Whether you are preparing for a cycling trip across France with train stops or are a daily user of the bike train to get to work, discover in this guide all our tips to choose the most suitable bike cover for train use.
The bicycle train, an increasingly common use
By both embracing responsible mobility, cycling and rail offer excellent complementarity. Taking the train with your bicycle has become extremely commonplace in just a few years. Regular train users have certainly noticed this. Whether for leisure or professional reasons, cycling and rail are complementary, provided, as we will see, that certain administrative and practical rules are respected.
Instructions to know and follow
Indeed, it is necessary to know the instructions, which vary depending on the company, in order for your bicycle to be accepted on board the train.
This article will focus on travel conditions with SNCF, but please note that each company publishes its own bicycle travel conditions on its website. You will find useful links throughout this article.
Bicycle disassembled or not disassembled
Regardless of the train you take, SNCF offers you the possibility of travelling with your bicycle (assembled or disassembled), for daily commutes, weekend getaways or holidays:
- By TGV INOUI
- By OUIGO
- By TER, Transilien and Intercités trains
- In Europe
Traveling with a disassembled bike is by far the most common practice, and since we manufacture and sell Bike bags :-), we will present the different solutions that exist for this option.
If you transport your folded or disassembled bicycle in a cover, it counts as hand luggage and must be placed in the designated luggage compartments. The cover must measure a maximum of 120x90cm .
TRAINBag Original special train bike cover - 120 x 90 cm
TGV INOUI
All TGV INOUI trains offer the possibility of travelling free of charge and without reservation with your folded or disassembled bicycle stored in a bag measuring 120 x 90 cm such as the TRAINBag Original .
OUIGO
If you are travelling with OUIGO , SNCF's low-cost TGV service, your bike must be packed in a bag measuring 120 x 90 cm , but unlike TGV INOUI, transporting the bike will cost you €5 .
It is also specified that its weight must be less than 30 kg, that gives you some leeway!
When booking your ticket you will need to add " extra or bulky baggage ":
Attention : SNCF specifies that not all bicycles are accepted on board TGV INOUI and OUIGO trains: recumbent bicycles, tandems, tricycles and all types of trailers are not allowed.
TER, Transilien and Intercités
TER, Transilien and Intercités trains are special cases since it is not necessary for the bicycle to be disassembled in order to be able to board.
Some carriages have dedicated spaces for bicycles, easily identifiable thanks to pictograms on the doors and windows.
All types of bicycles are permitted except tandems, cargo bikes, and tricycles. Furthermore, panniers must be removed and trailers folded.
Please note : transporting bicycles is prohibited on certain lines at certain times in TER trains.
Check with SNCF.
We invite you to consult your regional TER website to find out all the boarding procedures.
On Transilien trains you can take your bike on board for free from Monday to Friday before 6:30 am, between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm and after 7:30 pm. Also on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
However, regardless of the day or time, you will not be able to access the train with your bicycle in case of high demand.
You will find all the practical details on the dedicated website: Travelling with your bike on Transilien
As for Intercités trains, it's worth noting that some lines offer spaces for bicycles that haven't been disassembled, subject to availability. In this case, you'll need to park your bike in a designated area, clearly marked with a pictogram.
The price varies from €5 to €10 per bike depending on the connections.
You can also find all the information on the SNCF website: https://www.oui.sncf/train/velo-a-bord
In Europe
Eurostar
Bicycles are permitted on Eurostar trains provided they are stored in a bag no larger than 120 x 90 cm. The service costs €15. You can find all the information on the official Eurostar website .
Thalys
On board Thalys trains, only folded or disassembled bicycles are accepted, and they must be in a bag with maximum dimensions of 130 x 85 x 30 cm. Bicycle transport is free of charge. We encourage you to visit the Thalys website to plan your trip.
TGV Lyria
On board TGV Lyria trains, you can reserve a space for your bicycle for €10 when booking your ticket, at any SNCF or CFF sales point.
More information on the TGV Lyria website .
Our tips for transporting a bicycle on a train
If there was only one thing to remember, it would be this :-) 120 x 90 cm , that's the key to taking your bike with you on any SNCF train.
And that's perfect timing because we've developed the TRAINBAG range of bicycle covers , specially designed for SNCF, perfectly suited to road bikes and MTB up to 29 inches! There are 4 TRAINBag models and we will present them in detail right after.
Plan ahead!
If possible, try to arrive at the platform early so that you can calmly prepare your bikes, remove panniers if necessary, and fine-tune the last details.
Try out your new train bike cover at least once at home, to get used to disassembling the bike and possibly see what tools you might need for it.
Not all bicycles are allowed
Unfortunately, as we saw in this article, SNCF does not accept all types of bicycles on its trains. Recumbent bikes, tandems, tricycles, and cargo bikes are not allowed. The same applies to trailers.
Opening hours and practical information
You will find online, on the websites oui.sncf and sncf.com, all the information you need to organize your train journey with your bicycle.
TRAINBAG covers Buds -Sports
At the house of Buds We love cycling and we have faced challenges, certainly like you since you are reading this article,
TRAINBAG LIGHT
The TRAINBAG LIGHT is an ultra-lightweight (810g) and compact (barely larger than a water bottle) bag , ideal for your bikepacking trips. It will easily fit on your bike or in a backpack when you're on the go.
TRAINBAG CLASSIC
The classic model , with integrated pockets for storing wheels. The TRAINBAG CLASSIC is made of PE600D , an extremely durable material.
ORIGINAL TRAINBAG
Identical to TRAINBAG CLASSIC The TRAINBAG ORIGINAL features padded wheel pockets for superior protection. A best-seller!
TRAINBAG TRAVEL
The TRAINBAG TRAVEL is the padded cover in the range. Designed to withstand the toughest conditions, you can rely on it to keep your bike in perfect condition, even to the ends of the earth. It has two padded interior pockets for the wheels.
BICYCLE COVER ACCESSORIES
All covers in the TRAINBAG range are offered with clever and universal accessories allowing optimal protection of your bike. These include the Fork Bike Protect , the Universal Support , the Rear Bike Protect, the Pedals Protect , the Frame Protect , the Frame Protect Maxi , the Handlebar Protect , the Saddle Protect and the WHEELBAG and WHEELBAG DOUBLE wheel covers.
