ÖBB allows passengers to bring luggage on board for free, provided each piece does not exceed 90 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm. There is no published weight limit for on-board luggage, and no charge per kg. For oversized or extra items, ÖBB’s door-to-door luggage service starts from €24.90 per piece within Austria.

Planning a trip on Austria’s national rail network? Getting your luggage right before you board makes the difference between a smooth journey and a stressful one. ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen) carries millions of passengers each year across its domestic and international routes, and its luggage policy is notably more relaxed than flying but there are still rules worth knowing.

What Are the ÖBB Luggage Allowance Rules?

ÖBB permits passengers to carry luggage on board free of charge on all train services, regardless of ticket type (standard or first class). Each piece of luggage must fit within the maximum dimensions of 90 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm and must be stored in the overhead racks, beneath your seat, or in designated hand luggage areas. ÖBB does not publish a specific weight limit for on-board luggage, but you are responsible for lifting and stowing your own bags.

How Big of a Suitcase Can I Bring on an ÖBB Train?

The maximum suitcase size allowed on board an ÖBB train is 90 cm x 60 cm x 40 cm per piece. This equates roughly to a large (29-inch) checked suitcase so standard travel luggage fits within the rules. The key constraint is not so much the policy itself, but available physical space on board.

To put it practically: a typical 77 cm rolling suitcase fits well within the limit. A large family-sized suitcase measuring 80 x 55 x 30 cm also qualifies. What will not fit and should not be brought on board is oversized sporting equipment, surfboards, or anything with combined dimensions that makes stowing in overhead racks impossible.

What Is the ÖBB Luggage Weight Limit?

ÖBB does not publish a specific kilogram weight limit for luggage carried on board its trains. Unlike airlines, ÖBB relies on a practical expectation: you must be able to lift and stow your own bags safely. There is no charge per kg for on-board luggage.

For ÖBB’s door-to-door luggage service, however, a strict weight cap applies: each piece must not exceed 30 kg, and the combined length and girth must not exceed 300 cm (calculated as: length + 2 x width + 2 x height). Pieces exceeding this cannot be accepted for shipping.

How Much Luggage Space Is Available on ÖBB Trains?

Luggage space on ÖBB trains varies by train type. Regional trains typically offer overhead racks and designated multi-purpose areas near carriage doors. Long-distance Railjet trains feature overhead racks, under-seat space, and a dedicated bicycle compartment in second class.

On ÖBB Nightjet overnight trains, each couchette compartment includes space beneath the beds for bags. In the newer-generation mini-cabin format, a locker approximately 58 x 46 x 27 cm is available beside each cabin for a cabin-sized bag.

Practical tip: On busy routes particularly Vienna to Salzburg or Innsbruck overhead racks fill up quickly. Traveling with a bag that fits under your seat gives you far more flexibility at peak times.

What Is the Charge Per kg for Luggage on an ÖBB Train?

ÖBB charges no per-kilogram fee for luggage carried on board its trains. On-board luggage is entirely free, provided it meets the 90 x 60 x 40 cm size limit. The door-to-door luggage service uses flat-rate pricing per piece, not per kilogram so there is no per-kg cost for that service either.

This is one area where rail travel clearly beats flying. On most European airlines, a 23 kg checked bag costs €30–€50 each way. On ÖBB, the equivalent bag travels free beside you on the train.

What Is the ÖBB Luggage Service (Door-to-Door)?

ÖBB’s door-to-door luggage service (Haus-Haus-Gepäck) collects your bags from any address and delivers them to your destination within Austria, South Tyrol (Italy), and mainland Germany including the islands of Usedom and Rügen. It must be booked in conjunction with a valid ÖBB ticket, at least 3 working days before collection, either by calling 05-1717 or visiting an ÖBB ticket counter.

How Much Does the ÖBB Luggage Service Cost?

Timeslot surcharges (booked separately per collection or delivery):

*Evening and Saturday services are available only in major metropolitan areas: Vienna, Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Klagenfurt/Villach, and Innsbruck.

Key service details:

• Liability: Up to €800 per piece
• Delivery within Austria: Next working day
• Delivery to Germany/South Tyrol: 3 working days
• Cancellation: Up to 3 working days before collection
• Money-back guarantee if ÖBB fails to meet the agreed timeslot

What Are the ÖBB Rules for Bags on Trains?

ÖBB’s core rules for bags on trains are straightforward: luggage must not exceed 90 x 60 x 40 cm, must be stowed safely in racks or designated areas, and must not obstruct aisles or emergency exits. Passengers are responsible for their own baggage at all times.

Prohibited items under ÖBB’s carriage rules include:

• Firearms and items covered by Austrian dangerous goods legislation
• Hazardous, flammable, or corrosive substances
• Items that by their nature do not serve a travel purpose
• Surfboards, canoes (these cannot be accepted by the door-to-door service either)

What Are the ÖBB Train Luggage Storage Options?

ÖBB does not operate its own luggage storage lockers within stations, but self-service luggage lockers are available at major Austrian stations including Vienna Hauptbahnhof, Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, and Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof through third-party providers. Sizes and pricing vary by location.

For travelers who need their luggage to arrive separately from them such as skiers flying into Vienna and heading to Innsbruck the ÖBB door-to-door service is the most practical solution, with bags delivered directly to your accommodation from €24.90.

What Are ÖBB’s Rules for Special Items?

Bicycles

ÖBB’s bicycle policy covers several scenarios:

• Folded folding bike (max 90 x 60 x 40 cm): Free on all trains, no reservation needed
• Larger folding bike (up to 110 x 80 x 40 cm): Free on local trains and Railjet in luggage compartments
• Regular bike: Fee applies (approx. 10% of standard fare for international routes); reservation required on Railjet
• E-bike: Treated the same as a regular bike; battery must be fully charged (no on-board charging available)
• Special bikes (tandems, recumbents, over 185 cm long, over 110 cm high, or over 30 kg): Special luggage compartments only book by phone at 05-1717 or at a ticket counter
• Group bike travel: The Einfach-Raus Bike Ticket covers 2–5 people plus bikes from €46 flat rate for one day on regional trains; each additional person costs €4

For groups where train space is limited, ÖBB recommends using the door-to-door luggage service to ship bikes from €41.90.

Pets

• Small animals in containers: Free on all trains
• Dogs too large for a container: Pet fare required; contact ÖBB at 05-1717 for ticketing
• Assistance dogs (with disability certificate): Free, no muzzle required
• Nightjet trains: Dogs are only permitted if the entire compartment is reserved

Mobility Aids and Strollers

Wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and folded strollers can be brought aboard ÖBB trains. Strollers are also accepted under the door-to-door special luggage category (€34.20 within Austria). Travelers with a disability certificate receive a 50% fare discount across all ÖBB domestic services.

What Happens If Your Luggage Is Lost or Damaged on ÖBB?

For luggage sent via the ÖBB door-to-door service, liability is capped at €800 per piece. Note that unpacked bicycles are excluded from liability bikes must be securely packed with all attachments (baskets, mirrors) removed before handover.

Under EU Rail Passenger Rights Regulation (Regulation 1371/2007), passengers may also be entitled to compensation for lost or damaged registered baggage of up to €1,200 per piece in certain circumstances.

If ÖBB misses a booked collection or delivery timeslot, you are entitled to a full refund of all door-to-door fees paid for that journey direction. Contact ÖBB customer service at 0043 5 1717 or via the online contact form to initiate a claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a luggage weight limit on ÖBB trains?
ÖBB does not publish a weight limit for luggage carried on board. You must be able to lift and stow your bags yourself. For the door-to-door service, the limit is 30 kg per piece.

Can I bring two suitcases on an ÖBB train for free?
Yes. ÖBB does not limit the number of bags you can bring on board, provided each fits within 90 x 60 x 40 cm and can be stowed safely in the overhead racks, beneath your seat, or in designated luggage areas.

Does ÖBB charge per kg for checked luggage?
No. ÖBB uses flat-rate pricing, not per-kg charges. On-board luggage is free. The door-to-door service costs from €24.90 per piece within Austria, regardless of weight (up to the 30 kg maximum).

Can I take a 29-inch suitcase on an ÖBB train?
A standard 29-inch suitcase (typically around 77 x 53 x 30 cm) falls within ÖBB’s 90 x 60 x 40 cm limit and can be brought on board for free. If the suitcase exceeds this, the door-to-door service is the recommended alternative.

How do I book the ÖBB door-to-door luggage service?
Book at least 3 working days before your preferred collection date by calling ÖBB at 05-1717 or visiting an ÖBB ticket counter. The service requires a valid ÖBB train ticket and can be cancelled up to 3 working days before collection.

Can I take a folding bike on an ÖBB train for free?
Yes. A folded folding bike measuring up to 90 x 60 x 40 cm travels free on all ÖBB trains without reservation. Larger folding bikes (up to 110 x 80 x 40 cm) are also free on local trains and Railjet services in designated luggage compartments.

Are pets allowed on ÖBB trains?
Small animals in appropriate closed containers travel free. Larger dogs require a pet fare contact ÖBB at 05-1717. Assistance dogs travel free with no muzzle requirement. On Nightjet overnight trains, dogs are only permitted if you reserve an entire compartment.

What luggage is not accepted by the ÖBB door-to-door service?
ÖBB will not accept pieces over 30 kg or with a combined length and girth exceeding 300 cm. Prohibited items include surfboards, canoes, musical instruments, animals, firearms, and items covered by Austrian dangerous goods legislation.

What compensation can I claim if ÖBB loses my luggage?
For items sent via ÖBB’s door-to-door service, liability is up to €800 per piece. Under EU Regulation 1371/2007, passengers may claim up to €1,200 per piece for registered baggage in eligible cases. Contact ÖBB customer service at 0043 5 1717 to file a claim.

Can I bring a musical instrument on an ÖBB train?
Small instruments that fit within 90 x 60 x 40 cm and can be stowed safely in the overhead rack or under your seat are permitted on board. Larger instruments cannot be sent via ÖBB’s door-to-door service and would need to be transported by other means.