luggage size?
 

Does anyone know the maximum size of luggage for trains?

The only limit is YOUR limit. You will have to carry it up steep narrow train stairs, and stow it on an overhead rack.

Addition to elberko's response.You have to do this QUICKLY!!!

And with school-children pushing through the opposite direction you're going!

PS, I'm NOT trying to talk you out of traveling by train. It's my prefered mode of travel, you just have to know what to expect.

The only exception to the "quickly" part might be if you are boarding the train at its origination point or if you are boarding at a stop that lasts more than a few minutes such as in major cities or at borders where locomotives/equipment are being changed out.

All of those will immediately come back into the "quickly" category if you arrive at the last minute or are changing from platform #! and have to race across the station to platform #30.
Planning ahead by consulting timetables can help make trips go much more smoothly.

And we haven't even talked about when you get to your seat and the luggage racks are already full!

Does anyone know how wide the train aisles are? Thanks

You can't go wrong by limiting yourself to a 22" or so, but some of these problems don't occur on every train or car class. For example, you don't always have to stow your luggage overhead. Some cars have some luggage storage places at the end of the car or even in the middle of the car, if you get there early and can get that spot (there are room for a couple larger bags there, nice if your seat is nearby). Also, if the train is not jammed, it may be very easy to just have the bag next to your seat in one of those private compartments. I've done all of these on trains in CR, Poland and France, traveling first class.

I usually limit myself to a 22" but last year did have a 25" and took several trains and it wasn't that big a problem. I handled it completely by myself, also, and 1-2 short transfers. The worst part was getting it up the narrow train stairs onto the car. After that, I did above-mentioned things (I did not put it on the overhead rack) with no problem. I think 25" is about the max I would take, though, but you do occasionally see someone with something a little bigger.

I think someone on another thread recently claimed they put a 27-28" (or even 30") on an overhead train rack, but I just don't think that would be very possible -- at least not on the trains I've been on. I remember I was considered putting the 25" overhead, some nice man offered to do that for me, but I thought it looked a little precarious or large for the rack. As I said, there was plenty of room on the floor due to empty seats so it didn't matter.

You do have plenty of time at the station you first board, of course, so if you weren't doing transfers, it wouldn't matter as much. I think traveling first class might help in terms of empty spaces and no school kids and not lots of backpackers who take up a lot of the space with their stuff.

We had a 28" and 25" on our trip to Germany last year and had no trouble stowing the 28" between two back-to-back seats and the 25" overhead. We never encountered a full train with the luggage racks full, but I suppose if we had there wouldn't have been room for a 22" or 25" or 28".

Here are my practical limits of luggage size - - I follow them strictly and try to get everyone I travel with to follow them as well.

"Main" suitcase - - ideally a rollaboard, but whatever you choose should not exceed EIGHT pounds when empty.

"Carry-on" bag - - I prefer a small-medium duffel bag, but anything is okay, that does not exceed eight OUNCES when empty.

When filled you should be able to carry BOTH bags, going up and down a flight of steps as fas to as you can climb and descend.

And for EITHER bag, you should be able to climb and descend that same flight of steps with the bag above your head and never touch a handrail or the walls.

Can't pass both these tests? The bag is too heavy, filled.

Best wishes,

Rex