Touring - Europeans: I Need Train Info

I'm planning my tour of the North Sea Route from Boulogne sur Mer, France to Den Helder, Netherlands. I've heard it's good to actually go from south to north, so that would mean starting in Boulogne. I will be flying into either Gatwick (London) or Schiphol (Amsterdam). Since I'll have my bike, the Euro train timetable says if I go from Schiphol, I'll be going through Paris and arrive in Boulogne sometime the next day. If I go from Gatwick, I can take the Eurostar through the chunnel, but there is no checked luggage at Calais (very close to Boulogne).

So, here are my questions for those with local knowledge of this:



1. Do I HAVE to check my bike on the Eurostar or can I carry my bike on with me?
2. Is there a better way of getting to Boulogne with my bike?
3. Can I start in Den Helder instead (just an hour or so from Schiphol) or will the wind be in my face the whole time?

From the Eurostar web page (http://www.eurostar.co.uk):

>
> If you have more than two items of luggage (as well as your
> hand luggage) or if you’re travelling with bicycles, sporting
> weapons or large musical instruments (a cello, for example),
> we would advise that you use the registered baggage service.
>

The way I read it, you don't necessarily have to check in a bike, but it is recommended you do so. Also the fact they cannot provide the service for the leg you intend to run is a good reason not to check it in. Maybe contact them directly about this to avoid any surprises?

--J

I believe that you can only hand-carry a folded or dismantled bike on Eurostar trains. Otherwise, you'll have to register it, and it sounds like you'll have to allow 24 hours for it to arrive.

As an alternative, you could take a ferry to France if you fly to Gatwick.

I believe that you can only hand-carry a folded or dismantled bike on Eurostar trains. Otherwise, you'll have to register it, and it sounds like you'll have to allow 24 hours for it to arrive.

As an alternative, you could take a ferry to France if you fly to Gatwick.

Could you give me more details on the ferry?

Also do you know the direction of the prevailing wind?

There are lots of ferries. Just google ferry england france. Any first-hand information I could give you is ancient, but a ferry seems like the obvious solution for you.

The wind goes every which way in Holland.

I did a circle route in sept 2004 -Amsterdam-Leeuwarden-Dordrecht-Amsterdam.

I had headwinds about 2/3 of the time no matter which way I was going.

The strongest winds were (luckily) tailwinds from the south when I was heading back to Amsterdam.

The bike paths along old canal tow paths are raised up above the land level, very exposed to the wind. . Think of the Netherlands what do you think of -Windmills.

With a Bike the Eurostar is not really and option unless your bike is boxed in someting like a suitcase.

I'd got for Amsterdam if you can, it means you then can get back to the airport easily at the end of your trip. If you must fly via the UK either add 2 days to the trip or loose 2 days cycling.

To get from Gatwick to Dover you can do this easily by train (outside the rush hours) from Dover there are ferries 24hrs a day to Calais, but book head if you can

Do you really need to book ahead as a cyclist? I've never had a problem getting on a ferry anywhere in the world as a cyclist.

Do you really need to book ahead as a cyclist? I've never had a problem getting on a ferry anywhere in the world as a cyclist.

No, you 'probably' don't need to book, but it depends on the exact dates. Mid July to end August is high season.

The main reason booking ahead is cost.
For example a car booked on the ferry route for this summer costs GBP 120 (About USD 175) return. Book it in a couple of months time and the cost will be about 3 times as much.

You may not roll your bike on to a Eurostar. However, like any other high speed train in Europe (ICE, TGV etc.), you may bring your bike on to the train if it is bagged or boxed.

If it were me, I would ride my bike from the airport to Dover, and then take the ferry to France. Of course, since you are flying, then your bike will already be boxed. Taking it on the Eurostar will therefore be no problem.

I have taken both the ferry and the Eurostar with my bike. Had no problem either time. Hope this post helps you a bit. How much time will you have on this trip?

Oh, and by the way, a Eurostar ticket, one way, bought at the station, was ABSURDLY expensive for me last spring. It was about 190 POUNDS. Adding in that tidbit of info, definitely take the ferry.

The wind generally blows from west to east in these parts, so I'd start in Boulogne.

If you want ferry info, check out http://www.speedferries.com/index.html

If you take the Eurostar, you can get off at the first stop on the continent, which is Lille. Lille is much closer to Boulogne, no need to go all the way to Paris.

I still think if you can get to Amsterdam rather than Gatwick, go for it

A member who had trouble posting a reply emailed me this (http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcPassengers/ukcProductsServices/ukcTravellingWithEurotunnel/ukpBicycles)
web site. I found it very useful.

A member who had trouble posting a reply emailed me this (http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcPassengers/ukcProductsServices/ukcTravellingWithEurotunnel/ukpBicycles)
web site. I found it very useful.

Great fare thru the Chunnel. As above booking is critical. On the other hand why land in England at all? How about landing in Paris? Send any bike boxes ahead to the end of your tour. Then catch a local train to Boulogne-sur-mer. Crate the bike and fly back from Schiapol. The American youth Hostel organization might be a place for info.

On the other hand why land in England at all? How about landing in Paris? Send any bike boxes ahead to the end of your tour. Then catch a local train to Boulogne-sur-mer. Crate the bike and fly back from Schiapol. The American youth Hostel organization might be a place for info.

I'm set in my ways. Pragmatic to the end. I roll my bike into a plastic bag at the airport and roll it out the otherside and bike away. I tried boxing the bike a few times but it is too difficult to carry around.

From the info I've gained it looks like I should be going from south to north. According to my map, London is much closer to Boulogne than Paris. We sometimes forget that Paris is much more towards the interior of France and France is a very large country by European standards.

I'm now looking for two one way flights. One over to London and the channel, then back from Amsterdam. Thanks for everyones help.

#3 The wind will always be coming from the sea. Since you are going north/south, I bet a crosswind will be there for much of the time regardless of which direction you choose. I've only lived in Holland for 9 months and the wind almost always blows. I have no knowledge of the first 2 questions. I think the North to South route may be easier. Getting a train to your destination in Den Helder is easy. Everyone in Holland speaks English and will gladly help a tourist...I'm not so sure you will get as much help from the locals at your other destination.

Mike

#3 The wind will always be coming from the sea. Since you are going north/south, I bet a crosswind will be there for much of the time regardless of which direction you choose. I've only lived in Holland for 9 months and the wind almost always blows. I have no knowledge of the first 2 questions. I think the North to South route may be easier. Getting a train to your destination in Den Helder is easy. Everyone in Holland speaks English and will gladly help a tourist...I'm not so sure you will get as much help from the locals at your other destination.

Mike

Mike, maybe you can help with this one: It would be much easier for me to start and end my trip out of Schiphol, BUT according to the European train timetables to get back to Amsterdam from Boulogne I have to travel through Paris and it takes up two days. My Benelux rail line map shows I should be able to go Calais, Lille, Antwerpe, Schiphol, but I can't make it work. Any ideas?

Just to add to the confusion, check out rayanair.com and easyjet.com. Budget airlines, if you book well in advance you can fly to most places in europe for 0.50 pence, yes no typing error there plus airport taxes £15.00. The bike will cost extra £15.00 as it is classified as sports equipment, means one persone will wheel it on and off the plane, worth it I think. I think this works out cheaper than eurostar and any ferry plus it gives you more choices

Fly to Amsterdam. Gatwick is just about--no it is--the single worst major international airport I've ever been in (plenty). Landing there with a bike in a box makes me shudder.

Fly to Amsterdam. Gatwick is just about--no it is--the single worst major international airport I've ever been in (plenty). Landing there with a bike in a box makes me shudder.

Really? What makes you say that?
I've been there several times. A train station is attached to the airport. I roll my bike out of the bag, and take a train to my starting point. I find it quite convenient.

In regards to your earlier request for ideas; I will be going to France for the first time in April so I don't have any details on French trains, but I live in Rotterdam. I know the Thalys train can get you from Paris to Amsterdam in a little over four hours. Prices/speed make it the best deal for me since I am going from Rotterdam to Disneyland Paris in four weeks with kids. I would look at getting to Paris and then jumping on this train or search for cheap air like others suggested. Hope it all works out.

Mike

In regards to your earlier request for ideas; I will be going to France for the first time in April so I don't have any details on French trains, but I live in Rotterdam. I know the Thalys train can get you from Paris to Amsterdam in a little over four hours. Prices/speed make it the best deal for me since I am going from Rotterdam to Disneyland Paris in four weeks with kids. I would look at getting to Paris and then jumping on this train or search for cheap air like others suggested. Hope it all works out.

Mike

Is that the iDTGV? I may need to have my bike in a box and checked as luggage. Also, I get edgy when I'm told that if I want to go from Boulogne to Amsterdasm I have to go through Paris. That is out of my way.

It is unneccessary to go through Paris when taking the train from Amsterdam to Boulogne. Lille is the transit hub in northern France, and isn't far east of Boulogne.

Amsterdam to Lille, Leave at 9, arrive in Lille at 1:30. 4 hours and change. :)

AMSTERDAM CS 08h56 BRUXELLES MIDI 11h35

BRUXELLES MIDI 12h58 LILLE EUROPE 13h35

Amsterdam to Lille, Leave at 9, arrive in Lille at 1:30. 4 hours and change. :)

AMSTERDAM CS 08h56 BRUXELLES MIDI 11h35

BRUXELLES MIDI 12h58 LILLE EUROPE 13h35

I'm going to punch that in at European Train Timetables (http://www.travelnotes.org/General/eurotrains.htm) and see what I get. Just entering Schiphol to Boulogne and clicking the box "travelling with a bike" got me going through Paris and travelling over-night.

Thanks everyone!

I'm going to punch that in at European Train Timetables (http://www.travelnotes.org/General/eurotrains.htm) and see what I get.

Hey, that website is just the Deutsche Bahn's English page. Cool. That is the website I use all the time anyway since I live in Germany, but I never realised it could be used for trips that didn't include a German station.

Dude, no matter what you do, you are going to have to bag your bike for a train ride. If you take it on the Eurostar, you'll have to bag it, and if you don't want a 24 train ride from Amsterdam to Boulogne, you'll have to bag it. Trust me on this one, the headaches that having a simple, cheap, light bike housse will save you are monumental.

And also, I have found that checking the "bike carriage" option on that website eliminates far more train options than are truly necessary. I have been on trains that had bike sections, but that weren't listed as such on the website, simply because of oversight. Basically, all IC's allow bikes to be rolled on. And one can get an IC from Amsterdam to Antwerp, Antwerp to Lille, and then a regional train to Boulogne, all of which take bikes.

Here check it for your self, hope it helps
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm