Can you bring bikes on trains in Europe and UK?
Bike transport by train is possible on many European trains, but each rail operator has a different policy and bike transportation charges may vary.
Some accept fully assembled bikes, but many require that you dismantle the bike and store it in a bike bag.
A few require bicycle reservations. Some only offer bike reservation in standard class.
Read our guide to taking bikes on trains to plan a successful trip across Europe with your bike.
UK
FR
ES
IT
DE
AT
BE
NL
CH
Eurostar Red- Eurostar Blue
Renfe-SNCF- IRYO
- Ouigo
CH
Renfe-SNCFEach rail operator has its own policy regarding bikes, especially during peak times.
You can find out if you can travel with your bike by checking National Rail's train company page. Simply select the train company you will be travelling with and navigate to the "Onboard facilities" menu:
TER Trains
The great thing about most TER trains is that you can take your bike on board free of charge, whether it's foldable or not, subject to the number of seats available. TER trains have a dedicated area for bikes. You may need to reserve in advance for some TER trains, depending on the region. Note that certain restrictions may apply during rush hours and at weekends: Monday to Friday, from 7am to 9 am and from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
INTERCITÉS trains
To travel with your bike, it is mandatory to reserve a bike space when booking your train ticket. The rates are :
- 10€ per bike and per trip on INTERCITÉS trains with mandatory reservation for day and night
- 5€ per bike and per trip on non-mandatory reservation INTERCITÉS trains Toulouse-Hendaye, Nantes-Lyon, and Nantes-Bordeaux
- Free on non-mandatory reservation INTERCITÉS trains Clermont-Béziers
TGV INOUI
You can also combine a journey by bicycle and TGV INOUI. There are various options:
- Your folding bike (if folded up) can travel with you as hand luggage as long as it's no bigger than 130 cm x 90 cm once folded.
- Your disassembled bike in a 130 cm x 90 cm case can travel with you free of charge, and no reservation is needed. Disassembled bikes must go in the luggage area.
- Non-disassembled bikes must be put in a specific place. There is a €10 charge per bike and per journey
Please note: some bikes like tricycles, tandems and cargo bikes are not allowed on board. A service like Mes Bagages can help you get your bike to your destination.
Finally, you can travel on a TGV INOUI train with a scooter as long as it is no bigger than 130 cm x 90 cm (same requirement as for bikes).
TGV Lyria & TGV INOUI Spain
Do you need to travel with your bike? Don't worry, their transport is free under certain conditions:
- Transporting your bike: it must be dismantled and stored in a case no larger than 120 x 90 cm. The same rules apply to scooters, electric or not.
TGV INOUI Italy
You can travel with a bike on board the TGV INOUI to Italy. It's free of charge and doesn't require a reservation, provided that it's foldable and can be stored in the luggage compartment, or dismantled, folded and stored in a special bag. The maximum dimensions allowed are 1.30 m by 0.90 m.
AVE, Long Distance and Avant
You can bring fold-up bikes and dismantled bikes in bags as part of your luggage, free of charge, if they are inside a carrying case with dimensions not exceeding 120 x 90 x 40 cm.
Sleeper trains
You can bring bikes for free but they are only allowed in sleeping compartments. No more than two per compartment on the condition that the compartment is sold as a family room and the bikes are properly packed and measure no more than 120 x 90 cm.
Conventional Medium Distance, Suburban and Metric Gauge trains
Folding bicycles do not need to be transported inside a carrying case. On conventional Medium Distance and Metric Gauge (Medium Distance) trains, the cost for transporting a bicycle is €3 for journeys exceeding 100 km. For journeys of less than 100 km on these trains, transport is free of charge.
There is a limit of one bicycle per passenger and only on conventional Medium Distance, Suburban and Metric Gauge trains under the following conditions:
- Without a reserved seat:
There may be a limit of two bicycles per train. For services that do not establish a limit on the number of bicycles per train, the only limitation is that bicycles must not disturb other passengers. - With a reserved seat:
There is a limit of two bicycles per train. They will only be allowed on trains that have a space or specific area for bicycle transport, and therefore the number of bicycles per train is limited.
Trenitalia
Regionale Trenitalia trains
Assembled bikes can be taken on regional Trenitalia services, but you will require a reservation which we are currently unable to offer. If you wish to take on board an assembled bike, you will have to make your reservation directly with Trenitalia.
You can bring a folded bike in Second Class if it's in a bike bag.
Domestic Trenitalia trains
You may take your bike on any domestic Trenitalia service if it is folded, stored in a bike bag and will fit in the luggage compartments on board.
International Trenitalia trains
Unfortunately we don't offer reservations for assembled bikes on international Trenitalia trains. If you're travelling with an assembled bike, you must book directly with Trenitalia.
Italo
You can bring any bike that can be folded into a bag of dimensions are 120 x 90cm or less on board Italo trains, free of charge. Italo permits two items of luggage per passenger. A bike bag will count as one of the two permitted items of baggage.
On ICE trains
Bicycles are only permitted on ICE 4 trains operating between Hamburg and Munich with a reservation. Unfortunately we can't sell German bicycle reservations, so you will have to book directly with Deutsche Bahn.
For all other ICE trains, fold-up bikes and dismantled bikes in bags are permitted free of charge as part of your luggage allowance.
On Eurocity and Intercity trains
You can take your bike on all Intercity and Eurocity trains within Germany with a reservation. Unfortunately we can't sell German bicycle reservations, so you will have to book directly with Deutsche Bahn.
On trains between Italy, Austria and Germany
Folding bikes and bicycles that have been dismantled do not need a reservation if they are in a bicycle bag that can fit above or underneath your seat.
Fully assembled bikes must have a reservation; Rail Europe does not currently offer bike reservations for these trains so you should book directly with the rail operator.
You can take your bicycle along on most local and long-distance trains. Within Austria, you will need a special bicycle ticket (booked directly with ÖBB) which costs 10% of a full price ticket 2nd class for the route.
Regional, Regional Express, S-Bahn
You can bring your bike on local transport, and do not need a reservation. On these trains, it is not possible to reserve a space for your bicycle.
Railjet, Intercity, Eurocity, Nightjet
You'll need to reserve a space for your bike on long-distance Austrian trains. You'll need to make these reservations directly with ÖBB.
InterCity Brussels
Folding bicycles are permitted for free but must be folded and packed and stored with other luggage.
You can bring a bike on Intercity Brussels trains, but you'll need an international bicycle ticket that costs about €12.00 one-way. We can't currently offer these tickets on Rail Europe.
Travelling between Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany
To prioritise the comfort of our customers and maximise the space on our trains, bicycles are only allowed on these routes in limited numbers and under certain conditions. Both wheels must be removed and everything must be covered by a non-rigid cover with maximum dimensions of 135 x 85 x 30 cm.
Any bicycle that isn’t packed in this way will be refused by the Train Manager and not allowed on board. If your bike is travelling with you, please be on the platform 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.
We treat folding bicycles as standard luggage items as long as the maximum dimensions when folded do not exceed 75 x 53 x 30 cm.
You'll need to buy a ticket for any non-folding or dissembled bikes on trains in the Netherlands, but it is not yet possible to book these online. Please contact NS International Service Center.
Folding bicycles
Folding bikes should be stowed as luggage items under the seat, in the luggage stowage/niches, or in other suitable places where they do not hinder other passengers or occupy any bicycle spaces. You can find more information here.
Booking a bike space
You can book a space for your bike by emailing travelservices@eurostar.com. This service is currently limited to selected trains between London, Paris, and Brussels, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Eurostar only allows transportation of fully assembled bikes on trains travelling between London and Brussels. If you’re travelling between London and Paris, your bike must be disassembled and in a box or bag when you drop it off.
You will need to drop your bike off at our luggage area before heading to departures. When you arrive at your destination, your bike will be handed back to you on the platform, so make sure you only bring what you can carry safely. Trolleys will not be provided.
Bikes in a bag
You can still bring a folding bike, folding electric bike, or children's bike or scooter on board as long as it's no longer than 85 cm in length and it's carried in a protective bag that covers the whole bike. This is to protect your bike, other people and their luggage both at the station, on board and going through security.
For safety reasons, you cannot charge your folding electric bike at any of the Eurostar stations or while on board their trains.
E-scooters and hoverboards
While we’re on the subject of two-wheeled transport, unfortunately, you won’t be able to travel on Eurostar with an electric scooter (e-scooter) or hoverboard.
1. For Non-disassembled bicycles:
Allowed without prior booking and free of charge on Cercanías (commuter), Regional, and Proximity trains.
On Avant and Media Distancia trains with reserved seating, you must add the “Train + Bike” option when booking (no extra cost).
Not permitted on long-distance/high-speed services (AVE, AVE Internacional, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity) unless folded or disassembled.
2. Disassembled bicycles:
Accepted on all Renfe trains as special baggage.
Must be placed in a cover (max 140×90×40 cm) with at least one wheel removed and handlebars folded.
For AVE, AVE Internacional, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, a bike add-on (or Additional Baggage add-on for Avlo) is required.
Free of charge on Avant, Media Distancia, Cercanías, and Ancho Métrico trains.
3. Folding bikes / non-electric scooters:
Considered hand luggage when fully folded (max combined dimensions 180 cm).
Travel free of charge, no add-on needed (except Avlo, where an Additional Luggage add-on is required).
Must be folded before boarding and stored in luggage areas with care.
Passengers may travel with one bicycle *only if it is disassembled, placed in a proper transport bag or case, securely closed, and within the maximum size limit of 90x120x40 cm. The bicycle is considered part of your luggage and must comply with luggage rules.
Passengers are responsible for loading, unloading, and safekeeping of their bicycles throughout the journey and for ensuring they do not cause inconvenience or damage to others or the train.
Passengers must request bicycle transport at least 2 hours before departure via the Iryo assistance desk (Casas Iryo) or Customer Service.
Note: To travel with a bicycle on Iryo trains, passengers must purchase a fare that allows bike transport — specifically the Initial Superior, Infinita, or Bistró fare types.
You can travel with your bike on OUIGO Spain trains as long as it is disassembled and packed in a proper bike case. The case must not exceed 200 cm in total dimensions and 30 kg in weight.
Bikes are considered additional luggage, which you can add during booking or up to 30 minutes before departure for a fee starting from €5. If not purchased in advance, the charge at boarding is €25.
Each passenger may bring one hand luggage, one cabin bag, and up to two additional items (one of which can be a bike). Make sure your bike is properly covered and placed in the designated luggage area on board.
The additional luggage can be purchased via Ouigo Website or from the station prior to 30 minutes before departure.
