We want to book seats and bike spaces on the TGV between Paris and Bordeaux. We don’t want to dismantle our bikes. On the SNCF website I can’t see an option for interrail pass amongst the passes to then reserve a seat and bike place
How do I go about using my interrail pass to book my group and our bikes on a TGV train please? I know I am going to have to book this quite in advance as we plan to travel in the summer when it will be busy.
Thanks
Best answer by BrendanDB
You’re quite lucky that most TGV’s on Paris-Bordeaux are the only ones that have dedicated bicycle places. Other (older) TGV-trains are a pain in the ass, when it comes to bikes as they have to be dismantled. If you can see the bike symbol on www.sncf-connect.com you can take your bike fully (not disassembled).
Note that on most TER (regional) trains you can take your bike for free, and they have proper places for it. In some regions for a small reservation cost, during high season.
Travelling with TER is a good alternative for train-bike travellers (on other routes than Paris-Bordeaux). Best check TER timings on www.bahn.com, (the sncf-connect is truly a shit planner, always leading you to the most expensive options)
Call them once tickets have been released: https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/contact-us/our-contact-points/by-phone/
Thinking about it now: how big is your group?
You might have to split into 2 different trains/trainsets as each unit has max. 4 bike spaces as far as I'm aware.
There are 4 of us, hence wanting to book as early as possible, we can split into 2 groups if necessary. I will keep an eye on ticket releases then call them. thanks for your help. Do you know how in advance they release tickets? I think I saw 4 months somewhere?
There are 4 of us, hence wanting to book as early as possible, we can split into 2 groups if necessary. I will keep an eye on ticket releases then call them. thanks for your help. Do you know how in advance they release tickets? I think I saw 4 months somewhere?
They're often released in blocks. Next release is on 12/2 for journeys up to 12/6.
Check this page to see when they're released for your travel date(s):
+8You’re quite lucky that most TGV’s on Paris-Bordeaux are the only ones that have dedicated bicycle places. Other (older) TGV-trains are a pain in the ass, when it comes to bikes as they have to be dismantled. If you can see the bike symbol on www.sncf-connect.com you can take your bike fully (not disassembled).
Note that on most TER (regional) trains you can take your bike for free, and they have proper places for it. In some regions for a small reservation cost, during high season.
Travelling with TER is a good alternative for train-bike travellers (on other routes than Paris-Bordeaux). Best check TER timings on www.bahn.com, (the sncf-connect is truly a shit planner, always leading you to the most expensive options)
Thanks BrendanDB we are going to use TER’s for all of our other journeys including Calais to Paris as I couldn’t see the cycle symbol on that route on TGV, will do most of our cycling from Bordeaux! Just want to head for the south quickly then cycle most of the rest of the way after that! I didn’t realise there was a TER website so thanks I will go and look at that.
+8Yeah, TER’s are a bit messy to look for information using French websites. Best look https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie and https://www.ter.sncf.com/nouvelle-aquitaine for some information around bikes on the regions TERs
And of course bahn.com to keep the overview, and it shouldn’t be any problem to get to your biking destinations :).
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