Ski carriage on UK trains
If you live outside of London, can you take skis and snowboards on UK trains? We contacted each UK train operator to find out its policy.
Key:
✅ - Skis and snowboards allowed on all or almost all services
⚠️ - Skis and snowboards allowed sometimes/subject to discretion
⛔ - Skis and snowboards not allowed on-board
⛔ Avanti West Coast
Sadly for those in Birmingham and Blackpool, it's a no to ski carriage from Avanti. A spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
“We don’t allow skis and snowboards on our trains. As per the National Rail Conditions of Travel, it is the discretion of individual train operators as to whether these items are permitted onboard.”
Link to Avanti West Coast luggage policy:
https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/onboard/luggage
✅ Caledonian Sleeper
Caledonian Sleeper is perfect for Scottish skiers wanting to reach the slopes by train. They happily take skis and snowboards at no extra cost, subject to "available space" in a separate, secure luggage area (which is normally sufficient).
Link to Caledonian Sleeper luggage policy:
https://www.sleeper.scot/help-support/during-your-trip/
⚠️ Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways leaves large items like skis and snowboards up to the discretion of “station staff”, depending on how busy the train is.
Hence, check in advance for whichever service you’re taking.
Link to Chiltern Railways luggage policy:
https://support.chilternrailways.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/9800106148765-Taking-large-items-on-our-trains
⚠️ East Midlands Railway
EMR operates according to the National Rail Conditions of Travel, meaning that skis and snowboards are “carried at the discretion of the operator”.
Hence, on extremely busy services, the conductor may refuse to allow you to take your kit on board. Otherwise, you should be fine.
Link to East Midlands Railway luggage policy:
https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/trains-stations/on-board-the-train/luggage-guidance
✅ Gatwick Express
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), parent company of Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, and Thameslink, not only said yes to skis and snowboards, but that they're a regular fixture on-board. A GTR spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
"We've got our fair share of passengers turning up with ski and snowboard equipment ready to hit the slopes, with two airports (Luton and Gatwick) and St Pancras International on our network.
"Provided the equipment doesn't get in the way of other passengers and is not posing a hazard, then it's fine to be brought on board."
Link to Gatwick Express luggage policy:
https://www.gatwickexpress.com/travel-information/onboard-travel/luggage
✅ Greater Anglia
Greater Anglia accepts skis and snowboards unless the train is too busy. A spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
"Greater Anglia operates according to the National Rail Conditions of Travel, and larger items including skis and snowboards are carried at our discretion. While this has not presented any problems in the past, customers may be asked to wait for the next train if a particular service is busier than usual."
Link to Greater Anglia luggage policy:
https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/contact-us/faqs/board
✅ Great Northern
As with GTR's other subsidiaries (see Gatwick Express), Great Northern happily allows skis and snowboards on board, provided they don't get in the way of other passengers or cause a tripping hazard.
Link to Great Northern luggage policy:
https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/onboard-travel/luggage
⚠️ Great Western Railway
A spokesperson from GWR told SnowCarbon:
“Skis and snowboards are permitted on board our trains at the Train Manager’s discretion. This will depend on space being available to safely store kit so it does not obstruct customers and colleagues moving through the train.”
They also advised passengers to "only bring on board what you're safely able to carry".
Link to GWR luggage policy:
https://www.gwr.com/
✅ London Northwestern Railway
London Northwestern Railway accepts skis and snowboards on-board. An LNR spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
“As long as your luggage is suitably packed, won't obstruct doorways and you don't bring more than you can comfortably carry yourself, you can bring any size of luggage, which would include skis and snowboards.”
Link to London Northwestern Railway luggage policy:
https://www.londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/luggage-policy
⚠️ LNER
Skis and snowboards are allowed on LNER services on a case-by-case basis. An LNER spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
"We do allow skis and snowboards on board our services, but space onboard is limited and whether they can be brought onboard would be determined on a case-by-case (or train-by-train) basis.
"Between coaches K and L on our Azuma trains, we have cupboard space reserved for extra large luggage, but this may already be in use with suitcases and other extra large items of luggage.
"We would strongly encourage customers with skis and snowboards to arrive early / in good time ahead of their train, speak to station staff for assistance and liaise with the train manager on board."
Link to LNER luggage page:
https://www.lner.co.uk/our-trains/luggage/
⚠️/⛔ Lumo
We weren't sure whether to give Lumo a red sticker or a yellow one. It's kind of orange.
With Lumo, you've got to use their special luggage service if you want to bring skis or snowboards on board. A spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
"Lumo’s onboard policy allows customers to bring one small bag or holdall and one medium suitcase on their journey. For any items that do not fall into this category customers have the option of using Lumo Luggage, Lumo’s door-to-door luggage delivery service that allows customers to travel hassle-free."
The Lumo Luggage website doesn't display prices for baggage, so we made an email enquiry for one snowboard bag from Edinburgh to London. This was the response we received:
"The cost to transfer a snowboard bag from Edinburgh to London depends on the weight and size of the bag. For example, if the snowboard bag isn't heavier than 20kg and the dimensions are under 170cm x 34cm x 17cm, the cost would be £76.87."
That adds a significant chunk to the cost of travel on Lumo if you bring skis or snowboards.
Link to Lumo luggage info:
https://lumoluggage.co.uk
✅ Merseyrail
Merseyrail happily gives self-sufficient skiers the thumbs-up. As a Merseyrail spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
“We don't have restrictions on luggage size on Merseyrail. As long as people can carry it and aren't causing an obstruction, it's fine.”
Link to Merseyrail luggage info:
https://www.merseyrail.org/help-support/frequently-asked-questions/
⚠️ Northern
Skis and snowboards are allowed on-board Northern services, provided there's room in the bike bay—hence, check in advance how busy the service will be, as bikes are prioritised. As a Northern spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
“Passengers can bring skis or a snowboard on board, but only if there is space. They can't use the overhead storage space as they won't fit and if the bike bay is full they cannot block the aisle or vestibule for other passengers.”
Link to Northern luggage policy:
https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/on-board
⚠️ ScotRail
A spokesperson from ScotRail told us that skis and snowboards are always allowed on ScotRail’s Highland Explorer Carriages, which run on the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Fort William. Reservations are required, but there’s no charge.
For other services, the same spokesperson said that the National Rail Conditions of Carriage are in force (same as EMR and other services).
Confusingly, however, where the EMR spokesperson said that skis should be allowed “at the discretion of the operator”, based on the Conditions of Carriage criteria, the ScotRail spokesperson interpreted the same criteria as going against skis.
They pointed to the following rules forbidding any large luggage to which they apply—so judge for yourself:
23.1.1 your luggage is such that it may cause injury, inconvenience or a nuisance or it may cause damage to property
23.1.2 there is not enough room for it
23.1.3 your luggage would obstruct doorways, gangways or corridors
23.1.4 the loading or unloading may cause delay to trains
Link to Scotrail luggage policy:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/stations-and-facilities/luggage-and-pets
✅ Southern
As with GTR's other subsidiaries (see Gatwick Express), Southern happily allows skis and snowboards on board, provided they don't get in the way of other passengers or cause a tripping hazard.
Link to Southern luggage policy:
https://www.southernrailway.com/travel-information/onboard-travel/luggage
✅ South Western
A South Western spokesperson told SnowCarbon:
"I can confirm that we do allow skis and snowboards on our trains, however there is no policy for these specific items. We do not require a reservation for these items (we do not offer seat reservations on our services) and there is no surcharge to pay.
"We recommend that customers with large items of luggage travel on off-peak train services, as during peak hours, our trains can be very busy. If a train is very busy, and there may not be sufficient room on board, the guard will decide whether to permit them.
"Any luggage should be placed so that it does not block aisles, doorways or wheelchair areas, and it should be moved from seats if customers wish to use them. We also have a Luggage Buddy system that can assist with sending luggage."
Link to South Western luggage policy: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/onboard/what-can-you-bring-on-board
Link to South Western Luggage Buddy system: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/luggage-buddy
✅ Thameslink
As with GTR's other subsidiaries (see Gatwick Express), Thameslink happily allows skis and snowboards on board, provided they don't get in the way of other passengers or cause a tripping hazard.
Link to Thameslink luggage page:
https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/travel-information/onboard-travel/luggage
⛔ Transport for Wales (TfW)
Unfortunately, alongside Avanti West Coast and Scotrail, TfW is one of the few UK rail providers that don’t allow skis on board (according to their press office).
Confusingly, the same spokesperson said that snowboards may be allowed “at the discretion of the train crew” (with no charge applied if approved).
However, their website’s luggage policy says that only items longer than 1m “that you can’t carry without help” are forbidden—contradicting the above.
By no means the clearest policy, so it might be worth contacting TfW ahead of time for the specific service you plan to take.
Link to TfW luggage policy:
https://tfw.wales/ways-to-travel/rail/travel-information/what-you-can-bring-on-board
⚠️ TransPennine Express
According to their media team, TransPennine Express generally allows skis and snowboards on-board with no extra reservation required, “but the carriage remains at the discretion of the conductor and how busy the service is.”
So, a somewhat half-hearted thumbs up!
Link to TransPennine Express luggage policy:
https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/travelling-with-us/onboard-facilities/what-you-can-bring-on-board
✅ West Midlands Railway
West Midlands Railway is owned by the same company as London Northwestern Railway. Hence, their luggage policy is the same:
“As long as your luggage is suitably packed, won't obstruct doorways and you don't bring more than you can comfortably carry yourself, you can bring any size of luggage, which would include skis and snowboards.”
Link to West Midlands Railway luggage policy:
https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/travel-information/onboard-facilities/luggage-policy