The use of the bicycle is increasingly popular in Europe and bicycle tourism is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the European economy. Bicycle carriage on trains is a relevant issue for the further development of bicycle usage in Europe, allowing an optimal intermodal combination of friendly modes of transport and the creation of efficient mobility chains. If bicycle carriage is already widespread on local and regional rail services, the recent evolution of longdistance rail transport has not considered the needs of customers with bicycles and has caused a significant decrease in the offer and of the number of bicycles carried on long-distance trains in the EU over the last 10 years. Currently, less than 10% of EU long-distance trains allow bicycle carriage. Several national and European bodies have recognized the relevance of this issue. Among them, the European Parliament which has asked for bicycle carriage facilities on long-distance trains within the Regulations for Sustainable Tourism as well as in the Third Railway Package. Both railway undertakings (RUs) and the railway industry have in many cases not yet seriously considered this issue, unlike the automotive and airline sectors where the needs of customers with bicycles have been answered. Supposed disadvantages deriving from seasonality, reduction of capacity, delays at stations are often the consequence of an "a priori" closure toward the bicycle carriage, without a global analysis of the opportunities and the challenges of this issue. This is proved by the contradictory policies adopted by the different European railway undertakings and confirmed by the few of them that are successfully allowing bicycle on long-distance and high-speed trains. In order to stimulate a further debate on these issues, the ECF has carried out a market analysis aimed at an in-depth study and evaluation of the EU market for bicycle carriage on long-distance trains. This analysis involves technical and political aspects and provides useful elements for the further discussion of this issue at a European level, with particular reference to solutions allowing the bicycle carriage on high-speed trains. Consequently, this study has not been primarily thought of as a guide for bicycle users. However, the analysis follows the point of view of the final customer and contains interesting information. The content is based on ECF internal know-how, analysis of publicly available documents, information obtained from railway undertakings and rolling stock producers, united with the technical support of the German railway consulting company SCI Verkehr GmbH.