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coming back from germany by train

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 1:03pm
by Ned Ludd
I've just tried to book a ticket back from Koblenz on the train...and the computer says no. Apparently it can't be done because eurostar and the german connections don't take bikes. Unless I can find a way round this Im gonna have to replan the whole trip...Grrrrr

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 5:21pm
by Ned Ludd
after a bit of head scratching I realised it might be possible to get the ferry from Hook of Holland rather than eurostar. And I've now booked it. Wish the bloke on the phone had told me that was an option when I asked for a ticket to london rather than just saying it can't be done with a bike.
And while Im ranting is there really a reason why a bike can't be booked on a train online instead of having to sit on hold on a very expensive phone line!!

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 5:46pm
by foxyrider
are you using the DB site? If not try that for connections. Here is what DB say:

Dear customer,

Unfortunately, it is not possible to book a bicycle ticket for this trip on the Internet

Please visit a Deutsche Bahn ticket counter or call our service number
Tel.: +49 (0) 1806 99 66 33 (20 ct/call from a German landline, max. 60 ct/call for German mobile phones).
You can request information on bicycle transport, purchase bicycle tickets and make reservations on this number every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

You can book bicycle tickets on the Internet under the following conditions:

Your selected trip:

- only includes trains that allow bicycles,
- doesn't include any night trains,
- only includes domestic routes,
- begins at least one day after the day of the booking.


Go to http://www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml for more details.

You can certainly book a route to the coast that will take a bike. You might find ringing will get you further than using the web - people do manage to get bikes on DB Ice, Thalys and Eurostar services! Koblenz to Koln is easy - I wouldn't try booking as part of the rest as you can probably get a regional ticket price (remember to book your bike!) Currently everything changes at Brussels so you could get either Thalys or the slower stopping service from Koln for that leg and then use Eurostar from there.

You could potentially use the new intercity bus services for part of your journey ADAC Postbus and MeinFernbus both take bikes and the fares are low! Checkout here for details http://www.goeuro.co.uk/search/NTNkOTIw ... kxNTU0OA==

Hope this helps

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 6:54pm
by Ned Ludd
yes, it was De Bahn who said it couldnt be done. Maybe I got someone new on the phone, or someone who was leaving their job, as they didn't offer any alternative options. Hopefully soon booking bikes will be easy on the web, or De Bahn will enable raileurope to make bike bookings. Luckily Im sorted now and by going via rotterdam I'll have a chance to cycle in Holland for a day so alls well etc.
thanks for the goeuro link, it looks like it will prove useful in the future.

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 9:12pm
by mjr
Rail Europe are awful tricksters, happily selling you impossible tickets, far worse than their parent SNCF, so I wouldn't hold out hope of using them.

Maybe SNCF, SNCB, NS or dB will get it right soon.

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 11:17pm
by tim_f
seehttp://www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/home/contact/contact-in-the-uk.shtml

which gives phone number for DB in UK, they will happily sell you a bike ticket over phone.

Best to look up train you want on line.

http://www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml

chose "further search options" and tick bicycle and it will only show you trains that carry bikes.

This websitehttp://www.seat61.com/ has all the info about which trains take bikes in each country including Eurostar from Brussells or Paris.

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 31 Jul 2014, 8:13pm
by andymiller
OK too late now, but a quick timetable search on bahn.co.uk shows a load of options via Paris, some more attractive than others. Best bet is probably the City Night Line service.

Screen Shot 2014-07-31 at 20.10.33.png

Re: coming back from germany by train

Posted: 25 Aug 2014, 7:07pm
by severs1966
http://www.seat61.com/bike-by-train.htm

Note that it is pretty easy to buy tickets on the day, at German stations, plus bike reservation, if you travel by trains other than the ICE ultra-high-speed type (that means IC or RE varieties).