Since you're asking, my advice is to take no more than you can handle going up and down stairs. If your husband can take the larger bag(s) up and down stairs, can you take the smaller bags up and down stairs by yourself?

I haven't encountered truly crowded (as in standing room only) trains but we've always found places for our bags although we usually went in 1st. just because I like to make certain of maximum comfort given the circumstances. Be careful to not block the connecting doors which is a mistake we made our first time. It was a sliding door with the luggage area right next to it. Boy, was that woman (another passenger) hot when she couldn't open the door and had to pound on it to get someone to open it!

Lol, we were still at the station and she could have gone around but preferred to make her point somewhat rudely instead.

Also, maybe the OP isn't coming back but the places where you're staying may not have elevators, so taking big suitcases and other heavy luggage on board trains would pale in comparison to having to take suitcases up a flight or two of stairs.

The only trains that could potentially be standing room only are the regional trains. All the others have only reserved seats.

I've occasionally taken first/business class when there was a bargain fare, and when discounted standard fares were sold out. The difference in comfort is minimal. The seat pitch is identical and the seats are only a fraction of an inch wider. The main difference is that the number of seats is less. Business travelers on expense accounts are more likely to get a higher class. Because of this I've often found myself face to face with someone talking loudly to his sales manager for half an hour. There are quiet cars on some trains, but not all.

Thank you for all the input! For some reason I didn't get notification that there were replies to this question. Our shared checked luggage is 27inches. Neither of us have used Italian or any European trains before so we aren't sure what to expect. Seems if we stick to express trains where possible we'll be fine.

>>Our shared checked luggage is 27inches. Neither of us have used Italian or any European trains before so we aren't sure what to expect. <<

That is an enormous suitcase and will weigh a ton. Makes MUCH more sense to not share a suitcase and to take either a 21 incher each or in a worst case -- two 24 inchers. You will have a devil of a time hoisting a filled 27 inch bag on and off any train or up and down stairs.

No need fo a 27 inch suitcase (almost ever really) and not a good idea to share one.

Re. 27 inch bag: you might check baggage allowances for your flights -- i.e. weight restrictions. The airline we mostly use (BA) has a 50 lb. limit (unless you are in business) and I'm pretty certain that if I had a 27 inch bag loaded to capacity (or near capacity) it would incur overweight baggage charges... just another practicality to consider.

Nah I have a 29-inch bag and it has 23 kg limit.

For a man it can still be lifted by the top handle. Sometimes you may want to grab it by the top and the side handles which most suitcases have.

What I'm not trying to do is lift it over my head and put it in the overhead racks above the seats, though it wouldn't be impossible to do so.

>>Nah I have a 29-inch bag and it has 23 kg limit.<<

Not sure what you mean by 'it has 23 kg limit', because one can get a heck of a lot more than 23kg into a 29 inch bag (or 27 for that matter). if you mean the airline has a 23 kg/50 lb limit -- that makes sense. But two people sharing a large suitcase - it would be even heavier than usual since it would have all the shoes.

Sure, one can wrestle a 27 inch bag on board -- but why? And that is plus the other carryons and/or backpacks you might be carrying.

Yes airlines.

But I agree, rather than share one big suitcase, two smaller suitcases for both would be better, as long as both of them could drag it the distances needed.

Express isn't what you should be looking for. For example Pisa to Florence there is an express regional train. No stops between the two cities. You save I think ten minutes. But it's the same regional train with the same luggage space.

I think you mean the high speed trains. But remember that case is going to be hauled up and down stairs at the station and onto/off the train. Are you comfortable with that? Especially if things are busy or you're running late?

You can lift it but it's highly unlikely it's fitting.

The other thing about sharing a "large" suitcase is you're both SOL if it goes missing. We take two small (usually very small) suitcases and divide our belongings between the two. Each of us carries a day bag (size and content vary depending on where we're going) with our own cell phones, laptops (or iPads or whatever), toiletries, and whatever individual small things each of us wants. I try not ever to have a suitcase that is a PITA for my DH to stow, whether it be at the end of a compartment or overhead, as I really don't want him to be my personal sherpa, but there have been a few times when I had a minor injury that limited my ability to lift a valise into an overhead compartment...and sometimes it's just hard because I'm short. I've also learned that in getting on and off European trains you need to be quick-thinking and not tick people off by plodding up and down the aisles.

Our shared checked luggage is 27 inches.

Noooo! :-) I would not want to move a suitcase that big around on the trains and thru the streets! It's really too big and too heavy. I highly recommend you get two smaller rolling suitcases instead. You don't have to spend a lot of money. I shop at TJ Maxx when I need a new bag, usually spend $50-65 max.

Doesn't matter about what exact trains you are on, express, high speed, local, whatever... You still have to move that big suitcase around, checking in and out of hotels, more than likely up and down stairs, possibly over cobblestones or bridges, etc. etc.