Solo Train Travel

I once asked the "Man in Seat 61" what he does when traveling solo and has to use the facilities. He said, "You take your smaller bag (valuables) and leave the big one. No one wants your clothes."

I will also add to go between stops. This way if someone does try to take something you can alert the conductor so no one can get off the train at the next stop until your bag is found.

Most thieves want to get on and off quickly so while at a stop you are most vulnerable.

Great advice! Thank you.

Hadley Hemingway left a suitcase with all of Earnest Hemingways manuscripts and their copies in a suitcase under her seat when she went to visit the dining car. It was stolen; there were no other copies so all those manuscripts as yet unpublished were forever lost. it didn't do the marriage any good.

Take the backpack with you and make sure your electronics, meds, important personal items are in it. the suitcase in the overhead rack is relatively safe but I would't leave the original manuscripts in it.

They want the purse, the computer bag, maybe the backpack; the suitcase is relatively safe. Years ago I was on an Italian trin where the woman across from us was standing at her seat putting her suitcase in the overhead rack and she had her purse on the seat in front of her. Some Thief who boarded the train and walked down the aisles looking for pelf, snagged her purse without her noticing. There she was without her passport, money, etc. Pickpockets and thieves are good at what they do. Where platform security is lax i.e. no ticket required to access the platform, thieves can board, walk down the train and get off before it leaves. This is less common now that platforms usually require a ticket for access, but an amateur on the train might still spot a backpack and assume it contains goodies and snag it so definitely take that with you.

Back in the good old days, there were signs on the train platforms visible from inside the trains warning you not to use the train's restroom while the train was stopped at the station. That was because the toilet was basically just hole in the floor that emptied onto the tracks. Those days are pretty much gone, but that was another reason not to use the restroom when the train was stopped at the station.

I travel on a lot of trains during my trips, and some of the trips have been solo. And, I like my two cups of coffee in the morning, so I usually have to use a bathroom on the trains. Inside the bathroom, there’s rarely a spot to sit or hang your backpack beside the floor (yuck!), so I put my backpack on backwards.

I do check the route & timing of stops and pick a time when there won’t be a stop for the next ten minutes.

I will also add that I would put a bigger carabiner on your day pack to help with hanging it if there is a hook. I use a Hero Clip type thing on my personal item/day pack. The Hero Clip is better than a regular carabiner as it has several different ways to position it. I saw them the other day at a local Sierra Trading Post if you have one of them near you.

Link to the Amazon page:

https://tinyurl.com/ypp6daar

I usually take a screenshot of my train route from the train app so I know where the stops are and how long between so I can gauge my comfort stop!

I agree with the advice above, although I will add that once a gentleman asked me to watch his phone as it was charging, then disappeared for about 15 minutes. Another time the lady across the aisle asked me to keep an eye on what appeared to be her purse, then vanished for almost an hour! Go figure.

I agree with the other replies. Take your smaller carry-on with any valuables and important documents with you to the WC. I also agree this it's not a good idea to use the facilities when in stations, as if someone was going to pinch your larger luggage, that's the most likely time to do that. I always try to choose a seat where I can keep an eye on the luggage rack at the end of the car. On one occasion, some twit threw my bag out into the foyer so that he could make room for his bag. It would have been very easy for my bag to get nicked or simply thrown outside just to make room in the foyer.

You're not supposed to use the toilets anyways when the train is stopped. Stops are really the only time your bag is vulnerable; thief can grab and dash. While train is moving, they will not pull a bag off of the overhead rack and rummage through it. Too many witnesses and no escape. Just keep your small valuables with you at all times. And be sociable, get to know your seat mate and ask them to keep an eye on your overhead bag if you still feel nervous.

Thank you all for your replies. You have given lots of great advice and I feel better about things. Thank you!

High speed (expensive) trains are pretty safe. Regional trains (commuter trains) might be more at risk of theft.
Still follow the above advice.

I bought a cross body sling bag that sits on my chest, and then I also bought these anti-theft clips (link below) that allow me to clip any zippers shut so they won't open as easily. it isn't necessarily 100% safe - I suppose a pickpocket could still shimmy their way and get the zipper open, but in my experience these clips make it enough of a hassle that they leave me be. It is a little bit annoying because you have to un-clip them any time you need anything from your bag, but i feel safer having them, especially in crowded areas like trains or buses.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4LVKX4K?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

What’s in the carryon can only be expendable items so if it’s stolen you will be sad but not devastated and you can replace the lost clothes and toiletries. Train tickets, Passport, credit cards, cash and drivers license are in the money belt/neck wallet. iPhone is on a lanyard around your neck. Or in the backpack. Backpack with meds, spare eyeglasses, change of underwear and socks, and electronics goes with you to the WC. Backpack is on your back or chest while you “go” or you can use a carabiner to hook it to the door. NEVER use the restroom while the train is at a station. That’s when you can stand up, stretch your legs and make sure your suitcase doesn’t get stolen.