Can you take snowboards on TGVs?

It’s a simple question: can you take your snowboard on a French TGV train? 

The answer, at the moment, isn't very clear. The official answer is now, 'No'.  In practice, it's still a maybe.  

First, some personal experience, for context: for over 20 years, I’ve travelled with my snowboard on many TGV trains, headed for resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. I’ve never encountered any problems. Friends with snowboards and skis, have travelled with me. Happy times. 

In October 2022, however, a snowboarder called Jon contacted SnowCarbon, having seen something strange on SNCF’s website. Its luggage page stated that skis of any length can be carried for free, but snowboards can only be a maximum of 130cm in length. Here’s a link to SNCF's current page, so you can see for yourself: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/help/transport-luggage

Snowboard on TGVPhoto: Daniel Elkan

Given that all adult snowboards are at least 145cm in length (such as the one pictured above on a TGV), the SNCF rule is nonsense.

It’s like saying 'cats and dogs are fine on board, as long as they have five legs'. 

This kind of 'doublethink' gives the impression of being reasonable. But it actually means that no adult could travel with their snowboard. Why isn't SNCF honest about this?
So, in October 2022, to try to clarify what Jon had noticed, I wrote to SNCF’s media team. I politely asked whether this stated rule might actually be an error, given that the length of an adult snowboard will always exceed their 130cm limit. 

It took SNCF weeks to respond, despite repeated emails asking them to do so. When they finally did, the emails they sent didn’t seem to recognise the problem. So, I continued to try and get sense out of SNCF, trying to shutting down opportunities for them to wriggle out of a straight answer  But whatever logic I tried to apply, they would seemingly ignore. It was reminded me of the time in Morocco when I tried playing chess against a kitten. You can't play a sensible game when the other player has their own set of rules of engagement. 

Photo: Daniel Elkan

All this time, a steady stream of emails would enter SnowCarbon's inbox from snowboarders rightly concerned about SNCF's bizarre luggage rule for snowboards. 

I know this didn't chime with reality. So, in February 2024, on a trip back from the Alps, I walked up and down a TGV train and photographed the snowboards on board, for the Snowcarbon newsletter and this blog article. I wanted to show that lots of snowboarders travel with their boards onboard, regardless of SNCF's stated rule. Perhaps the rule really was written by someone who'd never measured a snowboard, and was simply a typo. 

Snowboards on TGVPhoto: Daniel Elkan

All seemed well until recently, when a friend told me that last winter he was nearly fined €50 by ticket inspectors for bringing his adult-sized snowboard on the TGV. And indeed, when I went back to check the SNCF luggage page, I saw that it now states:

‘Failure to comply with the luggage policy on board TGV INOUI and INTERCITÉS trains may result in the payment of €50 for 1 item of excess or non-compliant luggage, €100 for 2 items of excess or non-compliant luggage, and €150 for 3 or more items of excess or non-compliant luggage.’

Below is a screenshot from the page.

At least, the same SNCF luggage page says that on local TER trains in France (pictured below), there is no limit on snowboard length. Small mercies. 

Photo: Daniel Elkan

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Going forwards from here

First, there are short-term questions about what’s possible. 
Second, there might be a longer-term campaign needed to ensure that snowboarders have the same rights as skiers on TGV trains.
Some thoughts about what's possible. 

1.    The rule has been in place for several years and has not been widely enforced.  I’ve seen many people with snowboards on TGVs and only heard of one fine so far. 

2.    In my continued investigation, SNCF has pointed me to a service called ‘Mes baggages’, which is a door-to-door delivery service for luggage. SNCF touts this as the solution, but this service, even if you wanted to use it, only operates within France as far as I can tell (SNCF hasn’t confirmed this yet). Moreover, the service costs a hefty €165 for a snowboard, and it’s not clear whether that’s one-way or return. This is the website link to it: https://www.sncf-voyageurs.com/en/travel-with-us/prepare-your-trip/luggage-delivery/  
Snowboarders contacting SNCF customer service have similarly been pointed to this luggage service. But it's both expensive (€165, on way?) and impractical (can't be booked for travel from the UK). I’m in the process of trying to clarify with SNCF what’s possible and how their luggage 'solution' works.

3.    As we've seen, on its website, SNCF states that non-compliance ‘may result in the payment of €50’. That implies that you can try your luck, and you might be fined €50. Here’s the link to the page: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/help/transport-luggage 

Given these factors, if it were me, I’d bring my snowboard on board and chance it. The worry, of course, would be about being refused entry altogether, which would be a nightmare. I don’t imagine that would happen, but I can imagine people worrying about it. 

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Time to campaign

The question about this funny rule about snowboards is: why?

I’ve been alerting the ski industry to this issue, so that together we can lobby SNCF and get proper answers. I’ve written to other ski writers, tour operators who offer rail travel, national tourist offices, ski resort tourist offices, other train companies etc. This affects everyone and if everyone pulls together on this, we might achieve something useful. SNCF needs to feel the pressure about what seems like an odd, unfair and stupid rule. 

It might be a big boulder to move. Only when you have many hands pushing, can you hope to shift it. 

The working title for the campaign is ‘Boards onboard’.

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Next steps...

Something moss be done...Photo: Daniel Elkan

1. Let me know any questions, or your experiences, (by replying to this email).

2. If you want to ask SNCF directly, their website contact page is: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/help/contact. 

3. Watch this space.  When there's some significant progress to tell you, I'll let you know.