Bikes on trains
Take your bike with you and hop on a train!
You can travel with a bike on nearly all domestic long-distance and commuter trains. If you are travelling on an InterCity train, you must book a space for your bike in advance. On commuter trains, bikes can be transported free of charge in the designated spaces.
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Instructions for taking a bike on a train
Bikes are transported in the bike space. The bike space is marked in the carriages with stickers that can be found either next to the doors or as larger ones on the train windows.
- You can travel with a bike on InterCity and railcars as well as night trains and car-carrier trains. Bikes cannot be taken on Pendolino trains.
- The transport fee for a bike is €4,10-8,30, depending on the length of your journey. Please reserve a place for your bike when you’re buying your own train ticket as there is limited space for bikes onboard.
- For safety reasons, bikes may only be transported in specially marked bike spaces. Also, always make sure that your bike does not block walkways and that fellow passengers have free access to both the seating area and the doors.
- InterCity trains have two types of bike spaces. Some of the spaces have a hook for hanging bikes. The hook can be locked by using a 50 cent coin as a deposit. Other spaces do not have locking, but you can take your own lock with you and lock the bike to the coach’s bike stand.
- The most carefree way to travel with your bike is to buy a bike space at the same time as you buy your train ticket – this ensures that there will be room for your bike on the train. If you purchased your ticket while logged in to your VR account, you can edit your journey and add a bike space to your journey even after purchasing the ticket, if there is space on the train.
- A normal-sized bike fits in the bike space of an InterCity train.
- A fatbike only fits in the bike racks of the baggage car, unless the tyres are thinner than usual, in which case it can fit in the bike rack of coach number 1 of an IC train. An electric bike fits in the bike rack of coach number 1 or, depending on the size, in the bike rack of coach number 4 of an IC train. Bikes bigger than these can not be travelled with. Remember to turn off your vehicle for the duration of your journey.
- Please note that, due to the risk of battery fires, locking or attaching electric bikes and scooters to the train frame, as well as charging them on the train, is prohibited. It is recommended to remove the battery during the journey.
- On railcars, bikes are transported in the section where the wheelchair spaces are located. Bikes can be secured on the rail next to the wheelchair spaces. One railcar can fit two bikes.
- Bikes can be taken on commuter trains without a separate charge.
- Please use coaches marked for bikes. The entrances of these coaches have been marked with a bike sticker.
- Avoid travel with a bike during peak times. Bikes are allowed on commuter trains at all times if there is enough space. Trains are busiest on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- On HSL area trains (e.g., K, P and I trains), there are no separate bike tracks; bikes can be transported in the multi-purpose compartment with less seats. On these trains, you can lean your bike onto the railing, as long as you make sure that there is enough room for other passengers to move around the carriage and that your bike will surely remain upright when the train moves. On HSL trains, the multi-purpose compartment can be found in the middle of the carriage.
- You can also bring an electric bicycle on a commuter train. Remember to turn off your vehicle for the duration of your trip. Unfortunately, electric bicycles cannot be charged on the train.
- Bikes may not be locked to any part of the train.
- Please take other passengers into consideration. Remember to give space to those travelling with a wheelchair or a pram and make sure that you are not blocking the aisle.
- Do not leave your bike unattended.
- Walk your bike at stations.
- On night trains and car-carriers, bikes can be transported in a bike space (which must be reserved separately), for which the transport fee is EUR 4.10-8.30, depending on the length of the journey.
- Several night trains have a separate baggage car with 8 bicycle spaces.
- On a car-carrier, you can also attach the bike to your car’s bike rack or trailer hitch rack. In this case, there is no separate fee for the bike. In that case, be sure to reserve a car space long enough to cover both the dimensions of the car and the dimensions of the bike rack. The normal 5-metre car space might not be enough, so be sure to measure your load accurately. If a 5-metre space is not enough, you can reserve a longer car space that is 10 metres long at most.
If your train trip has been replaced by a bus, you can take a bike with you under your own responsibility if there is space in the luggage compartment of the bus. Transporting a bike on a track work bus is free of charge. Please note that you cannot reserve a place for your bike in advance. If there is no room for your bike on the track work bus, you can travel on the next departure with your original ticket.
Buying a bike space only
If you have a season ticket or a multi-ticket, you can add a bike on your trip while booking your seat or trip in the VR Matkalla app.
You can add a bike space to your journey even after purchasing the ticket, if you purchased your ticket while logged in to your VR account.
Scooters and electric scooters on trains
Scooters can be taken on a train free of charge. If the scooter is large or not collapsible, you must pay the bike transport fee and book a space for it. Unfortunately, there is no room for scooters with a seat on the train.
Maximum bike sizes
See what type and size of bike or scooter can be taken on trains.
Bike:
- Maximum dimensions: 185 cm x 60 cm x 110 cm
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
Bikes can be transported on InterCity trains in the bike spaces of coach number 1 or coach number 4 for a surcharge. On commuter trains, bikes can be transported free of charge in coaches marked for bikes.
Folding bike:
- Maximum dimensions: 80 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
Folding bikes that fit in a small space can be transported for free as ordinary luggage on all commuter and long-distance trains. Please note that the folding bike must be folded and packed in a bag so it will not make other passengers’ luggage dirty.
Very large folding bikes will not fit in the overhead racks or luggage lockers of long-distance trains. Large folding bikes can be transported in a paid bike space like an ordinary bike.
Electric bike:
- Maximum dimensions: 185 cm x 60 cm x 110 cm
- Maximum weight: 30 kg
Electric bikes can be transported in coach number 1 or, depending on the size, in the bike rack of coach number 4 of an IC train. In coach number 4, the bike is lifted up onto the bike rack. Please do not charge the battery on the train.
Fatbike:
- Maximum dimensions: 185 cm x 60 cm x 110 cm
- Maximum weight: 30 kg
Fatbike tyres only fit in the bike racks of the baggage car. If your fatbike has thinner tyres than usual, it may also fit in the bike rack of coach number 1 of an InterCity train.
Scooters
- Maximum dimensions: 80 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
Electric scooters:
- Maximum dimensions: 80 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
Small or foldable scooters can be taken on trains free of charge as hand luggage. If the scooter is large and cannot be folded, a paid bike space must be booked for it. For safety reasons, please do not place the scooter in the overhead rack. Please do not attach the electric scooter to the train or the train's furniture, or charge the battery on the train.
Empty bike trailers:
- Maximum dimensions: 110 cm x 90 cm x 100 cm (without a pushbar or towbar)
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
Bike trailers can only be transported in the baggage car on InterCity trains.
Bike travel bags:
- Maximum dimensions: 145 cm x 45 cm x 85 cm.
Bikes can be transported in a travel bag in the baggage car on InterCity trains if it does not exceed the maximum size. The travel bag must be secured on the rack with the Velcro fastener.
Segways:
- Maximum dimensions: 185 cm x 60 cm x 110 cm
- Maximum weight: 20 kg
Segways are transported on trains like bikes, and a paid bike space must be booked for them in advance.
Unfortunately, there is no room on trains for:
- box bikes
- tricycles
- electric scooters
- cargo bikes
- electric scooters with a seat
- tandem bikes
Taking a bike on a track work bus
If your train trip has been replaced by a bus, you can take a bike with you under your own responsibility if there is space on the bus. Transporting a bike on a track work bus is free of charge.
Prepare in time
Station platforms are divided into A, B, C or D zones. Platform displays show where your train and carriage will arrive. Go to the correct zone in advance to make boarding the train with a bike quicker.