luggage thickness for overhead train rack

The overhead luggage racks in the trains are quite spaceous. If you can lift it up there, it will most likely fit OK. Also, in Italy, the Eurostars have spaces between the seats (take my word for it) where you can stow a 22" bag.

We brought along some cable type gun locks and never bothered using them. However, if you are worried about leaving them at the end of the car, you can lock them to the rack which is made of steel tubes that the lock can go around.

We take a 3' retracting cable lock to attach the luggage to the overhead rack or the storage area or to each other if there is nothing to lock the luggage to. We have never had any problems or know of anyone who has but there are reports of luggage being grab while at a stop in the station or people passing through cars while loading or unloading. We attach luggage to the overhead so we don't have to worry about it if we use the restroom or fall asleep.

Thanks for the tips. When people talk about luggage at 22" or 24" is that just the long dimension? How wide is the space between seats on the Eurostar? Is there also a space between seats on the Intercity trains? My husband is train-shy, so I'm trying to reassure him on luggage storage.
Jinny

The space between seats is a triangular space between two opposite facing seat backs. One fair sized suitcase will fit upright in the space. What do you mean by "train shy/"

Regional trains could have the same space if they have the same seat arrangement. However, lot of regional trains will have seats from both ends of the car facing the middle.

22" and 24" generally refer to the length of the suitcase. Most 24" suitcase will also be a little wider and deeper than the 22". 24 is a pretty big (read that as heavy) suitcase. The smaller ones work better for train travel.

I, too, am not sure what you mean by "train shy", but if he has flown, trains in Europe are a breeze. They run like clockwork and are easy to use. Short time train changes are easy. the places are well signposted and up to date information is readily available at every station.

Thank you all for your comments. By "train shy," I mean my husband is not fond of train travel--he worries about schedules and finding one's way around. I have some of those worries, too. I think the last time we took a train was years ago in Milan, and the station was somewhat daunting. We had gotten our tickets at a travel agency, though, so that was easy. Hopefully Genova or Ventimiglia shouldn't be too bad. I'm still not sure about the ICplus--Trenitalia says you have to get reservations in Italy (we're coming from Nice, so I presume we would have to get the reservation while we are transferring trains in Genova). Maybe it would be easier to take the regionals even though they take longer. But are the overhead racks smaller on regionals?
Jinny

Just how much luggage do you anticipate having if storage is a major concern? Second I find most European airports, especially the big ones, far more challenging than any train station. And generally train stations are in far better locations than the airports and much easier to use. I think being train shy is masking some other concerns. I would much rather use the trains than the planes.

You will be able to buy the whole ticket in Nice -- including the Italian leg.