Food on a train

We do not remember security checks except on some Spanish trains and Chunnel. Food among our luggage (we used only backpacks) was never an issue for us

You can take any food you want on a train. And there wasn't any security last time I traveled which was a year and a half ago. There's nobody to check and the conductor won't care. So, go for the wine, cheese, whatever you want. Maybe you don't want to get too smelly a cheese, but then that would probably be more of a problem in the US. Hah! This from a website on rail passes in Britain. "Some trains have dining cars while others have carts that roll down the aisle, bringing hot aperitifs and snacks to the seats. In all cases, food is expensive. Budget passengers are advised to visit the local supermarket and stock up before boarding trains, since carrying ones own food is perfectly acceptable and expected."

Pam

As others said there seemed to really be no security, remember Europeon Union means pretty open borders.
We brought food on the Eurostar, great take away from Marks and Spencer, no one cared.

There is no problem bringing your own food on Eurostar...lots of people do. I highly recommend Pret a Manger at St Pancras and Paul at the Gare de Nord (upstairs where you check in). There is also someone selling wonderful cheese near the check in in Paris. There is some kind of security on Eurostar but not like when you fly. Bon Voyage!

Thanks for all the advice. It's been over 5 years since I was on Eurostar so my memory of check-in is vague. I thought I remember rather tight security but must be getting mixed up with the airport.

I haven't been on a train yet where you had to clear security. I would expect it in the Chunnel and maybe some other high speed intercity trains.

I just visit a grocery store for enough bread, cheese, meat, fruit, chocolate and soft drinks/bottled water for a picnic meal and carry it all in my daypack.

I think it's worth mentioning that you can purchase really lovely lunch items at many train stations in France and Italy. We had some of the best baguette sandwiches that way. It is quick, and remarkably consistent. At first I was a little leary of train station food but time and again we have had great experiences. Also, many large stations have full grocery stores that are open late. Not a bad idea to stock up on needed items before you go leave the station to find your hotel.

I also am not above make a small sandwich from the hotel breakfast and stowing it in my pack. Cheap and cheerful!

We always pack a lunch for our trip on the trains. Never a problem.

We took the Eurostar from St. Pancras to Gare du Nord on 4/16. We brought our own food from outside and purchased some at the station. There were some people in our group who bought Starbucks coffee (the ones with the lids) at the station and were NOT allowed to take that on board. They had to drink it all or discard it before they went through security.

Hello, Elizabeth ... You caused us to revive some old, pleasant memories. We once spent 3 days in Lucerne, CH. We planned on one of those three to take a circular tour of the Bernese Oberland by train. (We had Eurail passes and could hop on just about any train except the private lines). This was a planned adventure and we knew the timetables, train names, arrivals and departures. Of course, we changed trains several times. The reference we used recommended that we have sandwiches made at a sandwich shop in Lucerne and to pick up our wine coolers (or whatever) from Lucerne train station vendors. Through planning, we knew of a terrific spot near the train station at Thun, CH and we did that, (picnic lunch). The sandwiches hit the spot...It all included a very scenic lay of the town of Thun and the Thunersee (lake). At the end of the day, we ended where we started (Lucerne). It seems to us we should do that again... Hope you have as much fun as we did that day. ciao! P

Not only can you bring whatever food you want, we always bring a few bottles of wine. We back pack and some of our most memorable trips are from when we had a bottle in each pocket of our packs (4 total)and got laughs from the Europeans...several hours later, we all were drinking together and ended up staying at one of their houses and be turned on to some crazy off-off broadway-like play and an amazing after-hours jazz show. Can't plan trip memories like that.