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Trekking poles on trains

Humbertico

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Plan 2018
I am fully awarding of homeland security on not allowing sharp objects like trekking pole in cabin and this is why I am packing my separately and sending with luggage. My question is will there be issues with trains. We are going from Paris to Lourdes to Bayonne then SJPDP.

Gracias,
Humbertico
 
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Perhaps on TGV international trains such as the Eurostar between Paris and London or the Thalys between Paris and Brussels/Amsterdam there might be a problem with hiking poles.
For what you can NOT take on board see
https://help.eurostar.com/faq/be-en/question/Is-there-anything-I-can-t-take-on-Eurostar.
https://www.nsinternational.nl/en/travel-with-thalys/on-board-of-thalys/thalys-luggage-policy

However on slower local trains to Lourdes or Bayonne etc there should be no problem.
For more info see
https://en.oui.sncf/en/help-en/transport-luggage

For years on French trains I have carried unfolded hiking poles without any problem placing them on the floor beneath the seat or below the sleeper berth.

Good luck and Buen camino!
 
Last edited:
Just pack them inside your bag - no one is going to inspect luggage getting on a train (except for the Chunnel)
 
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lissie45 said:
Just pack them inside your bag - no one is going to inspect luggage getting on a train (except for the Chunnel)
Click to expand...
They inspected luggage on Chamartin last autumn. I had my poles in my backpack and there was no problem.
 
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lissie45 said:
Just pack them inside your bag - no one is going to inspect luggage getting on a train (except for the Chunnel)
Click to expand...
In Spain sometimes Renfe is checking luggage. More or less for AVE trains. Happened to me this year in Leon (on the way to Madrid) when we all had to go through the scanning. But I guess the rules are not as strict as for airplanes.
 
lissie45 said:
Just pack them inside your bag - no one is going to inspect luggage getting on a train (except for the Chunnel)
Click to expand...
I've had luggage inspected by xray machine in Barcelona and Madrid train stations. But hiking poles are not banned from trains. I think that they are looking for more dangerous items like guns and explosives.
 
Altus 24 Liters daypack (DENON 24 H30)
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
My backpack went through a scan when I was taking the TGV high speed train from Madrid to Seville last fall. I had a knife, for food preparation, in my pack. But the man supervising the scanning machine did not look at it while my pack was going through. He was too preoccupied with making me take my shirt off. It being a long-sleeved shirt and not buttoned over my t-shirt, he classified it as a jacket, which must be scanned. I simply followed instructions, but was prepared to have to buy another knife in Seville. Otherwise, I have never experienced any luggage screening in taking trains in France or Spain.
 
I have never had trekking poles issues on either carry on for planes or ever on trains.
 
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tomnorth said:
I made no attempt to hide mine in 2015 and had no issues on the train from Santiago to Madrid.
Click to expand...
Same here. TBH, never gave it a second thought for trains until I read the question.

We did put ours in a FedEx box and checked them in for the flight from US to Spain. Return trip found them shrink wrapped along with the back packs - they looked like Turkeys ready to go into a pan!

We were questioned entering US if they were food and they x-rayed again to make sure
 
Our luggage was screened this September. The bag had two sets of poles in it. No problemo!
 
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