Travel North To South Europe On The Train With Your Motorcycle |
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File under Travel
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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Usually the trip is the reward, not the destination when travelling on a motorcycle. But at times you need to start your holiday at the destination, and not have to worry about the trip getting there.
If, for example you live in the North-Middle of Europe (BeNeLux, UK, Germany, North France) and want to spend some time in the South of France or Northern part of Italy, although it's a great motorcycle ride, it's a LONG distance. The trip will eat in your holiday days, and tire you out. It's almost like when you arrive, you need to turn around and head back home again.
The Dutch Autoslaaptrein  offers a train service that can be very interesting for most. Their trains will not only accommodate you, but also your motorcycle. You board the train in s'Hertogenbosch  (aka Den Bosch), which is in the South of The Netherlands, close to Belgium and Germany, and close enough to Calais, and from there, the train goes to the Cote d'Azur and the Northern part of Italy.
You travel on the train that brings your motorcycle (in contrast with the French version - see related articles below), live, sleep and eat in your private compartment (though there is a restaurant car), and the following morning when you arrive nice & fresh, roll off your motorcycle and start your holiday.
The service runs during the summer months only, and on some dates, they offer a 50% discount for your motorcycle.
The train will bring you to Alessandria or Livorno in Italy (this year Avignon, France has been taken out of the schedule).
Prices: If you are going to Alessandria, your motorcycle will cost you between €159-219 depending on dates, while sleeping arrangements will cost €59 to €105 per person, or €267 to €459 for a cabin (between 2 and 6 occupants). Travelling to Livorno is a few Euros more exensive.
The Alessandria train operates from April through to September, the Livorno train from June to September. You can check out the video below for a quick impression of the service.
All-in-all, an interesting alternative if you want to go to the South and not have enough days to travel by motorcycle. Start your holiday in style, relaxed.
Click here to access the AutoSlaapTrein site (you can switch language at the site).
MotoRail - Holland-Italy (2 minutes 14 seconds)
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| Read related articles | Monday, July 7th, 2008 - Moto Rail : Lessons Learned
France is quite big, and if you have to go from one part of the country to another, taking the motorcycle train can be a relief. But it's not always easy if you leave it to the French railroads.
Here are some lessons I learned from our 1st experience. |
Via: Motor
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