Hi, I am planning to take a 7am train to Naples. Considering the hour, will I be allowed to bring food onboard the train? Is there any prohibition or requirement that i have to purchase only on board the train?
Appreciate any advice from those who have traveled before. Thank you.
You can bring and eat your own food & drinks on these trains.
That's generally allowed on all British & European trains (I'm not sure if there are exceptions, so I added "generally" - I've never been on a proper train which doesn't allow it, but some local underground/metro trains do ban hot food and/or alcohol).
I suppose, out of politeness to fellow passengers, you should avoid especially smelly snacks. Though smelliness is in the nose of the beholder.
We do it all the time! They will come through first class with a complimentary beverage and tiny back, and there is a cafe/bar where you can buy snacks and good espresso, but feel free to picnic.
People do it all the time on all kind of trains, from snacks to complete lunches, with or without drinks, alcoholic or not.
I suppose, out of politeness to fellow passengers, you should avoid
especially smelly snacks....
...and very messy ones as well.
Enjoy your picnic! :O)
“Smelliness is in the nose of the beholder”. Or the besmeller, to coin a word.
Yes, of course. That's normal procedure. Why do you think there are so many shops at stations selling take-away food, sandwiches, rolls, coffee etc.?
Some long distance trains sell food on board, it is usually limited and expensive, all the locals bring their own.
The exception is metro's and local trains where you are only in them for 5-15 minutes, these sometimes ban eating.
On a practical note, how could they stop you? You just walk onto the train, nobody to check what you are carrying.
yuwc,
I don't know if you ever saw the thread, but long ago, there was a person who came on to ask about bringing a cooked chicken to share with his family while train traveling. That set off a funny fire storm with some.
Sometimes garlic and onions adorning a sandwich or meal may affect your seat mate(s). I am sure by your asking the question ahead of time, you are being respectful of any rules or common courtesies. Enjoy.
Food and drink are frequently consumed on European trains. As advised by others, avoid particularly smelly foods and I'd add, be sure to clean up after yourselves. I remember years ago how trains often had compartments so that two rows of seats facing each other were closed off from the other compartments and the aisle. We often ended up sharing food with strangers in our compartment. I remember a long early morning ride from Rome to Venice with a pair of young newly weds who nearly missed the train and had not been able to buy breakfast before boarding. Among my "picnic" items was some sort of cake that I thought was merely flavored with rum. We decided to share this as an early morning snack but soon discovered it was liberally doused with rum. On another trip between Naples and Messina, Sicily, our train abruptly broke down and there were announcements in Italian. One of our fellow travelers translated from Italian to German for a passenger who, in turn, translated for us from German to English. The train was not going to move for a while, so all of us pulled out packages of food (fruit, cheese, sandwiches, etc.) which we then shared with one another. Happy travel memories!
I arrange my train journeys between cities to occur between checkout/checkin at hotels, and buy a picnic lunch at the usually well stocked station shops.
One of my most favorite picnics ever was on the fast train from Florence to Venice.
Picked up some various cuts of meat, prosciutto, etc, and bought some of the best tasting focaccia bread i've ever had at a wonderful bakery in Florence. That, along with some delicious cheese, olives, olive oil, and honey picked up in Montepulciano a day or so before.
Ate it on the train on our way to Venice. It was delicious!!
