Uk Motor Rail

[Stav]

The purists will hate me for this one, but my other half is keen to go up to the North West Highlands of Scotland either later this year or next and I thought that this will be the perfect opportunity to take the bike up there and do a bit of touring. Speaking to her about this, she's quite keen but doesn't want to travel up there by bike and to be fair it doesn't exactly appeal to me either!

Now I know that the overnight motor rail service from London to (I think it was) Glasgow packed up in 1995 and from the research I've done it would appear that as of 2005 there are no more UK Motor Rail services at all! Which seems to be a shame.

Does anybody know if this is correct? I would guess that it is, but I wasn't entirely sure if they'd just stopped the cars or it was bikes as well? Is there still an unofficial service? If anybody knows anymore about it I'd be very grateful for any info you have.

Seems a shame to me, as I'd probably be a regular customer!

Thanks in advance.
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Present> 03 Tuono RSV1000 - Past > 02 Honda NSR125RR > 02 Triumph TT600
Cage> 03 Audi TT

[njd27]

I did the same research recently and came to the same conclusion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorail_(British_Rail)

We've been looking into the option of getting cheap flights up and hiring (or borrowing) a bike up there.

[G]

Why not hire a van?
Though, should only take a day's uncomfort for the travel either way.

[Bendy]

A van only makes sense if there's a few people to go in it, and somewhere to leave it for the duration of the holiday. Preferably where it isn't costing you per day for the privilege.

It's not *that* far and it's not *that* bad, it's just a day of slog there and a day of slog back. By the time you've done all the dicking about with alternative methods, I bet it's less bother just to blat up on the bike.

[G]

Very quick search for trains from Oxford to Aberdeen comes out at £145 cheapest (off-peak etc) up to £530 most expensive (first class etc) per adult.
Similarly, transit van for a week costs £235. Newer ones aren't too bad on fuel Jay reckoned, so may well be cheaper including the fuel to get a van in comparison to just being a foot passenger on the train, never mind paying for bikes to be transported.

If it's a national company, may be able to leave the van at their other offices - possibly even only paying for two days total use.

[ram_doom]

It'd only takes 8 hours or so with stops from where you live, to (for example) Ft William surely? why not get a travel lodge/welcomebreak overnight? can cost as little as £30.
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TL1000s, KDX200

[Stav]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Talking to the missus, riding up is definately out, and to be fair to her, I'm really not that keen either on going for 8 hours (or longer as I believe Ullapool is the plan) 2 up on the TT, might be different if I had a proper tourer......

The van idea isn't a bad one, but I think if we're going to rent somehing anyway, we might as well easyjet it up and rent a bike up there. It's a long way off as yet, but just needed to get a steer on the Motor rail, might well be starting a campaign to reinstate it!
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Present> 03 Tuono RSV1000 - Past > 02 Honda NSR125RR > 02 Triumph TT600
Cage> 03 Audi TT

[G]

If you've got the cash, may well be a bit nicer... especially if your other half is picky about the type of transport she uses!
Bike hire's still pretty expensive up there. Can't see the motor-rail thing working for most people, if it costs that much more for two people without any vehicles in comparison to renting a van to do it (or just driving, if we're talking a car, etc).

[Tonka]

[Bendy]