Managing Luggage on the Swiss Trains

You manage your luggage in trains so don’t over pack , you will regret it immensely

Luggage going in the luggage area near entrance and smaller bags can be placed overhead.

Yes, you manage your own luggage though usually someone might offer to assist a struggling passenger. I try to pack so I can manage my own. I am more confident traveling and feel safer when I can easily carry and stow my luggage. Except when trains were very crowded (like the end of the business day from Lausanne to Geneva or Zurich to Luzern) there was more than enough space overhead for modest to medium sized luggage. I don't feel like it is as much of a concern in Switzerland, but I want to be close to my luggage. I wouldn't stow my luggage at the front of a car and then sit away from it.

I regularly leave my luggage in a rack near the door (if space is available) without any concern about theft. Why would a thief choose my bag to steal? Neither my attire nor the luggage suggests that the contents are valuable (and they are not).

Those overhead racks, though: I haven't been on a Swiss train in ages, but elsewhere in Europe the overhead racks are most often too high for me. I'm 5'4".

Aside from storage issues, do not discount the difficulty of wrestling anything other than one small bag up the 4 very narrow and shallow steps that must be negotiated as you board most trains. (Some do sit lower; I don't know what you'll encounter in Switzerland.) Then you may need to get the suitcase down the aisle, which is not so easy if it's larger than a carry-on size. I do travel with a 23" or 23-1/2" wheeled bag, but it is awkward.

Jeannee, Answering this and your other similar question on Italy, you always manage your own luggage on all train companies in Europe. It is your responsibility to get your luggage from the entrance to the station, through the station to the platform, onto the train and stowed in your coach. And vice-versa when you arrive at your destination. There are often 2-3 steps up into the train. The easy way is to put your bag on the top step, then get in yourself and pick up your bag.
This is why "pack light" is such a mantra, if you can't schlep it, don't bring it.

I recommend this webpage, which has info about luggage on trains, and photos: https://www.seat61.com/luggage-on-european-trains.htm

BTW, be aware that trains only stop at small stations for 1-2 minutes. You have to be ready to get off or on quickly.

The only difference between my answer to your same question in Italy is that many of the Swiss trains are double deckers, so once you are on it it is either a few steps down to the lower level (much less to see because you are down low but easier if you have trouble with luggage because of the fewer steps) or several steps up to the upper level (great views but more stairs and the staircase is not straight).

Based on these questions can you tell us a little of your situation? Are you bringing excessive luggage? Are you traveling alone? What is your precise concern?

Many of the Swiss trains have wheelchair-accessible train carriages, with floors that are level with the station platform floor, and a little panel that connects the train carriage with the platform. You can easily roll your suitcase into those train cars.

The Swiss trains also have luggage service available for a fee:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/services/luggage/luggage.html

I agree that the overhead storage can be quite high. I'm 5-4, as well. I have a tall husband and thus tall kids so I typically have "built in" help. I still think that its prudent to pack as light as possible. It can be hard to get on a train while carrying luggage and I have come across train stations that have stairs and not ramps. My recollection is that the Swiss Train stations had ramps, or elevators in the larger one. This can all sound overwhelming, however, once you gain some experience its easy. Also, every Swiss train employee that I ran into spoke English and was very pleasant and helpful.

Slight correction to what LindaL posted: "The Swiss trains also have luggage service available for a fee:"
Yes, there is a luggage service, but it does not travel on the same train as you do.

• It only works between certain stations (but there is a more expensive door-to-door service).

Timings
Registration. By 7 p.m. today.
Collection. From 9 a.m. two days after registration.

Normal passenger trains do not have a separate luggage compartment (that only exists in Hollywood films), and loading and unloading luggage on each train would require more staff and delay the trains so they would be a lot slower.

A couple of months ago we traveled on a very full double decker train from Luzern to Zurich that was continuing on to Zurich airport, so lots of luggage on the train. The luggage storage overhead and at the end of the cars filled up, but people went ahead and stacked luggage on the floor at the end of the cars because there is more clearance there, or in the aisles next to seats. The train personnel didn't seem fazed by it so we assumed it was common on a busy train with an airport stop. Bottom line, everyone got their luggage on board, but many had to leave it out of sight at end of car. We didn't feel this was unsafe, just difficult to maneuver into the toilet or to get off the train except at Zurich's main station where many people got off. At Zurich we changed trains and continued on to Munich, that train was a little less busy but we still kept a bag in the aisle, as did other passengers, because the designated storage space was full and the bags were to heavy to put overhead. So yes, you need to move and manage your luggage, but I wouldn't worry about space, people just make do with whatever space is available.

I used to be one of those kind people who helped others with their too-big and oversized luggage...until I hurt my back and almost ruined the rest of the trip. From now on I handle my own luggage and you should too. Don't expect others to help you with your overpacking. If you can't carry it, drag it, haul it, lift it on your own...then do the right thing and leave your extra stuff at home.