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French train passengers limited to two large bags

France's national rail service has announced new rules that limit the number - and size - of suitcases and bags that passengers can take on board.

Published: 21 February 2024 17:04 CET

French train passengers limited to two large bags

A passenger walks with luggage past a TGV speed train on the platforms of Paris' Gare du Nord station. Photo by MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP

The French national rail service SNCF says that from now on passengers travelling on the high-speed TGV InOui services and the Intercité lines are limited to two large pieces of luggage per person.

Passengers will be able to take two large pieces of luggage with dimensions of up to 70cm x 90cm x 50 cm and one smaller piece such as a bag, laptop case or rucksack of up to 40cm x 30cm x 15cm.

A handbag or purse can also be carried, while items such as a baby buggy/stroller, a musical instrument or sports equipment such as skis or a snowboard do not count towards the luggage allowance.

READ ALSO What are the rules on taking your bike on a French train?

The new rule came into place on February 15th but there will be a grace period until September 15th when passengers will merely be reminded of the rules. After this, fines of €50 can be imposed.

Passengers on the TGV budget OuiGo lines already have limits on baggage – a standard ticket allows for one piece of luggage measuring up to 36cm x 27cm x 15cm and one piece no larger than 55cm x 35cm x 25cm. Passengers have the option to pay extra to increase their baggage allowance.

Meanwhile on the local TER services there is no baggage limit, although space for luggage storage on these trains can be limited and it is the responsibility of the passenger to ensure that all baggage is safely stowed and is not impeding other travellers.

The Eurostar has no baggage limit, other than the rule that passengers must be able to lift and carry their luggage themselves – although there are rules on what you can take with you, with bans on fireworks, knives and (depending on where you are going) certain food products.

READ ALSO What can I take on the Eurostar to and from France?

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Thunderstorms, floods and traffic: France’s last holiday weekend in May

Monday, May 20th is a holiday for most of France, marking the Christian festival of Pentecost, which means that many people will enjoy a three-day weekend.

This is the last of four public holidays in France in May 2024, now we need to wait until August for another extra day off work (since the Fête National on July 14th falls on a Sunday this year).

So what can we expect for the long weekend? Well, bad weather and heavy traffic, unfortunately.

The Moselle département, in north-east France, was placed on red weather alert on Friday after hours of heavy rain caused flash flooding.

The red weather alert initially runs until 9pm on Friday, with between 80mm and 100mm of rain expected, while between 70mm and 90mm are predicted in the far north of the neighbouring Bas-Rhin, with up to 70mm expected further south – figures national forecaster Météo-France said approached records for daily rainfall figures in the region.

Orange alerts in the area remain in place on Saturday.

Image: Météo-France

Rain and occasional storms, some bringing hail, are expected to develop across large parts of the country throughout the weekend, with only the Mediterranean areas likely to remain dry on Saturday.

Showers and sunny spells will continue into Sunday and Monday, with occasional thunderstorms in the south-west. Temperatures throughout the weekend should rise to between 15C and 22C.

To make family getaways on the final long weekend of the month even more difficult, roads watchdog Bison Futé predicts ‘difficult’, or ‘very difficult’ travel conditions on key routes across the country.

Image: Bison Fute

On Friday, traffic is expected to be heavy on routes heading away from major cities towards popular holiday destinations until well into the evening – especially on Paris’s Périphérique and the A86 and A6B, the A7, along the Mediterranean Arc and on the Atlantic seaboard (A11, N165 and A63).

The A13 is likely to remain closed to traffic between Paris and Vaucresson across the holiday weekend, so drivers from the Paris region wishing to reach Normandy are advised to take the A14, A15 or N12

On Saturday, May 18th, conditions on the roads will be difficult nationwide, particularly on roads serving the Mediterranean arc (A7 and A9) and the Atlantic coast (A63 and N165). In the Île-de-France region, traffic will be heavy from early morning onwards on the A6 and A10. From mid-morning onwards, traffic is expected to intensify significantly.

Image: Bison Fute

Routes converging on the A10 and A6 could also see traffic problems on Saturday, Bison Futé warned.

No major forecastable traffic problems are expected on Sunday – but, on Monday, May 20th, short breakers will be returning home, leading to heavy traffic across the country, notably on A7 and A9, in the Mediterranean region, and routes serving the west of the country.

Traffic will be heavy on the A10 and A6 in the Île-de-France region from late morning into the evening. The A13, which should be open, could also experience traffic problems from mid-afternoon onwards, and could continue to do so well into the evening.

Across the country banks and public administration offices will close. Some independent shops may close, while larger stores and chains are more likely to be open, but probably with altered opening hours.

Most bars, restaurants and cafés will remain open while public transport will run as normal.

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