EUROSTAR – ISSUES WHEN TRAVELLING WITH FENCING EQUIPMENT

Updated 15th April 2026

Eurostar has updated their online conditions of carriage in a small but significant way, which is causing issues for people travelling with fencing equipment as they now require fencing equipment to be registered.

In the past, Eurostar went through a period where they classified fencing equipment as a restricted item and there was an administrative process in place (involving notifying BF every time a member was intending to travel and BF would notify Eurostar).

Subsequently Eurostar changed the Conditions of Carriage so that fencers could use Eurostar to travel to fencing competitions with fencing bags as a standard item of (permitted) luggage. (Appendix 1 stated Fencing equipment: you can register fencing equipment (épées, foils and sabres), as long as they’re transported in a box made for this purpose and kept in it at all times at the station and on the train.

Items that can only be carried when registered with Eurostar Travel services have now been changed to:

• Fencing equipment: Please note you can register fencing equipment (épées, foils and sabres), as long as they’re transported in a box or bag made for this purpose and kept in it at all times at the station and on the train.

There are two issues that BF has raised with Eurostar:

1. Box vs Bag – Your conditions of carriage shows you can transport equipment in a box or a bag, most fencers don’t transport their fencing equipment in a ‘box’.
   Response: Eurostar has agreed to change the word to ‘bag’, please see registered items which reflects the word ‘bag’. Eurostar are sending this recommendation to the digital team , where they shall update this at some point, however this will not be immediate and maybe a while before the update appears.
2. Registered vs Permitted – When taking fencing equipment, it must be registered with Eurostar luggage service and cannot be taken unless it is registered. This ruling was put in place due to alignment of laws on the continent.

Please ensure
1. You register fencing bag with luggage services.
2. Check timetable for eligible trains
3. Ensure all fencing equipment (swords) are contained within the fencing bag.

“You will need to check the relevant trains to see which trains this service is offered on, as we are regrettably not able to offer this service on all our services. Please use the following link to check for eligible trains https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage“

BF has highlighted to Eurostar the issues with this as there appear to be a lack of eligible trains particularly later on Sunday evenings. This means our fencers will potentially not be able to use Eurostar to return to UK on Sunday evenings for school/work on Monday morning and would face additional costs (eg extra nights accommodation).

Members can also contact Eurostar directly here.

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