bikes on trains in spain (and france)

flickerx

Anyone ever brought a bike on the trains in Spain?
I am thinking of heading to the Basque region in mid to late February, to see places like Bilbao, San Sebastian, and then cross the border and head up towards Biarritz in France. I'm not talking about cycling between these places, I just wouldnt mind having my bike with me so I can cycle around the cities and the local areas. I'd be travelling by train. Dont really want to do the whole long-distance-with-panniers thing.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus dont start their flights to that region until the end of March, but I have to take my leave earlier than that, so I'll probably be flying into Madrid, getting the train up to Bilbao, and then getting trains all the way to Paris, where I'll be flying home from.

Just wondering if the train companies over there are alright with it. I'd prefer to bring my own bike than be looking for a rental, even if it costs extra to bring it on the planes and trains.

penexpers

In France, it's free on most trains if you take it apart and put it in a cover. Certain trains (marked with a bicycle symbol) can take bikes without needing to take them apart, but it's first come, first served on those ones.

avalanche

im living in spain at the moment and you can bring bikes on all trains and metros for free throughout spain as long as it isnt rush hour. im not sure if this affects the train but it does the metro.

flickerx

thanks for the info...

avalanche, can you point me in the direction of the spanish rail website?

my spanish is limited, but it would be good to look up some info beforehand

dohouch

flickerx wrote: »

thanks for the info...

can you point me in the direction of the spanish rail website?

This sholud be the English page for Spanish National Railways--


http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html

Sean02

Hi Avalanche I wonder if we could check out if all trains are free. Last year I was told there was a charge on some intercity routes, not all trains on the route but I think some. I was traveling from Bilbao to Miranda de Ebro. Went by bus instead as the times did'nt suit, bike charge was about €8. In sharp contrast to Irish Rail, Spanish French and Portuguese transport is bike friendly. Bye the way Avalanche do you live on my route for this year Biarritz to Gibraltar , if so I have some questions. If anyone else has toured along the route via Zaragosa rather than madrid I would appreciate any tips.

flickerx

dohouch wrote: »

This sholud be the English page for Spanish National Railways--
http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html

Thanks for that, I booked my flight now to Madrid while they were going cheap (only €40 one way with Aer Lingus, not bad), so I'm arriving over towards the end of February. Going to get the train up to Bilbao, stay there for a couple of nights... then head to San Sebastian, looking forward to it now that the flight is booked, hope all goes OK with the bike on the trains (if I decide to bring it!). There's a morning train that leaves from Madrid to Bilbao so I'll be on that.

Any idea what its like for cycling up there? From the guidebooks it sounds mountainous so I think I'll be bringing the hybrid rather than the fixie.

Any suggestions on where would be good to stop in France along the west coast before heading to Paris for the flight home?