Luggage on second class trains

Not sure why you need two 'relatively large suitcases' for two weeks but that's another issue. Yes, there should be plenty of room on the train for your suitcases at the ends of the car (not at your seat). I've always been comfortable leaving a suitcase in the luggage rack at the end of the car and taking my valuables with me to the seat in my day bag.

Unless those suitcases are emigration-sized, they can be put on the overhead rack. There is no reason to suppose they are less safe in the second class. I always feel comfortable having them within sight.

We brought a single large 25" roller bag and was able to fit them in the overhead rack on the trains. But you have to be strong enough to lift it over your head. We could have put them in luggage racks at the end of each car, but we wanted to keep an eye on the bag (or were too cheap to put them into the paid locker)

Luggage space is the same in both classes, although there are generally one-quarter fewer seats and people using the space in 1st class. (Some trains on your route actually have 3 or 4 classes of service.) I have never had a problem finding space. I do urge you to pack light, using a suitcase that you can easily handle yourself in a variety of situations, such as changing trains, hotel stairs, etc.

Jessica,
You might want to see if you can reduce. This old grandma uses a 22" suitcase for six weeks at a time with a little backpack thrown in. It will be easier if you can eliminate the words relatively and large from your suitcase vocabulary you'll be thankful.

j, I have a 25" roller, the suitcase itself is pretty light, and I had a back pack. My wife had a smaller roller and backpack in Italy in October. We used city to city trains Pisa-Lucca-Sestri Levante-Le Specia and also traveled on the regional trains. We always were able to make the suitcases fit, sometimes when we had a reserved seat we could put the suitcase directly outside our little seat cubicle, no one seemed to care. There were also racks on most all the trains but as mentioned earlier you need to be able to lift them over your head. I am confident that someone will help you if it appears you are struggling, the folks on the train were really really friendly. On the regional trains that at times got crowded we left the suitcases at the end of the car (where you get on and off) and they seemed safe, I did see people stand there with their bag during the trip as the regional trains were for short routes. It really did appear to me that the conductors probably each individually rule thier own train, some tried to monitor things as seating and where things were stacked, most didnt care one bit. You wont have any trouble and dont be afraid to ask for help from other travelers.

bagley,

As Nancy mentioned, I'm not sure why you'd need two "relatively large suitcases" for two weeks, but your choice. Keep in mind that YOU will be lifting these on and off trains as there are usually no Porters. To answer your question, YES you will be able to bring your suitcase on.

I doubt that paying more for first class will make the luggage issue any easier, or to be "safe". I find the luggage racks at the end of the cars often get filled up fairly quickly, and in my experience there can be inconsiderate twits who will remove luggage from the rack and toss it into the foyer to make room for their luggage or their bicycle (I had that happen a few months ago). Therefore it's a good idea to watch any bags stored there closely.

Unless you're travelling with a large Steamer Trunk, you may be able to put larger luggage in the inverted "V" between seats. I find that a safer method of storing my main pack. As the others have mentioned, smaller items (especially those with valuables) should be kept with you, either on the rack above your seat or on the floor by your feet.

You may find it helpful to have a look at this website. The video provides a good idea what to expect on the Italian trains.

http://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#What%20are%20Italian%20trains%20like

two relatively large suitcases

I'm afraid that the term is slightly vague. Do you have a specific size in mind? It would help with made to measure comments.

The key to traveling light is to not bring a different outfit for every day. Bring a few pieces that work well together and then mix and match. Smalls can be run through in the hotel room overnight.

You will be traveling at a warm time of the year (bring a windbreaker for the mountain tops and layer) so you shouldn't need much bulk.

Remember that every ounce you cut down is one more ounce that you don't have to haul up and down stairs, carry over cobblestones, and hump into a train. Trains don't stop long and you don't want to be fighting with the luggage. In some stations to leave or enter the train or change between tracks you will be climbing down a narrow set of stairs with your luggage into a tunnel between tracks, and climbing up the other side on a narrow staircase.

The smaller the luggage and the easier to manouver the easier your trip will be and the bigger the smiles when you get home.

I won't repeat the advice to pack light (well, I guess I just did), but I use a 20" rolling carryon and a Civita daybag for 89 days.

Many trains have a luggage storage space between back-to-back seats, most bags fit there if you turn them in their side. I have also left the carryon at the rack at the end of the car.

As mentioned, trains usually only stop for a couple of minutes, so know the name of the stop before yours if you need time to retrieve bags and move to the exit - people will be waiting to board as soon as the doors open.

I often travel with my 25" instead of my 22" because they weigh the same, and it's easier to pack/unpack and live out of the larger one, and then there's room for souvenirs and gifts too. The luggage racks at the ends of the car tend to fill up. Boarding early is the key. I have a lightweight bike cord and a small lock that I use to secure the bag to the rack for peace of mind. Some 25" bags will fit in the triangular gap between forward and backward facing seats in the middle of the car but that may not be within sight of your seat.

We will be traveling from Rome to Florence at the end of May (and then Florence to Switzerland). I'm wondering if there is enough room on both the first and second class trains for two relatively large suitcases

post back here when you come back from your trip and let us know how that worked out for you

Our first trip to Italy (2005), we had relatively large suitcases. We learned the difficulty on getting these on and off trains, and now laugh at ourselves. Since that time, we always used a 22" suitcase with a back pack and we will not use anything larger again. You will be much happier using a smaller suitcase.

I have both a very large and a little smaller trolley. For train travel I always take the smaller - first, I have to lift it up myself, second, the smaller one fits in the spaces between opposing seatbacks that is often the most convenient one.

I know that you simply wanted to know about luggage racks and have received tons of unwanted advice about packing light. Sorry, I am going to join the chorus.

One thing I noticed when traveling by train around Europe last summer was just how much people trying to handle bags that were too big struggled while on the trains. This is particularly true if the husband takes on the Sherpa role and feels that he has to do all the baggage handling by himself. It also became a problem for fellow travelers when people with oversize luggage couldn't get on or off the train easily or quickly. If you have 3 minutes to make a cross platform transfer, you don't want to spend all three of them while someone tries to handle large luggage on and off the train unsuccessfully in front of you.

I encourage you to do the "lift" test. If you can't lift your fully packed suitcase up over your head and put in on a shelf, then you need to consider packing alternatives, or simply bringing less.

And every year when we travel on the trains it seems we always encounter elderly ladies (American) traveling with HUGE suitcases attempting to haul them on board the train. I most always just grab the luggage and haul it on (and then back off for them). However, I've hurt my back a couple of times doing such things, and I'm just not going to be doing that anymore. If I hurt my back lifting luggage it's going to be "my" luggage. So don't assume that somebody will just "help you" with your bags. Take with you only what YOU can comfortably carry. The steps up into the trains are sometimes steep and not very friendly for big pieces luggage.

Jessica: Rather than beat the traveling light thing to death, I want to reinforce Chani's comments about securing your luggage with a bike lock of some sort, particularly if you are using the luggage storage areas at the end of the compartment. Here is a link to a previous post I made last fall after having some luggage stolen while traveling by train: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/my-great-train-robbery. There are some lessons learned that may be helpful. Good luck and enjoy Europe.

While a 15 1/2 inch wide (standard width of a 25 inch roll-aboard) will fit on the luggage rack, it does hang over quite a bit - enough to make one a little nervous. I would try to cut down to a standard carry-on sized roll-about (@14 inches wide).

It sounds like you have a limited number of cities in your itinerary - have you considered staying in rental apartments instead of hotels? The costs are generally comparable for a couple (and get more cost-effective as you add people) and they usually come with a clothes washer and drying rack. We did two weeks in Italy (Venice - Florence - Rome) and lived out of carry-on sized suitcases quite easily.

Travelers are kind people mostly and we encountered many people who were unable to lift their suitcases over their head and onto the rack above their seat, and there was always someone (Usually my hubby) there to lend a hand (he asked one girl if she packed rocks!). I noticed some people just plop their bag in front of them, blocking access to the chair directly across from them then drape their legs over their case (rude!). We had no problem fitting our 21 inch bags in the overhead and keeping my duffle and hubbies backpack by our feet (money, pills, tickets..always stay with us). My husband was the Sherpa and had no problem loading and unloading our baggage, we let him be the Sherpa to move the crowd along getting on and off. I can do it, but I take more time and my footing is not as sure as his (bad knees, especially after sitting on a train for a while..ouch!).

Using locks to secure luggage in crowded trains often results in boxing other people's stuff in and they may need to make a quick exit at a station and not be able to get their bag -- it is just highly inconsiderate. If you are worried about theft go stand in the end at stops to keep an eye on your stuff. Better to use bags small enough to stow overhead. I actually saw people come to blows over luggage storage on a train in Spain -- there is not enough storage for everyone to haul giant bags. And giant bags are a major pain for train travel. We do 3 mos with a 22 inch or if across cold seasons 24 inchers. Anything larger than that is really hard to move up and down stairs and into overhead bins.

I agree with janettravels. I usually stow luggage in the space between back-to-back seats, overhead, or at the luggage storage area at the end (or middle) of the carriage.

Even if some kind Sherpa hoists your luggage for you, they may not be around when you need to pull it down.

Or your sherpa can hurt his back mid-trip--personal experience. Even carry-ons felt like steamer trunks with the partner out of commission.

Thanks everyone! We definitely won't be lugging around HUGE suitcases- I just didn't know what the storage situation was going to be like at all. We will probably bring 22" ones after taking everyone's advice into account. We ended up buying tickets for a second class train from Rome to Florence, and then Florence-Milan-Montreux. Thanks so much!!