What do you need to know before you travel?Travel preparation

You can take your bike on most trains. But conditions vary from one rail company to another:

Thalys

Folding bikes and bikes in a cover measuring a max. of 135 x 85 x 30 cm (both wheels unclipped) can be taken on the train free of charge, provided they are placed in the space reserved for luggage. This space can be found at the end of the carriages. Due to limited space, bikes which are not folded up or have not had their wheels unclipped are not allowed on board Thalys.

In France, all luggage (including bikes) that you place in luggage compartments must carry a label with your name and seat number. Labels are available free of charge at your station of departure.

TGV INOUI

Folding bikes and bikes in a cover measuring a max. of 120 x 90 cm (front wheel unclipped) can be taken on the train free of charge, provided they are placed in the space reserved for luggage. This space can be found at the end of the carriages. Due to limited space, bikes which are not folded up or have not had their front wheel unclipped are not allowed on board TGV.

All luggage (including bikes) that you place in luggage compartments must carry a label with your name and seat number. Labels are available free of charge at your station of departure.

Eurostar

Folding bikes can be taken free of charge as luggage on Eurostar if they are no more than 85 cm in length when folded. They must be placed in a protective cover covering the bike fully.

On the Paris-London route, normal bicycles can be transported through Eurostar's baggage check-in service if they are unclipped and packed, and if booked in advance via travelservices@eurostar.com. Until further notice, this service is not available in Brussels and Lille.

ICE

Folding bikes can be taken free of charge as luggage on ICE trains. However, due to limited space, non-folding bikes (even with front wheel unclipped) are not allowed on the ICE Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt. To travel with your bike to Germany, take regional or InterCity trains instead, on which bikes are allowed.

Conventional InterCity and regional trains

On most InterCity and regional trains, you can take your bike (or tandem, tricycle or bicycle with a trailer) if you purchase a special bike ticket, available online, at our Contact Centre or at ticket offices of stations with international ticket sales.

As the number of spaces is limited, we recommend you travel at off-peak times. Loading and unloading bikes are the passenger's responsibility.

* For security reasons, the number of bicycles admitted on IC Netherlands (Brussels-Amsterdam) is limited to 4.

Due to increased traffic expected during the Summer, a reservation for your bike is mandatory when travelling on the IC Netherlands train from 1 July to 31 August 2023. This reservation will be available from 17 May online,through our contact center and at our stations with international ticket sales at the price of €4 each way per bike (in addition to the bike ticket at the price of €12). If you purchase your bike ticket online as from 17 May, this reservation supplement will be included automatically in the price of your bike ticket.

Nightjet

Taking your bicycle on Nightjet is only allowed on the trains equipped with a dedicated carriage for luggage and bicycles, with a compulsory reservation for a fixed price of €12 per bicycle each way. Such a carriage is available on the following connections:

• NJ 490 - Wien Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
• NJ 491 - Hamburg Hbf - Wien Hbf
• NJ 40420 - Innsbrück Hbf - Hamburg Hbf
• NJ 40491 - Hamburg Hbf - Innsbruck Hbf
• NJ 466 - Wien Hbf - Zürich Hb
• NJ 467 - Zürich Hbf - Wien Hbf

Taking your bicycle on the direct Brussels-Vienna connection is not allowed.

However, you can take a foldable bike with you as free hand luggage if it's folded and packed in a format that makes it possible to store it above your seat or in the luggage racks of couchette or seater compartments.

For security reasons, it is not allowed to remove the pedals and/or turn the steering rod, nor to leave your bicycle in the corridor or near the entrance doors of the train. 

On most trains, you can take your pet with you. But rules vary from one rail company to another:

"conventional" daytime trains (e.g. Intercity or regional trains) to/from Belgium

• Cats, small dogs and other small pets in a cage, basket or crate of max. 30 x 30 x 55 cm travel free and don't need a ticket. They must be carried on the traveller's lap or as hand luggage;
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap require a specific flat-rate ticket (€6 per trip to / from the Netherlands, €7 from / to the North of France and €3 from / to the Luxembourg or Aachen). This ticket must be issued in the same travel class as that of the accompanying traveller (1st or 2nd class) and is sold online and at our stations selling international tickets;
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle;

ICE and other trains operated by Deutsche Bahn

• Cats, small dogs and other small pets in a cage, basket or crate of max. 30 x 30 x 55 cm travel free and don't need a ticket. They must be carried on the traveller's lap or as hand luggage;
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap require a ticket at 50% of the price of the accompanying traveller, in the same travel class (1st or 2nd class) as the latter. This ticket can be purchased online and at our stations selling international tickets;
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle;

Thalys

• Cats and small dogs (less than 6 kg) in a cage or basket (max. 45 x 30 x 25 cm): free of charge and without a ticket
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap: ticket at fixed price of €30 for any journey (in Comfort 1 and in Comfort 2), available on board from your Thalys train manager.
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free (muzzle compulsory).

Exception: animals are not allowed on board Thalys Snow and Thalys Sun.

Eurostar

Animals are not allowed on board Eurostar. Only guide dogs accompanying a blind passenger are authorised under strict conditions. They must have:

• an electronic chip
• a Certificate of Entry to the United Kingdom (available from the Ministry of Small Firms, Traders and Agriculture)
• a certificate of treatment against ectoparasites and endoparasites (available from the Ministry of Small Firms, Traders and Agriculture)
• a declaration to be filled out by the person taking the animal to the United Kingdom (this document can also be filled in on arrival in London)

A special free ticket is issued for the transportation of a guide dog accompanying a blind passenger.

TGV INOUI to/from Brussels

• Cats and small dogs (less than 6 kg) in a cage or basket (max. 45 x 30 x 25 cm): special ticket at fixed price of €12, available at the station Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid or on board from your train manager;
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a leash or on a lap: special ticket for dogs (valid in 1^st or 2^nd class), available at the station Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid or on board from your train manager.
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle
• Max. 2 pets per traveller allowed

Overnight trains

• Cats and small dogs in a cage or basket: free
• Dogs wearing a muzzle, on a lead or on a lap: a 2^nd class ticket, priced at 50% off the adult fare, sold at our stations selling international tickets.
• Guide dog accompanying a blind passenger: free and not having to wear a muzzle
• Note: animals are only allowed in sleeping cars if you have booked a whole compartment yourself.

Except for specific terms of certain rail companies (such as Thalys and Eurostar, for example), the number of items of luggage you can take on board is generally not limited. As a general rule, all items of luggage may not exceed 30 kg per passenger; passengers must be able to carry them themselves, and it must be possible for them to be stored in the spaces provided for this purpose.

In France, on board Thalys and on board Eurostar, luggage must carry a label showing the passenger's name.

Also see:
How much luggage can I take on board Thalys?
How much luggage can I take on board Eurostar?
How much luggage can I take on board TGV INOUI?

If you are a resident of a European Union or European Free Trade Association country, you only need your national identity card or passport to be able to travel in Europe. In addition to your train ticket, that is.

Since 1 October 2021, a passport is required for travelling to the United Kingdom, and a visa is required to work or study in the United Kingdom for a longer period.

We suggest that passengers under the age of 18 travelling without their parents also carry a document stating parental authorisation issued by their local authority.

For more details regarding travel documents, please visit diplomatie.belgium.be. If you are a resident of another country, you should obtain travel information from your embassy.

On board Thalys, you can take 1 item of hand luggage + max. 2 items of luggage (max. dimensions 75 x 53 x 30 cm) per passenger.

Weight may not exceed 32 kg per item of luggage and overall dimensions (length + width + height) may not be more than 158 cm per item of luggage. If you are travelling with a child, you can also take a buggy in addition to the amount of luggage specified above.

For safety reasons, any luggage carried on board Thalys must carry a label showing the passenger's name.

Cumbersome luggage

Some cumbersome items of luggage are allowed on board Thalys under certain conditions:

• Buggies must be folded and placed in the storage areas situated in the carriage in which you are seated.
• Bikes must be folded. If your bike is not a folding bike, it must be placed in a cover measuring max. 135 x 85 x 30cm (both wheels unclipped).
• Musical instruments ans sports equipment (skis, surf boards, golf clubs etc.) must be carried in their cases (preferably rigid) and should not exceed 2 m in length.

If you are carrying a cumbersome item of luggage, you can carry 1 item of hand luggage and 1 item of luggage (max. 75 x 53 x 30 cm) in addition to the cumbersome item.

Items forbidden on board Thalys:

• Unusual products such as perishable foods giving off an unpleasant odour.
• Hazardous products and items, such as (open list): knives, firearms, explosives, inflammable liquids or other hazardous products (chemical, biological, etc.).
• Products intended for trade, the quantity and/or packaging of which show that the "passengers" ticket is being misappropriated for the transportation of goods which should have formed the subject of the services of an operator specialising in this area.
• Products prohibited by customs or any other administrative authority (e.g.: drugs).

On board Eurostar, you can carry, as a maximum, 1 item of hand luggage (handbag, briefcase, computer bag, etc.) + 2 bags or cases (not exceeding 85 cm in length) per adult passenger.

Buggies are allowed on board free of charge in addition to the authorised volume of luggage, provided they are folded and stored in the luggage rack above your seat.

If you are travelling in Business Premier, you can carry up to 1 item or hand luggage + 3 bags or cases (max. 85 cm in length).

Children (under 12) can take 1 item of hand luggage + 1 bag or case (max. 85 cm in length). Children under 4 years old travel for free and are not included in the booking and do not need a ticket. They do not need a seat or luggage allocation and must sit on the lap of a parent or guardian.

Eurostar registered luggage service

If you wish to travel with more luggage or heavy or cumbersome items (+ 85 cm in length), you must contact the Eurostar luggage registration service available in London, Paris, Lille and Brussels. Registered luggage and cumbersome items are not allowed on board Eurostar departing from or going to Ashford, Ebbsfleet, Calais, Disneyland^® Paris and on ski itineraries and the south of France.

Registered luggage travels in a reserved space on the next available train so as not to cause congestion in your carriage. It will be available for collection at your Eurostar station of destination within 24 hours of registration.

This service also means you can send your luggage on in advance and collect it on your arrival. You can register your luggage on the day of departure, but please allow enough time to register your luggage and then check in yourself 60 minutes before your train leaves.

Charges for registered luggage (PDF) >

Contact the Eurostar luggage registration service

• at Paris Nord: +33 1 55 31 58 33
• at Brussels (Midi/Zuid): +32 2 224 88 62
• at London St Pancras: +44 344 822 5822

There's no strict limit on the number of luggage items that you can take with you on TGV INOUI, but make sure you only take luggage that you can easily carry and easily store in the spaces provided for this purpose.

Smaller luggage can be stored in the luggage racks right above your seat. For larger luggage, you will find spaces at the ends and in the middle of each carriage.

Each piece of luggage must be provided with a label showing the name and surname of the traveler (legal obligation in France)..

Are allowed as hand luggage: suitcases, travel bags and backpacks.

The following are also admitted as hand luggage (one item per traveller):

• a child's stroller (folded and stored in the luggage spaces of your carriage)
• a bicycle (folded folding bicycle or non-folding bicycle with dismantled wheels contained in a special cover with dimensions of maximum 1.20 x 0.90 m)
• een pair of skis
• a wakeboard transported in a bag of max. 1.20 x 0.90 m)
• a wheelchair for a traveller with reduced mobility (folded up, if the special wheelchair slot is not used).

Prohibited items are extensively described in the general conditions of carriage of the various rail operating companies.

In general terms, this issue is a mere matter of applying the legislation in force or elementary rules of decency.

For more details, please read the conditions of carriage of the rail company that operates your journey.

Yes, absolutely! For a charge of €5 (+ €2 for each additional piece), our partner Wibag – present at Brussels (Midi/Zuid) station – will carry your luggage for you on a trolley everywhere in the station.

Wibag also offers additional luggage services such as wrapping your luggage in heavy-duty protective film, or supplying cardboard boxes approved by airlines and railway companies for transporting your items.

To ensure optimal service, Wibag recommends you book your baggage assistance 24 hours in advance at www.wibag.be or by phone on +32 491 94 04 05.

At Brussels-Midi station, it is possible to make a reservation for an exclusive service with our VIP department « Meet & Assist ». This service is available for groups and individual travels and offers a lot of advantages.

For more information: protocol@sncb.be

« Meet & Assist » for group travel (min. 10 people – price upon request)

• Welcome at meeting point
  with sign showing your name
• Assistance
  during check-in, security checks and customs
• Passenger escort
  within the station and to the train
• Monitoring of rail traffic
• Assistance with luggage
  on request

« Meet & Assist » for individual travel (max. 9 people – price upon request)

• Welcome at meeting point
  with sign showing your name
• Assistance
  during check-in, security checks and customs
• Passenger escort
  within the station and to the train
• Access to the VIP lounge or business lounge
  depending on your destination and travel class
• Monitoring of rail traffic
• Assistance with luggage
  on request

In general, the connections and timetables offered by international journey planners take into account travel times and the time it takes to change trains.

However, what constitutes an ideal connection differs from one rail company to another. For example, Belgian timetables will display connecting trains only if you have six minutes or more to change trains, while Dutch timetables will display solutions that include connection times of only two minutes.

Of course, the connections suggested by planners are based on theoretical timetables. Delays and unforeseen events can always occur.

In addition, it is up to each passenger to decide whether there's enough time to change trains. This depends on a range of things which can sometimes slow you down when you make your connection: for example, is it a large station with lots of platforms and corridors (like Brussels Midi/Zuid or Antwerp-Central) or rather a local station with only a couple of platforms? Are you familiar with the station you need to change at or is it completely new to you? Do you speak the local language? Are you travelling with heavy and cumbersome luggage? Are you travelling with children? Do you struggle to get around easily?

To be on the safe side, we strongly advise you to leave additional time in case the times suggested are too tight to guarantee that you will make your connection.

Of course, if you take a high-speed train then your ticket will generally be limited to the train you booked, the time of which will be stated on your ticket. However, if part of your journey is on an InterCity or conventional regional train, your ticket is generally valid on any train for the route in question. In this case, you are strongly advised to take an earlier train for the first part of your journey so that you don't miss your connection to your international train.

See the timetables for your journey >

For reasons of safety, children under 12 years of age are not allowed to travel alone on Thalys, Eurostar or TGV Brussels-France trains.

Most other rail companies do not apply any specific restrictions in this area. This means that children may travel alone on other trains providing this is authorised by law in the country concerned. In Belgium, for example, children can travel by themselves from 6 years old.

Therefore, you should find out what the law says in each country concerned.

In all circumstances, we recommend that children travelling without their parents carry a document from their local authority stating parental authorisation to travel.

Eurostar, TGV INOUI and Thalys

Eurostar, TGV INOUI and Thalys trains have, in 1^st class, one or more spaces for travelling without having to leave your wheelchair. These spaces are situated right next to spacious toilets accessible to passengers who are in a wheelchair. This type of space can be allocated on request (subject to availability).

Eurostar, Thalys and TGV INOUI offer a special fare allowing wheelchair users (and their companion) to travel in 1^st class at a 2^nd class fare.

On direct connections to and from Brussels-Midi with Eurostar and TGV INOUI (and soon with Thalys too), you can now book the wheelchair space on line, as well as the seat for an accompanying person.

ICE

ICE trains (Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt route) also have special spaces for wheelchairs. These are found in 2^nd class, close to toilets accessible to wheelchair users.

Spaces for wheelchairs and fares for passengers with reduced mobility and their companions, may be reserved (without any handling fee):

• online (direct connections to and from Brussels-Midi with Eurostar and TGV INOUI (and soon with Thalys too)
• by phone, calling +32 2 432 38 01, from 8h00 am to 8h00 pm (Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays: from 9h00 am to 4h30 pm)
• at the international ticket offices of our stations selling international tickets
• at travel agencies approved by SNCB International

Need assistance before, during or after the journey? >

1. Assistance when travelling to or from Belgium

For any request for assistance during an international journey to or from Belgium, please fill out our online request for assistance form or contact the SNCB information and telephone assistance centre on +32 2 528 28 28 (7 days a week, between 7.00 and 21.30 at least 48 hours before you start your journey).

If you would like confirmation of your request for assistance by text message, free of charge, tick this option when making your online booking (or let our operator know if you are booking your assistance by telephone).

On the day of travel, arrive at the agreed meeting point 30 minutes before departure of your international train (1 hour if you are travelling by Eurostar).

N.B.: if you are travelling in a wheelchair, your online request for assistance will only be processed if you have actually booked the special space for wheelchairs on the train.

Also read: assistance at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station for carrying luggage.

2. Assistance for journeys taken entirely abroad

Services to contact to request assistance abroad for journeys which do not start or arrive at a Belgian station: