Motor train to Innsbruck - Good idea?
- Thread starter Jumpjim
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The Grey One
Registered user
I have not heard of any problems, non of our guests have reported anything. They do say you have to be careful when loading due the the low height within the train. We had one guest who dropped his bike during loading but admitted it was his fault. Other than that most people have said they would do it again. For anyone planning to use the train just one way we have found that the north bound journey is often cheaper than going south. Trains to the various destinations run on different days so take a close look at the website and see which suits you best.
John
AlanI
Registered user
We've used these trains umpteen times over the years until they stopped running from our neck of the woods and I personally have not heard of any problems regarding bikes being vandalised or people being robbed in their sleep. It's probably happened once or twice....who knows.....but I myself am more worried about parking the bike on the street than on the train.
One thing that I can highly recommend though and that is to take along your own straps......short lengths that you can secure to your bike and to which the train personnel then attach their own straps. My experience is that the train personnel are either very experienced and have a good idea of what they are doing whilst others I wouldn't trust to park a supermarket trolley. Attach your own soft straps, let the train personnel attach theirs and then watch them ratchet the straps down and secure the bike before you leave the car because once you've left there's generally no returning.
High-Tower
Registered user
I'd suggest that many of the higher passes in the alps will still be closed due to snow, some of them don't open until well into June. Take a look at
www.alpineroads.com
They have a load of useful information and links to local areas showing pass status.
The Grey One
Registered user
Then you would be wrong about those in our area!
The Grossglockner is well on target for opening on May 1st, as are the Nockalmstrasse and the Maltahochalmstrasse. They may open early as they did last year. The passes into Italy and Slovenia from here are open now. Our region has not had the heavy snowfalls that happened in other places and spring has come early. Last Saturday we drove over the Wurzen pass into Slovenia. It was 26C in Villach and 23C when we got to Slovenia. It had been like that for more than a week and local bikers are bringing their bikes out already.
Passes such as the Stelvio often open much later, and close earlier too. Check the websites as suggested but if you come here to Carinthia you should have no problems in May.
John
I believe its the French Autotrain (Paris - Nice etc) where there have been problems rather than the German or Dutch Autotrains - Just make sure your door is kept locked when sleeping just in case!
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Thanks for the advice chaps. John, we will definitely look at swinging by your direction
You have to love some of the arsey, unpleasant, uninformative gits on this site don't you...
I asked about Innsbruck as the Deutsche Bahn website appears to show a direct Dusseldorf to Innsbruck link on their website. Maybe you know something I don't but there you go....
We have a week this year, and having done 3 tours around the 2K mark in the last 3 years the days spent thrashing up and down the auto-route to get to the mountains down south don't really crank my scooter if you know what I mean? The concept of a late afternoon thrash to the train and waking up in the alps raring to go struck me as a possibility rather than the long and fairly tedious stetches we endured last year.
Hey ho... you ask and get a good slagging but there you go. Maybe I won't ask in future.
Don't be put off by the rantings of people with different opinions. I have done numerous tours of Europe and get where you are coming from. if you are pushed for time there's no point wasting it riding to get the roads you really want to ride if the train will do it for you. Looking at the cost of fuel and maybe an overnight stop (I'm thinking of the whole UK to Austria route not just from
Dusseldorf) the train is probably a very reasonable option.
The Grey One
Registered user
Thanks for the advice chaps. John, we will definitely look at swinging by your direction
Did I mention that if you stay with us the first beer is on the house?
John
I believe its the French Auto train (Paris - Nice etc) where there have been problems rather than the German or Dutch Auto trains - Just make sure your door is kept locked when sleeping just in case!
There were problems on the Nice -Paris Auto train caused by illegals heading north jumping on the train as it left Nice station at dusk, they knocked out rear windows on cars so they could climb in and travel in comfort
there were also problems on the (separate) night sleeper train with thieves, probably the same people.
We used the service a few times but were not personally affected, the night sleeper train on this route was canceled in 2010 anyway.
I think the Autorail service was cancelled in 2010 but Autotrain still runs the Paris/Nice service. I still prefer the German trains though - better organised.
mumpa
Registered user
With regards the timings and schedule, I did the return route 2 years ago from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf. Set off on the Thursday evening, arrived Dusseldorf early Friday, easy loading (just low headroom) bike secure, cabin was spot on, service was excellent... then had a short jaunt to Rotterdam for the overnight ferry home, back at my house by 8am on the Saturday.
Had I had to ride all the way home, I would have had to leave at least a day earlier.
If I can now, I try and use overnight crossings/trains, as it leaves more time to ride, IMO
Had I had to ride all the way home, I would have had to leave at least a day earlier.
If I can now, I try and use overnight crossings/trains, as it leaves more time to ride, IMO
How do you get to the Alps if you don't take a train / ferry? Build your own boat and row it across?
I think tunneruk was referring to the ferry to Spain - something that I have done once and will never do again!
Greg
craigwildee
Registered user
The Grey One
Registered user
Will do, nice that you are coming back, let's hope I don't need to get the trailer out this time!
John
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