Is secure baggage storage now available at or near the station so we can stop for a day tour with a local guide?
Not according to Rick Steves on a recent radio show. I'll have a look at the website for the station a little later.
according to this it still is:
http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=09dd82a9ec4eb110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Gerri, that's for Venezia Santa Lucia, the station on the island of Venice. The OP is asking about the city of Vicenza.
Unfortunately, the Trenitalia page for the services in the stations in the Veneto region (which includes Vicenza), doesn't have a column for left luggage: Veneto train station services
At least one posting on TripAdvisor says you can leave luggage at the TI: Vicenza TI for left luggage. However, given that it was posted by a one-time poster on TA, I'm not sure I would want to rely on it.
Our book editors have already done the research for our 2015 guidebooks. So far it looks like there still isn't a good luggage storage at the train station in Vicenza.
@Michael, I stand corrected. Was reading w/o glasses.
According to trip advisor, Luggage storage is available @ Tourist Information Piazza Matteotti #12
I would call to check and make sure.