luggage on trains

There is a luggage rack at the end of each car, an overhead rack full length on each side for smaller items, plus space between back-to-back seats.

Some carriages also have luggage spaces in the middle of the car. If you are on a very crowded train, bag storage may be challenging, but I have never not found a way to store luggage.

Any train with mandatory reservations will be easier than an open-seating situation.

The racks at the end of train cars will likely allow you to slide your bags onto the lowest, floor-level space. If that space is unavailable, you might need to heft your bags onto the next shelf up, which should be below waist height. If a shelf is too high, or your bags too hefty (yet another reason for packing as light as practical), hopefully another passenger, or even a uniformed rail employee, could assist (yet another reason for knowing how to say "please" and "thank you" in the local language).

Not to sound paranoid, but if you desire greater peace of mind while onboard, have luggage locks on your bag zippers or latches when they're on a rack that might not be right where you can see them and/or use a bicycle lock or other cable lock to attach your bags to something solid, so they don't accidentally "walk away."

1st class will be a bit easier theoretically as there are fewer passengers so hopefully fewer bags and more free space. But hoisting bags just seems to be the norm.

The fastest Italian trains have several different seating areas. The luggage space as described above does not depend on the class of service. I have always found other passengers to be willing to help, as long as your bag is of a reasonable size and weight for you to make that request. Starting with one airline carry-on sized bag for each person is a good discipline for packing light, but you still want to avoid filling it with too many heavy items.

Laura, as a general rule, traveling with the fewest, smallest and lightest bags possible is much easier. Your statement that you will be traveling with "2 bags plus one carry-on" is a little confusing. How large and heavy will the bags be, and is that total of three bags for you as a couple, or for each of you? I would certainly suggest one 20-22 inch carry-on, plus a daypack or tote bag for each if you. That's how I travel. That can be a challenge, but worthwhile to achieve. I also take an extremely light weight duffle, which folds to almost nothing, which I can use at the end of the trip and on my return flight, when I have accumulated any purchases, am returning home with dirty laundry, etc. I have also found that if I am checking baggage for a few hours at a train station, I can put all my baggage into the duffle, and just check one item, saving money. When traveling by train, you not only have to be concerned with stowing your baggage, but often there are large steps from the platform on to and off of the trains, and often stairs to manage at stations and between tracks, sometimes with no elevator or escalator available, or operating. The lighter and more manageable your baggage, the better.

We used First Class on trains on our trip to Italy last spring. It was worth it for sure and we were able to keep our luggage near our seats--cars were less full in first and we put the bags on empty seats near us. Sometimes you may encounter steps down within the car--just a few but another thing to deal with if luggage is too big--we don't travel as light as some but only with the weight that we can handle. Watch out for people who claim they "want to assist with" luggage when you get off. Also in large stations (Rome & Florence) we were approached by young women who claimed to be taxi drivers. Ignore them & arrange for taxi at the proper queue.

Susan, please do not put your luggage on seats, or put your feet on seats. It make the seats dirty and annoys other travellers who have to sit on them latter. Put luggage in the overhead racks, space between the back of the seats, or (on some coaches only) racks at the end.
I have seen cases of foreign tourists who put their luggage on seats and then refuse to move it when more passengers get on later because there is allegedly 'no space'.
Leaving luggage in aisles is also a good way to annoy your fellow passengers.

See here for info and photos of luggage storage on trains: http://seat61.com/luggage-on-european-trains.htm
That site is recommended for all info on train travel.

First Class does have more space for both people and luggage. I travel only First Class and love it. The huge "A" storage spaces in between seat suites are an especially helpful alternative to the overhead rack. And if you have empty seats in your suite, you can bring your luggage into your suite.

Best to travel with only one small light wheeled 20-inch carry-on bag each, weighing only what you can manage even at the end of a very long travel day. For me that's 15 pounds total weight. I pack light whether I travel for one week or four months.

Each of you has to carry your own luggage while you walk up and down train stairs, which stairway can be quite steep, narrow and steps wide enough to support half a foot. You can manage only one small light bag at a time on those stairs.

I have seen elderly husbands put their wives at the top of the stairway while they hoist the extra bags up to her at the top. She has to bend down to haul up the bag, and then wait for the next bag. It shows she has to strain. Those bags are heavy for her to pull up. So Why would you want to do that? Just pack light and smart.

Don't know where you are going but some stations have No elevators or escalators and No ramps, just a ton of stairs. I suppose you could find someone to get you out of a bind. In my early history I was at Vairano-Caianello once with two bags, and had to go to a Bar next to the station to find somebody to get them to the other side. Some guy followed me out of the Bar to my bags, jumped down into the track bed, and carried both bags across several rails to the other platform. He must have had some wits about him because he would Not let me follow him down into the track bed. I had to take the stairs. He actually waited for me to emerge at the other side. He was a Sweetie. At Cassino, I was in the same spot, No elevator or escalator, No ramp, just a lot of stairs. This situation repeated everywhere I went.

My predicament was No better at Napoli Centrale. All elevators were broken and I could Not manage the same two bags on the escalators. A Supervisor asked some staffers to help me, but they refused, loudly.

I never, ever traveled with two bags again, and I love it.

I support Chris a hundred percent. I would have posted the same comments but he beat me to it. It is so rude to put your luggage in the seat next to you. A couple years was on a train where a very large American couple (southern accent, guessing Texas) grabbed the middle seats that face each other and, of course, piled the facing seat full of their luggage. It was a late day train and it was packed with many people standing at the ends and of course people looking at their luggage. We had the seats across the aisle from them. After overhearing some of their conversation and realizing they were Americans, I quietly said to her, "The train is packed so it would be the polite thing to do if could remove your luggage from the seats." She glared at me and declared, "We were here first! Where else do you expect me to put my luggage?" And that is why the ugly American stereotype continues.

I have occasionally used first class when the price was particularly good. One benefit I've experienced is that I've been able to put the bag on the floor at my feet – but that was only because the cars were mostly empty. It's not something you can count on, and it's certainly not okay to put them in the aisle or on the seats.

While I travel very light, I'm too short to deal with some of the luggage racks, but I've always found people to be willing to help me... usually without having to ask.

Another vote for luggage that you can easily handle by yourself, PLUS -----do not wait for the train to stop at your destination city and then gather up your luggage......be aware of stops and gather your stuff together and be standing at the door when the train stops. Some stops can be as short as 2 minutes.

Laura, this gentleman is a couple of years older than you, but he just asked some similar questions.....reading the answers he received might be helpful to you.....

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/transportation-choices-in-italy

....Some stops can be as short as 2 minutes. .... Not really. The stops are quick but the train doesn't move until it is obviously that everyone is on and off. It may not be obviously if you are lingering in the water closet but you are not going to have to throw your luggage off as the trains pull out of the station.

I will be traveling on the fast train from Venice to Rome and Rome to Salerno. I can't reserve my tickets for a few more months, but am tempted to purchase first class. I've read that the Premium 2nd Class is just fine, but my DH will be carrying a 24 or 25" suitcase, and if there is a higher possibility to put it in the "A" area between seats I'd like to do that. I will be carrying the RS 21" carryon.

Since we are able to reserve seats, what area of the train would be the best? I'm assuming by the exit, correct? When you reserve, is there a picture of the train (like an airplane), where you can see the seats, exits, etc?

Also, I've been reading that in some stops, there is only a minute or two to get off. I'm assuming (hopefully) that in Rome or Salerno we might have more time than that?

I think the train travel is the one thing that I am most nervous about (arriving, reading the signs, finding the train, worrying about pickpockets or thieves).

You can't pick a reserved spot, but if you are dying to be near the ends, there is a space on the page that you can request to be near a specific seat.....though I don't remember enough about the cars to be able to tell you a seat you want to be in.....though I would assume that seat 1 would be near an end (though there would be seats closer to the ends of other carriages than the one you pick, so it really is a toss up)......but I have never needed to be near the ends, only my friends' seats......

Salerno has probably a stop less than 5 minutes, I would guess about 3-4 minutes (it is usually like this on pull through stations instead of the ones that pull all the way in and then back out)......but it is always a good idea to get up from your seat and gather your belongings before your stop, as not to hold up other passengers or to forget something on the mad dash to get off the train......I can tell you for sure, for the Salerno station coming from Rome, there is a long dark tunnel right before the station, so as soon as you get in the tunnel, I would start gathering my things, so you won't be crazy rushed.....

The Salerno station is very straightforward, though there are many stairs to get to the platforms.....

Thanks Katherine,

I love tips like that about coming into the Salerno station and the dark tunnel. Is there some sort of PA system that makes announcement before stops? I suppose other passengers are there to ask, also. But being aware of the long tunnel does help.

So, when we purchase our ticket online, all I need to look for is the "car" number? I know I read somewhere about seats, maybe it was just a "request" like you said and not a "reserve".

Fixating on the seat is a waste of time. My experience is that seats are assigned as you reserve. Also I find the numbering system a little odd. For example seat 37, 39 could be side by side. If you buy two tickets together the seats will be together. Second, it is fairly easy to know when you stop is coming. First before getting on, check the departure sheets/board to see the stop before your final stop. If you are going to F, make a note of E. That way when you stop at E, you know that the next stop is yours. Second, not the time of arrival at F - 11.22. Schedules are pretty accurate most of the time. So around 11.10 or 11.15, you start gathering your stuff and head to the exist. You will not be the only one doing that as others will be getting ready to exit. There is a flow to trains. There is almost always an announcement but it may not be in English and is often garbled as is typical of PA systems. The new cars often will have a electronic sign in the car indication current and next stop. We have never missed a stop.

The A space may or may not be available. Train cars are designed to run in either directions. Some cars will have all of the seats facing the middle so there is no A space. Sometimes that will have a small table in the middle. Some trains have pairs of seats facing each other so there are a lot of A spaces BUT could already be claimed by the other seat. The A space is not automatically yours.

We always throw our luggage in the bins as we get on so we don't have to struggle with luggage in the aisle as we move to our seat. The same thing that most everyone else is doing especially the locals. In nearly 20 years of European train travel we have never had any problems. We do have a day bag that is tossed on the overhead rack. They only trains that we are slightly more concerned is a local or regionale train with a lot of frequent quick stops where, in theory, someone could jump on, grab a bag and jump off. In that case we try to bury our luggage in the back or corner of the bin and sometimes will cable them together but mostly everyone else is just throwing their luggage in the bins. If disappearing luggage was a serious problems the locals would not be placing their luggage in the bins.

When you purchase a ticket it will indicate train number, car number, and seat numbers. Know all three. The train number is critical when looking at the departure board for track number. Sometimes that board can be confusing since it will list the end stop and a few of the bigger in between stops but your stop may not be listed. So know that train number. Once on the platform there will be huge numbers on the cars either 1 for first class or 2 for second. Near the door will be a smaller sign with the car number. So if riding 2nd class walk pass all the cars with a big 1 then start looking for your specific car number. It is easy. By the third train you will not think twice about it. In Italy ALL seats are reserved except for the Regionale trains which are completely open seating. In fact, no seat is guaranteed. If full you stand till a seat becomes available.

Regarding comments about needing to move other people's bags that are already in a luggage rack -- to where would those bags be moved? One they've been stowed in the rack, they're there until the owner removes them. If a thief wants to remove them instead, it's helpful of the owner has taken precautions. A bag may contain more than just "second-hand" clothes, but even if not, it would be difficult for a traveler losing those clothes on a trip. You don't want to make things inconvenient for other passengers, but you also don't want to make things convenient for a crook.

I think they might be speaking of if someone cabled their suitcase to a particular part and it was in the way of other bags being able to fit, you may need to move it to the right or left, or turn it on its side, or even get a bag from underneath it on a previous stop than yours, which all would be difficult if you bag was completely immovable...

Lulu,
Re "Is there some sort of PA system that makes announcement before stops?", yes, on long distance trains they usually make an announcement "In a few minutes we will be arriving at xxx". This is usually 5-10 minutes before you arrive at xxx.and is the signal for people to start getting up and collecting their belongings. The catch is, that announcement is usually made in the local language.
If I am in a country where I don't understand the language, I usually print out the list of stops and times. That way I know when we have passed the previous station, and when we are due to arrive at the station I want. If I hear an announcement, and lots of people start standing up, that is my signal.
Stops of under 5 minutes are common, 2 minutes for the passengers to get off, 2 minutes for the new passengers to get on. If you wait until the train stops, and then leasurely try to make your way to the end of the car, you will face a group of oncoming passengers trying to stow their luggage and move in the opposite direction.

On local trains, commuter routes, métro etc. with frequent stops there is often no announcement but you may get an electronic indicator showing the next stop. These stop for less than one minute.

Cyn, the problem with locking bags is you may block in other bags belonging to other people who are getting off at earlier stations. A person can get very annoyed if they can't get their bag off because they can't move yours.

Because I will be traveling alone on trains for the first time in a couple of months, I do plan to use a cable lock to fasten my luggage if I think I need to based on the layout of the train and where I'm sitting. But if I do this, I will definitely do it in a way that takes up the least amount of room and that will not keep other people from putting their luggage next to it.

I would never put my rolling bag on the seat next to me (for the reason mentioned about dirt) but I wouldn't hesitate to do that with my smaller messenger bag. But I'll remove it in an instant if the train starts to fill up.

And you do need to be prepared to hop off the train with your luggage when it stops. I read an account not long ago on a blog of a couple getting separated at a train station when the wife stepped down and the husband was still on board trying to get the bags together when the doors closed and the train took off. He had to pay for a taxi back from the next station.

Michael makes several good points. You always need to assess the situation, and sometimes locking up a bag isn't feasible, or even necessary. Other times, it's nice to have options while allowing everyone else on the train access to their luggage, too. If a bag has a strap, it's even possible to latch the strap around something, which would at least slow down a grab-and-go thief. Hopefully that's never going to happen to someone, but, again, options are nice.

We were on the Circumvesuviana train in Italy 2 years ago, and needed to get off at the last stop before Naples. Another American couple and their 3 kids were onboard, too, and we had gotten ourselves near the door as the train was coming near the station. As the train emptied out, the wife and one kid got off, and the husband and 2 other kids remained onboard, arguing that this was not their stop. We hesitated getting off, to try to help them figure out where they were trying to go, but before we could get ourselves off the train, the doors closed and the train took off. Luckily, there was just the one more stop in Naples before the train headed back in the other direction, so we were only delayed a few minutes, and returned to our original intended stop. In the meantime, the wife called the husband's mobile phone and gave him an earful. We've vowed to try to help others when we can, but to not sacrifice getting where we need to go on our limited vacation time. Moral: offer advice after you've gotten off the train yourself! :-)

So many great detailed and thoughtful responses. Thank you very much for the time you took to write these, it's really invaluable for us novice travelers. I feel more comfortable navigating when on the Train now...EXCEPT finding the track! LOL! Now I'm nervous making sure we read the departure board correctly. I think what we'll do is just get there in plenty of time to make sure we know we are in the right place and keep that Train No. memorized.

If you can find the correct gate at the airport you can find the correct platform since they tend to go 1,2,3,4,5....... One caution - the departure platform is often not posted until 30 min or less prior to departure. So if you are early don't panic if you don't immediately see your train. Second, we always stay at the head of the platform in view of the departure board until about ten mins prior to departure. BECAUSE if it is a large station the platform can be changed within the last 20 mins or less sometimes. If you are waiting for a train, an announcement is made, and suddenly everyone starts moving in another direction, suspect that a platform change was announced, and ask some questions. Also, we often ask someone who is standing if the train is going to X. Just double checking.

There are two types of stations. A station where trains originate or end are called termini. The platforms will look like the fingers on your hand. And sometimes there could be 20 or more platforms. Termini in Rome is good example. The trains pull in and back out or back in and pull out. The other station type is a pass through where trains continue straight through the station. Generally these stations are much smaller with only a half dozen (sometimes a few more) platforms. Sometimes if the train originates at your termini (station), the train may be actually sitting there for 30 minutes or more waiting to go. In that case, if the doors are open, do ahead and board.

If I am traveling an unfamiliar route, I take a photo of the section of the Departures poster (yellow) that shows the stops for my train, and make sure I am ready to get off soon after reaching the station before mine.

I always write it in a small note book. But that is a better idea. Never too old or too experienced to learn something.

Zoe, Frank,
If you look up train times on www.bahn.de expand it to show the individual trains and then click on the train number, it will show you all the stops and times at each stop for that train. You can then print it out. That is better than the departures poster which only shows as many stops as there is room for.

I do this when travelling in a country where I do not understand the languages of the announcements. I can mentally tick off each station, and know if the train is on time or not.

As others have mentioned, if you know your stop is coming up, best to be prepared and have your bags - or if there are too many people in front of the luggage, at least be up and ready to grab and go. Last year we were coming into Rome Termini, and I got up, got my bags and was waiting to get off while the train was pulling in. My husband and mother for some reason decided to wait until the train stopped - I'm looking at him like...get your stuff and get up here...and he's like...we have time...sigh. So I get off the train and while they are still trying to get their bags and get out the door, people are coming onto the train...I waited a few minutes before they were able to get off. It was not just annoying to me, but I'm sure it was just as annoying to the people trying to get onto the trains with their bags and having to fight by these two trying to get off...of course - people are coming on in both directions...

And it does help if you know how many stops before yours, or know which stop maybe comes right before. We almost missed getting off in Villefranche in France because I stupidly thought it was after Cannes, which was quite a few more stops away (coming from Italy)...best to do your homework if you are getting off in a smaller town that might not be so obvious like Rome or Florence...

Chris, great tip. I like having the photo of the poster because it's less paper to carry, but I will take your advice for the next trip (printing at hotels when needed rather than carrying the paper, I take a lot of trains.

I once missed my stop in Germany. I had the station and time written down and when the time came and we pulled into a station, I looked at the sign on the platform and it was different than the station we were supposed to get off at. So we stayed on and then asked the conductor when we would arrive at the station I had written down. He pointed behind him and gestured that we had just left it. Oops! I later realized that every station had the same sign on the platform: it was the German word for "exit." Lesson? Even writing down your stop and time isn't foolproof or at least know what the local word for "exit" is...

Douglas, great story. Back when there were lots of night trains, on my first trip, I would be jarred awake at every station, and I would semi-consciously wonder how many times we had pulled into "Uscita".