Take your bike on the train

09 Feb Take your bike on the train

Many of our customers rent the Cyclant Travel Bikes to cross the border. Some then return to Antwerp in a loop, while others prefer to take the train back to Antwerp. We at Cyclant are big supporters of public transport and fully encourage these train journeys, but there are a few things you need to know. We list them below as fully as possible. If you have any additions, feel free to let us know and we’ll add them.

We’re talking about regular bikes that you can take with you without having to fold or pack it. Cargo Bikes and tandems are also not covered by the rules below. Bike trailers are often allowed, but you usually have to unload and fold them.

For all trips abroad, you can book your international bike ticket on this website of NMBS International.

As a final general recommendation, as a cyclist, avoid rush hours on the railways. This is more comfortable for you, respectful to the local commuters on overcrowded trains and in some cases simply mandatory.

Bike and traintravel within Belgium

Officially, you can bring your bike on any domestic train upon payment of the bike supplement. You can buy this ticket in the vending machines on the platforms, in the app or at the ticket office. Recently, SNCB added the train schedule of each train to their app. Before boarding, you can then check where the bike carriages are located and already strategically take your place on the platform.

There are many different types of bicycle places on Belgian trains.On some lines, you can enter your bike through the normal access door and find your spot in a spacious carriage. Unfortunately, there are also trains where the bicycle access has to be opened by the train conductor.So when the train arrives, look carefully for the train conductor and make sure they notice you so you can board safely.These seats are sometimes spacious and comfortable (think of the double-decker trains to Brussels, but you may still have to hang your bike on a hook in a storage shed. The latter sometimes occurs on the Antwerp – Kortrijk – Lille train.

In short: there is room, but be alert and prepared for a somewhat cumbersome boarding procedure.

Bike on a train to and from France

The fast connections (Eurostar, TGV and OUIGO) only allow disassembled and packed bicycles on their trains.Pleated bikes also carry as hand luggage.For the new OUIGO Brussels-Paris connection, they promise to allow bike sharing in the future, with no set timing. 

You will eventually have two logical ways from Antwerp to train into France with your bike: (A) Antwerp – Lille and (B) Antwerp – Charleroi – Maubeuge.

The ticket for both connections works the same. 

You buy a ticket for yourself via the nmbs international app or website (you can also opt for a Standard Multi with an additional border ticket from (A) Mouscron or (B) Erquelinnes.

Then buy an international bike ticket from any Belgian station to Lille-Flandres or Maubeuge. This can be done on the NMBS international website. If it does not cooperate, you can also try to buy this bike ticket from the train conductor before boarding.This ticket costs the same as your ticket within Belgium, but it is important that you have booked this international ticket for this journey.

 There is a similar connection from Tournai to Lille. From Antwerp, this is not the most logical connection, but I include it for completeness.

Within France, you can also travel further by bike.Here you can opt for the slower local trains (TER in France) with the great advantage that your bike can travel for free on these. The bike carriages on these connections are usually also well stocked although it’s best to keep a wary eye on them. The train conductor may still refuse you if there are too many passengers on the train.

There are also certain TGV or OUIGO connections where you can bring your bike at an additional cost. Unfortunately, this is sometimes cumbersome to find out or book, but you can consult the SNCF website for this or just ask at the ticket office in a French train station.You can find more information about train connections by bike in France on this great website by France vélotourisme.

Bike on a train to and from The Netherlands

For travel to the Netherlands on the Eurostar, the same bicycle restrictions apply as to France and Germany. Your folding bike or dismounted bike can travel with you subject to conditions. We do not cover this in this blog.

Travelling to the Netherlands with your bike is done with the Eurocity Direct, the Eurocity or the regional train to Roosendaal.All have bicycle seats available. You reserve your bike ticket on this website when you buy your ticket yourself.The price depends on the length of your journey. 

Within the Netherlands, you can bring your bicycle on domestic trains during off-peak hours and with a corresponding bicycle ticket. More information can be found on the NS website.

To Germany

In the past, we have already taken the border train from Liège over Welkenraedt to Aachen. For this too, book the international cycle ticket alongside your own ticket on the website already mentioned.

Please note that this is not the ICE or Eurostar to Germany. For the Eurostar, again, you can only bring a dismounted bike or folding bike.

On the ICE, Germany’s high-speed train, on the other hand, bicycle spaces are provided.More information and tickets can be found on this Deutsche Bahn website.In other words, you can book an ICE journey from Brussels to, say, Berlin and bring your bike in its entirety if there are still bike seats available.

To Luxembourg

Luxembourg also offers unlikely cycling opportunities. You can bring your bike on the SNCB train to Luxembourg (or any of the Luxembourg stops on the train from Brussels or Liège). For this, you also book your international bike ticket in addition to your regular ticket. 

Within Luxembourg, you travel free on public transport. Your bicycle can also travel for free, depending on the available bicycle spaces on the trains.