The train from Gare Montparnasse to Chartres looks straight forward and easy except for my luggage. I can lift and carry my suitcase and carry on but cannot hoist the suitcase up onto an overhead rack on the train. Putting the suitcase in the luggage rack away from me raises the security concerns. Traveling solo until I meet with the tour, not sure the best way to get to Chartres with luggage, suggestions appreciated.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17625 posts
How much does your bag weigh? You will need to manage it on the tour. I’ve not done thiis one so can’t give you any idea if there are locations where the bus will need to park a distance away from your hotel or if there will be hotels without elevators.
Meanwhile, this is generally a “local” train and you may be able to just keep your bags at your seat.
When do you travel?
Posted by
Melbourne, Australia
590 posts
We have travelled extensively around Europe with luggage on the trains.
We always put it in the luggage rack, never lock it to anything, and just keep an eye on things.
I think it is completely overrated that people really want to steal your large bag full of probably dirty washing at this point.
It is the smaller carry on and personal items that thieves are after, so watch those carefully.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
12100 posts
This will be a local train, a commuter train. There will be no or few luggage racks. Just keep your suitcase next to you or as close as possible. Two Sundays ago we boarded a local train that was overcrowded due to track work on another line. The train had originated in Geneva, and we boarded in the Alps going to Lyon. Nobody had anyplace to store anything. One person's suitcase was my footrest, while our two carry-on bags were in the area between the train cars. It's unlikely that you'll run into this situation but no matter what, it will work out, and you'll find a way to make do the way everyone else does. Bon voyage.
Posted by
Arlington TX
1136 posts
I did this very trip in Oct 2025. On the train to Chartres I kept my carryon size bag on my knees in my seat. The time to Chartres was pretty quick as I remember, an hour, hour and a half perhaps, so it was quite doable. It was a very crowded train as I remember.
Posted by
622 posts
Chartres station has a luggage storage and you can also try radical storage or nanny bags. Some trains have a storage spot between the seats going forward on the seats going backwards, there's a little niche to put your suitcase in. I am a solo female senior traveler and I only use carry-on and generally travel a month at a time to europe.
Posted by
san ramon, ca, usa
338 posts
Some great tips for you. First I hope you have a carryon bag as opposed to something larger. As a solo traveler, it will be so much easier for you. We've never had a problem with luggage on the trains. What you might find out, is that the luggage rack may be overhead and very small. Thus the technique of taking room at your seat to add a bag. If you're going back to Paris, you can leave it at this place for luggage, https://bounce.com/
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
1307 posts
Putting the suitcase in the luggage rack away from me raises the
security concerns.
In other forums I have seen posts regarding placing a cable lock to secure your bag to the rack. According to a Google search, this is OK in France.
Here is an extensive thread on the topic from 2025 https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/freccia-trains-safe-to-lock-bags-on-racks-and-wander-the-train-a-bit