My wife and myself will be traveling by train this summer in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany. We will be in the first class cars. We are not sure how much space there will be for suitcases. <BR>Any suggestions on what size to take.

Each of you should take two "wheelies" the size that would fit in an airplane overhead compartment. Or, one wheelie and a bag that will ride piggyback on the wheelie for each of you. The luggage racks are usually pretty empty because the Europeans don't pack much but they are also very narrow so you can't stick a full size suitcase up there. Also, you have to get them on and off the train through small doors etc. The wheels help to walk down the long platforms to the station and back. <BR>

Hello, my husband and I took trains also first class from Prague to Viena and from Viena to Budapest. <BR>This was last April , the first class wagon was kind of empty on both occasions. Please consider you have to put your luggage in the wagon and bring it back, there is no one to help. ONce you are in the wagon you have to put it on the luggage rail on top of your seat. Travel light PLease be careful with the taxis you might take both in Prague and Budapest, try to call one of the taxi companies recommended in good travel books. Like Fo taxis in Hungary Phone:, 222-2222 .. the hotel always calls the expensive ones and they can be several times more..Even if you do not speak the language call them it is simple, they want to know where you are, and also your name, you can give them any name, <BR>easy to understand. When the taxi arrives they have the telephone number on the door so you can identify it, and he will ask for your name . It is simple and you can save a lot of money. If you have to take one of the other taxis for some reason have change, they might try to keep the change even if is a lot.OK?Once you find your way with taxis , why take anything else they are very cheap. <BR>Fo was exellent in Budapest. No matter where you are you can call them. Ask the restaurants where you eat to call the taxi you want they will do it for you. <BR>I envy you because the three cities are beautiful and the train rides very nice. <BR>Another thing there are more than one train station in <BR>these cities , look in the map where they are and study the distance to your hotel so you have an idea how long the taxi drive will be. Bon Voyage. <BR> <BR>

<BR>Pack light!!! When my husband and I used to take the trains all over, we would each have a duffel bag and another small bag. Soft luggage is better than hard. The only storage space you'll have is above your seats. First class cars have compartments seating 6, three on a side. Could be pretty full during summer travel. If you've never done the trains before you'll enjoy it, and wonder why we can't do the same here in the states.

Hey wait!! My family and I are flying into London and out of Vienna (two week trip). We plan on traveling as light as we can but our rolling suitcases will definitely not be small enough to store above our seats. Are there not other storage areas on these trains. We will be on the trains about every third day. Help!!

Beth, don't worry about your suitcase being too large for overhead space..The trains are not like airlines. They don't constantly nag you about securing your bags, etc.We have traveled all over Europe on trains for the last 10 years and have seen all types of luggage loaded on and off rail cars. The areas near the doors have some extra luggage space. I would suggest you board your trains as early as possible as these areas do fill up first. This is especially important if you are in a compartment. Packing light for train trips helps your back more than anything. Have a great trip!

In first class compartments there are usually two racks. You can get big suitcases on the top one, smaller things on the bottom one. I want to emphasize though.. PACK LIGHT! I traveled for a month in Eastern Europe with a roll-on that fits in an overhead bin on most planes. The temperatures I encountered were from 45 to 95 degrees fahrenheit. I had everything I needed. [If you want my list email me] While I wasn't always 'chic' I was always presentable and could walk in the Vienna Opera House without feeling like a fashion disaster. Take a few things that wash easily. Stay on top of your hand laundry. In most western european countries a visit to the laundromat can be as interesting as an afternoon at a cafe! You need to *think* differently when you travel. I can gurantee if you each take two big rollons by the end of the trip you will either have a bad back/bad memories or both. I remember a post here I think and I paraphrase loosely: Never take more luggage than you can handle by yourself at 10pm on a rainy night in a strange town where you don't speak the language and there isn't a taxi in sight. Having said that... European trains are great!!!

Never take more luggage than you can handle by yourself at 10pm on a rainy night in a strange town where you don't speak the language and there isn't a taxi in sight. Having said that... European trains are great!!! <BR> <BR>I have to laugh out loud! Never a truer statement was uttered! I have been all over the world with my little pilots case. I piggy back the carryon and I can go anywhere! I am leaving on Saturday for 11 days in England and Scotland with a fellow traveller who has never travelled anywhere outside the USA. I made her get a pilots case, but I can't imagine how much it will weigh! I guess she will just have to learn the hard way. <BR> <BR>I have used the following method for packing for train travel in particular: <BR> <BR>lay out all the stuff...put half of it away and take twice as much money! Some of the most fun purchases I made in Europe and Asia were clothing items to make my trip dryer, cooler, more comfotable... <BR> <BR>The only time dragging luggage around is a pain is when you must take the tube in and out of London to catch trains bound for other parts. Other than that, I have always found ample room if you board early. <BR> <BR>Anyone done the sleeper train thing? We're doing it from Edinburugh to Penzance and again from Penzance back to London...any suggestions would be helpful.

PLEASE--want to clarify---I never advised two wheelies as in the big 26 inch size---I think I said the size that will fit in an airplane overhead!! Yes, you can find other places on trains to stow your luggage, but then you need to watch them constantly or fight to get them off the train. If you travel in the UK often the platform at a major London station is not assigned until a few minutes before the train departs, so the advice to "board early" doesn't always work. One wheelie with piggyback or two wheelies AKA pilot's bags.....that's it. Pick black, blue, or brown and that is your wardrobe---all mix and match and I never buy clothes on trips because what seems sensible then looks ridiculous when I come back home.....just my humble opinion.!! <BR>

If you are a business trip with your wife which involves formal affairs, etc., you must carry large bags. My questions is, can you safely check them through using the railroad baggage check rooms?

The question in the last response had no response and I too will have 29" wheeled piece to get on and off trains including a Waterloo Station to Heathrow journey. Don't tell me to pack light- I have a half dozen formal affairs to attend.

Just back from train rides in England. The line from Canterbury to Victoria is a nightmare getting on with luggage. Most of the luggage is placed at the front of the car or overhead. In London there are porters to help-and do they ever! We would have had a hard time finding the proper train to York and the car and the seats. Every seat has a reserved ticket at the back. The conductor on our train checked our tickets against the seat reservation. We also bought vouchers for refreshments on the train when we purchased our tickets here. We really saved a lot by buying our tickets here at home.

To those of you who are traveling on business or have formal affairs to go to, yes, we do too!! A long wrinkle proof black skirt, a pretty silk top (mine is kind of Japanese looking) and pearls for your wife and can you do "Black tie optional?" If so, one dark suit, white shirt etc. It does load down the luggage, but we've done it. Additionally, sometimes you need to pop for the 24 hour valet service in your hotel In Vienna once we brought tux and formal stuff in a plastic garment bag from a major dept store, rolled into a roll and secured with tape---a total mess, but we arrived 3 days prior to the black tie event and turned the whole thing over to the valet service--he looked very spiffy!! If you have any choice, plan to do your business meetings first and then touring afterward---you'll look fresher for business and then can relax and enjoy. In many major European cities men can also rent black tie if it is mandatory!. I have a friend from UK who has worn the same black formal dress for the last 10 years and nobody notices--only I know her secret as I am one of those people also! If you absolutely must take one, take a wheelie garment bag so at least you can tote another carryon on top. <BR>

Will add my voice to the fabulous tips above about packing light! You can pack for a two week trip in a carry-on with wheels - and you must! Add to that a tote bag and your camera and you'll be quite loaded down. We took too much to Switzerland on our first trip to Europe and learned our lesson! The least of your worries is where to put your luggage on the train. In many places, the trains stop only long enough for passengers to board - and there is no time for making more than one trip onto the train for yourself and your luggage.

Message: To K.Voth- Your remarks about the underground and luggage! I have to get from Waterloo station (the Chunnel) to Padington for the express to Heathrow. Are you saying that I should perhaps splurge and take a taxi? I will have a tote and a 29" wheeled bag that I can hardly lift. And to M. Smith, she or he remarks that porters in london- do they help. Is this irony meaning that they don't help at all or make exhorbitant charges for services? Please explain.

Regarding luggages on underground for train connections: each day we took the underground, inevidably we saw American tourists with large wheeled luggages at a bottom of long stairs looking up "how in the world would I get up there?" look followed by a tired spouse with "you got me into this" face. Some connections were all escalators (at least some time of the day.) some were combinations, while others all stairs. We paid 8 pounds for a taxi between Kings Cross and Waterloo with additional passengaer serchage.

Remember: There are two types of travelers, those who packed light and those who wish they did!