France iDTGV baggage surcharge?
 

When making an iDTGV on-line purchase, there is an option to add a baggage surcharge. Is that only for "checked" baggage that goes in a separate storage area of the train, or is that a charge to carry a suitcase on with you? Also, does the same situation apply to regular TGV tickets?

About baggage - From the SNCF site (in French only):
http://aide.voyages-sncf.com/toute-l...0vos%20bagages

No mention of supplement for bags on TGV trains.
For iDTGV trains, you are allowed 2 bags plus a personal item. In excess of that, a €35 per bag charge applies, with a limit to 2 excess bags.

I don't think I've ever been on an iDTGV, but checking the website, it says that you need to pay 35€ if you're taking more than 2 bags per passenger (basically one "hand luggage" including small suitcases, backpacks etc., and one suitcase up to 50x50x50 cm. Full details below in French). More than that and you have to pay.

There is a TGV service which allows you to have your suitcase delivered to your home (hotel, whatever) but other than that I've never come across any luggage check or restrictions on the TGV. The link below just says you should be able to carry and stow your bags easily yourself.

http://aide.voyages-sncf.com/toute-l...de-vos-bagages


Pour vos voyages IDTGV :
Vous pouvez transporter gratuitement:
- deux bagages à main (valises, sacs à dos, sacs de voyages) par Voyageur
- un bagage à main et un objet par Voyageur (une poussette d'enfant, un fauteuil roulant, une bicyclette dont les roues démontées sont rangées ensemble dans une housse spéciale de 1,20 x 0,90m maximum, une planche nautique rangée dans une housse de 1,20m x 0,90m au maximum, une paire de skis, un monoski ou un snowboard, un sac contenant un animal domestique « de petite taille »)
- un bagage à main par Voyageur et un bagage 50cm x 50cm x 50cm
- un bagage à main par Voyageur et un instrument de musique.
Si vous emportez plus de deux bagages, il vous faudra payer un supplément de 35 € par bagage (sur le site iDTGV dans "Mes options de voyage"), dans la limite de 2 bagages supplémentaires par personne.
Si vous n'avez pas payé ce supplément lors de votre réservation, la régularisation vous coûtera 45 € à bord.

In taking IDTGV, it was no different than taking the regular TGV. No one ever noticed or seemed to care how much luggage you brought on board. The cars were the same with luggage racks at one end.....don't know how they would know whose luggage was in the rack or how many pieces belonged to one person.

There is never any charge for any baggage that you carry yourself.

We were just in Provence and took the TGV from Avignon to Paris.

While waiting for the train we saw a large sign near the exit to the track that indicated a maximum of two bags per person.

It also said something about an extra charge for more. I think it might have been 35E. Don't remember exactly.

Travelling by train we really didn't pack the same as for a plane. We scrambled and squeezed stuff inside and got down to two per.

Just before the train arrived we noticed a train employee at each exit to the track. Was he looking for people with more than two bags? I don't know.

Thank you all. The two of us will be traveling with a total of two suitcases, airplane carry-on size) and two briefcase-type things, so I think we are ok.

I can imagine a certain amount of "enforcement" at CDG because a lot of those trains are also operating with airline flight numbers. We all know how airlines like to collect for extra baggage, so this would be a new revenue cow for them since they are sharing receipts with the SNCF.