Trains and luggage

On the Trenitalia fast trains, the space overhead is similar to long plexiglass shelving.

You can use cables, but it can be a hassle for others. Bags often have to stacked and moved around as people exit and board. I’ve never seen cables used on the overhead shelf. If you are that concerned about theft, keep your critical items (credit card, passport) in your bag at your feet, with your keg through the strap. Or in your money belt.

Newer Railjet trains have built in cable locks on the big luggage racks.

Only if you want to be the most unpopular passenger on the train. What trains are you on that require such methods? From your other posts I believe you are traveling with others. Take turns walking to the baggage rack before each stop if you believe your luggage is at risk.

I would do what makes you feel comfortable and secure. From time to time I have had to lock my suitcase down in the luggage storage area.

From time to time, i have read about luggage disappearing. Luggage on trains isn't the most secure. Not sure how well accepted locking it is though. But do what puts your mind at ease. Its a holiday. Here, this will .ake a few crazy: https://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/safety-tips/how-to-avoid-luggage-theft-on-european-trains/

That article is in my opinion not very useful. It caters for a kind of paranoia that is currently very common, in order to get klics.

Luggage theft happens, it happens on trains, it happens on airports, it happens. The best strategy is not to have stuff in your luggage that you absolutely cannot miss, and to have insurance.

The tips in the article are pretty useless.
- Never leave your luggage in the luggage area at the end of the car: Well, often that is the only option.
- Lock your luggage to the rack: That is often not possible, is rarely practical, and technically illegal. You do not want a annoyed train conductor throwing the book at you.
- Put your luggage in the rack opposite of you: That is against the rules too. You are entitled to the space above your seat, the space above other seats is for the passengers sitting there.

Things I do however do:
- I travel with a rolling duffel that is bright yellow. Thieves do not like to be conspicuous, Maybe it is time to stop travelling with that nondescript spinner that looks like every other one.
- Everything of value is in my back pack, and that stays with me. And I can attach it to something by undoing one strap and taking that around something. That does not lock it, but does create enough of slowdown that a thief will abandon his attempt.

The typical European pick pocket or luggage thief will, at the first sign that he is spotted, confronted, or at the first obstacle, just drop everything and run.

Luggage thieves and pickpockets are, if anything, highly practical. So what would a practical person steal from a train; a bulky difficult to run away with suitcase that’s likely filled with dirty clothes? Or a small backpack or purse that will likely contain money and/or easy to sell devices like a phone or tablet?
Just make sure you have your valuables near you where you can keep an eye on them at all times and don’t worry about someone stealing your clothes and toiletries.

A number of years ago, when I still had my website, I had a conversation with the "Man in Seat 61" about traveling solo on trains.

He said no one wants your big suitcase. Everyone knows the valuables are not in it. They will look at your smaller bag or backpack.

He said, when he leaves his seat to visit the loo or get something from the snack car, he takes his smaller bag with him. It's never out of his sight.

Another tip is to never be away from your seat and your eye on your stuff when a train is at a station. Wait to do what you need to do between stations. Thieves want to grab stuff and get off the train. Not wait around for the next stop.

Rather than locking your bag to something, lock the bag itself so no roving hands get in it.

I dont really have an opinion for what others should do. I generally keep my valuables in a cross body bag that never comes off and its not often that I travel with something larger than a carryon that goes above my seat. But each of us has different comfort thresholds.

I am more intrigued by:

Lock your luggage to the rack: ... and technically illegal. You do not
want a annoyed train conductor throwing the book at you.

The Man in Seat 61 is of the opinion that "padlocking your bags to the racks is a bit extreme." He should probably quote the law and warn of conductor prosecution. Then again, i suspect the RS member that had a bag taken off the train, just before it pulled out of the Budapest station last year had wished she/he had locked it to the rail even at the risk of conductor retribution.

Both DB and OBB have a rather lengthy explanations on their websites of what luggage you can and can not, and how, and your rights, etc. No mention of the international law against locking your luggage to the luggage rack in either.

If you are going to lock your bag to the storage rack, show consideration and use extra care to ensure you are utilizing the location efficiently so it provides no hardship to others.

2 out of the 5 of us are doing checked bags. Although their documentation will be in their backpacks with them, all of their clothing is in their bag. Most of the time I know the luggage Rack is at the bs k. Y the doors. I think for peace of mind it wouldn’t hurt to cable them together and then one on a pole. Their minds are made up, so no changing that. I know the chance of theft is small, ut when it happens to you, it is a big deal. I just wanted to know if it was allowed, in France particularly.

You can check the French rail site. I presume they have a section on luggage as does OBB and DB. I susprct there is nothing wrong with it, but always best to check for yourself.

We usually prebook our train tickets and pick our seats. If you book early enough you can get seats at the back or front where the luggage racks are so we can watch during stops.
I remember on Spanish trains they show you the configuration when picking your seats. Otherwise, when there is a stop one of us, and I mean my husband, will get up a take a quick peek. Sometimes we do not have to use the luggage racks at the entrance cause our suitcases are small enough to go over our seats.
We will be taking the train from Milan to Ravenna next May and I will research the trains at Seat61.com to figure out where to sit.

There’s no such thing as most of the time. Racks can be anywhere.
On French TVG downstairs, the rack is in the front, while upstairs they are scattered throughout. If you are concerned, just buy first class so you can choose seats upstairs. Nobody is going to take anything upstairs. It’s more likely if you have an expensive, smaller suitcase next to a door downstairs. And it’s even more likely the thief spotted the tourist, assessed that the tourist could have objects of value based on dress, jewelry, name brands, and followed the tourist to their train car.
Carrying cables and locks is overkill and the extra weight is a PIA.

The whole business of luggage theft is over discussed and over rated. The up thread comments from Wengenk are very accurate. I will be more blunt -- it is very stupid to secure your luggage to any part of the train -- period.

The probability of stolen luggage is very remote. I make frequent use of the three dial combo locks on my luggage zippers AND -- over the years -- I have had two of those locks fail. Fortunately it was in a hotel room after arrival so I could find a screw driver to bust open the locks. I certainly would not use a cable lock to secure my luggage to any part of a train. Should it fail your luggage is headed for a long ride and maybe you with it. I will use a short cable lock to lock the handles of two bags together. If necessary I can carry the two bags off the train should I not be able to unlock the bags. I assume the two bags hooked together would be a deterrent and surprise if someone grabbed one bag. May not. But we have been throwing luggage in the common bin for over 40 years with no problems especially on high speed trains. I am a little more concerned with the Regional trains because so many people are getting on and off at frequent stops.

We do use the overhead racks for day bags and I will wrap a strap around one of the ribs of the overhead rack to prevent someone from walking through and grabbing the bag via a distraction. Nothing is locked and it is just a clip to unsecure the bag. Being alert is helpful but being paranoid is not.

For your friends who insist on locking their bags to the rack, they need to get to the rack and unlock the bags several minutes before the train pulls into the station. Stops are often very short: 2-3 minutes for everyone to exit and everyone to board before the train is moving again. It can be stressful. You need to be standing in the aisle, by the door, with all your belongings as the train pulls into the station.

Short answer - you do you. Just don't inconvenience others.

On the train from Salzburg to Munich everyone's bags went into a big open area where they sloshed back and forth along the way. I watched mine like a hawk, but of course nothing happened.

Apparently the new concern is people stealing things from the overhead on airplanes, esp. night flights where people are sleeping and the lights are low. Because as noted, big suitcases are full of dirty clothes but carryons have all the good stuff.

You do you doesn’t fly in societies where people share common space. It’s a different culture and mentality here.

In forty years of life I've only ever heard of one person having their luggage stolen from a long-distance train.

Ok, I’ve noted all your comments. There are just 2 big suitcases others are taking. I’ll cable those together and not separately to the pole. Have them stand by that area at a stop.

Please make sure that they’re not blocking the doors while they keep watch over their suitcases. Also make sure that someone else in your party is keeping a close eye on the valuables, passports, money etc in their daypack while they’re busy guarding their clothes.

Lulu348, dont worry, you aren't the only one. Last September on a trip to Vienna I saw some bags with cables to the rack. Thought is was unusual but didn't cause anyone any inconvenience. With a little care in the bag placement i dont know why it would bother anyone. I will assume you can use some common sense ... this is not the issue that some are making it into. If you google the subject you will find all sorts of advice on how to do it and videos on the subject and specific products for the purpose. So people are doing it. Again, a bit much for my anxiety level, but not worth all the worked up attitudes about it .....

And we had a RS poster lose a bag off a train last year so while its not high on my worries its not crazy either.

Have a great trip and know that people the world over are caring and considerate and understanding.

You are assuming there will be room in the luggage area on a train for your bags. Remember trains depart quickly from rail stops. You don’t want to be left on the train because you had to dig through other bags to get to yours that is locked around a pole.

The one thing we do that I seldom seen addressed. Whether we are ridding the subway or a high speed train, we always focus on the stop or station prior to our final stop. If going to "F", we watch of "E". When we leave "E" we getting ready -- move to the door, dig out the luggage, unhook the handles if we have hocked them together, and position ourselves that we can easily hit the door when if opens. And often we will ask someone else doing the same thing if the next stop is "F" just to be sure. In the past we have gotten on the wrong train but never off at the wrong exit.