I'm about to study abroad for a year in Germany- so as much as I would like to bring on just a backpack I'm going to have to bring a couple larger bags.
My question is will my bags fit on the train? I'm bringing a large rolling duffel bag thing (http://www.target.com/Embark-Drop-Bo.../dp/B004EQCVZ8) and then I was going to bring just a hand held duffel bag about 3 feet long by 1 foot high.

Will one or both of these fit on the overhead bin area of a German ICE or Regional Express (RE) train? Where, if anywhere can I put them if they don't fit?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I am not sure how easlily you'd be able to lift this large duffle fully packed into the overhead. I am also not sure it would fit even though I've been on ICE and RE many times.

However, they do have areas at the end of cars where you can place luggage. It might be a good idea to secure the zippers of the duffles with plastic zip ties to prevent easy opening by would be thieves since you won't be right next to your stuff. You can also try to secure the bags themselves to the baggage racks with zip ties. In general, I wouldn't worry too much about anyone walking away with your bags - trains are generally safe (I have never had anything stolen). However, there might be a stray person who would be tempted to filch something from a zipper so you might want to secure.

Thanks so much! do you think my other smaller duffel bag would fit on the overhead area? I was planning on bringing a ski lock and i can just attach it to something in the back (?)

Thanks again

Yes I am sure your smaller one would fit. I am not sure what a ski lock is but if you already have it and you think you'd be able to slip it thru the bag and then on a metal luggage rack or bar, then bring it. On my first time alone on a train, I brought a bike lock (with a short cable) but didn't use it because I got space in my overhead.

For you, since you'll be bring half your world (lucky you!!) a lock would probably give you peace of mind. Still , try to stuff some of those little zip ties in your bag just to secure the zipper pockets. They are not foolproof, of course, but do help deter the hit and run theft.

Lastly - have a wonderful year abroad! My kids all studied abroad and truly it was the time of their lives. Where are you studying?

I'm going to two programs, an intensive language course in Oldenburg (because I've only taken elementary german) then in September I'll go down to Karlsruhe. I'm very excited, I studied abroad in high school but I went to Ghana in Africa. Since I'm in university now I was excited to go to Europe, specifically Germany.
Thanks again so much!

One thing to make sure - that you can handle your luggage well enough by yourself to hoist it up onto the train (often a couple steep steps up) and into the luggage area rather quickly. It sounds like you should be able to, but just be prepared. There may be a lot of people getting on and off the train at the same time as you, so you may be rushed. Also, when you get to your stop, be ready to get off immediately. Unless your stop is the end of the line, the train may only stop for a minute to let people off. You don't want to be wrestling with your bags and miss your opportunity to get off the train.

Good point november-moon - about being ready to leave the train. I swear some station stops are less than 30 seconds.

kz - you must push the button to open the door on German trains (and most European ones I've been on). I made this mistake and missed my stop.

You sound like an experienced traveler already - Ghana - that's awesome! I wish you the best.

I would not attempt to haul all of that around by yourself. It will be very unwieldy and make your trip a nightmare. I would bring with you what you will need for the first week - and ship the rest to your lodging. I think this will make your life much easier.

Many trains have several narrow steep steps from the platform up into the train - which can be practically impossible with so much stuff.

nytraveler - I think you forget what it's like to be young! My kids survived carrying probably 150 lbs of bags (and they're skinny girls). Remember - it's only for the trip over.

Shipping is very expensive, though it is an option. We decided it wasn't worth it - would've been several hundred dollars.

I got a shipping estimate today and it was $400 dollars for only a 20x20 box that weighed 40 lbs. I know its going to...well...suck, but my friend and I are going together and he'll be able to help me pick it up. I'm going to make sure its strong enough to lift (the plane's limit is 70 lbs anyway - I can definately do that) Thanks for everyones thoughts/concerns on this.
I have to push a button? I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again to everyone for all these great ideas. I would never have figured out the button until it was probably too late.

If I knew my stop was coming up I could go wrestle my bag out from everyone else's in the back and get ready to get off or would I have to stay sitting until it got to the station?

Hi kzcllove,

One thing to consider, if you'd like, is to ship the bags separately on the train. You can do this right at the airport (are you arriving in Frankfurt?). I've done this one time from the Frankfurt airport and several times from my home.

The cost is around 23-25 Euro, and I generally give them a week. You'll need to give them an address for delivery, but it looks like you already have your lodging taken care of.

Here's the website for more information:

http://www.bahn.com/i/view/DEU/en/pr...tservice.shtml

Have fun!

s

Don't worry too much.
People leave their stuff - esp. the heavy luggage - anywhere. And don't always care about lifting it up in the overhead rack. You won't get thrown off the train if you can't fit your stuff into the "proper" storage.
On regional trains, you often find cars for transporting bikes. These cars are also good to dump oversized luggage. They have seats on the walls that fold up/down, so you can travel next to your luggage. On double decker regional trains, these areas are usually on each car's lower deck.

When you want to get off the train, don't block the aisles half an hour before. And let some people get in front of you who know how to operate the doors. Older regional trains still have manually operated doors - let someone do the job who knows how.

Trains stop for as long as it needs. If there is still some visible activity at one door, the train conductor won't let them close.

Hi there, it sounds like a wonderful adventure for you. I found in my three weeks of travelling around Germany on trains with my luggage that there wasn't the room for my suitcase in the overhead bit - but I doubt I really would have been able to even lift it up there anyway, so didn't bother to try it, so mostly I had the suitcase right with me on the floor by my seat (as most other people did too). Rarely did I even see any luggage up there at all in fact. Smaller bags will fit, but not larger ones. If the train was full, I had no choice but to store my bag by the doors - and I always kept an eye on it when the train came to a standstill. I never used the lock that I bought, but made sure I had nothing of value in any side pocket. I also thought, who the heck would want to run off with my heavy bag anyway, so didn't worry about it too much.
I found it difficult at times getting on and off the trains - some had narrow doors and high stairs up onto the train itself. Another problem I had was many stations had non working elevators, and only stairs - which wasn't fun when carrying around a heavy suitcase - even though it was on wheels. No one offers to help either (not that I expected it).
Good point someone else made about pushing the button to get off - I learned this one pretty quickly and made sure i observed how other people did it before trying it myself. There is a round button in the centre of the doors (I think its green) - this needs to be pressed for the doors to open. Trams have the same thing. Also the train/tram has to be perfectly still before the doors will activate, so don't press it too early or nothing will happen.
What I was surprised about was the vast variety of sizes of trains - all different, some really spacious, with heaps of room for luggage, bikes, prams, dogs, etc, and other trains very constricting with no room to swing a cat.
And yes, always get up and get your luggage sorted, and stand near the doors, and ready to get off before arriving at your stop - especially if the train is full of people. I remember panicking once or twice when I didn't think I was going to get off in time due to the number of people standing blocking the aisle.