European trains - sleeper service

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Will
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Joined: 16 Jan 2007, 6:39pm

Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Will »

It looks like European Sleeper are leasing their rolling stock from RDC Deutscheland and the bike spaces are in a seating car (type Bomdz). RDC have 2 of these types of carriages - they also have 4 without bike spaces (Bomz).

It looks like European Sleeper are leasing the 2 Bomdz type carriages. If you look at this video you can see that the first of the (blue/white with a green stripe) seating carriages has a bike symbol (4:49), and you can clearly see the bike racks through the window of the second carriage (5:12):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L52xay6iDY

I think the first carriage is flipped round, which is why you can't see the bike racks through the window (though I think you can make out the ski racks behind the person with the camera).

If I am right, then there are 16 bike spaces on the European Sleeper, which is great news for groups.

Will
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MrsHJ
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by MrsHJ »

So logistics wise we’re thinking Calais Dunkerque ferry then cycle or train to Brussels. This is probably a good flexible option using daytime travel especially for those with a distance to get to London.

For those who can get to Harwich then I think you can get the ferry and then get to Amsterdam and join the sleeper there.

All looks interesting and nice to see decent numbers of bike spaces. We had 7 in 5 spaces the other day from Bordeaux to Marseilles.
millimole
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by millimole »

The man in seat 61 says that the service is fully booked for this year.
I would guess that it'll be booked up very quickly in subsequent months - as soon as tickets are released.
As some of the stock dates back to the 1950s there is also a question of reliability (The loco is leased from a freight operator so at least that's not a problem ).

Don't get too excited,
Leicester; Riding my Hetchins since 1971; Day rides on my Dawes; Going to the shops on a Decathlon Hoprider
markjohnobrien
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by markjohnobrien »

millimole wrote: 27 May 2023, 7:42am The man in seat 61 says that the service is fully booked for this year.
I would guess that it'll be booked up very quickly in subsequent months - as soon as tickets are released.
As some of the stock dates back to the 1950s there is also a question of reliability (The loco is leased from a freight operator so at least that's not a problem ).

Don't get too excited,
Damn: I was getting interested and excited.

Careful planning needed then.
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.
Grldtnr
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Grldtnr »

I am interested in the possibilitys, but can I take my recumbent trike, it's my preferred camping bike.
It's foldable, but I've yet to test that traveling, collapsed down it will probably fit In One of those huge laundry bags, trike in one baggage in the other, and loose seat.
A laid back, low down, layabout recumbent triker!
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RickH
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Re: New Proposed Sleeper Service

Post by RickH »

glucas wrote: 7 Apr 2021, 10:12amI hope that one is in close proximity with one's bike, and not the fiasco that I experienced last year in York where I had to run down the platform to stop the driver from pulling out because nobody opened the train doors where the bikes were stored.
My backup plan on UK trains where your bike has to be released (I use Avanti pendelinos fairly regularly) is to go and stand in the doorway nearest the bike storage so that the door can't be closed until someone has come to release my bike.

I also always go & speak to the train manager as soon as I've got on the train to say where I'm getting off with my bike &, on longer runs, will go & speak to them again after the train has left the previous station &/or is getting close to my destination stop. Staff can forget & sometime there are crew changes (I know that on the West Coast Main Line they often change crew at Preston).
Former member of the Cult of the Polystyrene Head Carbuncle.
Jdsk
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Jdsk »

Will wrote: 26 May 2023, 1:02pm There are some videos already on YouTube for the start of the European Sleeper service:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsnni3rxJME

You can see the (8) bike spaces at the 2:27 mark. It does not look like they are using the RegioJet carriages after all - the deal probably fell through due to delays in getting the service started.
A night on the European Sleeper:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023 ... an-sleeper

No bike content, but it did lead to Midnight Trains:
https://www.midnight-trains.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Trains

Jonathan

Screenshot 2023-05-30 at 12.47.00.png
Jdsk
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Jdsk »

NB date.

"Our journey on the European Sleeper turned into a bad dream":
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/ ... rlin-amstr

Jonathan
Jdsk
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Jdsk »

Berlin-Paris starting in December:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... nine-years

Jonathan
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mjr
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by mjr »

Jdsk wrote: 6 Sep 2023, 8:29pm Berlin-Paris starting in December:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... nine-years
Shame NightJet are awful for cycling. Only three bikes on some services with bike tickets needed, and no bikes on others. https://www.nightjet.com/en/angebote/fahrradmitnahme

ÖBB run international trains that transport loads of cars, but seem unable or unwilling to transport many bikes.
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.
pal
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by pal »

In OEBB's defence: a lot of the bicycle-unfriendliness is because most of their current nightjet fleet is made up of old rolling stock which they picked up from the defunct DB sleeper service. The new sets which they've commissioned (and which are supposed to start coming into service from this autumn), do promise to have better bike provision (https://www.nightjet.com/en/komfortkate ... generation) -- though of course this will only be on a few routes, at least at the start.

(As it happens, I just had a very good trip, with bike, on the Nightjet from Zurich to Amsterdam. The booking process was more than usually fiddly, because the bike spaces are in the 'Intercity' part of the train, so had to be booked completely separately from the sleeper (in the 'Nightjet' part of the train), but the journey itself went very smoothly: the bike travelled in a (first class!) SBB seated carriage, and I slummed it in the sleeper wagon just next door.)
Jdsk
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Jdsk »

Just been from London to Fort William and back by sleeper.

We didn't have our bikes but there were several others. NB the midnight shuffle if you're going to Fort William.

I've posted my comments on the new rolling stock somewhere else. This time the cooling in our cabin didn't work, and they refunded a quarter of the fare.

Definitely our favourite way of getting there.

Jonathan

PS: Cornwall next week.
mattheus
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by mattheus »

Jdsk wrote: 18 Sep 2023, 4:37pm Just been from London to Fort William and back by sleeper.

We didn't have our bikes but there were several others. NB the midnight shuffle if you're going to Fort William.

I've posted my comments on the new rolling stock somewhere else. This time the cooling in our cabin didn't work, and they refunded a quarter of the fare.

Definitely our favourite way of getting there.

Jonathan

PS: Cornwall next week.
Good for you!

I've used the Cornish ("Riviera" !!!) Sleeper twice now. I think it's brilliant value OffPeak, not Advance - even with boarding at Reading.(I've only slept in a Seat, mind).

I'd use the Scottish version more if it wasn't for the outrageous cost of getting in/out of London :(

(all trips with a bike, as it happens)
Jdsk
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by Jdsk »

Just slept London to Camborne. No bike again. But great to get out at 0730 for the walk to Porthleven.

Cabins are much better designed than those that run to Scotland.

As a special treat you're allowed to use the lounge at Paddington after 2100!

Unfortunately for some reason they were't running on the way back.

Jonathan
pal
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Re: European trains - sleeper service

Post by pal »

Advert for the new ÖBB Nightjet rolling stock, with a blink-and-you’ll-miss it glimpse of the bike storage space: https://twitter.com/unsereoebb/status/1 ... ob3qE-8uBA

They start coming into service this December, says the man in seat 61.
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