Alvia train Barcelona - Pamplona with Mountain bike.... Bike travel bag needed?

[Craig Nolan]

Hi All,

I walked Camino de Frances in Sept 2017 but this year I have decided to cycle the same route.

I have a train booked from Barcelona to Pamplona (Alvia train) I am a little confused if I can take my bike onto the train or not?

People tell me it should be no problem but others say I may need to remove wheels and handlebars and place into a bicycle bag.

Has anyone got any info regarding this please as Id rather not have to take apart the bike before getting on the train.

Buen Camino todos
Craig

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi All,

I walked Camino de Frances in Sept 2017 but this year I have decided to cycle the same route.

I have a train booked from Barcelona to Pamplona (Alvia train) I am a little confused if I can take my bike onto the train or not?

People tell me it should be no problem but others say I may need to remove wheels and handlebars and place into a bicycle bag.

Has anyone got any info regarding this please as Id rather not have to take apart the bike before getting on the train.

Buen Camino todos
Craig

From the trainline website:
"On Alvia trains, bicycles will be considered hand luggage if they are disassembled and stored in a case with dimensions that do not exceed 180cm when added together.

Those that exceed this measure will be considered “special luggage” and must be disassembled, with the pedals removed and the handlebar turned 90º, and stored in a case of the following maximum dimensions: 120 x 90 x 40 cm."

and from RENFE's FAQ pages:
"Can I travel with a bicycle?
Yes, as long as it is folded and kept in a container not larger than 120 cm x 90 cm (3.9 x 2.9 feet). This is a complimentary service."

Take your spanners

 

[Craig Nolan]

From the trainline website:
"On Alvia trains, bicycles will be considered hand luggage if they are disassembled and stored in a case with dimensions that do not exceed 180cm when added together.

Those that exceed this measure will be considered “special luggage” and must be disassembled, with the pedals removed and the handlebar turned 90º, and stored in a case of the following maximum dimensions: 120 x 90 x 40 cm."

and from RENFE's FAQ pages:
"Can I travel with a bicycle?
Yes, as long as it is folded and kept in a container not larger than 120 cm x 90 cm (3.9 x 2.9 feet). This is a complimentary service."

Take your spanners

Very useful thank you, that was something I had not taken into consideration to be honest.

I am struggling to find a bag suitable for 29 inch wheels, any ideas?

 

[Corned Beef]

Id rather not have to take apart the bike before getting on the train.

Unassembled bikes can travel on Regional Express, Cercanías (Commuter) lines or Media-Distancia. Don't believe there is an MD line out of Barcelona but here is the list of MD lines

Media-Distancia (MD) (Spain) | ShowMeTheJourney

How to travel on the Spanish trains which are specifically branded as 'MD' services.

showmethejourney.com

An alternative would be to use a Carrier to get a boxed/dissembled bike from B to P - as most Spanish bike hire companies do. Check this out

404

www.correos.es

 

[naplesdon]

My experience with packing a bike on a bus was similar but the individual drivers on different lines were able to enforce their own rules several times and refused to allow me to stow the bike and forced me to wait for the next bus.

 

[Barbara]

I had a bike transported by Correos. Looked as if it had been loaded by dropping it into a container then dropping heavy weights on top. One wheel needed a rebuild and the box was shredded.

 

[Craig Nolan]

Thanks for the advice all

 

[Corned Beef]

Looked as if it had been loaded by dropping it into a container then dropping heavy weights on top.

The ones in SdC were very good and got mine back in perfect condition.

But as the saying goes "If you are going there (Pamplona), I wouldn't start from here (Barcelona).

 

[Peregrinopaul]

People tell me it should be no problem but others say I may need to remove wheels and handlebars and place into a bicycle bag.
Has anyone got any info regarding this please as Id rather not have to take apart the bike before getting on the train.

Hi Craig,
I'm a little confused. You do not say how you are getting to Barcelona, or from where. If you are flying in, is the bike already bagged for the flight?
I have faced a similar problem, flying to Madrid from Australia with my much-loved Scott carbon MTB. I bit the bullet and bought an expensive Evoc soft bag for the trip. I used this for the train journey to Seville, and then forwarded the bag to Santiago while I rode the VdlP. Re-bagged, and flew out.

 

[Craig Nolan]

Hi Craig,
I'm a little confused. You do not say how you are getting to Barcelona, or from where. If you are flying in, is the bike already bagged for the flight?
I have faced a similar problem, flying to Madrid from Australia with my much-loved Scott carbon MTB. I bit the bullet and bought an expensive Evoc soft bag for the trip. I used this for the train journey to Seville, and then forwarded the bag to Santiago while I rode the VdlP. Re-bagged, and flew out.

My apologies for not being clear. I live in Barcelona (lucky me). Have train booked from here to Pamplona. I have managed to find a bike bag now. Im contemplating cycling from Pamplona to SJPP and back again the next day.

 

[Barbara]

The ones in SdC were very good and got mine back in perfect condition.

But as the saying goes "If you are going there (Pamplona), I wouldn't start from here (Barcelona).

Yep, indeed. Correos managed to mangle mine between SdC and Poitiers.

 

[Barbara]

My apologies for not being clear. I live in Barcelona (lucky me). Have train booked from here to Pamplona. I have managed to find a bike bag now. Im contemplating cycling from Pamplona to SJPP and back again the next day.

That's an impressive ride. What's wrong with starting from Pamplona?

 

[Craig Nolan]

That's an impressive ride. What's wrong with starting from Pamplona?

I love cycling and I love the Pyrenees!

I want to be outdoors as much as possible after a torrid 1.5 years of COVID worklife!

More cycling the better!

 

[johnny3bags]

Hi All,

I walked Camino de Frances in Sept 2017 but this year I have decided to cycle the same route.

I have a train booked from Barcelona to Pamplona (Alvia train) I am a little confused if I can take my bike onto the train or not?

People tell me it should be no problem but others say I may need to remove wheels and handlebars and place into a bicycle bag.

Has anyone got any info regarding this please as Id rather not have to take apart the bike before getting on the train.

Buen Camino todos
Craig

I’m on an Alvia train from Pamplona to Burgos right now. Good news is we got our bikes on, though I’d have to report a similar experience to an earlier responder in regards to bus drivers.
Regardless of what the website, or the person you buy your ticket from, or the person who checks your ticket on the platform says, the decision will be up to the conductor of the train you get on.
Person at the station who sold us the ticket said we didn’t need a special bike ticket. The lady checking tickets said we had to pay extra for the bikes, so I went back to the ticket window where they said no, they don’t charge extra for that. When we got on the train the conductor asked for the tickets for our bikes!
He also had a differing opinion from all other sources of info on how far the bikes needed to be broken down. We had pedals off, bars turned and front wheel removed and the bikes were covered, which is what the web page and the guy in the ticket office said to do. The conductor said you had to remove both wheels, and that it’s ok this time but next time we would not be allowed on the train. Our bikes ended up in a corridor at the far end of the train, and he was flustered and acted like he’d never seen a bicycle on his train before and generally made us feel like we’d done something wrong.
Bottom line, there isn’t a lot of luggage space on this train. If I had to to do it over again I would take both wheels off and get the bike to be as small as possible.
Hope this can help someone.

 

[Jesnat]

Yep, indeed. Correos managed to mangle mine between SdC and Poitiers.

How was your bike packed, was it in Correos’s paq bici ? A strong cardboard box. I’m planning on using them next month. They say on their website bikes are insured for damage.

 

[Barbara]

How was your bike packed, was it in Correos’s paq bici ? A strong cardboard box. I’m planning on using them next month. They say on their website bikes are insured for damage.

Yes, dismantled as required. Arrived a lot flatter. Front fork squished, one wheel twisted.

 

[Jesnat]

Yes, dismantled as required. Arrived a lot flatter. Front fork squished, one wheel twisted.

Oh that’s a bit disappointing. I’m sending my bike to Sevilla next month using Correos so I’ll take plenty of before and after fotos and post an update. Other options of train or coach all seemed a bit hit and miss and open to their discretion so I’m really hoping Correos ‘deliver’.