Train Jaune: The Complete Guide to the Cerdagne Line
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Inspiration and great deals for your next low-carbon trips
Today, the train-and-bike combo is gaining more and more fans. At HOORAY! We’re committed to creating new ways of thinking about travel that minimize our impact on the environment. So, of course, we encourage you to try this way of traveling that combines train travel with biking—and you’ll see that it offers many benefits. But before you get started, there are a few things you should know!
That's right, you can bring your bike on almost any train, but the rules vary from one train to another. The TER often allows bikes for free and without requiring them to be disassembled. The TGV, Intercités, and OUIGO require a paid reservation or a disassembled bike in a cover. Here’s what you need to know, train by train, to travel with peace of mind.
| Train | Bicycle not disassembled | Bicycle in a cover or folded |
|---|---|---|
| TER | Generally free, no reservation required (except for regional summer regulations) | Free |
| Transilien | Free, during off-peak hours on weekdays | Free |
| Intercity | €10 or €5 depending on the line; reservations required | Free |
| TGV INOUI | €10, reservations required, depending on the train | Free |
| OUIGO High-Speed Rail | No | 5 € |
| OUIGO Classic Train | 10 € | 5 € |
| Eurostar (to London) | 50 € (70 € if booked less than 48 hours in advance), except for Paris–London | Free folding bike under 85 cm, disassembled and in a bag (Paris–London): 50 € (70 € if booked less than 48 hours in advance) |
Sources: SNCF Voyageurs (updated May 28, 2026) and Eurostar, accessed September 30, 2026.
A cycling trip is a new adventure every day; it’s a way to explore a region or a country through slow travel. It’s also an opportunity to be in that “here and now” moment we all seek so much, to reconnect with nature, and to connect with others through wonderful encounters.
Is there a region or country you’ve always dreamed of visiting? No need to start from your front door—a train will take you there so you can begin your trip right from the place of your choice! This will save you precious time if you have limited vacation days. We’ll give you a few ideas a little further down in this article.
So, are we ready to set off on this adventure?
© Fabio Gattini
Each type of train (TER, INTERCITÉS, TGV, international TGVs, Transiliens, etc.) has its own specific rules regarding bringing bicycles on board, and the same applies to different regions. We’re here to help you understand these rules so you can plan your trip as effectively as possible.
On a TGV INOUI train, you have two options: reserve a spot for your bike (without disassembling it) for €10 per trip, or disassemble it and pack it in a cover—free of charge and without a reservation. On OUIGO trains, there’s always a fee for bringing a bike.
You must make your reservation when you purchase your ticket, and you will be assigned a seat near your bike. If no results appear, it means the train does not have bike spaces or they are all booked. Please note: A passenger traveling with a bicycle cannot be on the same reservation as passengers without bicycles; separate reservations must be made.
Your bike travels as luggage if it fits inside a labeled bag measuring no more than 90 × 130 × 50 cm. It must be disassembled before you reach the platform and then stored in the luggage areas. Recumbent bikes, tricycles, cargo bikes, longtails, trailers, and cardboard bikes are prohibited. If your luggage does not comply with these requirements, SNCF may charge a fee of €50 to €150.
The option must be selected at the time of ticket purchase.
You can take your bike on the TER—no disassembly required! In fact, the TER is the best option if you want to avoid having to take your bike apart. Better yet, the service is usually free. You’ll find a compartment marked with a bike icon where hooks let you hang your bike. With a little luck, you’ll be able to sit in the seats right next to it, just to keep an eye on it (you can never be too careful!).
On Intercités trains, however, reservations are required for a bike that hasn’t been disassembled. Be sure to specify this when booking your ticket by adding “un disassembled bike” to your search. Please note that space is limited, so it’s best to plan ahead. On these trains, bikes are stored in a designated compartment, so it’s best to secure them with a bike lock.
Every Intercités train has a bike area, which you must reserve when you buy your ticket:
| Intercités Line | Price per bike, per trip |
|---|---|
| Paris–Limoges–Toulouse, Paris–Clermont-Ferrand, Bordeaux–Marseille | 10 € |
| Overnight Intercités (Paris–Briançon, Paris–Nice, Paris–Cerbère, Paris–Toulouse, Paris–Tarbes) | 10 € |
| Toulouse–Hendaye, Nantes–Lyon, Nantes–Bordeaux, Nancy–Lyon | 5 € |
| Clermont-Ferrand–Béziers | Free, no reservation required |
If your bike is not disassembled, you can bring one piece of luggage measuring up to 70 × 90 × 50 cm, a pair of panniers, and a small carry-on bag. If there are no bike spaces available, you can use the free bike cover. Tandems, recumbent bikes, cargo bikes, and longtails are not permitted.
On most TER trains, you can bring your bike for free—either hanging from the ceiling or stored in an area marked with a pictogram—subject to available space. However, several regions require reservations during the summer. For example:
The rules change every year: Be sure to check the cycling page for your region before you go—all of them are accessible from the "Bikes on Board" page on SNCF Voyageurs. If the train is crowded, SNCF may refuse to transport your bike.
In the Île-de-France region, you can bring your bike on the train for free on weekdays before 6:30 a.m., between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and after 7:30 p.m., and without restriction on weekends and holidays. Please note that during peak times, access may be denied at any time.
Outside of France, a bike cover remains the most universal solution. However, some international trains allow bikes to be transported without being disassembled, subject to reservation and a fee.
The rules for bicycles in a cover (90 × 130 × 50 cm, free of charge) also apply to TGV INOUI trains to Spain, Italy, Belgium, Freiburg im Breisgau, and Luxembourg, as well as to TGV INOUI and ICE trains between France and Germany.
Since the integration of Thalys, Eurostar has been operating under two systems:
| Eurostar Line | Bicycles allowed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Brussels–London, Amsterdam–London | Installed on certain trains; must be dropped off at the bike drop-off point before departure | 50 € per trip (70 € if booked less than 48 hours in advance) |
| Paris–London | Disassembled, in a bag or a closed box; must be dropped off before departure | 50 € per trip (70 € if booked less than 48 hours in advance) |
| Between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany (formerly Thalys) | Both wheels removed, packed in a soft bag measuring no more than 135 × 85 × 30 cm, in limited quantities | Fee of 30 € |
| All lines | Packed folding bike (less than 85 cm on the London route; 75 × 53 × 30 cm on other routes) | Free, just like a piece of luggage |
The bike service to London is available only on certain trains, and it is not available on trains departing from or arriving in Lille and Rotterdam. On continental routes, please be on the platform 30 minutes before departure.
On TGV Lyria trains, your bike travels for free if it is folded or has its wheels removed and is stored in a bag measuring no more than 130 × 90 × 50 cm.
Night Intercités trains allow bicycles to be transported without disassembly for €10 with a reservation (see above). For European night trains, the rules vary by rail company: check the company’s website before booking.
Your secret weapon is the cover: it’s the only solution accepted on virtually all trains, and it’s free on TGV INOUI and Intercités trains. As for the rest, it all comes down to planning ahead.
In practical terms, you have two options. An ultralight, compact cover that you can take with you on your bike trip. Or a sturdier, more protective cover—though it’s bulky—that you’ll need to get rid of (or have shipped) before you set off. Make sure it fits the 90 × 130 × 50 cm size requirement, and consider borrowing, renting, or buying secondhand for your first trip. If you’re riding a folding bike, check out our article Folding Bikes and Trains explains everything in detail.
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Spots for bikes that don't need to be disassembled often fill up very quickly. Planning ahead is the key!
Traveling with a bike requires a bit of planning and time: climbing the steps at the station, finding the bike car on your TER train, dealing with any issues caused by a large number of cyclists on the train, and allowing time to disassemble your bike and put it in a cover if necessary. It’s best to arrive a little early!
If you can, try to travel on weekdays, during the day, and during the off-season.
Try as much as possible to keep your bike in your line of sight to prevent theft, especially when you stop.
When traveling by bike and train, it's best to keep your luggage to a minimum to make things easier for yourself and avoid being weighed down during your trips.
© @xav_theotherlife
The train takes you directly to the starting point of your route—no need to pedal from home—and the bike lets you explore the region at the pace of slow travel. It’s also a particularly low-carbon combination: according to the latest report from ADEME, nearly 70% A significant portion of tourism-related emissions in France comes from transportation, especially trips between home and vacation destinations. To get started, be sure to check out our guide to start the bike trip.
So, have we got you in the mood to go? Here are our top bike destinations accessible by train to inspire you.
More ideas in our selection of Bicycle Routes in France.
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5 cycling routes to enjoy the most beautiful places in France (and more)
Traveling by train with your bike may take a little planning, sure, but it opens up endless possibilities for your future vacations! So, grab your bike, train tickets, and panniers, and let’s set off on a low-carbon adventure full of surprises!
