How to Secure Luggage on Train?

Debbie,

Rick suggests just unsnapping one of the straps, wrapping that around the luggage rack and then re-connecting it. This method would be fine for preventing "opportunistic theft" but I wouldn't use it to secure my Pack if I was going to leave the compartment for any length of time. A cable and Padlock would provide a better level of security.

If luggage is stored in a luggage rack at the end of the car, using a steel cable and Padlock would be a better idea. The highest risk for unsecured luggage is when the train is stopped at a station, and the luggage rack is close to the door.

If you're travelling by Bus and one of your Packs is placed in the luggage compartment under the Bus, it's a good idea to keep watch when the Bus stops. I've heard of a few cases where luggage has been removed at stops.

Happy travels!

Granada to Seville is better done on a bus.

Seville to Madrid you will be on a high speed, probably non stop, AVE train.

All that being said, I take a small bicycle cable and a padlock and loop it through my pack and around the luggage rack above the seats. Since I usually travel alone, this keeps any "walk by robbers" from lifting the whole pack off the rack and walking away. My pack could still get slashed/rummaged through/etc, but since I don't leave anything valuable in there, I'm mostly concerned about the whole thing walking away.

I also used a bike cable & lock, and used the luggage rack by the door (in France on TGV). Tip: use a lock with a key. Mine was a combination lock and hard to use because of the train's motion.

A few companies make a more portable retractable version of a cable lock. Pacsafe is one. Theirs is called the "retractasafe" and they have 3 models. (I use a similar one made by Eagle Creek which no longer manaufactures it.)

There are other brands as well.

I use a cable and lock that look like a miniature version of a bike lock. I can't remember if I picked it up at a travel store or just a lock section of a hardware or department store.

I only have one carryon. I'll typically put the bag as close to me as possible and lock the cable to the bag and around something that doesn't move.

It wouldn't be that hard for a determined thief to overcome. Since thieves are always looking for the best return on the least effort - just about any restraint on your bag is likely to make you the least attractive target.