By bike on the train: 7 tips for travelling by bike with train transport

Bicycle transport by train - a good idea all round.

Even inter-regional ICE trains usually have a few spaces for bicycles.

The ticket can be used to purchase a cycle pass. There is then space in the compartments labelled from the outside.

It's never that empty - especially during the holiday season.

Instead of parking the bike in the stands in the blink of an eye...

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Photo: cargobikes.com, Magura, VAUDE

It's actually ideal: take the train to your holiday destination or the starting point of your cycle tour and your bike is already with you. However, there are a few points that you should bear in mind to ensure a smooth journey. Together with Pressedienst Fahrrad, we have selected the most important tips for travelling by train.

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Text: Press Service Bicycle/David Kossmann

1. which bikes are transported?

In practice, only single-seater two-wheeled bikes are transported in long-distance transport. In local transport, tricycles, recumbents and tandems can also be carried if space is available. Children's bikes (up to 16 inches) are luggage, as are trailers. S-pedelecs are not allowed to travel by train. If you are travelling on privately operated trains, some details may differ - clarify beforehand!

2. collect and reserve information

On long-distance trains, the bike parking space must always be reserved, but this is not possible on local trains. Therefore, find out on the internet about trains that are generally very busy and avoid them - especially during the holiday season and at weekends.

You're lucky if you're not on a train that's running late and you don't panic when unloading when your bike is at the back.

Photo: picture-alliance / dpa / Hans-Jürgen WegeYou're lucky if you're not on a train that's running late and you don't panic when unloading when your bike is at the back.

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3. tariffs

On long-distance services, a bike costs from around €7.50, while there are different fares for local transport. In some cases, bicycles are also included free of charge, but sometimes certain times of day are excluded. Find out in advance!

4. use the whole platform

For many trains, the location of the carriages with bicycle compartments is displayed on the platform. Before the train arrives, look for the section of the platform where your reserved space will be located. But even without a reservation (on local services), you should position yourself in such a way that there are no "clusters of cyclists" on the platform. If some bikes don't get a space in the carriage you've reserved, the bikers will have to change again anyway - which can be stressful.

The bike compartments are often at the very front and back of the train. There is not much going on there and you can board in peace and quiet

Photo: Thomas Trutschel/ picture alliance/photothekThe bike compartments are often at the very front and back of the train. There is not much going on there and you can board in peace and quiet

5. correct parking

Bicycles must be parked on the train in such a way that escape and rescue routes remain clear. If bicycles are parked close together, it is often possible to avoid overcrowding in the designated areas. The railway stipulates that panniers must be removed from the bike before boarding to make it easier to get on and off the train and avoid wasting valuable space. This is usually not necessary on long-distance trains, where the parking spaces are defined by the bike racks.

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6. secure bike

Bicycles parked on the train must be secured against falling over or rolling away - so that the bike remains stationary even if the train brakes hard. On long-distance trains, the bike should be locked to its bracket if the driver is travelling in another compartment. On local trains, however, a lock is not advisable. Here, bikes often have to be manoeuvred when individual cyclists get off the train.

7. e-bike: batteries must remain on the bike

Charging the battery on the train is not permitted and it must remain on the bike. Caution: It is forbidden to take a spare battery on the train - it is dangerous goods!

A place for a bicycle on the ICE must be booked in the same way as a seat, and only as many bikes as there are racks for them can be taken on board.

Photo: Andreas Gebert/dpaA place for a bicycle on the ICE must be booked in the same way as a seat, and only as many bikes as there are racks for them can be taken on board.

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