SBB and the railways of the neighbouring countries provide international self-service loading of bicycles. An international bike ticket and a reservation entitle you to take your bike with you to Europe.
Tickets and reservations.
To take your bike with you on cross-border trains, you need an international bike ticket. A reservation is also necessary in most cases.
An international bike ticket costs CHF 20 and is valid from the departure station to the destination as per the main ticket for travel.
The price for the first cross-border reservation is included in the price of the international bike ticket. Additional reservations cost CHF 5.
The international bike ticket is available for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia.
You can obtain your bike ticket and the reservation at the ticket counter or from the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.).
For the international trains from Switzerland listed below, it is mandatory to reserve a bike space:
EuroCity (EC) to Germany, Italy and Austria.
Intercity Express (ICE) to Germany.
Railjet (RJX) to Austria.
IC Zurich–Stuttgart.
Nightjet (NJ).
It is not possible to take your bike with you on some trains. These trains are marked in the timetable with the symbol of a crossed-out bicycle and the note ‘BICYCLES: Carriage not possible’ (e.g. EuroNight Zürich HB–Budapest).
You can book bicycle spaces from the SBB Contact Center on 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/min.) or at the ticket counter.
Country-specific information.
Self-service loading of bicycles.
You will need a bike space reservation to take your bike with you on international trains. On the following cross-border routes, you are permitted to load your own bike independently:
Bicycles cannot be taken on ICE trains from Basel SBB towards Cologne, Dortmund and Amsterdam.
You need a bike space reservation every day of the year on ICE, EC, NJ and IC trains within Germany.
Folding bicycles.
Folding bicycles can be taken on trains free of charge as hand luggage and stowed in luggage racks and multi-purpose areas. We recommend that you pack your bike in a bag or secure it between other items of luggage using straps that you bring with you.
Bikes in bags for transport.
Due to their dimensions, bicycles carried in transport bags are excluded from carriage in most cases. A bicycle that is fully packed can be taken on the train if it can be stowed under or above the seat in such a way that it does not obstruct other passengers.
Special provisions.
Electric bikes with pedal assistance of up to 25km/h and a maximum power output of 250 watts can be taken on trains. The battery must not be charged during the journey.
S-Pedelecs (e-bikes with number plates) are excluded from carriage.
Children’s bicycles with a wheel diameter of up to 16 inches can be transported free of charge. They must be stored in the designated areas like hand luggage.
Bike trailers can be folded up for transport as luggage.
You will need a bike space reservation to take your bike with you on international trains. On the following cross-border routes, you are permitted to load your own bike independently:
You need a bike space reservation every day of the year on RJX, RJ, ICE, EC, NJ, IC and D trains, as well as on the Intercitybus from Klagenfurt/Villach to Venice/Trieste, both within Austria and on cross-border services.
Folding bicycles.
Folding bikes can be taken on trains free of charge provided they do not exceed the maximum dimensions for hand luggage (90cm long × 60cm tall × 40cm wide). You can take folded bicycles that do not exceed the maximum dimensions of 110cm long × 80cm tall × 40cm wide with you free of charge on all local and regional trains as well as on ÖBB Railjet trains (only in the designated areas).
Bikes in bags for transport.
Due to the maximum dimensions for hand luggage (90cm long × 60cm tall × 40cm wide), bicycles carried in transport bags can often not be transported.
Special provisions.
E-bikes: the battery must not be charged during the journey.
Tandems, recumbent bicycles and bicycle trailers can only be taken in special luggage compartments on certain IC and EC trains.
You can take your bike with you on the following trains from Switzerland:
TER Geneva–Lyon.
TER Basel SBB–Colmar–Strasbourg (except Mon–Fri 6am–8.30am and 4pm–6.30pm).
You can take bikes free of charge on TER trains to Strasbourg and Lyon.
Provided there are bicycle spaces offered, you need a bike space reservation (purchased via SNCF) every day of the year on TGV inOui and Intercité trains.
Folding bikes and bikes in bags for transport.
Folding and disassembled bikes can be carried as hand luggage on TGV Lyria trains between Switzerland and France, provided they are packed in a protective cover and do not exceed the dimensions of 120cm long × 90cm tall.
Folding and disassembled bikes can be transported as hand luggage on TGV inOui, Transilien, Intercité and TER trains within France, provided they are packed in a protective cover (only disassembled bikes) and do not exceed the dimensions of 130cm long × 90cm tall.
You can take your bike with you on all EC trains from Switzerland to Italy (except EC 52/151), provided you reserve a bike space.
Folding bikes and bikes in bags for transport.
Folding bikes and disassembled bikes carried in transport bags are permitted on EuroCity trains between Switzerland and Italy, provided they are stowed in an appropriate place and do not obstruct the passageways or the entry and exit points.
You can take folding bikes with you as hand luggage on all Trenitalia trains within Italy free of charge. Disassembled bikes can also be carried as hand luggage free of charge, provided there is enough space and they do not exceed dimensions of 110cm long × 80cm tall × 45cm wide.
We extend our apologies that we cannot provide up-to-date detailed information on taking your bike on the train for all countries. For many countries, a sense of adventure, a talent for improvisation and a good deal of spontaneity are absolutely essential when travelling by bike and train.
The following links provide you with information from the rail operators on travelling with a bike in the respective countries:
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and the note ‘BICYCLES: Carriage not possible’ (e.g. EuroNight Zürich HB–Budapest).