9Likes
![Reply](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/buttons/reply.gif) |
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
14 Sep 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: York
Posts: 34
|
|
Hi chums, my apologies, I've been back a couple of weeks but was immediately ordered to start re-decorating so time has been slim.
So, the Autozug. It was an OK experience and I would use it again. We arrived at Dusseldorf and found the area where the vehicles are loaded onto the train, we got there early so we just parked the bike up and went for a wander around, there are a few bars/restaurants within a short walk so no worries there.
I took my Yamaha Super Tenere 1200 which is a fairly tall bike, the car carriage isn't that tall so my face was literally pressed against the tank trying to get the beast on the carriage, but it's easy done, just take your time (or take a small bike). They have employees who will secure your bike on the carriage.
Once on the train, we had two bunks in a 4 berth cabin, we were lucky enough to share the cabin with another biker couple from Germany who had the foresight to pack a backpack loaded with red wine which they duly shared until it was all gone. So for me, I had a good nights sleep.
You are provided with a sheet, a blanket and a small pillow, in the morning you get a small breakfast of 2 bread rolls, coffee, butter and jam - included in the ticket. As you board at the German end, they check over your bike to make sure it is not damaged etc. before you load it on, this didn't happen at the Austrian end on the return journey for some reason.
I left all of my luggage on the bike including my tank bag and everything was fine, I had a set of wind deflectors fitted on my fairing but one of these was missing after the trip from Vienna to Dusseldorf, they are fitted with rubber bungs rather than bolts so I'm guessing it was ripped off somewhere along the way by the wind? So make sure any bags etc. are tightly secured if you are going to leave them on your bike.
I booked my ticket on-line, but at Vienna we met an English couple who had phoned up and managed to book a 2 berth cabin, they only paid about £40 more than us and got free champagne, free tea and coffee, a wash basin in their cabin and free bloody slippers!. So it might be worth calling them to see what deal you can get rather than booking online?
It's easy enough to find the Autozug terminal at Dusseldorf, it looks like it's been there a long time, probably used for the now defunct German DB autozug. However, the autozug terminal in Vienna IS NOT at the main train station (Westbahnhof), all of the other bikers we spoke to on the train had turned up at the main station, one couple had even missed the train the day before because they couldn't find the terminal. Access to the newly built terminal is off a road called 'Gudrunstrabe', it's clearly marked on Google maps so I'm not sure why people had such a problem finding it.
So yeah, I'd recommend it. It's not the most luxurious way to travel but I reckon it saved me four days of motorway boredom and I'll likely use it again next year (if they continue the service).
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
14 Sep 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
|
|
Thanks, much appreciated feedback.
I wonder how this service is affected now that the german govn has closed the rail access with Austria?
__________________
Dave
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
14 Sep 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: E Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,298
|
|
Thanks for the feed back, sounds like a good option.
Why did you say 'if they continue the service' have you heard disturbing news?
Wayne
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
17 Sep 2015
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: York
Posts: 34
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lonerider
Why did you say 'if they continue the service' have you heard disturbing news?
|
Hi Wayne, I was talking to a bloke who has used the motorail service for many years as he has a house just outside of Vienna, he seemed to think that if not enough people use the service with vehicles then they will stop running it as it becomes unprofitable. This service is run by OBB which is an Austrian company, this is their first year running the route so I guess they'll be reviewing whether or not it is worth continuing at some point, perhaps at the end of the year.
I gather that the German carrier DB has stopped transporting vehicles by train altogether and instead loads you bike/car onto a road wagon and transports them that way while you sleep on the train.
On both legs of my journey there were only about 5 or 6 bikes and maybe 12 or so cars - that was at the weekend. Hopefully they will continue it next year, the service runs every day so it gives you that much needed flexibility if you only have a couple of weeks and want to explore the east.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
17 Sep 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: E Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,298
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benny_76
Hi Wayne, I was talking to a bloke who has used the motorail service for many years as he has a house just outside of Vienna, he seemed to think that if not enough people use the service with vehicles then they will stop running it as it becomes unprofitable. This service is run by OBB which is an Austrian company, this is their first year running the route so I guess they'll be reviewing whether or not it is worth continuing at some point, perhaps at the end of the year.
I gather that the German carrier DB has stopped transporting vehicles by train altogether and instead loads you bike/car onto a road wagon and transports them that way while you sleep on the train.
On both legs of my journey there were only about 5 or 6 bikes and maybe 12 or so cars - that was at the weekend. Hopefully they will continue it next year, the service runs every day so it gives you that much needed flexibility if you only have a couple of weeks and want to explore the east.
|
Cheers Benny
I will have a look at DB also but thanks for the heads up
Wayne
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
6 Oct 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: E Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,298
|
|
I have messaged OBB to see if I can just turn up and book my ticket for the Dusseldorf to Vienna Motorail. Or if I have to book before hand? That way I am not tied to a specific date
Waiting for a reply, will update when I find out, if I find out!
Wayne
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
20 Oct 2015
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: E Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,298
|
|
They did eventually reply to me, the day before I was leaving, better late than never ![Innocent](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/innocent.gif) Anyway to cut a long story short I couldn't just turn up so I rang and booked over the phone. It was a good job I did because as I found out when I got to Dusseldorf OBB do not have an office there
The journey was good, breakfast included, I had a 4 berth shared sleeper myself, which was good news as it was very cramped.
The crew were great. I had to remove everything from the bike less my metal panniers
Untitled by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Waiting to load
Untitled by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Wayne
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
24 Jun 2022
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 4
|
|
Hello,
Are any motorail routes still operating in Europe? I have searched but cant seem to find any....just dead links.
thanks,
H
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
26 Jun 2022
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: East Sussex, England
Posts: 173
|
|
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 Jun 2022
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: E Yorkshireman...in the Chum Phae area, Thailand
Posts: 1,298
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
![Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.](/stuff/ripcord/ripcord-logo-250.jpg)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
![Five books by Graham Field!](/stuff/grahamfield/graham-field-2021-280.jpg)
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|