UKC

I'm planning a trip in the summer which will involve london-paris eurostar, unfortunately I've seen lots of conflicting information about taking an Ice Axe on the eurostar and the policy documents are pretty vague about what is/isn't allowed. Wondering if anyone have any recent experience with this on the london-paris route? 

I've seen the letter from 2022 saying they were allowed, but worried this is a bit out of date now. 

My most recent trip was 2023 and it was fine, took a printed copy of the letter with me but didn't need to show it at either St Pancras or Gare du Nord. I contacted customer services beforehand to check and would recommend doing the same

And don't go through Belgium...their security have different 'rules' it would appear.

Hi, thanks for the info. Did you get an answer from customer services saying you could take axe/crampons? I got an answer suggesting they were dangerous sporting equipment, but couldn't find any mention of axe/crampons in the list of equipment given on the website or their policy documents. 

If you're walking to the base of rock or just snow plodding (rather than mixed or ice climbing) - and for short trip, you might be able to make do hiring a classic  mountaineering ice axe out there. Just throwing it in the mix in case relevant. (You didn't say what you were up to in the original post) . 

Point to point route so returning it would be a bit of a pain

Went to Switzerland by Eurostar & TGV last summer, absolutely no problem with axes & crampons going out. Coming back, at the Paris Eurostar terminal they asked me about my rope knife after seeing it on the x-ray & the chap demanded to take a look to check the blade was in limits. It was ok but this extra delay caused us to have to get the next train an hour later. Somehow it had taken us nearly 1.5 hours to get from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord on the underground!

I'v travelled on the Eurostar Lon Par with axe and crampons at least once a year for the past 4 or 5 years. Never had an issue. 

There was a wee bit of a palarver a few years ago due to the vauge and stupid policy wording. And there was a letter from ES to the BMC which stated mountaineering gear was ok, or something like that. It was on the BMC website, hopefully still is. We took a copy to wave at any over enthusiastic security, but have never needed to.

ES don't allow locking knives of any length. (Lost an opinel, sigh). 

For Par GdN to GdL you'll want about an hr to be safe, it takes longer than you think to get off the ES and walk through the station.

Thanks, that'd good to hear! I've got a long transfer in Paris (like 3 hours) so I'll be fine if there is any faff

Great thanks! I've seen some letters about this (2013 and 2022) but wanted to hear from people that had actually tried it, so good to hear about your positive experience!

I've also had problems at Eurostar security with a tiny knife (an Opinel even smaller than a rope knife, so far only used for cutting sausage and cheese). It's the UK to France direction that's the problem as the two countries have different rules and it's the rules of the departure country that hold. Several times they said it's ok because it's such a small knife and doesn't lock, another time they completely unpacked my climbing backpack on account of the knife and the perplexed security agent asked what the rope was for, held up a quickdraw and asked what I planned to do with it. The most recent time they were really unhappy about the knife which is definitely not allowed and said not to bring it next time. 

Lost an Opinel to them as well. I also had to unpack everything and they wanted to take my stove off me because the pan supports looked sharp.  I managed to keep hold of it.

There have been dark mutterings over on the CTC site about Swiss Army knives being stolen at ferry terminals from cyclists. While kitchen equipped camper vans are  left alone - as they should be.

That's strange, I've taken the Eurostar 10 times in the last 3 years and no problem with a small non locking swiss army knife on every trip, never even had to take it out of my bag. It's specifically listed as something you can take on the website as well!

Just been to the alps and back (London to Lille) and had no issues. I told the security guys before scanning so they knew and my bag just went straight through. I was ready to argue my case, full of self righteousness, whilst brandishing my printed out letter but it was not required.

I lost my Opinel on the train down to Marseille last summer but can't really complain as they forbid any locking knives are there is an image of an Opinel on the "Restricted Items" board. Had no issue with my swiss army knife (non locking).

Good to hear you had no issues! 

Just thought I would share that after several weeks of emails back and fourth I got confirmation from travel services at Eurostar that their policies have not changed since 2022 on the London-Paris route, and that mountaineering equipment is allowed as long as you make Eurostar staff aware that you are carrying it before going through security

We’ve just been to Switzerland and back (return via Paris) with axes, crampons, and ski crampons. Made no mention of them, and no issues raised. Everything was packed inside our rucksacks or ski bags. 

Any chance you could share the date recieved, who from, and a quote of the text? Noticed Eurostar hae sneaked the words 'ice pick and cramps' in to the 'must be registered with travel services' section (without defining what that means or how to do it!)..along with 'camping tools' and similar vague terms

So I received this exact quote in an email on 3rd of March from Eurostar travel services: 

"We can confirm that the policy has not changed since 2022 and that mountaineering equipment is permitted as part of your luggage. Please inform  a member of our  team  on arrival at the station before going through security. "

I don't think the text you highlighted about 'ice pick and cramps' appeared on the website the last time I checked though (which would have been in February), so I think that may be really new. So frustrating that there is so much uncertainty about this, I'll try and get back in contact with them to clarify if this is an actual policy change or not and will post it on here.

Can you give a link to that (or was it was part of the AI mishmash that comes up with searches)

It's here:

https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/prohibit...

under:

Thanks, that is a bit of a worry...and does seem to be new. Weird phrase 'Ice axes and cramps' for a 'legal' instruction.

The Eurostar travel services is the separate lot where you drop stuff off in advance...I'm guessing:  https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/luggage-...   tho as you say they don't make that obvious or accessible.

Feels back to 2019 or so.

So hopefully the last time I update this, but I got another reply from Eurostar travel services today: 

"There have been no changes to the acceptance of mountaineering equipment since our last contact. Mountaineering equipment such as crampons and climbing sports ice axes are carriage permitted if the security team are satisfied they will pose no threat. This may involve questioning you with regards to the reasons for travel and checking that the items will be packed carefully and securely in your main luggage. Please make the security team aware you are carrying these items before you put them through the X-ray machine. Please note that if our security teams have any concerns about an item that they believe might represent a risk, Eurostar reserves the right to remove or refuse that item."

So sounds like good news for train travellers!

It's a shame there isn't a more definitive "OK" that you can show the staff...still sounds like it's to the whim of whoever is on duty

Did you send them the link to the part of their site which lists them as restricted?

There is no affirmation on the web site, though we do have a rather old letter to refer to, but there does seem to be a specific restriction, albeit rather obscurely placed.

(And no mention at all of the different rules for Belgium).

Hi, yes I referenced the updated section of the website in my email which this was replying to. Additionally I linked the letter from 2022 in a prior email, which they confirmed is still thier current policy. I was asking specifically about London-Paris route, so none of what I've posted can nescisarily be applied to Belgium unfortunately.

Thanks for that. So that implies they think the website shows incorrect information and needs revising.

edit: I'd already emailed them too and am awaiting an answer.

Not so good (and I had supplied them with a copy of the 'letter'...

Dear Paul,
 
Thank you for your patience.

Any equipment such as Ice picks and cramps, can only be carried when registered with Eurostar Travel services. I hope this helps, and I hope the Travel Services team are able to further assist with your query.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.
 
Kind regards,
 
William

(in a separate email they confirmed registering means being booked in and carried seperately).

Wow what a mess! seems like everyone is making their own interpretation of what the rules are

I'll take this up via the BMC I think as they were party to the 'agreement'.

Arrrghhh.

1) i have taken this up with MS (who seem to have led on the previous agreement)

Then got this email:

Dear Paul 
Thank you for your email 
Yes you can take them in your luggage but security may ask you if they can see them first 
Kind Regards 
Mark
Eurostar Travel Services

It does just need sorting.... The gamble of having a trip planned and turning up to have probs with your equipment seems too great.

That sounds like good news? Probably just need to turn up a bit early in case they have any questions, just seems like a typo on the website.

I wonder if there's something in this along the lines of "we're happy to tell mountaineers directly they can take their pointy stuff, but we don't want it to be an open invitation to anyone with nefarious intentions"?

Sometimes vagueness in security policies is for that sort of reason...though incompetence is always possible.

In both cases I'd asked if the website was correct and sent them the letter. Neither addressed that conflict.

So, if you encounter someone whose interpretation matches the first answer I got, you have no comeback.... They have now published an explicit requirement, where previously there was ambiguity.

Which is why it isn't a very good approach - but it isn't an entirely uncommon one.