Thanks Tim - and in response to recent issues with Scotrail refusing to carry skis, I have written to Stuart Younie (Mountaineering Scotland) and Scot Simon (Snowsports Scotland) who have said that "they will jointly be raising the issues with Scotrail and working with UK counterparts (BMC, Snowsports England etc) to support sustainable travel within the industry".
Good work. In other sustainable modes of transport, Megabus policy is: "You can bring your skis/snowboards, as long as they’re in suitable protective packaging and meet the requirements of our luggage policy* (size and weight). We don’t have any special racks for carrying skis/snowboards, so they’ll be carried in the hold of the coach - and will count towards your luggage allowance. If we agree to carry skis/snowboards on any one journey, it doesn’t mean that we’ll be able to carry it on your subsequent journeys...we only ask that it weighs no more than 20kg. It can’t be any bigger than a standard ‘large’ suitcase (75cm x 50cm x 32cm)" which is not encouraging. One wonders if anyone at Megabus has ever seen a ski. And if you get past the size restriction on the way out, they may refuse them on the way back.
Perhaps a letter to them would be helpful. I don't suppose they will ever get overwhelmed by skis in the UK and bus operators on the continent seem to manage when they are carrying mostly skiers. It seems an arbitrary rule addressing a nonexistent problem.
No problems today at St Pancras with a bag containing ice axes, crampons, rope, etc. etc. We had the Eurostar letter handy but did not need to use it.
Today at Gare du Nord we had to unpack our (shared) bag so that they could look at the axes. The security people checked with Eurostar who gave the all clear. Again, no need to show the Eurostar letter but it was reassuring to have it handy. It's worth allowing a bit of time at check in for this.
Just returning from Terry Ralphs’ excellent intro course in Leysin. Had to unpack bag completely at St Pancras a week ago but no real trouble once they saw what all the pointy things were. Today at Gare du Nord again pulled out with a focus on the ice axe. The bag scanner notified his boss who made me show him the axe and called HIS boss. While we were waiting I started showing him the letter but fortunately when the big boss arrived he said (in French) “it’s an ice axe! It’s on the list!” So all good but definitely expect to have to get stuff out and have the letter hand on phone or printed out. And of course being completely solid that it’s all already approved makes all the difference in the conversation. Thanks so much Declan and others for pursuing this and providing the clarity.
Unfortunately a negative Eurostar experience with an airbag canister today. Travelling London - Paris last week I was asked to show them the cartridge (Mammut, steel). The very helpful security assistant checked with her manager who immediately confirmed it was ok.
Travelling back Paris - London today I was asked to show the cartridge and immediately told it was totally forbidden. When I explained I had travelled out with it I was told the French had different rules. The junior Eurostar supervisor seemed to be suggesting the canister was dangerous to children because it contained something which would hoover up the oxygen in the carriage if it escaped. The customs official said it was clearly stated in the regulations and that I should have read them when I booked. I asked him to show me and he shrugged his shoulders. There’s nothing on the Eurostar website about them - the only reference to compressed air is in the context of air guns. Eventually a more senior manager (Gary) came over and explained that airbag cartridges are prohibited as the increased pressure in the tunnel makes them liable to explode like a grenade. I don’t follow the physics of that but he told me with some satisfaction that he had confiscated five last Saturday.
However he did tell me that just this once he would let me travel with it as I had come out with it, but that it would go on his daily report and should never happen again.
Gary was clearly indicating that air canisters are prohibited as a matter of Eurostar policy, but the justification he offered and the absence of any mention on the website makes me doubt it.
Thanks for report Freddy - French side Eurostar security seem to be extra officious and my A level physics doesnt square with "airbag cartridges are prohibited as the increased pressure in the tunnel makes them liable to explode like a grenade".
Glad that you stood your ground and won through, but I will formally write to Eurostar asking for clarification of travel with Avalanche airbags - and will report back.
Thanks Declan, much appreciated.
Regrettably reopening this ongoing Ice axes and Eurostar thread, but just a precautionary update to inform members travelling out by Eurostar for summer Alpinism.
Over the ski season, members have continued to be challenged on carriage of mountaineering equipment (ice axes) mainly when returning through Paris or Brussels terminals. In most cases, members have been able to negotiate carriage on production of the documentation from the March 2022 clarification. However, some members have been informed that this clarification is now no longer valid, and that Eurostar are currently working on a revised list of mountaineering equipment that can be carried on Eurostar. There has been no change on the Eurostar website and mountaineering equipment is not currently categorised as dangerous and restricted in carriage.
I wrote to Eurostar 26.04.24 to ask for clarification but so far have not received a reply. I have escalated the issue to Mountaineering Scotland and the BMC, who have formally written to Eurostar 29.05.24 requesting clarification and offering involvement in any review of carriage of mountaineering equipment.
So for now, I would still cautiously encourage members to "Go Greener" and travel to/from the Alps via Eurostar but would suggest that members carry copy of the March 2022 Eurostar clarification and in the absence of any change on the Eurostar website be prepared to argue your case, if stopped at French or Brussels terminals.
Will keep you posted.
Here again is the Eurostar March 2022 clarification:
https://www.eagleskiclub.org.uk/system/files/Eurostar%20Clarification%20e%20mail%2010.03.22.pdf
Thanks for all the work on this - very much appreciated. I am Hutting in September in Austria, travelling out & back by train, including Eurostar, so will update on my experience upon my return!
It’s been a few months since the topic of ice axes and Eurostar came up in forum discussions. Unfortunately, we’re still awaiting an update on the change of conditions for the transport of ice axes and crampons promised by Eurostar - apparently they are working on this. In late 2024, they did suggest that ice axes and crampons could be taken on trains if they were registered in advance. Mountaineering Scotland asked for clarification in November and things have moved slowly since then.
In the meantime, it would be useful to hear of good and bad stories of taking such equipment on to Eurostar trains this winter. At the very least, I can then make use of examples in any further discussions with Eurostar (and Mountaineering Scotland). I hope you can help! Many thanks.
We have just been stopped at Brussel’s eurostar and our ice axes confiscated.
On asking for a receipt they said we can send the bag in the oversized baggage service. Had to pay extra £50.
I have just been looking at the Eurostar website and it clearly says that “ice picks and cramps” should be registered. Looks like we wont get our money back.
It would be good if Eurostar could be consistent in this matter. Ive never had a problem at St Pancreas, Ive once had a comment in Paris.
Its ironic as we’ve travelled 2000miles from Norway with out going beserk or being checked.
I’ve just been informed by Eurostar that it is not possible to carry my ice axe and crampons on the train as they are classified as dangerous sports equipment. I wrote to them initially to register it, but it turns out that what they mean by registering is booking it onto their courier service, however they currently only offer that service on a few trains from Paris, whereas I am travelling from Amsterdam. They’ve told me that I have to get it sent by private courier instead.
Unfortunately, traveling with an Ice Axe is now very difficult indeed. As Elen says above, Eurostar now classifies ‘ice picks and cramps’ (sic) as dangerous sports equipment which must be booked and paid for separately. However, this service seems to be only available on trains between London and Paris, and even then it’s restricted to certain times as confirmed by an e-mail I received from Eurostar today:
Mountaineering equipment such as an ice axe is classified as a restricted item and cannot be carried with you on board Eurostar. It must be registered as luggage.
Your luggage containing the ice axe will be stored in a dedicated, locked compartment on the train you are travelling on, and it will be returned to you upon arrival.
Please note that luggage bookings on Eurostar are subject to availability and can only be made for specific London–Paris or Paris–London services. The luggage booking must match the train you are travelling on.
AVAILABLE TRAINS
London to Paris:
Any train departing London between 08:01 and 15:31
Paris to London:
Any train departing Paris between 11:03 and 18:13
Sigh! It’s hard to be green!
This is very disappointing. Quite apart from the timing restrictions (what’s the betting that those are the most expensive trains?), the cost of £35 each way for registered luggage is getting to the point where it would be cheaper to buy a new ice axe. Is there anything that ther Club and/or Mountaineering Scotland / the BMC can do to help? It is clearly a change in policy since the correspondence some years ago with Declan Phelan, discussed at the top of this thread.
There continues to be issues with the policy and practice of Eurostar relating to the carrying of ice axes and crampons. I am liaising with Mountaineering Scotland on this and they will be sending a letter to Eurostar to seek clarification. This letter will be on behalf of members of Mountaineering Scotland (including ESC), BMC, Mountaineering Ireland and the Alpine Club. I will forward the content of Sue’s post to Mountaineering Scotland as a further example of the issues. I will update club members when we have a response. In the meantime, could all members experiencing any similar issues with Eurostar please send me a brief description of these to me by email at: president@eagleskiclub.org.uk, or by adding further posts.
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I am currently making my way across Europe by train but without my ice axe, which was confiscated by Eurostar staff at St Pancras. I had no problems the last time I used Eurostar, two years ago, but still took the precaution of carrying a copy of the 2022 letter, to no avail. I visited the ESC website in order to print off the letter but missed any reference there to recent difficulties. Eurostar staff informed me that the rules had recently changed and that such equipment had to be registered in advance now. That can be done online or at the station but I couldn’t register it there and then for the train I was catching. They offered to put my ice axe on the next train but that would mean missing my onward connection. The axe will be lodged in their lost luggage office, which has restricted opening hours and so may or may not be open when I return in two weeks time. One member of staff mentioned that this rule also applied to crampons but fortunately these were not removed.
Something to add to the pot…
My ice axe had dislodged itself during my drive home so that the French security (private security) at the Port of Calais were confronted with it when I opened the boot of my car. In the discussion that followed they seemed to suggest that if the pointy end had been a bit pointier they would have confiscated it.