Intercity Berlin » Travelling with a bicycle

Conditions
General
  • Intercity Berlin has a special bicycle coach for around 16 bicycles.
  • The width of the train's access door is 70 cm.
  • The bicycle spaces need to be reserved in advance. You need a ticket for your bicycle and a bicycle reservation.
 
Regular bicycles
  • Maximum of one bicycle per person.
  • You have a ticket for your bicycle and a bicycle reservation.
    • The price of an international bicycle ticket depends on the route. The bicycle reservation is free. 
  • Luggage or equipment (e.g. a helmet) must be removed from the bike during the journey. 
 
Special bicycles
  • Permitted:
    • Electric bicycles (charging on board is not possible)
    • You can take folded and packed folding bicycles with you for free as luggage in the luggage rack or under your seat.
    • Tandem or reclining bicycles: please reserve a special tandem space.
    • Please note: As of 1 July 2024, tandems are only allowed on Dutch trains when used by a passengers with a disability. International travellers can no longer bring a tandem on a Dutch train.
      • Exception: when a passenger has an international ticket and an international bicycle ticket plus reservation (all valid for the same date) and can prove he bought these tickets before 1 June 2024, is the passenger allowed to take a tandem or recliner bicycle in the domestic trains to or from the international train.
    • Three-wheel bicycle are only allowed for passengers with reduced mobility.
    • A folding bicycle trailer without luggage can be carried in the bicycle coach for free.
  • With electric bicycles the battery needs to remain on the bike. The battery may not be charged on board the train.
    • Only bicycles with electric support and a maximum speed of 25 km per hour are allowed.
    • Only batteries with a capacity of less than 100 Wh (Watt hour) / 0,1 kWh are allowed.
  
Not permitted
  • Special bicycles such as reclining bicycles, tandems, bicycle trailers, Segways, vehicles with a combustion engine (such as quads or mopeds) and speed pedelecs are not allowed on the train.

Small electronic vehicles
The number of small electronic vehicles, such as electric scooters and hoverboards, is rapidly growing. These can be taken on the train under the following conditions:
  • They can only be taken if there is no risk of damage to passengers or the train. 
  • Place the vehicle under the seat or in the luggage rack in a bag, or secure it to the luggage rack with a lashing strip. 
  • Electric scooters and kickboards can only be taken if folded.
  • They may not be used on the train or at the station. 
  • Luggage or equipment (such as a helmet) must be removed from the vehicle during the journey. 
  • Each passenger may take one small vehicle on the train, so not both an electric scooter and a folding bicycle.  
  • Only built-in batteries are allowed. Batteries must not be removed from the vehicle. 
  • Batteries may not be charged using the power sockets located on the train. 
  • Batteries not built in are deemed hazardous items and may therefore not be taken on the train. The battery's capacity is stated on the battery.
    • Only batteries with a capacity of less than 100 Wh (Watt-hours)/0.1 kWh may be taken. This involves only batteries such as those of mobile telephones, laptops and power banks. 
 
What next
  • You purchase your bicycle ticket and reservation from:
    • NS International Customer Service on +31 30 2300023
    • An NS International desk (at Amsterdam Centraal, Arnhem Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport or Utrecht Centraal stations).
  • Although it is not required to avoid peak times when travelling with a bicycle on international journeys, this is recommended to avoid crowded trains.
  • You yourself are responsible for loading and unloading your bicycle, so please ensure you are at the station on time.

Domestic passengers
  • During peak hours and in the summer months, only passengers with an international bicycle ticket and reservation are allowed to transport bicycles on Intercity Berlin.   
 
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