What - heartbreaking story. And, you have experienced so much. Life can be so hard.

Menachem there are police officer in every Thalys I have taken fir months now.
And I take 2-3 Thalys a week on average.
I saw no cop on TGV yet.

Whathello, you're right. Do you think it will be effective if someone wants to attack passengers on board a Thalys? It's mainly psychological I think.

Trains are open to theft and bombing. That they are not either bombed or stolen from is amazing and a thing that I am very grateful for.


Destroying a train is easy, but it doesn't happen, why? because people, all people, are generally nice pleasant people without a mindless grudge.

Thieving is easy to do, but it doesn't happen much, why? see above.

Does security work? Not really it just moves the problem to the next easiest access point. It makes the civil authorities look sensible and we all move on. Does security stop people want to cause chaos? No, that requires civil development not more barriers.

Is it a good idea to bring massive pieces of luggage on a train? Go on guess :-)

There are 1250 transportation police agents in France, almost all in civilian clothes.

Just for the record, Clint Eastwood is in Arras at the moment filming his movie about the Thalys attack on the Amsterdam-Paris train on 21 August 2015. The three Americans involved in subduing the terrorist are playing their own roles. The terrorist himself is not currently available to be in the film. The title is <b>The 15:17 to Paris</b> but I'm pretty sure that it will be changed before the release date.

All of the regulars here are invited to get ready for the spate of questions that will flood the site in 2018 about "is it safe to take the train?"

"All of the regulars here are invited to get ready for the spate of questions that will flood the site in 2018 about "is it safe to take the train?""

Yeah, I'm ready. I took that train and lived to tell about it. Actually , one of the better rides I have had.

I'm truly sorry to hear about this. When it happens to oneself, the incidence rate is 100 per cent. The shock is unpleasant, and the inconvenience considerable.

That said: if I get off a train or plane or out of a car in one piece, that is a 95 per cent victory. Of the remaining 5 per cent, 4 per cent more victory is scored if I still have my passport and a credit card and debit card, which of course never go in my luggage. That leaves 1 per cent of my energy left to worry about the rest. Losing belongings sucks, but it is a manageable problem.

I sympathize about the insurance problem, which is why other than travel medical insurance, in which case one doesn't fool around, I have little faith in most insurance sold to travelers. This includes so-called luggage insurance, in fact I deem it more worthwhile to invest the premiums I save on such policies in my own 'self insurance' policy. Over the course of several trips, I'm pretty sure I come out ahead.

Again, sorry for the distress, and thanks for the warning.

I should point out that in over twenty previous TGV trips she has taken, the check-in option had NEVER been mentioned by the SNCF.>

Anyone explain what this is?

P, options at http://www.sncf.com/en/services/luggage

Excellent post Kerouac.

If ever there is another problem on the Thalys, we can count on you to inform us. ;-)

https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Creek-3.../dp/B002LGYSL8

I've been using these travel cables for decades.

Happy Travels!

haha. i used to live in Israel.

Maybe the French have switched from finding drugs from Holland en route to Gare du Nord and used those efforts to thwart terrorism. I have seen several drug searches on trains from Amsterdam en route to and in Gare du Nord>

They often walk drug dogs through the train.

I asked someone to put my small bag above my seat on Eurostar and he obliged. The rest I kept with me.

I was amazed - totally amazed - at how much luggage people bring on the train.
Really, some of the suitcases are the size of Volkswagens...

<i>I was amazed - totally amazed - at how much luggage people bring on the train.
Really, some of the suitcases are the size of Volkswagens...

</i>

When my daughter spent six months doing research in rural Ghana, she needed to bring water purifiers, two computers, manuals, survey materials, and blank questionnaires, as well as clothing and toiletries for six months. I went to meet her in Milan when she returned, and we came to my home in Le Marche by train, changing in Bologna. I swear she had less luggage than what I see being hauled onto trains by tourists every time I go to Rome.

When I went to the SNCF boutique to buy my ticket, he cautioned me to not have luggage "exceeding 20 kgs". I had far less than that, but I don't know how the other people got away with carrying more than a Volkswagen's worth.

It is considered rude to chain or cable your luggage to the racks.
The agent has to come around and try to re-arrange everything - not nice, lots of swearing...