Accompanied car train services, a solution to reduce the carbon footprint of your road trip?
Accompanied car train services, a solution to reduce the carbon footprint of your road trip?
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Have you heard the term “motorail” before? You might not be familiar with the concept, but this multimodal transport method can offer lots of advantages for road-trip enthusiasts who enjoy discovering new horizons while taking their time... We take a closer look at this novel mobility solution which could well make a comeback, in particular as it meets major environmental, economic, and practical challenges.
What is motorail (or piggybacking)?
Motorail, also known as accompanied car train services (ACT), is a service offered by some rail companies that allows you to take your vehicle with you on board a specially designed train. You then leave your car or motorbike in a dedicated carriage while you travel comfortably to your destination.
This is the tourist version of piggybacking, which describes the process of transporting goods simultaneously by road and rail. Trucks and trailers are transported on specialized wagons on so-called rolling highways.
What are the advantages of piggybacking?
Why could combined rail-road transport become a real travel trend in the future?
Combating traffic congestion
Are you tired of sitting in traffic jams in vacation periods but still want to visit your destination by car? The accompanied car train offers you a solution while at the same time helping to relieve congestion on the freeways during peak periods.
A greener method of transport
Trains consume less energy and emit less CO2 than other forms of transport. By opting for rail-road travel, you can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your road trip. It has lots of appeal for fans of slow travel.
A more comfortable journey
Long car journeys are tiring and there is always a risk of accidents. Using the train for part of the journey is a more relaxing and safer way to travel, leaving you ready to make the most of your road trip when you arrive in your destination region.
Traveling some of the way by train allows you to take the time to enjoy the scenery, or to read that novel that’s been sitting on your bedside table. For the driver too.
Accompanied car train services in Europe: an overview
A number of rolling highways, the best-known being the Alpine (linking France and Italy through the Mont-Cenis rail tunnel), allow trucks to be transported on trains. But what about car trains that take passengers too?
Can you still find accompanied car train services in France?
The French rail operator SNCF used to run overnight accompanied car train services from Paris to destinations in the south of France (Marseille, Nice, Perpignan…). But these were discontinued in 2019 due to increasingly infrequent use. Since then, associations such as the Association des Usagers du Transport Auto/Train (Autaut) have been lobbying for their return.
Motorail services in Europe
But the good news is that, outside France, accompanied car train services can help you plan adventurous road trips in Europe. The best-known rolling highway is Le Shuttle by Eurotunnel which links Calais to Folkestone in south-east England in 35 minutes. An ideal opportunity to explore the county of Kent, the English countryside, or venture further afield to Wales and Scotland!
Tourist rail-road services are also available on NightJet sleeper trains operated by Austria’s ÖBB and running to Croatia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
Would you like to go even further? Since 2022, the Optima Express sleeper motorail service has been providing a link between the towns of Villach in Austria and Edirne in Turkey. Along the way, you can admire the landscapes of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria.
How do accompanied car train services actually work?
In practical terms, users need to arrive a few hours before the scheduled departure time to allow their vehicles to be loaded onto the train. Motorail services generally run overnight and therefore have cabins with bunks where passengers can sleep comfortably.
The vehicles accepted vary depending on the service and rail company, but in most cases, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles are welcome. Just be sure to check the specific conditions before you set off.
An accompanied car train service saves you the cost of fuel, tolls, and an overnight hotel stay. And you can also save on car rental when you arrive!
An environmentally-friendly, comfortable, and economical transportation alternative, accompanied car train services could well make a comeback for a more sustainable future. There is a strong desire for the reintroduction of the service in France, as part of the energy transition effort, among all environmentally conscious travelers.
Feel like getting away from it all?
See our suggestions for novel trips and must-see places to visit near your home or holiday destination.