Luggage rules on Europe's fast trains
Check the train and fare before packing. French OUIGO, Spanish OUIGO and Eurostar routes do not share one allowance.
Train luggage rules are easy to miss because there is usually no airport-style bag drop. That does not mean every suitcase is allowed. Check the operator, country, route and fare on your ticket before you pack.
Measure the bag as you will carry it, including wheels and handles. A soft bag that fits when empty may be too large once you have squeezed a coat into its front pocket.
A few allowances worth checking
These are the standard examples checked on 8 September 2026. Special items and upgraded fares can have different rules.
| Train | Ordinary included luggage |
|---|---|
| TGV INOUI | Two bags up to 70 × 90 × 50 cm each and one small bag up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm |
| OUIGO France Essentiel | One cabin bag up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm and one small bag up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm |
| Eurostar between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany | Two bags up to 75 × 53 × 30 cm and one hand bag |
| Italo Smart | Bags must stay within the Smart size limit of 75 × 53 × 30 cm |
Eurostar journeys to or from London use different luggage allowances. OUIGO Spain also has its own rules, so a French baggage page will not answer a Spanish booking question.
Buy extras before the platform
If your ticket needs an extra-bag option, add it through the operator before travelling. Check the total fare with that option included. A slightly dearer ticket with suitable luggage may cost less than a low headline fare plus extras.
Keep medicine, documents, money and your phone in a small bag with you. Put a name label on larger luggage where required, and use a label you can identify quickly among similar cases.
Board with enough time to find your carriage and a suitable rack. Large cases should not block doors, seats or the aisle. Keep checking your belongings at stops, especially if the rack is away from your seat.
If the bag already feels difficult to lift at home, reduce what is inside. Our one-bag packing guide helps you plan around laundry instead of carrying three weeks of clothes.
For time between the train and room access, use the hotel luggage-storage guide. It covers collection hours, bag size, fees and why early luggage drop is separate from early check-in.