TGV / ICE France ⇔ Germany (RHE) (Alleo) » Travelling with a bicycle
General
In train traffic, a distinction is made between transporting a:
Packed and disassembled (partly or otherwise) bicycle:
This can go on any train for free as luggage.
Unpacked bicycle transported whole:
A limited number of TGVs carry unpacked bicycles at a charge.
You can use the French journey planner to check whether your train also carries bicycles.
ICE does not carry unpacked bicycles.
Conditions Bicycles as luggage
Per person, a maximum of one packed bicycle (= one item of non-standard luggage)
You can take a bicycle (folding or otherwise) on the TGV for free if:
The front and rear wheel have been removed.
The bicycle has been packed in a cover.
The bicycle including cover weighs no more than 32 kg.
The bicycle including cover is no larger than 120 x 90 cm (l x w).
The bicycle is labelled with your details.
Tandems, reclining bicycles, carrier tricycles, three-wheelers or Segways are not permitted.
Whole bicycles
Please note: in general, cross-border high-speed trains between France and Germany do not carry bicycles, although you can check this for each train in the journey planner.
A number of TGVs have special bicycle coaches.
These coaches are not standard.
You can use the French journey planner to check whether your train also carries bicycles.
The NS International journey planner does not have all of the bicycle information.
You will recognize trains carrying unpacked bicycles by the bicycle icon.
You can take your unpacked bicycle with you only if:
You book the tickets for you and the bicycle simultaneously.
What next
If you take an unpacked bicycle on the train with you, you need to purchase the tickets from the French or German railway companies.
The bicycle ticket costs around € 10 for a single journey.
NS International does not sell bicycle tickets for the TGV.
Reserve in time: the number of bicycle spaces is limited.
You do not require any ticket for a disassembled and packed bicycle (folding or otherwise).
If you are taking a packed bicycle on the train with you, you can take no more than one item of regular luggage (such as a suitcase, bag or trolley) and one item of hand luggage.