Travellin_family

Never taken a train in France, is there room on carriages for many suitcases?
Travelling in a family of 6, will have 6 suitcases plus hand carriers? Thank you.

Man_in_seat_61

There's always room for luggage on racks above the seats (anything up to backpack sized), racks between the seats (larger items) and racks at the end of the car (also for larger items).

Man_in_seat_61

Oh, and if you haven't bought tickets yet, use www.capitainetrain.com as that has all the cheap advance-purchase prices, no booking fee, a full range of seating options, no problem with overseas credit cards and print-at-home or collect-at-station tickets.

Some TGVs on this route are double-decker TGV Duplex, choose an upstairs seat for the best views.

Travellin_family

Thank you!!

greg

This depends on the size of your "suitcases" and with whom you are in the same carriage.
There are spaces as noted, but there are capacity limits. If, for example, you happen to be in the same carriage with a tour group taking all the available luggage space plus more with their 26" and 30" plus carry-on, there is no space for you. You might say move to other car. This best done before you step into a train without seat reservation. If the "other" car is on the other side of crowded bistro car or there are occupied by school trips taking over several cars, you have quite a trek on narrow corridors on a moving train with your entourage.
The upper decks on double-decker TGVs have views, but they also offer less luggage spaces near your seat. It also requires you to haul up luggage if you don't want to leave them out of sight downstairs.

PalenQ

There's always room for luggage on racks above the seats (anything up to backpack sized), racks between the seats (larger items) and racks at the end of the car (also for larger items).>

this is NOT my experience after riding zillions of trains in France - overhead luggage racks indeed can become quite full and putting six suitcases in them may be problematic at times. You will be able to find places to stuff them but it ain't so easy as Man in Seat 61 says IME at least.

My recommendation would be to pay extra for first-class where IME you often have several empty seats nearby - I can always put my bag on a nearby seat and there is a lot more room in overhead luggage racks in 1st class. !st class tickets are discounted much like 2nd class so check.

to get a good fix on European trains and what to expect once aboard check Man in Seat 61, who posts above - his commercial site www.seat61.com and also these informative sites: www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

TPAYT

bookmarking

Man_in_seat_61

Just don't worry about it. There's always somewhere to put the bags.

The train will be EMPTY when you board at the Gare de Lyon, after all, as that's where the train starts, with acres of luggage rack above the seats, unless you rock up with 30 seconds to go before departure after everyone else has got on.

The stairs to the upper deck of a Duplex are wide, short and shallow so no big deal Octogenarians lugging 40-for ISO shipping containers may struggle, but most of us with normal bags will be fine.

1st class is indeed nice (if you can get a good rate) and not only are there often empty seats, but often empty luggage racks too.

I certainly have never had any problem.

Dukey1

Recently took a duplex segment between Paris and Mannheim on the way to Munich; our seats were on the upper level in First. We were on the platform when the train was announced and some of the first people to board.

There was all sorts of luggage space on both levels and we had no trouble storing our luggage in the racks at the end of the carriage.

PalenQ

man - have you ever taken a idTGV train? Not all TGVs are equal.

Christina

<<There's always room for luggage on racks above the seats (anything up to backpack sized),>> That's kind of a meaningless statement as backpacks can vary a lot in size. In fact, I've been on TGVS in France where there was not room on the overhead racks for even a suitcase of 22", the space wasn't as big as say the bins on airplanes. It was solely for small totebags and small duffel bags/day packs.

PalenQ

There's always room for luggage on racks above the seats (anything up to backpack sized),>> That's kind of a meaningless statement as backpacks can vary a lot in size. In fact, I've been on TGVS in France where there was not room on the overhead racks for even a suitcase of 22", the space wasn't as big as say the bins on airplanes. It was solely for small totebags and small duffel bags/day packs.>

Yes Man get some more TGV riding in so you do not sound misinformed - perhaps your penchant ('aficionado of first class') for first class clouds you image - what you say is true IME of first class but not nearly always in 2nd class.

P S I too am an aficionado of first class and anyone on the trip of a lifetime especially those with large bags will find it much much more relaxing.