In our Tech Q&A series, we tackle cycling queries – big or small, complex or simple – with insights from the BikeRadar team and trusted industry experts. Next up, a reader wants to clarify Eurostar’s policy for transporting bikes on its trains.
Can you explain, in simple terms, Eurostar’s bicycle policy? From what I can gather, unless it’s a folding bike, bikes must be dismantled and in a bag or box – surely that’s not right?
Benjamin McKee
Unfortunately, your understanding is correct – and yes, Eurostar’s bicycle policy really is that restrictive.
For the benefit of our international readers, Eurostar is the cross-channel train service from London to Paris and other locations around northern Europe, including Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
Deputy editor Jack Luke explains that Eurostar changed many of its policies during the pandemic. The company has different rules for bicycles depending on which countries you’re travelling between – and they’re pretty restrictive.
London to Paris
If you’re travelling between London and Paris, Eurostar says: “We can only transport fully assembled bikes on trains travelling between London and Brussels. If you’re travelling between London and Paris, your bike must be disassembled and in a box or bag when you drop it off.”
Not only must your bike be taken apart and in a box or bag, but Eurostar says you must use its dedicated luggage service. This means you need to drop off your bike at the luggage area before heading to departures and your bike will then be handed back to you on the platform – trolleys will not be provided.
Furthermore, all of this hinges on whether there is space on the train for your bike in the first place. If you don’t see the ‘Add extra luggage’ option when booking, that means it’s full.
Needless to say, if you’re considering using this service with a bike in tow, you need to think and plan ahead – or consider an alternative, less restrictive route.
Other destinations
For other destinations, Eurostar’s rules are slightly less ruthless.
The company states: “Both wheels must be removed and everything must be covered by a non-rigid cover with maximum dimensions of 135×85×30cm.”
It adds: “Any bicycle that isn’t packed in this way will be refused by the train manager and not allowed on board.”
At the time of writing, there are specific trains you can take a packed bicycle on.
- London to Paris: any train departing London between 8.01am (train 9008) and 3.31pm (train 9036)
- Paris to London: any train departing Paris between 11.13am (train 9023) and 6.13pm (train 9051)
- London to Brussels: trains departing at 9.01am (train 9116), 1.01pm (train 9132) and 3.04pm (train 9142)
- Brussels to London: trains departing at 7.56am (9113), 12.52pm (train 9135), 2.52pm (train 9141) and 5.56pm (train 9153)
On a related point, we received an email from loyal listener Matthew Lewis regarding his recent Eurostar experience.
He says: “I did Eurostar last year, because I wanted to be ‘green’, plus I hate airports. TLDR: it was a nightmare. Bikes in bits, you cannot use a bike box, the drop-off points are literally miles from the main access points, and the instructions are appalling. In their defence, the staff were super helpful. This year, I flew using the much maligned QueasyJet. It was absolutely fine – easy to book, drop-offs easy to find, super helpful staff (again) and easily 100% better.”
We certainly hope Eurostar reverts back to its pre-Coronavirus policies, because disincentivising train travel with bikes is the wrong thing to do.
