Luggage on trains to ski resorts

On the Travelski Express you can take, for free, per person, a total of:

• Two medium size suitcases (85cm maximum length)
• Skis or a snowboard (in a ski or snowbaord bag)
• One piece of hand luggage

There is no weight limit on these items of luggage, but do make sure you can still lift your own cases!

For safety reasons, skis and snowboards have to be kept in a protective case that covers the whole item.

Travelski's website says:

'Eurostar standard luggage allowance is as follow: adults can bring along 2 items of luggage (up 85cm long) plus one small piece of hand luggage, while little ones with a child’s ticket can take 1 large bag and 1 piece of hand luggage. Children under 4 travelling do not have a luggage allowance. In addition to their standard luggage allowance, skis or snowboards can be taken on board but do not count as part of the individual allowance (i.e. 2 bags + hand luggage + skis or snowboard is fine.'

View the Eurostar Ski Train luggage page which says: 'On our direct trains to Bourg-St-Maurice, Lyon, Avignon and Marseille we allocate extra space on board so you can take one pair of skis or one snowboard on board with you in addition to your standard adult luggage allowance. For safety reasons, skis and snowboards have to be kept in a protective case that covers the whole item. On all other trains, they’re included as one of your two pieces of luggage.'

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Luggage, skis and snowboards on Eurostar trains

Daniel Elkan, Boarding Eurostar train with a snowbaoard bag

If you are travelling to the slopes by taking a Eurostar to Paris or Lille, and changing trains there, you can bring, for free, per person, a total of:

• One medium size suitcase (85cm maximum length)
• Skis or a snowboard (in a bag, of any length)
• One piece of hand luggage

Or alternatively, for free, per person, a total of:

• Two medium size suitcases (85cm maximum length)
• One piece of hand luggage

There is no weight limit. Obviously you want to be able to lift your own bags, otherwise you'll be reliant on the kindness of strangers...

Eurostar's own luggage page says:

'On our direct trains to Bourg-St-Maurice we allocate extra space on board so you can take one pair of skis or one snowboard on board with you in addition to your standard adult luggage allowance. For safety reasons, skis and snowboards have to be kept in a protective case that covers the whole item.
On all other trains, they’re included as one of your two pieces of luggage.'

NB: by 'direct trains to Bourg-St-Maurice, Eurostar is referring to the Travelski Express, which is operated by Eurostar'

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TGV, Intercités de Nuit and other trains

Boarding Eurostar train with snowbaoard bagDaniel Elkan

The nominal limit for trains in Europe is two suitcases, a pair of skis and hand luggage.  But this is never enforced or monitored.  The basic, common-sense rule is:  if you can carry it, you can bring it.
On the TGV there is room for skis on the overhead racks, and large cases at the end of each carriage.

On Intercités de Nuit sleeper trains, in a six-berth couchette, you can fit skis and snowboard bags under the lower beds, but if everyone had big cases some of these may have to go in the middle between the beds, and it will feel like a bit of a squeeze. Definitely no space to swing cats! If there are five of you it can be worth renting out the sixth bunk solely to put all the luggage on it.

Is your luggage safe?
In years of travelling to ski resorts by train, and hundreds of journeys on European trains, daytime and overnight, we’ve never known of anything going missing. Of course it is important to keep and eye on your luggage, but in Europe generally theft is very low on trains.