Trains and luggage in Italy.

The problem with reading this board and others is that only problems are posted. After a while you begin to think that everyone has problem when, in fact, only a few do. We have done 300+ days over the past 15+ years with NO problems. Ridden lot of trains, spend time in some of the great pickpocket capitols of the world, and haven't last a dime. We take reasonable precautions but we don't think that what we do are extreme precautions. Most of the time we store our luggage on the luggage bins and it has never been bothered. Same as most of the locals. Can you have problems ??? Sure !! Will you have problems ??? Probably not. Personally I would encourage to try to get by with less luggage but that is your choice. And relax, train is safe and secure.

Shari,

If you're concerned about your ability to lift your luggage on & off the trains (or onto the overhead racks), I'd definitely consider using smaller bags. As Larry mentioned, changing trains can be "challenging" in some stations so you'll have to be prepared to navigate the 25 stairs quickly. Some stations in Switzerland have ramps as well as stairs, but you should be prepared for the "worst case scenario".

I'm somewhat of a "senior" also, and this is one reason I'm still using a Backpack - it's far easier to get around stations and travel by train.

As someone else suggested, a small Cable Lock would be a good idea for each of your rolling cases. Some thieves use the tactic of grabbing luggage when the train pulls into a station, and they disappear very quickly. If the Bag is well secured to the luggage rack, it will be safer (but no guarantees). However, keep in mind that some trains only stop for a minute at stations, so have the locks open and be ready to exit with your luggage as soon as the doors open.

If you're travelling from Switzerland to Nice, I doubt you'll be going anywhere near Venice. You'll probably change trains in either Milano or Genova.

There are sometimes "Porters" that will help with bags, but be very careful! On a trip last year in Germany and Austria, I spoke with a woman who enlisted some help getting her and her mother's huge wheelie bags onto the train. The "Porter" also helped himself to her cash and credit cards via an open-top Purse! The Porter will also expect some compensation.

I'm hoping to get back to Locarno for another visit this year also.

Good luck and happy travels!

There are no official porters. Sometimes there are some young guys offering to help for a tip. HOWEVER, there is a high probability that their full time job is pickpocket so they should probably be avoided. I don't think there is any difference in luggage security between first and second class. However, we have only ridden first class once and my memory is vague about luggage storage that time.

26" bags are big and heavy. Have your considered using to smaller bags? Two smaller bags are always easier to handle than one bug one. I think the bigger isssue with large, heavy bags is getting them into the train car. The entry steps are narrow and steep so you need to be able to lift that bag at least waist high to get into the car. Once in the car you can pull or slide the bag. It is getting in and out that can be the tough part. Plus there is always a big jam of people and luggage getting on and off.

I would put the suitcases in the luggage bins near the entrance and use a cable lock to secure the bags to something or just to each other. It would be hard for someone to grab two big heavy bags locked together.

There are reports of luggage being grabbed but we have never a problem in all of our travel and personally do not know of anyone else who has had problems.

The space between the seats is kind of triangle shaped so it was depend on the height and width of your bags.

Frank is correct that there is no difference in security between 1st and 2nd class. There are luggage racks over the seats along both sides of the carriage. The problem is - can you lift them up there and bring them down. On the Eurostars, and as Frank described, the seating is such that you can fit a fairly large roller bag between the seats. If they fit, you don't have to lift. There is also the space at the ends of the carriages. This is the the thiefs favorite spot. If you don't secure them, you could lose them. Thieves really know how to work the train stations in Italy.

Next, the trains have 3 narrow steps up and down. Your bags are large and you will have a bit of fun especially when other passengers are trying to get by you.

Finally, the train stations themselves. Often times when you change trains, you have to change platforms. In most mid-size train stations, you don't walk across the tracks. You go down about 25 stairs, go through a tunnel and go back up 25 stairs. It's bumpty bump, lift lift all the way. It's hell when you don't have a lot of time to change trains. My wife and I are both seniors and I'm speaking from experience.

As Frank also mentioned, be wary of people wanting to help. Except for people on the train helping you lift your luggage to the overhead racks, these people really want your wallet.

Thank you both. This is our fifth trip over and I remember the steps, expecially in Paris!! We will be leaving Locarno and probably only making one stop, either Venice or somewhere else on the route. When we get to Nice we have a condo for 10 days and go from there to the airport home. I don't know if it is worth buying new bags for the one stop. We have excellent back packs but I don't think we are up to that anymore. It is so disappointing that worrying about theft of bags can spoil the anticipation of a trip.

Thanks again. We have four days with no plans and that is why we thought we would travel to Venice or just stay on track and stay in Genova or one of the small towns along the Riviera di Ponente. From reading this and other threads we are now thinking of using our backpacks - after all I do go to the gym three times a week!!

Shari,

As you have four free days, you might consider towns somewhat "in the area" rather than Venice (unless you're really intent on seeing Venice). Some towns that come to mind - Stresa, Cinque Terre, Lucca, or towns on Lago di Como. That way you'll have the better part of four days for touring.

Cheers!

Speaking from recent experience (October LY), the CT is one place you definitely want to avoid with luggage. The only way I got up the steps was because some

Florence - the train station is street-level, no steps at all, but the streets are cobblestone, the sidewalks are very narrow and full of holes. OTOH with taxis, you shouldn't have a problem.

Venice - there is a ramp on the side of the train station, so you can avoid the front stairs. Inside there were either elevators or moving inclined walkways (not escaltors) so that was easy too. Once you are out on the street, if you don't take a water taxi, you will have to get your bags on and off the vaporetto (water bus).

I loved both Venice and Florence, completely different experiences. I strongly encourage you to stop at one or the other! Pack light - a 40 lb bag is easier to manage than a 50 lb bag, no matter what the size.

Take cable locks, just for your peace of mind on the train. If you get the ones with combination locks, make sure you have the combinations written down in several places on your person, just in case.

We're seniors who travelled by train last year in Italy. We were in Bergamo, Milan, Padua and Venice.
Most of the big stations had an elevator so you didn't have to use the stairs, but not the smaller stations.
At one station, there was no platform and we had to lift our suitcases up onto the train. A young man helped me or I would have been stuck!
We left our luggage in the space provided at the end of the carriage, and we did 2 things. We tied bright coloured fabric round the handles, so the cases were highly visible. It meant it was easier to keep an eye on them from a distance, and also we hoped that it would deter a thief.
We also tied the 2 cases together.
We really enjoyed travelling by train in Italy and found everyone to be very friendly and helpful.
Good luck!

I am curious about some of these responses. When you say "attach with a cord to the luggage rack" do you mean that the luggage rack is in a different part of the train than you are sitting? I ask because one response said to make sure you unlock quick because the train only stops for a few seconds.

I'm trying to picture it - is it like on a Greyhound bus where the luggage is kept separate underneath?

Thanks!

Deana, luggage isn't kept underneath like a bus. There are different coach configurations, but on many there are racks by the doors at either end of the car where you can stack luggage. There are also often racks overhead.

If I remember correctly, the luggage racks are usually near the doors of the train. The racks have metal poles. You just can loop your chain around the pole. It only takes a second to unlock your chain.. you should have plenty of time to get off the train.

My carry on sized suitcase fit in the space between the seats with no problem--- but I"m not sure that a larger case would. Your best bet would be to see if you can winnow your stuff down to a smaller and easlier to hoist bag. The train steps are steep and the passage narrow. On the ES train from Termini to Florence we stowed our bags on the luggage racks near the door without incident-- but of course there were no stops in between. On the regionale train from Siena to Assisi we stored them behind and over our seats just to be on the safe side. If you feel concerned, purchase an inexpensive cable lock. I"m happy for Frank that he's never been the victim of theft in travelling, but I'm still going to take precautions to keep myself and my stuff safe.

please reconsider the size of your bags. In most cases they will need to be lifted over your head and put above the seats. The space between seats on the trains we were on is only just big enough for small, 20 inch or so bags. Plus, at times the train can be very crowded and there you are lugging big bags through people, lookign for seat! On our last trip we had finally learned our lesson (the hard way) and it was a much more stress free trip. So what if we had to hand wash more often....hope my reply is not too late for your trip. Happy travels

We are now back and had no problem with the bags. I took a 26" roll and my husband took a canvas carryall/backpack. We always had plenty of time at the stations to get on and off. I found that when I went to lift my bag onto the train someone always offered to help. On the Italian trains where six are seated in a compartment we left the 26" bag in the corridor with the handle pulled up under the bar under the train window. This did not block passage for others. The only time we found our bags annoying was when on the way to Nice our train broke down in Italy. We all had to take our bags down a set of stairs and up to the other side to go on a different train to Nice. It was very hot and everyone was upset as nobody notified anybody as to what was actually going on and what we were to do. Excellent trip all in all.