Carrying a Cargo Bike in European Trains?
Are there any (long distance) trains in Europe where I can carry a Cargo Bike with me? When saying cargo bike, I am just talking about a conventional long john bike, nothing big (with three wheels or similar)...
Of course I would completely accept to pay some fee for that service. :-)
Best Answer
I am not sure if your question is too broad for this format or are you really just looking for any arbitrary train where you can bring a cargo bike?
If that is your question, you can at least do it on some ÖBB trains (Austrian Railways). Not as a regular bike, but as cargo or oversized luggage in trains which still have luggage wagons or designated luggage compartments. You can't book the ticket online, but have to call ÖBB customer service or go to a ticket counter to make a reservation.
Even if cargo bikes often exceed the allowed size of bikes transported in trains, I would assume that all trains still running with luggage cars allow cargo bikes to be brought under the same conditions as any other oversized luggage.
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Can you bring a bike on a train in Europe?
As on many trains in Europe, you can take it for free if it's in a special bike carry case not exceeding certain dimensions (80 x 110 x 40 cms in this case). Most stations will look after your case for 24 hours for you, while you go off and explore.Can I take cargo bike on a train UK?
No, cargo bikes are not allowed on the train. The dimensions of a cargo bike are much larger than a regular bike and do not satisfy the conditions for transporting a bicycle by train. Since a cargo bike is not considered a 'regular bike', you may not take it on a train.Can I carry my bicycle in train?
Make sure your bike is taken to the right platform and loaded in the train you travel. After you reach the destination station, go the luggage office, submit the luggage receipt and endorsement of your ticket. The office authorities will provide a delivery or dispatch receipt.Can I bring bike on train in Germany?
Passengers need a bicycle ticket and reservation to take a bike with them on a German ICE International or intercity train. For regional trains, only a bicycle ticket is required. Your bike doesn't need to be disassembled. Regular bikes may also be carried as luggage if they fit under the seat or in the luggage rack.Eurobike 2021: Cargo Bike. Trust us, you're going to buy one!
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Answer 2
Complementing Tor-Einar's answer, NS International (the international service of Dutch national railways) has a very neat summary on the rules to carry bikes within the different carriers for Belgium, France, Germany and Austria here. The rules for domestic service are here (Dutch only)
A quick summary below - unless mentioned, this is for taking a bike as a bike, not as oversized luggage.
- Dutch domestic service: cargo bikes ("bakfietsen") are not allowed
- Intercity Brussels: cargo bikes are allowed with a supplementary ticket of 12 euros per single journey, and they charge an extra reservation fee of 4 euros if you want to take it in July or August (this has to be done on a service desk or by phone). Note that you may NOT carry luggage strapped to the bike and some parts of the trip don't allow bikes either
- Thalys: it needs to be disassembled and packed into a case of max 135 x 85 x 30 cm
- TGV: front wheel needs to be dismantled and bike needs to be covered with a slip cover, max dimensions 120 x 90 cm
- Eurostar: no bikes allowed
- ICE: must be disassembled and packed as luggage, max 120 x 90 cm (lxw). Cargo bikes not allowed in the Intercity Berlin
- ÖBB Nightjet (Amsterdam to Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck): after April 2022, you may take a bike if it is disassembled and packed in a case of 85 x 85 cm
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Yan Krukov, PhotoMIX Company, Ivan Samkov, Andrea Piacquadio