Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
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Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
I've had similar problems on the Duoro route, but only in the height of sumner. Out of season is a breeze and net enjoyable train journey.
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
Haven't taken a bike on German trains, but ditto on the Swiss. I've taken my bike on quite a lot of Swiss trains, and always found the service they offer extremely good.
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
I recently used a train in france (bourg st maurice - chambery) where part of the route had the dreaded rail replacement bus in place.
Unlike here, the coach driver was perfectly happy to put someone's unboxed, non-folding bike in the lockers underneath.
Maybe it's just a far less risky proposition than in the UK? (!).
Anyway, good for them. SNCF has moved up a notch in my personal rankings.
Unlike here, the coach driver was perfectly happy to put someone's unboxed, non-folding bike in the lockers underneath.
Maybe it's just a far less risky proposition than in the UK? (!).
Anyway, good for them. SNCF has moved up a notch in my personal rankings.
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
The European Cycling Federation (ECF) did a report on this last year:
https://ecf.com/system/files/Cyclists_l ... report.pdf
The top ranked service was the NS/DB Amsterdam to Berlin service. The Swiss and Belgian national train services came in joint second, followed by the Hungarian and German national rail services.
I think the Belgian national train service will score even higher in a few years time:
https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/al ... eir-trains
I've only been on a Belgian train once myself (from Adinkerke to Ghent) but was impressed with the amount of space available for bikes.
It is a shame that there are no longer any ferries going to Belgium as it has potential for getting further into Europe with bikes. There is a hourly direct service that runs from Ostend to Eupen (near the German border). The Belgian national rail company (SNCB) recently ordered some multi-system locomotives that will allow their trains to go into Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It is rumoured that the Ostend-Eupen service will be extended to Cologne using the new locomotives. Cologne is a connecting point for trains to Switzerland and Austria, and when the new ICE 3 NEO trains (with 8 bike spaces) come on line, Munich will be reached in around 4.5 hours.
I find the main issue when planning to use trains is trying to find out what the bike provision is like on a particular train service I am interested in. I used to use a site called vagonWEB (https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/index.ph ... 21&lang=en), but they have now reduced the number of countries they cover, so you have to rely on data from 2021 - eventually this will be so out of date that it will no longer be useful.
Will
https://ecf.com/system/files/Cyclists_l ... report.pdf
The top ranked service was the NS/DB Amsterdam to Berlin service. The Swiss and Belgian national train services came in joint second, followed by the Hungarian and German national rail services.
I think the Belgian national train service will score even higher in a few years time:
https://ecf.com/news-and-events/news/al ... eir-trains
I've only been on a Belgian train once myself (from Adinkerke to Ghent) but was impressed with the amount of space available for bikes.
It is a shame that there are no longer any ferries going to Belgium as it has potential for getting further into Europe with bikes. There is a hourly direct service that runs from Ostend to Eupen (near the German border). The Belgian national rail company (SNCB) recently ordered some multi-system locomotives that will allow their trains to go into Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It is rumoured that the Ostend-Eupen service will be extended to Cologne using the new locomotives. Cologne is a connecting point for trains to Switzerland and Austria, and when the new ICE 3 NEO trains (with 8 bike spaces) come on line, Munich will be reached in around 4.5 hours.
I find the main issue when planning to use trains is trying to find out what the bike provision is like on a particular train service I am interested in. I used to use a site called vagonWEB (https://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/index.ph ... 21&lang=en), but they have now reduced the number of countries they cover, so you have to rely on data from 2021 - eventually this will be so out of date that it will no longer be useful.
Will
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
Thanks for posting that.Will wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 2:41pm The European Cycling Federation (ECF) did a report on this last year:
https://ecf.com/system/files/Cyclists_l ... report.pdf
Jonathan
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
Once you get out of the port to Loon-Plage, Dunkirk ferries are fairly well connected to De Panne station: 22 miles, more than half on cycleway and the rest on town streets or country lanes. https://cycle.travel/map/journey/151228
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.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
Buses in France have been mentioned. In the Gard I was allowed to take my bike, in the Herault (next door) I was not. This led to using the route in the Cevennes from Ganges (Herault) to Le Vigan (Gard) I could only use half the buses if I wanted to take my bike. That was pre-plague of course. I suspect it always depends on which département you are in.
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
NB date.
The Briefing Room: "How to Fix Britain's Railways":
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001hfrp
Highly Recommended
Jonathan
The Briefing Room: "How to Fix Britain's Railways":
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001hfrp
Highly Recommended
Jonathan
Re: Which nations rail service is the best, and why?
Available as standard download at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001hfrpJdsk wrote: ↑27 Jan 2023, 10:04am NB date.
The Briefing Room: "How to Fix Britain's Railways":
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001hfrp
Highly Recommended
Jonathan
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.
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.