Luggage on Trenitalia trains, new rules

Special conditions for baggage transport on the Frecce

Starting from 1 March 2024, you can carry up to a maximum of two bags per passenger for free on the Frecce. If you travel in 2nd class and in the Standard and Premium service levels, the sum of the total dimensions of your baggage (length plus width plus depth), including pockets, wheels and handles, must not exceed 161 cm (of which each dimension not exceeding 80 cm); if you travel in 1st class and in the Executive and Business service levels, the sum of the total dimensions of your baggage (length plus width plus depth), including pockets, wheels and handles, must not exceed 183 cm (of which each dimension does not greater than 120 cm). If you have skis, prams, strollers, musical instruments, bicycles (all types, provided they are dismantled and/or foldable) and electric scooters you can transport them in addition to the number of pieces of luggage allowed, provided that the sum of the total dimensions of the skis, prams, strollers and musical instruments is not greater than 200 cm (length plus width plus depth) and that the dimensions of the bag in which you want to transport your bicycle or electric scooter are not greater than 80x110x45 cm.
If you travel on the Frecce, you are encouraged to place a label on each bag containing your name and contact details in a clear and legible manner.
You can only place your luggage in the dedicated spaces and cannot store them near the train access doors, in the vestibules and transit corridors.
You cannot pack your luggage and you cannot carry retail material on board.
In any case, transport is permitted provided that your luggage does not hinder and/or damage other passengers, does not hinder the service activities of railway staff and does not damage the cars.
If you do not comply with the provisions, you will be required to pay a fine of €50 and you will still have to take care of unloading your luggage at the first station where the train stops.

For clarity, by "sum total of your baggage" do you think they mean that both bags individually cannot exceed 161 cm combined length/depth/height,, or that combined sizes of both bags together must not exceed 161 cm?

I think they mean individually but, well, sure hope they mean individually!

After quite the experience on trenitalia last year when premium class out of Venice was filled with passengers who each had 2 HUGE hard side suitcases and a backpack each, I for one am so pleased to see this. The conductor tried and tried in vain for proper stowage which wasn’t going to be possible due to the size and quantity of the bags and finally just had to give up. Later on the same train a customer had a hissy because there was nowhere for his huge bags when he got on. Luckily, what we travel with will fit nicely into the new parameters as they did then too!

Another reason to pack light and pack small.

I am pretty sure that the sum of the dimensions of ONE bag cannot exceed 161 cm.
Also any of the 3 dimensions of one piece of luggage (Length or Width or Height) cannot exceed 80 cm. That means that if you have a bag/case/box that is 40x90x30 (total=160 cm), although it is within 161 cm total, however it is still exceeding the parameters because one of the dimensions is over 80 cm

Wow, that'll cramp some folks' style.

You cannot pack your luggage and you cannot carry retail material on board.

eh?

I take it that that means no onboard selling (I hope) but what could "You cannot pack your luggage" possibly mean? I have yet to get stuff into my luggage without packing it.

I hope that's a translator issue

OK, if it's the dimensions of each bag individually, that's OK. It was "the sum of the total dimensions of your baggage" that was hanging me up. Probably just a translation thing but didn't want to assume. Say it was the total measurements of BOTH bags together, a 21" RS carryon + Civita daypack together (76.25 inches = 193.7 cm) would exceed the allowable 161 cm and 183 cm for any tier of ticket.

So March 1 is Friday, and I wonder how many travelers with very large bags are in for a nasty surprise. It's not like they had a lot of prior notice?

So March 1 is Friday, and I wonder how many travelers with very large bags are in for a nasty surprise. It's not like they had a lot of prior notice?

Actually, the news is well hidden in the trenitalia web site. I got it reading a Swiss newspaper.

It all seems reasonable, but I don't think I'm the only person who travels with one suitcase (one step up from carry-on size), a purse and a tote bag. Am I going to need to put the purse inside the tote bag? Fortunately, I use one of those unstructured packable nylon totes, so the purse would fit unless I needed to stow an outer garment in the tote bag.

I am curious about the same thing as Nigel. What does “ You cannot pack your luggage and you cannot carry retail material on board” mean?

I hope the cruise ships advise their passengers of this change in advance.

I wonder whether the bit about packing luggage is meant to forbid boarding a train with a pack on one's back. That's all I can think of.

Deepl gave this translation:

You cannot pack luggage or carry on board materials intended for retail sale.

With some punctuation added it reads a bit better [ You cannot pack luggage, or carry on board, materials intended for retail sale.]

I think they are trying to say you cannot bring a case or 2 of Girl Scout cookies and sell them on the train.

Brilliant, Joe!

perhaps they mean you just can't transport retail goods as luggage or in luggage. I can't infer any reference to selling on the train. I think that's already not allowed.

We are thinking of taking the train from Naples to FCO Exec class. Is the luggage stored near us and in sight(suitcases and carryons)?
Thank you!

Is the luggage stored near us and in sight(suitcases and carryons)?

It would have been best to create a separate thread for your question. Your carry-on may be stored on the rack above your head - there should also be a luggage storage area near the door. But in Executive class you're unlikely to encounter anyone interested in stealing your luggage. And you will either be on a non-stop or one stop train, so little opportunity for your bags to disappear.

Thank you! New to the site..

This will definitely affect the people who like to extend some travel before or after their cruise. I really hope cruise lines will share information like this per country to avoid disappointment for those travelers and very much to avoid the workers on the trains receiving loud complaining, etc. when they’re trying to keep the trains running.

Personally, it certainly is much nicer to not have the gigantic suitcases clogging the aisles, loading & unloading, etc. when it’s difficult to maneuver around them.

Two thoughts.

Yet another reason to travel for ultralight. Currently using a 30L backpack as my only luggage. Used to use 46L and before that 58L.

When I place luggage in those bins near the exits, I lock luggage to the rack using a small combination lock and wire cable - just in case some “accidentally” gets off before I do and takes the wrong bag.

Keep in mind that the new policy appears to be limited to the various Frecce flavors. So you should still be able to travel heavy on either Intercity or Regionale trains. So not the end of the world for train travel in Italy. Also, how is Italo going to respond?

Italo currently has their own luggage-size limit for Smart carriages:

https://www.italotreno.it/en/the-train/travel-ambiences

i'll agree it's not the end of world - certainly not an issue for us - but pretty sure there are giant-bag travelers in Italy right now who are unaware of a new rule which took effect today. Jean, I hope as well that the cruise lines inform their customers; we see enough of them who spend time in the country pre and post cruise.

I wish SBB would do something like this in Switzerland. So many people with 28” Pullman-style suitcases, sometimes with an accompanying 24” bag as well, making it almost impossible to get through the cars.

According to posts on Tripadvisor, the new rule has been suspended while Trenitalia reviews the rule with consumer groups.

that didn't last long

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-trenitalia-luggage-limit-frecce-trains.html

For Pete's sake...
Would be surprised if individuals assigned to policing sizes, issuing fines or throwing offenders + their giant bags off at next stations, and taking it in the shorts from royally P.O'd customers - all on very short notice - hadn't raised some cain?

Andrea Casu, member of the parliamentary transport committee,... said: "The Ryanair model for Trenitalia is wrong."

From the link Mary provided.

Not sure there is a better one line summation of the situation

The sentence related to carrying items for retail refers to the practice, very common in Naples in the old days, of getting on board trains to sell stuff, including foodstuff, to passengers along the way, and sometimes just for the 10 minutes before the train departed. I don’t know if people do that still, including the African migrants selling stuff in the streets, given the high cost of tickets on high speed trains..

BREAKING NEWS

Due to protests by consumers’ associations Trenitalia has revoked the new baggage regulations which were supposed to be effective today.

So relax and keep carrying as many ship trunks as you wish.

very common in Naples in the old days, of getting on board trains to sell stuff, including foodstuff, to passengers along the way, and sometimes just for the 10 minutes before the train departed

I also remember when windows opened wide (and were often used to get luggage in and out of compartments) the vendors would be on the platform and go up and down the outside of the train, when it stopped for a few minutes, selling food and newspapers through the windows.