French trains

[Gwylan]

Any suggestions for app or website to book travel ( with bike ) on SNCF.
I can get by in French.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I use https://www.raileurope.com/ to book continental rail travel. However, I've never done it for travel with a bike. It's certainly worth investigating.

 

[mjr]

Whatever seat61.com recommends. It has a page about bike transport but it is brief.

 

[lazybloke]

Hmmm, I've never travelled by train with a bike in France, but a quick search of travel information says that rules vary by train type (TER/TGV, etc), by hour, by season and by region. Some trains ban bikes entirely, or require them disassembled, bagged, folded; some need luggage removed. Some require bike reservations, some do not and are simply 1st-come, 1st-served.
Although as more bike-friendly country, I'd hope that France has a better provision for bikes than UK trains, and hopefully their rules are applied with greater flexibility and leeway.

RailEurope doesn't seem to have any way to specify bikes in a search, so it will list services that don't permit them!
Their own help page implies they can't reliably offer bike reservations - it suggests contacting the train operator instead!

 

[Dogtrousers]

RailEurope doesn't seem to have any way to specify bikes in a search, so it will list services that don't permit them!
Their own help page implies they can't reliably offer bike reservations - it suggests contacting the train operator instead!

Shame. It was worth a try as I've found them really good for other (non bike) stuff.

For travel just within France then I guess SNCF Connect might be the next port of call.

 

[Gwylan]

Thanks, as my researches showed it all seems a bit less than straight forward.
Different train types have different arrangements, it seems.

Think I'll look up the train times and pitch up at the station. Then sort it out there and then

Will look at Seat61 and see what advice that offers

 

[Ajax Bay]

Am next week riding and training from Dieppe to Nice so these are sites I'm using.
https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/bikes-and-french-trains.html
https://ventes.ouigo.com/en-GB/journey-results/outbound
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en
On TER never had an issue just walking on (but avoid Paris in the rush hour(s)); on OuiGo (which I've used multiple times) you have to bag or box your bike with max dimensions.
"Bikes can travel free of charge on all TGVs if they are bagged or boxed. You simply place your bagged/boxed bike in the luggage area as you would a suitcase. The size limit for bagged/boxed bikes is 120cm x 90cm"

Carry bag on and plenty of room on the luggage shelves. Bivvy bag was double function as, with a mat, I overnighted by the roadside on one night of one tour. And before Ming chimes in, frame and fork are steel, I'm doing the lifting and care, so spacer between dropouts not required.

 

[Low Gear Guy]

The SNCF Connect app is able to book spaces on long distance trains. For TER services it may be necessary to use the website of the regional operator to book a space, depending on the region and the time of year.

 

[Gwylan]

The SNCF Connect app is able to book spaces on long distance trains. For TER services it may be necessary to use the website of the regional operator to book a space, depending on the region and the time of year.

Thank you. The TER are the challenge.
Seems it's difficult ( French for impossible) to book bikes on TER trains.
Still some time.
I shall persevere

 

[Ajax Bay]

'Cos you don't need to book. As I said: ride up, get a ticket from the machine and 'walk on'. Carriages with bike space have an eponymous icon by the door(s).
I shared this link earlier which is pretty clear: scroll down to:
"Bikes can usually be taken on TERs with a regular ticket and without a separate bike booking/ticket, but there are a few exceptions ..."
https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/bikes-and-french-trains.html