Baggage secure on train?

Hi Alan. If you have 'carry-on' or smaller size bags, there will usually be room within sight for your bags, either on a rack above your seat, or in between seats. However, if you have larger bags, or if the train is crowded, you may have to put your bags on a rack out of sight. In this case, theft is usually not a problem but can happen; some people like to bring a small bike lock type cable for peace of mind. Enjoy your trip!

First read this, from the best website there is about train travel: http://seat61.com/luggage-on-european-trains.htm

There are 3 places to put luggage: On the overhead racks, between the backs of two back-to-back seats, or on floor-to-ceiling luggage racks either at the end or in the middle of the coach. The racks you will only find on newer long-distance trains.
The best place is the first two, then you can keep your luggage in sight. Depending on where your seat is, the racks may be out of sight.
You do not need to bring a cable and lock, virtually nobody uses them. They can also annoy other passengers, if they have to get their luggage out from behind your locked-in case if they are getting of at a station before you.

This highlights the rule: only carry as much luggage as you can put in and out of the overhead racks without assistance. You also have to carry your own luggage on and off trains, and carry it around stations, which may involve steps.

The bulk of luggage storage is in the bins near the entrance. Theft cannot be a big problems because nearly everyone throws their luggage on these shelves or bins. As a little pease of mind we use a small retractable cable lock to lock our two bags together, That way if someone grabs one of our bags hopefully the other bag will be a surprise and maybe an anchor. In 20+ years of travel the theory has never been tested. I would not lock to anything solid in the off chance that I could not get it unlock fast enough to get off the train. The overhead racks will hold day bag or a small carry on and we generally wrap a strap around one of the bags to discourage anyone from walking by and grabbing the bag if I am not in the seat or asleep. Again, never tested.

Personally don't think it is a problem but do take a few precautions.

Usually not a problem, but my husband does get out of his seat at every stop to check on our bags. He was born and raised in Europe, so he knows it's unlikely, but thefts do happen. Precautions are good.

We just place our carry on bags above our seats. I would recommend wearing your money belt, so worst case, it would be an inconvenience. I do notice some people flashing their new electronics while passing the time on a train. You may want to be aware of that, too, to not draw attention for potential pickpocketing.

It is also fairly expensive for that convenience. The other issue in Spain is that access to the platform is controlled so that reduces the potential. Theft is not going to be by other passengers. If theft occurs it will be when the train is stopped and someone gets on with the other boarding passengers, grabs a bag and gets off looking like a departing passenger. In Spain you have to have a ticket to be on the platform so that kills someone just hanging out on the platform looking for an opportunity.

First of all, you can see the train route before you purchase the tickets (the "ver corrido" link). The fastest trains originate in Sevilla and are non-stop to Madrid. A few stop in Cordoba. Those taking some minutes longer will have 2-3 other stops and may originate before Sevilla. Obviously, the fewer stops, the less you need to be concerned. The same applies to the train from Barcelona to Madrid (when you'll be on the RS tour). On the Renfe high-speed trains, all the seats face forward except for the last row, so no back-to-back places. Those are on the TGV from Paris to Barcelona.

If the journey originates in Sevilla, the first passengers on the train get first crack at the floor-to-ceiling racks. If there's a lot of luggage, passengers will rearrange bags to fit more in - like moving smaller bags to upper racks.

Lastly, some 10-15 minutes before the train pulls into the station, passengers begin to collect their bags and line up by the doors. If you've left your luggage near the doors, you'll want to be among them.

Never use cables and locks -- it is grossly inconsiderate to others who may have trouble putting in or retrieving their cases when someone has created a barricade. If you are nervous, get up at stops.

In Spain, it is less a problem than elsewhere because there is train security at boarding. People without tickets don't get on trains, so you don't have the thieves you have in Italy or France who hop on trains, steal things and hop off at station stops. It can happen. It doesn't happen often. Most trains just have large luggage storage at the ends of cars where they are out of sight.

On a trip from Granada to Madrid we witnessed an almost physical fight amongst passengers over the limited luggage storage space. Some old guy had put carry on size luggage in the rack and those who had no room for their large suitcases were pulling it out to put in the overhead racks. The owner was not pleased. There was much shouting and some tossing of luggage about.

If possible travel with small enough bags for the overheads. If not, be sure to board as early as possible and stow gear in the racks and you may want to go to the rack area at stops. Often the area between cars gets piled with luggage as the racks are full.

Just a follow up-the racks were very close to our seats. I never felt oiur luggage was in jeapordy. The cable i brought just in case is being returned for a refund. Train travel was the best!