There is no extra charge for a bike on most local and regional trains and there are always kinda open spaces for wheelchairs, bikes, etc. they even have nifty little seatbelt things to hold your bike up. They also tell you where each car will stop at the platform using signage at the platform and the DeutscheBahn app. Almost all of this applies in Austria and Belgium as well, but I'm less familiar with the other countries I mentioned above as I only traveled there via train once or twice.
In Austria you get a dedicated reserved spot for your bike. The situation with foldable bikes is similar, you just put it in a bag and treat it like luggage. Also, it's much easier on regional trains, so if you travel shorter distance that's the way to go.
I rode the Fung Wah from Boston to NYC with bike a couple time, that's about as adventurous as I ever got, although they were known to explode on occasion apparently.
Unfortunately the train travel in Spain is super stressful for cyclists. Having Bromptons is brilliant and even still it seems like it was kind of stressful for you. Like it’s totally possible that you’ll board the train only to realize there’s no space for your bike. I once had to load my bike in the dining car, super far from where I was sitting. Anyone could’ve taken my bike. If you have a full size bike, I have found taking the bus is the less stressful choice. Obviously much slower but guaranteed safe space to load your bike underneath. That part about not knowing where to stand on the platform is so true. It’s also like this in Taiwan.
In my country (Poland) , on my regional train carriers (Koleje Mazowieckie and SKM Warszawa) you just go to a train car that is marked as a one for bike carriage and that's it. You don't have to pay anything more.
I think the cycling touring film is very romantic idea of British cycling I love that film. It is like a glimpse into what my grandad told me of his cycling jaunts. I personally have taken the train a few times in the uk. From the midlands to the north, south and east so far. Whichever way gives me a good tailwind all the way home. I check for trains with bike carriage space and book my bike on with no cost. Have had a few problems, like delays and transfers etc but have never been refused to put my bike on the train. In general I’ve found it to be very relaxed. This is with a full sized bike and no disassembly. Best ride/train so far is Nottingham to Skegness. The line is quiet. (Not a commuter route) 2hr train. 90 mile ride back. Planning on doing it in spring again.
Italy tried implementing a similar bike policy (folding bike inside of closed bag) but it was fortunately rolled back due to backlash from the public and from consumer protection agencies. Plus, we don't have airlines style check-in anywhere. Although your train may or may not start/arrive in time or at all so I guess there's pros and cons
Great video! UK and Dutch trains have a few spaces on the train for regular non-folding bikes. Convenient but first-come first-served and the spaces often run out (in spite of your having to pay extra for them in NL). They don't like bending the rules because it's a safety issue if the train stops suddenly and bikes fly around and hit people. In your UK film that was a "Guard's van" which can hold an indefinite number of bikes because there are no passengers in there. Less convenient but I think they should bring them back as a fallback for when the ready spaces run out. It shouldn't cost much to throw an extra carriage on a train. If you've booked a train and you're going somewhere, maybe you have to catch a ferry etc, you shouldn't have to run the risk of not being allowed on.
In Germany taking a (full size) bike on an intercity train can be a hustle. Taking a folding bike (of any type up to 20") however is easy IMHO, as far as I know (or did) I just hopped on the train and stored my bike somewhere without it being covered or in a bag. With a "full-size" bike however it's a different story. You have to make reservation beforehand (I think for 2 or 3 years now it's possible to buy a bike ticket online, however it still doesn't show you how many of the very few bike spots have been booked already and before that you HAD to go to a station and talk to a person to get your reservation/ticket well in advance). And if anything happens to your train, e.g. doesn't show up, has a technical defect and is being canceled, doesn't have the right carrier where your bike place is supposed to be, etc. you're out of luck. Usually in the spring and summer months and especially from Friday until Sunday all (3-6) bike spots are being booked so you usually just cannot hop on the next train (which happened to me several times before). Now I don't want to complain about the Deutsche Bahn always having problems while being fairly expensive (compared to the rail system for example in Italy) … I do love to take the train and I usually don't care too much about being late but I would love to see train carriers in Europe have dedicated train cars during the "bike season" from May until September, maybe it would be even enough to have it on the weekends. And I would definitely accept to pay a bit more for it than the 9 Euro (in Germany, no matter how far you go), as long as I can take my bike across the country more easily.
I’ve travelled with bikes in a couple different counties. Italy and Netherlands: doors at the front and back of each local and regional train have areas for full size bikes. In Italy you are supposed to pay 5 euro ticket for your bike. Austria: Bike car on the train and I think it was 5 or 10 euro. No real security checks.
Having taken long-distance trains in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and France: they typically don't require a cover for a standard size bike but they absolutely require a reservation for the bike - typically it costs between 10 and 15 Euros. They have racks for the bikes, with each having a "seat number" that corresponds to the reservation. If you can't secure a reservation for the bike (and I'm talking standard, non-Brompton bike here) you won't be able to take it on the train - full stop. Also: many other countries spell out which class of car will hit certain points of a train platform, as well as where the bike accommodation will be on the train - not sure why Spain doesn't do this on the info screens on the platform.
4:00 ' two situation with trains....' or 3) your train is cancelled and you have scramble to another platform, squeeze onto another train, and your 1st class seats become standing in the buffet car.
Having to bag the bikes is only for AVE trains, correct? Local trains take regular bikes no problem. This is the same for TGV in France on most routes. High speed trains, no. Local trains, yes.
I used the IKEA bag on rainy day, Metro North commutes to keep my Brompton from dripping onto me from the overhead luggage rack. I didn't realize that other people did that!
The high speed trains 250kmph+ (Ave, Avril and Alvia) also sometimes called 'long distance' are positioned as alternatives to airlines and have airline security. In such, they do not have many amenities for bikes, although, that depends on the class of train - the new Avril trains are much larger, and faster (300kmph), and have more space for even full sized (bagged) bikes (free), but these run on limited lines (Madrid to Asturias, to Galicia, to Valencia). The MD (or media distancia trains, most often have hooks for the bikes in separate coaches (usually by the vending machines), and those do go long distances, but they have far more stops and are slower (max 200kmph I believe) - this would be "standard" long distance in the rest of the world or countries that don't have high speed. And then of course there are regional trains, cercanias (commuter trains) and feve where bikes are allowed but usually just where there is space at the end of cars. This follows much of Europe, the slower 'long distance' trains have hooks for bikes in France, Italy and Germany, but the high speed (or alta velocidad) is much more restrictive (like the TGV and Frecciarossa etc). The video you site at the beginning is pre-high speed. Those trains still exist in Spain and elsewhere in the EU, and still have bike hooks, just those lines/services are being cut in favor of high speed 250kmph+. On those trains you can almost always box them like on a plane, or bag them and find space but it's a hassle. Just like on a plane. MD is the ticket... even if you have to use it for long distances... or the Avril if you have it.
In the Netherlands the trains have sections designated for bicycles and large luggage. During off peak hours you can take any regular bicycle for a €6 fee, and folding bicycles are free and can be taken at any time. No security checks, what you saw in Spain is really strange for me
13 днів тому
The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are mostly, to varying degree, bike friendly EU countries. Train travel in Spain is generally a bit strange, especially on the long distance high-speed trains.
I know other youtubers especially folks bikepacking have complained about the requirement to put a bike in a bag to be allowed to transport it on the train. One youtuber got kicked off a train and had to rent a car to get back home. I took a train from Paris to a small train station in Italy where our tour guide for a tour de france bike tour picked us up. On the train to Italy, there was no room for our full size bikes in proper bike bags. The Italian train conductor took pity on us and allowed us to put our bikes in the restaraunt area. The waitress was not happy, but the train conductor overruled her. I also know what you mean about trying to figure out which car you were own. We couldn't figure it out the numbering system of the train cars in Paris and a really nice English speaking French guy pointed us to the right train car. Brompton's definetly make more sense!
AmTrak USA has old school hooks and don’t accommodate deep section wheels with gravel tires. Seattle loaded by staff = Beautiful gouge in a 303S rim. NYC self loaded. I used a pack strap to hang the wheel from the hook.
In Poland, you generally can travel with bicycles on trains, but it's an absolute mess in terms of rules that are different for each of the dozen+ train operators. For long distance trains you generally have to buy a special ticket, which means you have to prepare beforehand. On the plus side it's a guaranteed spot for the bike and you will immediately know if the train you want to go on allows bicycles on board in first place. Local trains often (but not always) just allow taking the bicycles on, but often the dedicated space for them is limited so you end up clogging the corridors and such. If the train is crowded, you might even be denied. All in all, I haven't seen any train operator that would require bagging the bikes tho. As far as bike specific cars on trains - this is very rare, but it still does happen sometimes over here! Mostly on routes that connect big cities with popular recreational cycling areas. I've done some long distance travel and while not super common, various cycling specific accommodations exist even if they are rare. For example my hotel had a small part of its underground garage dedicated to bicycles.
the reason their is not many full size bike space is that during order the decision makers perhaps lacked vision but most importantly that a bike, is a LOT of unprofitable and dead space. From two to 6 seats PER BIKE are gone depending on the arrangement chosen. The only train that manages somewhat to avoid that is the old Corail cart here in france, where some have two hooks tucked in a corner of the cart right by the liaison doors (it is a damn nightmare to reach them)
Grew up taking our bikes on trains in Canada, just in the main baggage car - whole bikes, not disassembled. This was in the 70s when I was a kid, and we would go up to Quebec or into New England for bike tours. We also went to UK and used the trains a lot again putting our loaded bikes into baggage cars. It was all very laid back and staff very friendly to bike tourists. Flash forward to 2004 and we took the TGV from CDG to Avignon with our bikes partly disassembled in black bike bags. It was kind of a night mare! 60 seconds the trains stops and lo there is no place to put the bikes in the train! We barely make it on and have bikes stuffed into the vestibule between trains and one on our lap. The train staff were miffed that we had the gall to insult their train bringing bikes aboard. Never again. I just rent cars in europe ever since, bikes in the back if need be. I have had great experience taking my break-away Lynskey onto jetliners in North America, though the bike box conforms to standard luggage dimensions.
There was a great study done by the European Cyclists Federation a few years back titled "Cyclists love trains" and you'll see that RENEFE scored an impressive 0%. Sad to see that things haven't really improved since that report came out. That said there are certainly some great examples they could learn from not too far away. The report is a good read, highly recommend it. Either, great look at how things are there today thanks for posting!
2 years ago I dis paris Madrid in train with my regular bike in a bag (taking out the front wheel) from paris all perfect but in Barcelona to change train I had to pay 30€ extra they don't respect baggage consideration (even I bough all as one ticket) and the Madrid train was an AVLO a high speed low cost train and it didn't had any space for luggage at all. At the end I put the bike stand up in a door, thankfully was direct train with no stops, from then I really star thinking about a brompton bike
I've always just ridden my full size bike, & gotten onboard. There is always a bike specific car, just gotta ask beforehand. And also travel on off hours just in case there many riders, but as long as there's room they'll allow it. Been riding & taking trains & buses for years in Spain. Might be a language thing, but most train personal don't care as long as you're out of the way & don't disrupt the flow of traffic on trains.
@@PathLessPedaledTV you might be right, I've done mostly shorter rides. But also mostly with Renfe. I've booked in advanced for additional bike on longer rides & made sure I had a spot. But usually haven't had an issue.
How do you secure your bike when traveling on trains in Spain question mark the IKEA Gimper bag doesn’t seem to have a way to lock it to the bike storage area. I’d be afraid that someone would just grab my Brompton and go.
I’d love to explore Europe by train with my bike . It just isn’t practical if it’s full size. I’m now planning to travel without and then hire a bike when I get there.
Why not just take regional trains around? I’ve done this in France, avoiding the TGV because of the bagged bike rule. The regional trains are slower but will likely get you where you’re going albeit with some connections ?
How do you think the new Brompton G20’s would go on the trains? I feel the 20” Brompton is the size and model that I was been waiting for for years, what do you mean? Far easier to fit in the coach locker under the coaches? I drove around Europe back in the late 90s. I did look at the Brompton 16 inch back then and decided against him and then looked at the Land Rover 20 inch collapsible bikes but there was too much work to go riding every day about Europe
We stillhave a way to go with bike sin some countries, most def. One thing Russ, I wrote to you store to ask when you guys will get to ship stuff from the EU?
Here in Austria you don't have to cover your folding bike and we have no "airport" security😮. For normal bicycles, enough space on regional trains, only 5 to 7 on longdistance trains😑.
France was pretty easy to load a full size bike on most trains throughout the country, I’m surprised that Spain wouldn’t have places to hang full sized bikes, seems ridiculous to need to fold and bag them, but I’m assuming that this is only the high speed trains?
Airport like security to travel on a train? I rather just strap my bike to the back of my car and just drive. Heck man, even here in DFW, as long as it isn't peak hours, I can take a full sized bike on the train.
it is in most if not all high speed transit. Regional transit is a mixed bag country to country. I know Belgium and France. In France most have hooks and spaces but it varies from 2-3 to 10+ depending on the make and model of the train. In rush hour (tourist or workers) it is never enough and you can except heavy overcrowding to the dismay of the onboard staff (when their is one lol). And since the scnf is no longer 100% public each regions has autonomy on rules (good luck if you don't read french lol!). So it ranges without consistency In Belgium you have a special carriage space they open for you (special ticket) and you toss it in there.
UK is worse! It's such a shame - it's the perfect combination train and bike. The approach you took with a brompton gives the most flexibility in the UK - it doesn't need to be bagged. But you do want to keep it close - people steal Bromptons.
Iv'e taken full size bikes on UK trains and booked them on using the trainline app when booking my ticket. I have only had one problem and that was on cross country trains when it was so crowded that the hanging space for the bike was piled high with luggage - there was no seat either even though I had booked it. It is not obvious where the car with the bike racks is either - you have to watch for the cycle symbol on the outside as the train pulls into the station.
@@JohnPilling25 It's good in ways, some routes it is practically impossible to book a bike on. For example try booking a bike on a train from London to Frome. All trains are always booked. Months in advance. I don't know whether the system is broken on this route or someone in Frome really hates cyclists and routinely goes on the GWR site and books up all the cycle spaces when they are released (you can do this without booking a ticket!)
The AVE when it stops in Perpignan, the cars are indicated on the monitors on the platform so you know where to get on. The AVE and TGV from France to Spain will not carry full size bikes. In France you need to be on the TER trains that have specific spots for full size bikes and it's free or €5 for the bike but they are slower than the TGV.
@@PathLessPedaledTV less than 20 years ago, on the HST in the UK there was still a dedicated part of the train for bikes behind the power cars at the end. Problem waas you had to rush to get your bike on, in the rack then close the door and back in the main part of the train. The newer long distance trains have awful cramped cupboard type areas you have to put your bike on it's back wheel onto a hook. Not all bikes fit and the space is often filled up with luggage (even though you've booked a space for your bike).
A Stateside sigh… 🙄 Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian does have a cargo car, the Northeastern seaboard lines do not. 🫤 So there’s simply *no* hassle-free bike you can ride the GAP on, for example, the triangle between NYC, Pittsburgh and DC.
******This video is specifically about long distance trains in Spain. Apparently I didn’t spell it out enough. Yes, you can roll on to regional and local trains.
In that case a compare/contrast with full-size bike multimodal options might be cool. You may have already posted such a video, apologies if you have.
How about shipping your stuff? I was in mainland China a few months ago, that's an affordable and efficient option
@@colinyap3036 not in Spain. It is. Neither affordable or reliable.
@@PathLessPedaledTV I guess everyone's experiences vary, but we ship our stuff all the time in Spain and Europe, it's always been very affordable (YMMV) and very reliable except be careful with holidays (especially in Italy)
@@cimacoppicustom We receive packages all the time and it is the bane of our existence. Policies and protocol between carriers is so varied and inconsistent. Some will call. Some won't. Some will drop off at a pickup spot. Some won't. Some will send an estimate for Monday and it will unexpectedly arrive on Saturday (literally happened today). It is so varied that unless you can budget a several day window I wouldn't personally count on it for a trip.
6:04 In Scotland, bike-specific carriages have recently been reintroduced on some of the deeply rural routes that get a lot of tourists.
Ooh that’s good to know
Any info on what routes? Last time I biked out to Corrour station I spoke to a guard on the northbound train who said it was still first come, first served, no booking...Imagine being stuck out there or at Rannoch hoping to get your bike on a train and each one that passes is (bike)"full" and won't let you on. And not all services are Scotrail we have LNER, TransPennine etc
That's absolutely wild that you need to go through airport level security to get on a train in spain! In the Netherlands, you simply show up and get on board, simple as that whether going to work or to another country.
I think the simple explanation for this is three letters - ETA. They just haven't changed since that was a threat - and then of course this anti terror angle was reinforced with the Attocha attacks and the failed plot on France's TGV....
And if you get the Eurostar from Amsterdam (or Rotterdam) to London you'll have to go through this type of security too...
Agreed. But its just in the speed-trains. Regional Trains don`t have a security check and often got space for bicycle. But they`re slow and have a low frequency (sometimes just two per days), compare to other countrys.
@@frazergoodwin4945 albeit there has been ETA attacks, Spain did not have this kind of security measures until the Islamic terrorist attack of 2004 which killed almost 200 people.
When I was in Holland last year, there were only certain hours when bikes were allowed on the intercity trains.
Great content as usual! Thanks so much. I live in the French region of Switzerland and traveling with the velo on train is VIP. Every train has multiple wagons with dedicated velo space, no cases or wrap needed. 12chf for a velo day pass in addition to your ticket cost but most times I just buy two individual passenger tickets if it's less than 12chf, and that works. This system changes the way you ride. You can go anywhere and simply jump on a train or bus and you'll be home in a couple hours. Come check it out! 🚲🚂🇨🇭
I loved that Cyclists' Special video! I watched it many times as I was getting psyched up for the Lake Pepin 3-speed tour 10 years ago. I can still hear the narrator asking "Rugby?! Who wants to go to Rugby?"
We just finished two months in France and Italy with our 20" Bike Fridays. Your experiences sound very much like the variety of challenges we faced with bikes on trains. We never knew what to expect! Glad to find your site!
Back in the 80s I did a bike tourthrough south of France, along Mediterranean then up to Seville and on to Granada. Shipped bike by train from Granada to Valencia and hitch hiked the same stretch to pick it up. Was no problem. Great trip.
The Rodalies Renfe regional trains do allow full size bikes, sometimes hang up zones and sometimes in oversized luggage sort of spots depending on the model of train. They are just much slower trains. They are first come first serve but many of them have multiple cars with space. Used them a bunch and its been pretty easy.
I thought I saw bike signs during a Scottish guys show and tell of the northern narrow gauge rail.
In Sweden, bicycles are not allowed on high speed trains. But here in southern Sweden, the regional trains, like Öresundståg, allow bicycles if there is space. Öresundståg operates from Denmark, across the Öresund Strait and into Sweden. Travelling with your bicycle is permitted, but you share this dedicated space with prams and baby carriages. A maximum of 6 bicycles/carriages is allowed. But because these cars also accommodate travelers landing at Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen, depending on the time of day, you could have difficulty finding space for your bicycle due to the numbers of arrivals and huge amounts of luggage. The key for us is to choose the right time of day and we know that there are usually several cars dedicated to bicycles further along the platform, i.e. we don't have to choose the nearest car.
Spain is the only country I've encountered the airline security style entrance to a train (other than the Cross channel Tunnel Eurostar services) and most other national rail services in the EU have specific bike spaces, on high speed and intercity services that take bikes (e.g. German ICE trains) but you do need to book the specific bike space in addition to your seat reservation for these. Local trains mostly have a limited number of bike spaces depending on the specific service too, but these are not bookable in advance and so are on a first come first serve type deal. Worst country in the EU for bikes on trains? Sweden. They are not allowed (other than on the service from Denmark across the Oresund bridge and those that are disassembled and covered - or folders and covered.) This despite the fact that Sweden's loading gauge (the width of the bridges and tunnels not the track) is wider than most of the rest of the EU (except the Baltics and Finland).
I should add that French high speed services - either Thalys (now confusingly rebranded Eurostar) or TGV have no bike compartment so only take dissembled bikes in bags or bike boxes (box case is what I've used). This is not the case though for the Eurostar channel tunnel service that has a limit to luggage dimensions smaller than a bike box of max 85cm. For this train if your traveling on the Brussels-London-Brussels then you can book your bike for them to take for you and collect at the destination station. But if you're traveling Paris-London-Paris then the same deal only applies to dissembled bikes in bags or bike boxes(?!?) and both trains require advance booking for this service too.
Airline style security seems weird. It's not an airline why do they feel they need this when France, Germany, italy etc. who have similiar high speed lines don't. I understand for Eurostar as it's international (and leaving the EU) but for Spain?
When in Spain we use the Media Distancia or Regional trains which accommodate full bikes. We just cycled Merida to Madrid with a few train rides to help out.
Watched that CTC film a few times. Even cycled around the area xx
Amtrak is the worst for bikes!!! It's a disaster to bring a bike on a train. Though the Marc in Maryland has great bike transportation. They retrofitted old cars that removed half the seats for a ton of bike racks. It's amazing to use!
My wife and I took a full size Ebike on a train in the Netherlands. We had to pay for a bike ticket, I think it was 8 euros. It was during the off hours, not sure you can during peak hours. The weather was really bad 35 mph winds and it was a lifesaver. We also hoped a boat on the Rhine in Germany when it was raining, cleared up and we got off and road the rest of the way. You need to be flexible. At least you have options.
I don't know how about Spain, but in Poland it's usually easier to travel with your bikes on local trains, rather than on the long range ones. Additionally, you don't have to cover your bike here. Usually there're hangers for bikes, but they're fairly limited in number (like 8 spots in the whole train). You also have to buy a ticket for your bike for 8 PLN (~2€).
Maybe it sucks in Spain, but I have taken the train in France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, (full sized bike) and I never had any big complaints. Sure, it is an adventure sometimes getting on the train, but in the end, you get to your destination. Also the train in Luxembourg is great, and it is also free. The best I have experienced so far is Switzerland. I always take the regional trains, instead of the high speed trains ( I heard that TGV in France is horrible for taking a bike).
just came back from spain, and yup spain is not easy with the trains. But alsa (bus) was clearly easier, cheaper and just needed to dismount the front wheel, put a bag over the bicycle and its done !
Great channel Russ. I find your content really helpful for the sort of riding I do 👍
Keep up the good work and it'd be great to see you and Laura cycling in the UK.
My partner and I have the Coasts and Castles tour in Northumberland planned for next July, we're really looking forward to that.
Best wishes from Belfast, UK.
I remember putting my bike on a guards van and getting into the country like that in the 90s. It wasn’t that long ago.
In Italy getting a fully-sized bike on a high-speed train is virtually impossible but the vast majority of regional trains accept bikes. Dedicated carriages with hooks or on newer trains three bike slots per carriage with charging ports for ebikes. A day bike ticket costs under 4 euros. I think Italy has a great and affordable rail service although few Italians will agree with me.
I’m surprised they allow that given the possibility for a battery fire during charging.
@GHinWI Good point. Is a fire more likely during charging? I'm afraid I know nothing about ebikes.
@@weeringjohnny : as I understand, charging is when there’s a risk of fire, especially with cheap batteries.
In the past me and my partner did bike trip through spain, more specifically through Andaluzia.
Reading all about trains we discovered this limitations that the long distance trains had. We then only looked at the media distancia trains which I assume all have some space and hooks to carry fully mounted bikes. But the network of the media distancia is quite limited.
In the end of the journey we went back home to portugal by Alsa bus. Over there you can pay 15 euro and carry the bike mounted with just some soft cover that alsa also sells.
I do appreciate the Frontrunner train in Utah (yes I know it's regional so not a direct comparison), as it does have bike specific train cars where you can store a number of bikes, though during peak times the cars are often packed with people and bikes.
Great video as always! Unfortunately days of CTC video are of bygone era here in UK. Long distance services usually have a dedicated luggage & bike section, but these require advance reservation and there's only a few spaces per service meaning you have to plan far in advance. Regional services are usually more flexible
The only US high-ish speed rail (Acela and Brightline) do not allow full-sized bikes. You can take the wheels off and load them in a box. For regular intercity trains it depends on the route. For example, Capitol Corridor in Northern California and the Surfliner in Southern CA have bike racks.
Found in Portugal its fairly easy to get a full size bike on trains uncovered. Can be daunting at peak commuter times. Somd cars have a 'dedicated'space with some velcro ties.
Is this only for the high-speed trains? Haven't been in Spain yet, but in Italy and Austria you can just bring your full size bikes on (most) trains, for the longer distance higher speed ones you need to book a bike ticket in advance, because spaces are limited, but on regional lines they usually have plenty of room (tho still need a bike ticket of course). My biggest gripe is that online ticketing doesn't sell bike tickets for international lines, so last time i had to book such a ride, i had to opt for the slower combination of multiple regional trains with transfer at the border, as the ticket office at the station was not yet open.
Yes. Local trains you can just take the bike on.
Yes that's the only way from France to Spain on the regional trains with your bike - via PortBou. You can get them on the Flixbus but they need to be "wrapped" or boxed - I thinks it's to stop the oil from the chain getting on other people's luggage
@@JohnPilling25 Some flixbuses (at least around where i live) have rear bike racks, those don't need wrapping for the bike, but they each carry only 3-4 bikes
@ I've only seen the bikes going underneath, panniers off.
@@JohnPilling25 I've travelled with ones that had rear rack, but maybe that's a regional thing then
didn't travel in spain (with my bycicle), but I did it in france, belgium, netherlands, germany, denmark, sweden and norway and it was super easy, just hop into the train with my loaded bike (front panniers, seatbag, framebag).
It was dead-easy every time.
Seating on the French TGV high-speed trains is reserved only. There are information panels on the platform to indicate where to stand for the rail car corresponding to the reservation.
Hi, I travelled with my full size bike and panniers on the Ave train from Barcelona to Madrid and then on Alvia to Jerez de la Frontera on November this year. Please note the Renfe website states you need to order a bike ticket on Ave and Alvia and place your bike into a bag no longer than 120cm (e.g. the one sold in Decathlon) - easily met by removing the wheels. Very similar rule for the Alsa bus (I travelled last year from Santiago to Madrid with my full size bike). So not as bad as it sounds :-)
glad you had a good experience. We had a few hard times with trains and transfers with different rules for different parts of the trip.
Come to Switzerland! You can bring a full-size bike on the trains without any problem. You just have to buy a ticket for it. Some cars have a place to hang the bike up - there's a hook for your front wheel. You have to pay around $2 extra for a reservation for that place.
Great info. Thank u.
I don’t know about the experience of others, but I’ve taken a full size bike plenty of times around the uk with no problems at all. Booking in advance is a must though.
EU regulation 2021/782 says all NEW and renovated train sets need at least 4 bike spaces, however trains easily last 10 years or more between renovation so change will be slow but coming.
Spain is the only EU country who does the security scanner because of terrorist attacks in the past. I feel like the information where the bike car or the one with your reservation is, is really crucial, but a lot of train companies do a great job providing that at the platform or in their app.
Travelling with a bagged aup full-size 29er in Spain, my shoulder was definitely sore from these laden 100m sprints you are talking about!
That's kind of crazy the difference between this and what I experienced in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, France, and Switzerland. Speaking specifically about Germany because it's what I experienced most: there is very little, if any, security other than roaming officers. Most of the local and regional trains you can just roll onto and the long distance (ICE: Intercity express) usually have a bike specific car with hooks. No covers needed, but it does cost extra to take a bike and locking up to the bike hook/rack is recommended for obvious reasons. There is no extra charge for a bike on most local and regional trains and there are always kinda open spaces for wheelchairs, bikes, etc. they even have nifty little seatbelt things to hold your bike up. They also tell you where each car will stop at the platform using signage at the platform and the DeutscheBahn app. Almost all of this applies in Austria and Belgium as well, but I'm less familiar with the other countries I mentioned above as I only traveled there via train once or twice.
In Austria you get a dedicated reserved spot for your bike. The situation with foldable bikes is similar, you just put it in a bag and treat it like luggage. Also, it's much easier on regional trains, so if you travel shorter distance that's the way to go.
I rode the Fung Wah from Boston to NYC with bike a couple time, that's about as adventurous as I ever got, although they were known to explode on occasion apparently.
Unfortunately the train travel in Spain is super stressful for cyclists. Having Bromptons is brilliant and even still it seems like it was kind of stressful for you. Like it’s totally possible that you’ll board the train only to realize there’s no space for your bike. I once had to load my bike in the dining car, super far from where I was sitting. Anyone could’ve taken my bike. If you have a full size bike, I have found taking the bus is the less stressful choice. Obviously much slower but guaranteed safe space to load your bike underneath. That part about not knowing where to stand on the platform is so true. It’s also like this in Taiwan.
In my country (Poland) , on my regional train carriers (Koleje Mazowieckie and SKM Warszawa) you just go to a train car that is marked as a one for bike carriage and that's it. You don't have to pay anything more.
I think the cycling touring film is very romantic idea of British cycling I love that film. It is like a glimpse into what my grandad told me of his cycling jaunts.
I personally have taken the train a few times in the uk. From the midlands to the north, south and east so far. Whichever way gives me a good tailwind all the way home. I check for trains with bike carriage space and book my bike on with no cost. Have had a few problems, like delays and transfers etc but have never been refused to put my bike on the train. In general I’ve found it to be very relaxed. This is with a full sized bike and no disassembly.
Best ride/train so far is Nottingham to Skegness. The line is quiet. (Not a commuter route) 2hr train. 90 mile ride back. Planning on doing it in spring again.
Italy tried implementing a similar bike policy (folding bike inside of closed bag) but it was fortunately rolled back due to backlash from the public and from consumer protection agencies. Plus, we don't have airlines style check-in anywhere. Although your train may or may not start/arrive in time or at all so I guess there's pros and cons
Great video! UK and Dutch trains have a few spaces on the train for regular non-folding bikes. Convenient but first-come first-served and the spaces often run out (in spite of your having to pay extra for them in NL). They don't like bending the rules because it's a safety issue if the train stops suddenly and bikes fly around and hit people. In your UK film that was a "Guard's van" which can hold an indefinite number of bikes because there are no passengers in there. Less convenient but I think they should bring them back as a fallback for when the ready spaces run out. It shouldn't cost much to throw an extra carriage on a train. If you've booked a train and you're going somewhere, maybe you have to catch a ferry etc, you shouldn't have to run the risk of not being allowed on.
In Germany taking a (full size) bike on an intercity train can be a hustle. Taking a folding bike (of any type up to 20") however is easy IMHO, as far as I know (or did) I just hopped on the train and stored my bike somewhere without it being covered or in a bag. With a "full-size" bike however it's a different story. You have to make reservation beforehand (I think for 2 or 3 years now it's possible to buy a bike ticket online, however it still doesn't show you how many of the very few bike spots have been booked already and before that you HAD to go to a station and talk to a person to get your reservation/ticket well in advance). And if anything happens to your train, e.g. doesn't show up, has a technical defect and is being canceled, doesn't have the right carrier where your bike place is supposed to be, etc. you're out of luck. Usually in the spring and summer months and especially from Friday until Sunday all (3-6) bike spots are being booked so you usually just cannot hop on the next train (which happened to me several times before). Now I don't want to complain about the Deutsche Bahn always having problems while being fairly expensive (compared to the rail system for example in Italy) … I do love to take the train and I usually don't care too much about being late but I would love to see train carriers in Europe have dedicated train cars during the "bike season" from May until September, maybe it would be even enough to have it on the weekends. And I would definitely accept to pay a bit more for it than the 9 Euro (in Germany, no matter how far you go), as long as I can take my bike across the country more easily.
RailJet is king in "travel by bike" in Europe! Of course it can't cover all countries but it's pretty good in Central Eurpe.
I’ve travelled with bikes in a couple different counties. Italy and Netherlands: doors at the front and back of each local and regional train have areas for full size bikes. In Italy you are supposed to pay 5 euro ticket for your bike. Austria: Bike car on the train and I think it was 5 or 10 euro. No real security checks.
Having taken long-distance trains in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and France: they typically don't require a cover for a standard size bike but they absolutely require a reservation for the bike - typically it costs between 10 and 15 Euros. They have racks for the bikes, with each having a "seat number" that corresponds to the reservation. If you can't secure a reservation for the bike (and I'm talking standard, non-Brompton bike here) you won't be able to take it on the train - full stop. Also: many other countries spell out which class of car will hit certain points of a train platform, as well as where the bike accommodation will be on the train - not sure why Spain doesn't do this on the info screens on the platform.
4:00 ' two situation with trains....' or 3) your train is cancelled and you have scramble to another platform, squeeze onto another train, and your 1st class seats become standing in the buffet car.
Having to bag the bikes is only for AVE trains, correct? Local trains take regular bikes no problem. This is the same for TGV in France on most routes. High speed trains, no. Local trains, yes.
I used the IKEA bag on rainy day, Metro North commutes to keep my Brompton from dripping onto me from the overhead luggage rack. I didn't realize that other people did that!
Maybe the Spain tourism board will see this vid; crazy you gotta wrap bikes in plastic
Not to mention busses... Thanks for the video.
The high speed trains 250kmph+ (Ave, Avril and Alvia) also sometimes called 'long distance' are positioned as alternatives to airlines and have airline security. In such, they do not have many amenities for bikes, although, that depends on the class of train - the new Avril trains are much larger, and faster (300kmph), and have more space for even full sized (bagged) bikes (free), but these run on limited lines (Madrid to Asturias, to Galicia, to Valencia). The MD (or media distancia trains, most often have hooks for the bikes in separate coaches (usually by the vending machines), and those do go long distances, but they have far more stops and are slower (max 200kmph I believe) - this would be "standard" long distance in the rest of the world or countries that don't have high speed. And then of course there are regional trains, cercanias (commuter trains) and feve where bikes are allowed but usually just where there is space at the end of cars. This follows much of Europe, the slower 'long distance' trains have hooks for bikes in France, Italy and Germany, but the high speed (or alta velocidad) is much more restrictive (like the TGV and Frecciarossa etc). The video you site at the beginning is pre-high speed. Those trains still exist in Spain and elsewhere in the EU, and still have bike hooks, just those lines/services are being cut in favor of high speed 250kmph+. On those trains you can almost always box them like on a plane, or bag them and find space but it's a hassle. Just like on a plane. MD is the ticket... even if you have to use it for long distances... or the Avril if you have it.
In the Netherlands the trains have sections designated for bicycles and large luggage. During off peak hours you can take any regular bicycle for a €6 fee, and folding bicycles are free and can be taken at any time. No security checks, what you saw in Spain is really strange for me
The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are mostly, to varying degree, bike friendly EU countries. Train travel in Spain is generally a bit strange, especially on the long distance high-speed trains.
Welcome back to the "fold'! It's been a long time.
I know other youtubers especially folks bikepacking have complained about the requirement to put a bike in a bag to be allowed to transport it on the train. One youtuber got kicked off a train and had to rent a car to get back home. I took a train from Paris to a small train station in Italy where our tour guide for a tour de france bike tour picked us up. On the train to Italy, there was no room for our full size bikes in proper bike bags. The Italian train conductor took pity on us and allowed us to put our bikes in the restaraunt area. The waitress was not happy, but the train conductor overruled her. I also know what you mean about trying to figure out which car you were own. We couldn't figure it out the numbering system of the train cars in Paris and a really nice English speaking French guy pointed us to the right train car. Brompton's definetly make more sense!
AmTrak USA has old school hooks and don’t accommodate deep section wheels with gravel tires.
Seattle loaded by staff = Beautiful gouge in a 303S rim.
NYC self loaded. I used a pack strap to hang the wheel from the hook.
In Poland, you generally can travel with bicycles on trains, but it's an absolute mess in terms of rules that are different for each of the dozen+ train operators. For long distance trains you generally have to buy a special ticket, which means you have to prepare beforehand. On the plus side it's a guaranteed spot for the bike and you will immediately know if the train you want to go on allows bicycles on board in first place. Local trains often (but not always) just allow taking the bicycles on, but often the dedicated space for them is limited so you end up clogging the corridors and such. If the train is crowded, you might even be denied. All in all, I haven't seen any train operator that would require bagging the bikes tho.
As far as bike specific cars on trains - this is very rare, but it still does happen sometimes over here! Mostly on routes that connect big cities with popular recreational cycling areas.
I've done some long distance travel and while not super common, various cycling specific accommodations exist even if they are rare. For example my hotel had a small part of its underground garage dedicated to bicycles.
Did you chop anything from new the bar ends?
the reason their is not many full size bike space is that during order the decision makers perhaps lacked vision but most importantly that a bike, is a LOT of unprofitable and dead space. From two to 6 seats PER BIKE are gone depending on the arrangement chosen.
The only train that manages somewhat to avoid that is the old Corail cart here in france, where some have two hooks tucked in a corner of the cart right by the liaison doors (it is a damn nightmare to reach them)
Grew up taking our bikes on trains in Canada, just in the main baggage car - whole bikes, not disassembled. This was in the 70s when I was a kid, and we would go up to Quebec or into New England for bike tours. We also went to UK and used the trains a lot again putting our loaded bikes into baggage cars. It was all very laid back and staff very friendly to bike tourists. Flash forward to 2004 and we took the TGV from CDG to Avignon with our bikes partly disassembled in black bike bags. It was kind of a night mare! 60 seconds the trains stops and lo there is no place to put the bikes in the train! We barely make it on and have bikes stuffed into the vestibule between trains and one on our lap. The train staff were miffed that we had the gall to insult their train bringing bikes aboard. Never again. I just rent cars in europe ever since, bikes in the back if need be. I have had great experience taking my break-away Lynskey onto jetliners in North America, though the bike box conforms to standard luggage dimensions.
There was a great study done by the European Cyclists Federation a few years back titled "Cyclists love trains" and you'll see that RENEFE scored an impressive 0%. Sad to see that things haven't really improved since that report came out. That said there are certainly some great examples they could learn from not too far away. The report is a good read, highly recommend it. Either, great look at how things are there today thanks for posting!
2 years ago I dis paris Madrid in train with my regular bike in a bag (taking out the front wheel) from paris all perfect but in Barcelona to change train I had to pay 30€ extra they don't respect baggage consideration (even I bough all as one ticket) and the Madrid train was an AVLO a high speed low cost train and it didn't had any space for luggage at all. At the end I put the bike stand up in a door, thankfully was direct train with no stops, from then I really star thinking about a brompton bike
Love how they had y’all scan your bikes, while there’s a guy walking his through without the scan 😂
is that girona station at the start?
I've always just ridden my full size bike, & gotten onboard. There is always a bike specific car, just gotta ask beforehand. And also travel on off hours just in case there many riders, but as long as there's room they'll allow it. Been riding & taking trains & buses for years in Spain. Might be a language thing, but most train personal don't care as long as you're out of the way & don't disrupt the flow of traffic on trains.
Not on a long distance train unless you’re some kind of Jedi.
@@PathLessPedaledTV you might be right, I've done mostly shorter rides. But also mostly with Renfe. I've booked in advanced for additional bike on longer rides & made sure I had a spot. But usually haven't had an issue.
How do you secure your bike when traveling on trains in Spain question mark the IKEA Gimper bag doesn’t seem to have a way to lock it to the bike storage area. I’d be afraid that someone would just grab my Brompton and go.
I’d love to explore Europe by train with my bike . It just isn’t practical if it’s full size. I’m now planning to travel without and then hire a bike when I get there.
Why not just take regional trains around? I’ve done this in France, avoiding the TGV because of the bagged bike rule. The regional trains are slower but will likely get you where you’re going albeit with some connections ?
How do you think the new Brompton G20’s would go on the trains?
I feel the 20” Brompton is the size and model that I was been waiting for for years, what do you mean? Far easier to fit in the coach locker under the coaches? I drove around Europe back in the late 90s.
I did look at the Brompton 16 inch back then and decided against him and then looked at the Land Rover 20 inch collapsible bikes but there was too much work to go riding every day about Europe
What about the post transfer cases? It looks like they would fit.
england still has bike specific cars!
Are liquids like chain lubes allowed through such train security checks?
Yes
You also have to pay to take your bike on Amtrak in the west coast. Way more than actually just renting a bike or an ebike at your destination.
still waiting to have full sized bikes allowed on trains in our country...for now its only folding bikes😢
Come to Denmark❤
It will be a breeze compared to this 😂
fascinating; had not seen the video before.
pretty easy to do in Switzerland
We stillhave a way to go with bike sin some countries, most def. One thing Russ, I wrote to you store to ask when you guys will get to ship stuff from the EU?
Our visa doesn’t allow us to ship from the EU.
I like trains and bikes
Here in Austria you don't have to cover your folding bike and we have no "airport" security😮.
For normal bicycles, enough space on regional trains, only 5 to 7 on longdistance trains😑.
France was pretty easy to load a full size bike on most trains throughout the country, I’m surprised that Spain wouldn’t have places to hang full sized bikes, seems ridiculous to need to fold and bag them, but I’m assuming that this is only the high speed trains?
My Dimpa bags lasted all of one trip...
Airport like security to travel on a train? I rather just strap my bike to the back of my car and just drive.
Heck man, even here in DFW, as long as it isn't peak hours, I can take a full sized bike on the train.
sounds like bike and train is a pain in Spain.
it is in most if not all high speed transit. Regional transit is a mixed bag country to country. I know Belgium and France.
In France most have hooks and spaces but it varies from 2-3 to 10+ depending on the make and model of the train. In rush hour (tourist or workers) it is never enough and you can except heavy overcrowding to the dismay of the onboard staff (when their is one lol).
And since the scnf is no longer 100% public each regions has autonomy on rules (good luck if you don't read french lol!). So it ranges without consistency
In Belgium you have a special carriage space they open for you (special ticket) and you toss it in there.
UK is worse! It's such a shame - it's the perfect combination train and bike. The approach you took with a brompton gives the most flexibility in the UK - it doesn't need to be bagged. But you do want to keep it close - people steal Bromptons.
The UK is miles better with bikes on trains. You don't even need to keep them covered.
Iv'e taken full size bikes on UK trains and booked them on using the trainline app when booking my ticket. I have only had one problem and that was on cross country trains when it was so crowded that the hanging space for the bike was piled high with luggage - there was no seat either even though I had booked it. It is not obvious where the car with the bike racks is either - you have to watch for the cycle symbol on the outside as the train pulls into the station.
@@JohnPilling25 On some platforms departure boards they do indicate which carriages have space for bikes or and wheelchairs.
@@AtibaQuildan you must live in London. The cars there are clearly marked where the bikes go.
@@JohnPilling25 It's good in ways, some routes it is practically impossible to book a bike on. For example try booking a bike on a train from London to Frome. All trains are always booked. Months in advance. I don't know whether the system is broken on this route or someone in Frome really hates cyclists and routinely goes on the GWR site and books up all the cycle spaces when they are released (you can do this without booking a ticket!)
The AVE when it stops in Perpignan, the cars are indicated on the monitors on the platform so you know where to get on. The AVE and TGV from France to Spain will not carry full size bikes. In France you need to be on the TER trains that have specific spots for full size bikes and it's free or €5 for the bike but they are slower than the TGV.
Don’t take your eyes off your bikes enroute
yeah, i'd be nervous about leaving Bromptons in bags like that near the train doors
That film was way more than. 20yrs ago Russ
I didn’t say it was 20 years old. I said I personally saw it 20 years ago. The film was from 55.
@@PathLessPedaledTV less than 20 years ago, on the HST in the UK there was still a dedicated part of the train for bikes behind the power cars at the end. Problem waas you had to rush to get your bike on, in the rack then close the door and back in the main part of the train. The newer long distance trains have awful cramped cupboard type areas you have to put your bike on it's back wheel onto a hook. Not all bikes fit and the space is often filled up with luggage (even though you've booked a space for your bike).
A Stateside sigh… 🙄 Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian does have a cargo car, the Northeastern seaboard lines do not. 🫤 So there’s simply *no* hassle-free bike you can ride the GAP on, for example, the triangle between NYC, Pittsburgh and DC.