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Has anyone taken a bike on eurostar in a bike bag as a footpassenger? I was just looking online and they want 30 quid each way to roll a bike on, wonder of I could get away with taking on a bike bag as normal luggage.
Was convinced there was a thread on here about bike bags which meet the TGV and Eurostar (and presumably ICE) luggage size limits. Can't find it using search, so maybe it was elsewhere. Or maybe the proprietor will be along with the link.
Wheeling a bike and paying 30 means you have to drop the bike off, and they transport it usually within 24 hours, and you collect it later. Doesn't necessarily travel on the same train as you. Unless this has changed since I last looked at Eurostar?
It seems to be 30 to reserve a space on the same train you travel on, 25 for the within 24 hours thing.
I asked this a few weeks ago.
Travelling on Monday so we will see.
im told by very reliable people that if you put it in a bike bag they will let you take it with normal luggage in the carriage.
ill be using a dakine bike bag. ive found on all euro trains if it has wheels and you don't make a big fuss about getting on and off it will be fine.
Let us know how it goes.
5 extra to be on same train is worth it, if you choose that method. Didn't have that option when I looked before, so I booked a ferry and drove.
Think TGV/ICE have the same bike transport issues, so in a bag as luggage would really help.
Shame its so different to the Eurocity - the daily Frankfurt-Graz/Villach train takes 16 bikes!
I have done it with a bike bag - a Ground Effect Tardis fitted within the allowable baggage dimensions so there was no further charge. Sam with the TGV. I think the Duffbag Stealth Bag is a similar size.
i will let you know.
if your changing to tgv, that is super easy in a bag.
take as much as you can carry on them.
Ah - Duffbag might be the one I was thinking of. Think the guy posts on here from time to time, so no idea why it didn't come up on a search.
Eurostar have recently changed their rules for taking a bike on their trains. It used to be very simple, if your bike bag fitted in the luggage racks at the end of each carriage then all was good you could travel with your bike as hand luggage. Our Stealth bag at 120cm x 90cm complied with this.
The new regs say you can travel with a bike in a bag as hand luggage but the bag must be at most 85cm x 85cm. I have tried to design something that is compliant but 85cm x 85cm is just too small for a regular size bike. You can get a very small sized bike (just) in a bag this small but the market for a product like that would be tiny.
Eurostar will still take bikes either in a bag or not but you have to check it in with them in advance and your bike will travel in the baggage car. There is a fee of about £30 for this.
If you are transferring to TGV the regulations are AFAIK unchanged. I have yet to test the new system as it has only just changed and the weather is rubbish for biking in France right now but will update as I find out more.
Edit - to be fair to Eurostar I did speak to them about the subject and it applies to all sports gear and luggage, not just bikes, so winter sports for example have the same problem and regulations that apply, the 85cmx85cm applies to everything.
Update
Travelled from ebbsfleet monday am to paris 9:35 i think.
No issues with a Dakine bike bag fits through the check in ticket booths.
Although security check it didn't fit there scanners so up on the table and they had a nose job done.
TGV no change there take as much as you can.
It was super quiet on the eurostar so if it was busy you may get knocked back as there is several large posters with the new rules.
Travel france to uk we will see on that.
Hope its if some use