Auto Train
My mate & I used the Autotrain from Paris down to Nice in September.
It cost 99 Euro per bike.We booked online two months before we left.
The bikes are dropped off at Paris Bercy & travel overnight.
We walked round the corner to the Gare De Lyon, took the TGV at lunchtime after dropping the bikes off & stayed overnight in Nice.
The first class passenger fare was about 60 Euro & the journey took 5 hours.
Bikes were available for collection around midday.
We did this because we did n't want to slog through France to get to the alps.
We had a great five days riding back up the Route Des Grandes Alpes.
You are not able to leave anything attached to the bike that is n't lockable for the Autotrain journey.
They offer you an additional insurance premium to cover the bike for the journey.
If you have a brand new machine I suggest you take this option.
One of the panniers on Johnny's bike was scuffed during the journey.
Also quite a few RHD cars had offside rear wing damage.
The wagons are quite tight so the guys driving the cars on can clip the sides.
I'd recommend using the service,we may go down to Briancon the same way later this year.
The TGV passenger ride was excellent,but take a picnic the buffet car's shite.