French musicians have long advocated for the ability to transport double basses on high-speed TGV trains, and their calls have finally been heard. France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced the new regulation at a ceremony at the Gare de Lyon in Paris this past weekend. According to the French railway company SNCF, musicians will now be allowed to bring their double basses aboard—but with one significant catch: only one double bass per train.
The new rule comes after years of protests from musicians, who argued that if large items like skis and surfboards can travel on trains, there’s no reason musical instruments shouldn’t also have that privilege.
However, many orchestras find the new rule far from helpful. Since orchestras typically travel together, allowing only one double bass per train makes long-distance travel nearly impossible for many musicians. In 2021, a collective of musicians called on Le Monde to push for bulkier instruments to be treated similarly to sports equipment on TGV trains.
But one glaring question remains: where will a double bass even fit?
TGV luggage racks are barely large enough for a suitcase, and even smaller items like baby carriages are only accepted if they’re folded up. The silent atmosphere aboard the train—except in designated phone call areas near the toilets—makes it a difficult space to imagine fitting a large musical instrument.
Despite the new rule, many musicians will still likely need to improvise when transporting their instruments. For example, traveling by car might still be the best option, even with the challenges of traffic and navigating through metro chaos.
While the new rule may be a step in the right direction, the reality remains that double basses are still a bulky issue when it comes to TGV travel.
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