Is there any kind of way to ship your car by train? I'll be picking up my new car in munich and driving via coast lines through Portugal all the way to Oviedo Spain. I've already made the road trip from Ovideo to Scotland, but would like to drive from Scotland, via Ireland and Brussels back to Munich. Is there a way that I can put the car on a train or something and have it shipped to Scotland or London or somewhere while we spend a few days with family in Oviedo and later fly to reunite with the car.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
368 posts
I would also want to verify if you were allowed to do something like that with a rental/leased car.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
When I've traveled by rail through Germany in the past, many times I have passed by autotrains with the DB logo. Typically half the train is composed of couchette cars and the other half with car carriers. They have always intrigued me because I have never heard of anyone using this service or read about it in any kind of guidebook or website. Maybe someone else has some first hand info.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
As Michael notes, DB has an "auto train" service, but you have to accompany your vehicle...and there's nothing to the UK anyway. For a rail company, it might be difficult to handle one car. But, with the British penchant for moving to, or visiting Spain, there are auto transportation companies that will do it by truck. Do a google search for something like "car transport UK" or "Spain" and you should get lots of hits. It isn't going to be cheap though...one quote I saw was 499 GBP!
Posted by
OP
Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
3 posts
I think we're are just oging to tkae ferries instead.
Posted by
Chicago, IL
103 posts
I'm guessing you're picking up a new car at the BMW facility in Munich. Would they have any idea? How about the company that is shipping it here from Munich?
Even though the folks here are surprisingly knowledgeable, BMW or your shipping company are probably more used to handling these sorts of issues.
Just some ideas. I'm certainly not an expert in any of this...
Posted by
Copenhagen, Denmark
70 posts
Autotrain exists within Europe but the network is limited to trains within Germany and France and from Germany to France, Italy and Austria. These routes can be booked on www.dbautozug.de Service within France can be seen (not booked) at www.http://www.voyages-sncf.com/guide/autotrain. It fills up early in summer, but otherwise, it's a good service. I don't there is Autotrain in the UK, Ireland or Spain.