Loco2com

Hi fodorites, does anyone know whether you can travel with a bike on Italian trains between Ventimiglia and Genova. I can see there are regional trains and Intercity trains, which are a bit quicker and would like to know whether I can take a bike on fully assembled (without the need for a bike bag) and if so how much will it likely cost, will I need a separate ticket or is there a separate carriage? Thanks

bilboburgler

Regionale trains will take a bike, the spaces are normally at the front and rear of the train and often need to go into weird hanging loops, but they will fit and go assembled.

Sometimes that is a whole carriage but normally the last 15 to 6 feet. While the train pulls in look out for the blue bike sign and trot one way or the other once you have seen (or not) the sign. You normally find that an official will grab you if you are going the wrong way.

Yes you need a ticket and it is pennies well just a few euros, still regionale prices are very low for humans too. What you will find is that as prices are low the trains will be packed to you may have to force yourself on, lots of "scusee" and push.

Intercity, no.

This article might help

http://www.mybikeguide.co.uk/Article_Bike_on_Train.php

kybourbon

Trenitalia used to designate which trains allowed bikes by a bike symbol. The latest version of the website doesn't seem to have these symbols, but they are still in the process of updating for summer so perhaps that will improve. This is the only info they currently have on their site.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

If you enter the cities on Bahn.de, you will notice some trains (click the down arrow on the left next to the cities) mention allowing bikes while others do not. It's also mentioned limited numbers allowed in 2nd class.

More train/bike info for Italy.

http://www.seat61.com/bike-by-train.htm#Italy

Loco2com

Thanks for your responses guys, the Trenitalia site seemed to indicate that some InterCity and Eurocity trains would accept fully assembled bikes for a fee of €12 and other than that you can take regional trains if you have a valid bici in seguito card. So there are options besides bike bags!

bilboburgler

given the space on Intercity set aside for bikes I'd always plan a trip around Regionale which have more space.