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An introduction to the AutoTrain

The facilities onboard

AutoTrain Guide

It’s great to take the car you know and love on holiday, to avoid the trouble and expense of hiring. And it’s even better when you can simply pick up your car at your destination, rather than driving the whole, exhausting way.

So say hello to the AutoTrain.

From Paris to southern France, your vehicle and its luggage travel overnight on a special double-decker train. You make your own way to the destination by either day or overnight trains, having cleverly avoided the traffic jams, the road tolls and the stress.

Simply pick up your car at the other end and enjoy the rest of your holiday – with far more energy than you’d otherwise have!

How do I book it?

You can book your vehicle on Autotrain services up to 6 months in advance. The foot passenger rail travel element of your journey can be made a maximum of 3 months in advance.

To book Autotrain services there are a few details we need to know about your vehicle first, so please call us on 08448 484 050 to speak to an agent and make a booking.

We’ll ask the make, model and year of registration to make sure it’s suitable for the AutoTrain. Generally speaking, most motorbikes and cars, including people carriers and 4x4s, are accepted.

How does it work?

You drive to the AutoTrain terminal at Paris Bercy station and check in your car or motorbike. The vehicle’s loaded onto the train, which travels overnight to your destination. You (or someone you’ve nominated) pick it up when it arrives.

Be sure to collect it on the day of arrival or you'll be charged a parking fee (during low season). During summer (25 June - 7 September) vehicles can be collected up to the day after arrival at the destination at no extra cost. However, you'll have to pay €15 per additional day that the car is left at the station. We’ll tell you the opening hours of your pick-up point when you book.

When and where does the AutoTrain go?

You can get your car to 12 different destinations in southern France, from the Atlantic coast to the Côte d’Azur:

Avignon
Biarritz
Bordeaux
Briancon
Brive
Fréjus/St Raphaël
Lyon
Marseille
Narbonne
Nice
Toulon
Toulouse

The AutoTrain runs daily to most destinations during peak season (early June to early September) from Paris Bercy. We can give you the exact timetable when you call.

In low season, there is just one service per week on certain routes.

What can I expect to pay?

The price of the AutoTrain ticket depends on what type of vehicle you have, when it’s carried and how far ahead you book. The cheapest tickets are non-flexible, which means you can’t exchange or refund them.

One way fares to all destinations start at around £106.50 for a car or £88.50 for a motorbike.

And how do I get to my destination?

That’s totally up to you. The most efficient way is probably to catch the overnight Lunea train. That way, you get to your destination refreshed and relaxed at the same time as your car, having saved on a night’s accommodation.

Or, if you want to take in the glorious French countryside, you can travel by daytime high speed TGV or Teoz services.

You can book any of these options and more, at the same time as the AutoTrain, when you call us. But there’s no obligation to – you’re welcome to make your own way however you want.

For more information and to book, please call us now on 08448 484 050*.

*Booking fees apply