European trains - sleeper service

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
glucas
Posts: 216
Joined: 11 Mar 2021, 10:17am

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by glucas »

Thanks for the information, both.
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20308
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by mjr »

glucas wrote: 14 Apr 2021, 9:49am Anyway, back to bikes and Harwich - Hook of Holland. This makes absolute sense as a gateway, especially if you live within a reasonable distance to Harwich, like I do, in Cambridgeshire. In terms of bikes, where is the main connecting hub usually to central Europe and beyond, is it Rotterdam? So - one would just cycle to Rotterdam from the Hook of Holland, or get the Metro - is it from Schiedam? Is Rotterdam a major connecting hub - like Lille? Or is there another station?
Rotterdam is a bigger hub and a fairly easy ride along the riverside to Schiedam and then follow signs first to Rotterdam and then Centrum and it takes you to the station. I think it is still a pretty attractive ride, especially if you've never enjoyed cycling in a big city Dutch-style, but it not as attractive as riding along the coast to Den Haag:

Den Haag is slightly closer. If it has a service that suits you, it can be better because it is a terminal station, so less chance of needing to run along platforms finding the bike carriage. It can be done in about 12.5 miles as shown on https://cycle.travel/map/journey/88608 but it's a nicer ride and not much slower (due to fewer traffic lights and only being 2-3 miles more) to follow EV12 along the coast to junction 23 and then go 24 - 26 - 31 - 28 - 30.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
glucas
Posts: 216
Joined: 11 Mar 2021, 10:17am

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by glucas »

That's great - thank you. 12.5 miles (or the nicer coastal route - 15+ miles) on flat roads would be no sweat, and I can see that Den Haag connects to major cities within Holland, including Arnhem, which for EV 15 would be good to connect down to Basel/Bern.
willem jongman
Posts: 2750
Joined: 7 Jan 2008, 4:16pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by willem jongman »

It all depends where you want to go to, of course. See here for the planner: https://www.ns.nl/en Right now, there are fewer trains because there are fewer passengers, but when I recently took one for the first time in a year I was pleased to have booked a first class ticket. However, it will get better again.
st599_uk
Posts: 1092
Joined: 4 Nov 2018, 8:59pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by st599_uk »

willem jongman wrote: 14 Apr 2021, 10:56am It all depends where you want to go to, of course. See here for the planner: https://www.ns.nl/en Right now, there are fewer trains because there are fewer passengers, but when I recently took one for the first time in a year I was pleased to have booked a first class ticket. However, it will get better again.
Just as a note for new visitors, do you still have to buy a separate 3 Euro bike ticket?
A novice learning...
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20308
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by mjr »

st599_uk wrote: 14 Apr 2021, 4:21pm
willem jongman wrote: 14 Apr 2021, 10:56am It all depends where you want to go to, of course. See here for the planner: https://www.ns.nl/en Right now, there are fewer trains because there are fewer passengers, but when I recently took one for the first time in a year I was pleased to have booked a first class ticket. However, it will get better again.
Just as a note for new visitors, do you still have to buy a separate 3 Euro bike ticket?
Yes and I think it's €7,50 now, plus more for international. https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information ... train.html
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
User avatar
monxton
Posts: 113
Joined: 12 Mar 2010, 12:42pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by monxton »

Jdsk wrote: 14 Apr 2021, 9:54am After cycling the EV15 S to N we cycled to the ferry from the centre of Rotterdam. There's a bit on city streets and then most of it on a traffic free path. Nice way to end the trip.

The problem was that we needed to get back to Oxford and you aren't allowed bikes on the mainline train to London until something like 1100. I've written up our attempted solution somewhere in the archives.
It's not quite that bad. The regulation is that you cannot use a train which arrives in London between 07:45 and 09:45 on a weekday. So yes, there is an annoying wait unless you arrive on Saturday or Sunday, but not as long as you think.
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by Jdsk »

Thanks for adding the correct times.

Jonathan
pq
Posts: 1294
Joined: 12 Nov 2007, 11:41pm
Location: St Antonin Noble Val, France
Contact:

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by pq »

When I lived in the UK before most of the sleeper services were axed I was a regular user of them. Eurostar to Paris, dinner en route through the city then pick up a night train to wherever my tour started. I always slept well and got a real sense of travel and of being on holiday.

For me the mystery was why almost no-one else was doing that. The bike bus, which involves a very uncomfortable night on a bus followed by being dropped pre dawn by a motorway was always booked up and most others flew with all the hassle/risk of getting your bike on the plane. OK, flying was usually cheaper but I was surprised I seemed to be the only one willing to spend a bit more to have a nicer journey.

I hope this time they figure out a way to get people to use the sleepers, they are a fantastic service, especially for cyclists.
One link to your website is enough. G
Will
Posts: 484
Joined: 16 Jan 2007, 6:39pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by Will »

There is a video on a dutch news website that shows them in the carriages they intend to use:

https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/economie/busin ... -het-spoor

It looks like they are getting their carriages from these guys (going by the livery):

https://www.euro-express-sonderzuege.de/

Will
markjohnobrien
Posts: 1037
Joined: 4 Oct 2007, 8:15pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by markjohnobrien »

pq wrote: 15 Apr 2021, 10:12am When I lived in the UK before most of the sleeper services were axed I was a regular user of them. Eurostar to Paris, dinner en route through the city then pick up a night train to wherever my tour started. I always slept well and got a real sense of travel and of being on holiday.

For me the mystery was why almost no-one else was doing that. The bike bus, which involves a very uncomfortable night on a bus followed by being dropped pre dawn by a motorway was always booked up and most others flew with all the hassle/risk of getting your bike on the plane. OK, flying was usually cheaper but I was surprised I seemed to be the only one willing to spend a bit more to have a nicer journey.

I hope this time they figure out a way to get people to use the sleepers, they are a fantastic service, especially for cyclists.
Agree: bikes and trains are a great mix.
Raleigh Randonneur 708 (Magura hydraulic brakes); Blue Raleigh Randonneur 708 dynamo; Pearson Compass 631 tourer; Dawes One Down 631 dynamo winter bike;Raleigh Travelogue 708 tourer dynamo; Kona Sutra; Trek 920 disc Sram Force.
st599_uk
Posts: 1092
Joined: 4 Nov 2018, 8:59pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by st599_uk »

Agreed, for work it's now almost compulsory.

Love the train journey, can usually still do a few hours prep work before conferences, shows etc. eat decent food from a boulangerie or similar and relax (unless it's Berlin, where the new Hauptbahnhof is super confusing).

The only issue I face is Customs. I used to take the train to Geneva when I had to meet there, but you can't anymore as the only Customs Port of Entry is at the airport and you have to arrive at it from airside. Unfortunately Eurostar is going the same way - there was no work done so there's no Customs facilities - Carnets are checked on the train, which means you're limited in the size of goods you can take to something you can fit in the overhead luggage racks.
A novice learning...
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by Jdsk »

I don’t know if this has been discussed before.

Campaign: “Trains for Europe”
https://trainsforeurope.eu/
https://trainsforeurope.eu/detail/what- ... rain-have/

Jonathan
Mr.Benton
Posts: 182
Joined: 13 Jul 2009, 1:38pm
Location: Broadway, Worcestershire

Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by Mr.Benton »

I received an update email today regarding the new sleeper service from Brussels to Prague. It is due to start running in Summer 2022, with ticket sales starting in the spring.
The best bit about the email was this:
We also offer the possibility to take your bicycle on board.
https://www.europeansleeper.eu/english/
st599_uk
Posts: 1092
Joined: 4 Nov 2018, 8:59pm

New European Sleeper Timetable.

Post by st599_uk »

I see the new European Sleeper service has put its timetable out.

Image
Image

First tickets on sale in the spring for a summer 2022 start. They also mention a Warsaw service starting in 2023.

Seems to match up quite well with the Hoek Van Holland ferry.
A novice learning...
“the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
Post Reply