I have never traveled via the TGV, and wondered if you can tell me what one does with their bags. Are they checked, or do you have to carry on all that you take? If the latter does it have to fit in a bin above or below the seat or what?

Thanks for any advice.

Baggage is carried on board and stored in racks at the ends of the cars. There is limited storage for a briefcase or carry-on bag at each seat.

Like Robespierre said - you carry on your bags. However, storage on the train depends on the specific train used. This June we stored all our large bags on a rack above our seats both going to Provence & returning. On another occasion there was little above head storage storage and we piled them in a big heap at the beginning/end of the car, or in some "too small" storage compartments (that couldn't store everyones bags). Seat configurations are often back-to-back, so there is storage between the seats. When we store our bags out of sight, I usually get up at interem stops to keep my eye on our bags. I brought a bicycle chain one time, but because the only open spaces for our 2 bags were not adjacent, I could not use it.

Stu Dudley

Please be careful of your valuables on the TGV. A close colleague of mine, with her husband, boarded in (I think) Gare du Nord, stowed their luggage & skis, and then she put her handbag with credit cards, camera & MP3 player (but luckily not cash or her passport) under her seat. She felt someone knock against the back of her seat but thought nothing of it - just someone sitting down before the journey. Unfortunately not - when the alarm sounded for the train to depart her "neighbour" skipped off the train pretty quickly, the doors shut, the train took off, and poor Sue realised that her handbag had disappeared with the thief. So, while your luggage will be safe enough, stay aware of your surroundings and don't let your valuables out of your sight.

Whether you're travelling on a TGV, any other train or a bus, eating in a restaurant or sitting in a cinema or theatre, it doesn't seem very wise to leave credit cards in a bag under your seat: even if there are no thieves, it would be easy to lose them.

I realize people sometimes forget where they're at and are not thinking clearly, but I never ever let my handbag out of my sight - ever, n matter where I am. For that matter, when traveling my carryon either. Robespierre is correct that the luggage usually goes at the ends of the car - I am always a nervous wreck about it. If there are multiple stops before we reach our destination, either me or DH will stay with the luggage, if our destination is next we make sure that we are the first ones at that end to collect it. Sorry, too many stories about luggage stolen have reached my ears.

Here are places on TGV you can store baggage.

- end of each car as many mentioned for the large/heavy stuff.
- small luggage rack intermixed with seats (it was on 1st class) for medium size luggages. You need to drag your luggage between aisle to reach these ones.
- between seats in back to back locations previously mentioned
- overhead, tiny space (at least on double decker TGV), not enough space for even a day pack if reasonably stuffed.

"Please be careful of your valuables on the TGV". One should be careful of their valuables everywhere. The only thing this story has to do w/ the TGV is it happened on one. The EXACT same thing could have happened anywhere. Leaving a handbag (or camera bag, or anything valuable) under a seat or out of view is simply carelessness.

One more luggage space--the bicycle compartment on some trains. Plenty of room and easier to use a cable lock.

Here's 4 comments/observations about baggage and TGV:

1. 1st class storage area (at the end of your cabin) is always larger than 2nd class storage. It's usually 2 deep "nook" areas, one above the other. Turn your rolling luggage sideways and slide it into any available nook, do the same with the 2nd luggage. Also, if travelling with large luggage, try to book TGV train travel at "off" times of the day and/or week. Often you'll be the only traveller with large luggage this way.

2. Prepare early to embark train! Some travellers wait until the last minute to retrieve luggage at their arrival station. At many stops -- especially those close to an arrival or departure city -- the train doesn't stop for very long. Before your station, get coats on, handbags, etc. and move to your luggage. Other travellers may have put luggage on top of yours (not being rude, there's just limited room), it happens all the time if you were the first to load yours. I witnessed a couple in Belgium who completely missed their stop because they couldn't get the luggage out of storage area and off the train on time. It really helps to be waiting at the end of the cabin with luggage ready when that train stops.

3. Loading large luggage onto the train: If you have any concerns about getting your large luggage up the narrow steps and onto the train, have the STRONGER traveller board first with NO large luggage and turn around to pull the bags up the steps -- the weaker traveller pushing the bags to the steps. Have the luggage handles on the side toward the train, so they can be grabbed by the upper passenger. Trust me: when other passengers see you do this, or see you struggling, someone always steps forward to assist getting your bags up to the stronger person. (you're blocking their boarding, after all). If the weaker passenger boards first - the bags are getting pushed up to them, but they can't maneuver them, and the boarding area gets very blocked.

4. Overhead storage and open bags: those upper storage shelves are tilted so bags won't slide off them. So put your bags up with any OPEN ends (like tote bags, etc.) toward you (the aisle). During travel, items can fall out if the open end is slanting down. I've seen riders hurriedly grab bags and spill items out into the back of the shelf, not always even aware they did this. I found a passport and camera on an empty shelf when boarding - which someone probably lost this way. The shelves are usually an open "grid" pattern so you can easily see "through" them (not closed like a plane). Take a second and look, it's easy to have items slip out of small side pockets.

Excellent advice from LCBDane IMO.

Another recommendation would be to get to the station and on the correct platform before the train departs rather than rushing at the last minute unless you are talking about a change trains situation.

My experience has been the earlier you board the less hassle there will be with luggage storage BUT it can also mean that other bags will be piled on top of your own.

We've used cable locks in the past to secure luggage and give some peace of mind.

Generally there are posters which show the locations of the various numbered cars and it is helpful to position yourself as closely as you can to those positions prior to the train's arrival/departure.

I always travel with a rope-like lock and I have used it often. I sometimes use it for luggage when it will be out of site on a train with multiple stops, sometimes if I have to leave luggage at a hotel and they don't put it somewhere that I think is safe, and I most often use it to lock up my stroller when we leave it to explore a castle or something.

A thin retractable cable lock is probably sufficient to deter the opportunistic thief.