Traveling on OUIGO France is an affordable way to cross the country by rail, but the service operates on a strict low-cost model. Every passenger must follow exact baggage limits, carry their own luggage on board, and pay extra for larger bags. Understanding the specific allowances for OUIGO Grande Vitesse and OUIGO Train Classique ensures a smooth journey without last-minute penalty fees at the platform gates.
OUIGO France tickets include two free bags per passenger: one small personal hand luggage item (up to 36 × 27 × 15 cm) and one cabin bag (up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm). Alternatively, passengers may bring two small hand luggage items. OUIGO trains do not have checked baggage holds. Any extra or oversized bag (up to 130 cm and 30 kg) requires a paid baggage option costing €5 at booking, €10 online later, or €20 at the station platform.
Baggage Allowance Snapshot
Every standard OUIGO France ticket includes one personal item and one cabin bag at no extra charge. Any larger suitcase, extra parcel, or sports bag requires a paid add-on before boarding.
What can change: Fees increase depending on when you purchase your baggage option. Bicycle availability depends strictly on train type (Grande Vitesse vs. Train Classique).
Baggage Size Visual
Use the train operator's stated dimensions. Hand luggage must slide completely under your seat, and cabin luggage must fit into overhead shelving.
Hand Luggage / Personal Item
Published limit: 36 × 27 × 15 cm
Included on all standard adult and child tickets
Cabin Bag
Published limit: 55 × 35 × 25 cm
Must include handles and wheels
Visual guide - not to scale. Use the published numerical limit as the controlling rule.
Official Source Verification
Baggage rules can vary by route, train type, and purchase channel. BaggageBase separates published rules from practical guidance.
How BaggageBase Checks This Information
Train networks operate differently from airlines. Passenger trains do not have separate cargo holds or baggage drop counters where bags are weighed and checked into the belly of the vehicle. Every passenger carries their own bags directly onto the train and places them into carriage racks.
At BaggageBase, we rely on official conditions of carriage, operator booking rules, and train operating circulars issued by SNCF Voyageurs. We verify size measurements, platform gate boarding procedures, and extra baggage pricing structures across all booking channels.
Included Luggage Allowance (Free per Ticket)
Every standard OUIGO ticket includes a specific luggage allowance designed to maximize passenger space inside high-density carriages.
The Standard Free Allocation
Each passenger holding a standard adult or child ticket can bring:
- One Hand Luggage / Personal Item: Maximum dimensions of 36 × 27 × 15 cm. This piece is intended for items like a handbag, small daily backpack, or laptop sleeve. It must fit under the seat directly in front of you.
- One Cabin Bag: Maximum dimensions of 55 × 35 × 25 cm. This piece covers standard rolling cabin cases and duffel bags. Dimensions must include wheels, pockets, and handles.
If you do not have a cabin rolling suitcase, OUIGO allows you to carry two hand luggage items instead, as long as neither bag exceeds the 36 × 27 × 15 cm limit.
Weight Limits for Free Luggage
OUIGO does not publish a specific kilogram cap on free cabin bags. However, a strict operational rule applies: you must be able to handle and lift all your baggage independently. Train conductors and station boarding agents do not load luggage for you. If a bag is so heavy that you cannot lift it safely into an overhead rack, it can be refused.
Mandatory Identification Tags
French transport security regulations require that every piece of luggage traveling on the rail network must have an exterior identification tag. The tag must clearly display your full legal name and phone number. Security teams treat unlabelled bags as abandoned items, which can trigger security alerts, station evacuations, and heavy fines.
Additional & XL Luggage Options
If your luggage exceeds 55 × 35 × 25 cm, or if you need to travel with more than two items, you must buy an extra baggage option (Option Bagage supplémentaire ou XL).
Permitted Dimensions and Weight for Extra Bags
A paid XL or additional bag must meet these limits:
- Maximum length: 130 cm.
- Total dimensions: Sum of length + width + depth must not exceed 200 cm (2 meters).
- Maximum weight: 30 kg per piece.
This category includes full-size suitcases, large camping packs, musical instruments in hard cases, and packaged folding scooters.
Pricing Schedule and Booking Channels
The cost of an extra or XL bag depends entirely on when you add it to your booking:
- At initial ticket booking: €5 per piece, per journey.
- After booking (online before departure): €10 per piece, per journey.
- At the station platform / during boarding checks: €20 per piece, per journey.
Passengers who purchase the OUIGO PLUS bundle receive one extra/XL luggage piece included in their ticket, along with seat choice and priority station access.
| Luggage Category | Allowed Dimensions | Weight Limit | Fee at Booking | Fee Online Later | Fee at Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Item | Max 36 × 27 × 15 cm | Must carry self | Included (€0) | Included (€0) | Included (€0) |
| Cabin Suitcase | Max 55 × 35 × 25 cm | Must carry self | Included (€0) | Included (€0) | Included (€0) |
| Extra / XL Bag | Max 130 cm / 2m total | Max 30 kg | €5 | €10 | €20 |
| Additional Standard Bag | Max 55 × 35 × 25 cm | Max 30 kg | €5 | €10 | €20 |
Bicycle and Sports Equipment Regulations
Taking sports equipment or bicycles on OUIGO depends heavily on whether you are boarding a high-speed OUIGO Grande Vitesse train or a conventional OUIGO Train Classique service.
Bicycles on OUIGO Grande Vitesse (TGV)
- Assembled / Standard Bikes: Strictly prohibited. High-speed OUIGO trains have no dedicated bicycle hanging hooks or open bike racks.
- Folded or Disassembled Bikes: Allowed on all routes if dismantled and placed inside a protective bike cover (housse). The cover must measure no more than 130 × 90 cm. You must book this as an extra baggage option (€5 at ticket purchase).
Bicycles on OUIGO Train Classique
- Folded or Disassembled Bikes: Allowed under the same terms as high-speed trains (packed inside a 130 × 90 cm cover with a paid extra bag option).
- Assembled Bikes: Allowed on select Train Classique routes that feature dedicated bike spaces. You must reserve a bike slot in advance for €10. These slots are limited and often sell out early. You cannot board with an unreserved, assembled bike.
Scooters, Skis, and Other Sports Gear
- Scooters (Manual and Electric): Allowed if folded and packed inside a carrying bag. Because folded scooters usually exceed 55 cm in length, they require a paid extra baggage option.
- Skis and Snowboards: Permitted in a protective travel sleeve. One ski sleeve (containing one pair of skis and poles, or one snowboard) counts as one XL baggage piece and requires the paid option.
Traveling with Children: Strollers and Infant Gear
OUIGO offers practical allowances for families traveling with young children:
- Stroller Allocation: Up to two strollers or pushchairs are transported free of charge per booking when traveling with infants or young children.
- Folding Rules: All strollers must be folded completely before passing the platform check-in gate. They must remain folded for the entire trip.
- Stowage: Compact travel strollers (such as cabin-foldable models) can be stored in overhead racks. Standard folded pushchairs must go into the large luggage towers near the carriage doors.
- Children's Baggage Allowance: Every child traveling on a paid child ticket receives the standard baggage allowance: one personal item (36 × 27 × 15 cm) and one cabin bag (55 × 35 × 25 cm).
Station Procedures and Platform Boarding Rules
Boarding a OUIGO train involves access controls that resemble an airport gate check rather than an open train station.
The 30-Minute Rule
Passengers must arrive at the boarding access area at least 30 minutes before departure. Boarding gate access closes strictly 5 minutes before the train departs. If you arrive after the 5-minute cutoff, agents will turn you away, even if the train is still standing at the platform.
Platform Sizing and Ticket Inspections
At the platform entrance, OUIGO staff scan tickets and check baggage counts visually and with physical sizers. If you have an unpaid extra bag or your cabin bag exceeds 55 × 35 × 25 cm, the agent will charge the €20 platform regularisation fee per unauthorized item before allowing you onto the platform.
On-Board Storage Architecture
OUIGO carriages are arranged to maximize seating, so baggage storage areas are clearly designated:
- Under Your Seat: This space is strictly for small personal items (max 36 × 27 × 15 cm). Keeping small bags under your seat leaves overhead bins free for cabin suitcases.
- Overhead Racks: Longitudinal racks run above seat rows and hold standard cabin suitcases (max 55 × 35 × 25 cm).
- Carriage Vestibule Towers: Large metal shelving units sit near the entry doors of each carriage. These shelves are reserved for paid XL suitcases, folded pushchairs, and packed sports gear.
- Prohibited Areas: Luggage must never block the aisles, sit on empty seats, or obstruct vestibule exit doors. Train conductors will move or fine owners of unsecured luggage blocking safety routes.
Lost, Delayed, or Left Baggage
Because OUIGO trains operate quick turnaround schedules, unattended luggage left on board is handed over to the destination station:
- Carriage Inspection: At the final terminal, cleaning teams collect items left behind and transfer them to the station's central SNCF Lost Property office (Bureau des Objets Trouvés).
- Submitting a Claim: If you leave an item on the train, register a report online through the official SNCF lost property portal.
- Item Recovery: You will need to show a valid photo ID and pay an administrative retrieval fee (usually between €5 and €10) when collecting your property from the station office. Labeled bags with external name tags are matched much faster.
OUIGO Rail Baggage Checklist
Use this pre-travel checklist before heading to your departure station in France.
- Measure all bags at home. Ensure your personal item fits within 36 × 27 × 15 cm and your cabin bag does not exceed 55 × 35 × 25 cm with wheels.
- Add XL baggage online in advance. Paying €5 or €10 online saves you from paying the €20 fee at the boarding gate.
- Attach visible name tags to every bag. French rail security rules require your first and last name on every piece of luggage.
- Check your bicycle type and train service. Assembled bikes are banned on OUIGO Grande Vitesse and require a €10 reservation on Train Classique.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Platform check-in gates close firmly 5 minutes before train departure.
- Keep essential items in your under-seat bag. Store tickets, identity documents, electronics, and medicine in your personal item so they remain within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bags can I take on OUIGO France for free?
Every passenger ticket includes two bags for free: one personal item (up to 36 × 27 × 15 cm) and one cabin bag (up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm). You can also choose to bring two small personal items instead of a cabin suitcase.
Can I bring a large suitcase on OUIGO?
Yes, but you must purchase an extra or XL luggage option. The XL bag option allows one piece up to 130 cm in length and up to 30 kg. It costs €5 when purchased during ticket booking, €10 online later, or €20 at the station.
Does OUIGO weigh bags on the platform?
Boarding agents do not routinely weigh cabin luggage, but they strictly enforce dimension rules with bag sizers. You must be able to lift and carry your own luggage onto the train and into the racks without staff assistance.
Are baby strollers free on OUIGO trains?
Yes, up to two strollers or pushchairs can be brought free of charge per booking when traveling with a child. Strollers must be folded before boarding and stored in luggage racks.
Can I bring a bicycle on OUIGO Grande Vitesse?
Only folded or disassembled bicycles packed inside a protective cover (max 130 × 90 cm) are allowed on OUIGO Grande Vitesse. You must purchase an extra baggage option (€5 at booking) for the cover. Fully assembled bikes are not permitted.
Can I bring an assembled bicycle on OUIGO Train Classique?
Yes, OUIGO Train Classique services have dedicated spaces for assembled bicycles on select routes. You must reserve this space in advance for €10 per trip.
What happens if my bag is too big at the station?
If your bag exceeds the included cabin dimensions and was not pre-booked, boarding staff will charge a €20 regularisation fee per non-compliant bag at the gate.
Is luggage labeling mandatory on OUIGO?
Yes, French rail safety regulations require that every piece of luggage on board must carry an exterior label showing the passenger's full name.
Baggage rules can vary by route, train service, and booking option. The operating transport company's official terms of carriage always prevail over third-party summaries.
