I have never ridden on french trains, just Italian where they never announce the name of the town they are stopping at, you just have to look at a map and hope it is the right one, or look at the name on the station building when it stops. Is this the same way in France? It's always a little scary wondering if you are getting off at the right stop or not, or worrying about missing your stop and ending up miles down the track. I know this is a dumb question, but when you are traveling by yourself with no one else to ask, it is a worry. Also, is there a luggage area at the end of each car and do you have to be worried about someone taking your bags from there. I have a 22" which is a little too heavy for me to lift into an overhead bin. Thanks.

On all the French trains I have taken, they list the stops the train is going to make before the train pulls out of the station and they announce the stop when the train is getting close, and then they announce it again when the train has arrived. Then they start all over again for the new passengers getting on. It's much less scary than Italian trains, where you're on your own. <BR>Yes, there are overhead luggage racks and a storage area at the end of almost every car.

Thanks so much, I am feeling much better now. How about the safety of my bag at the end of the car?

Barb:<BR><BR>I've never had anything stolen, and I throw my bag at the end of the car all the time. However, I have heard of people having bags stolen. If it worries you, take a bungie cord and a lock and secure the bag to the metal rails of the baggage lockers. Of course, give yourself plenty of time to unlock the bag before exiting the train (I can so see myself futzing with a lock while the train moves on down the line)!!

I did that in Italy and what with worrying if I was at the right town and trying to get my combination lock right, it was a little hairy. At Orvieto station stop, I stood in front of the door, thinking it would open, but it didn't and I had to run to the next open door and literally jump off the train. Italian trains are a challenge.

It is not true that Italian train personnel never announce the name of the town they are stopping at. Indeed, on most Eurostar (ES) and Intercity (IC)trains, stops are announced in advance (although often the communication systems is barely audible). However, on other (local) trains, including interregionali, stops are usually NOT announced. Bear in mind that these local trains are used primarily by commuters (workers, students) and locals, who know when to get off.

GAC, I really respect your advice, and have used it the last two trips I've made to Italy, you are always right on, but I must disagree with you on this one. I've been from northern to southern Italy on Euro Star 2x and if they announced a stop, I certainly didn't hear it and believe me I was all ears in anticipation. Most of the time I asked someone on the train what town it was. I speak a little Italian and would certainly have picked up the name of the town I wanted. Believe me, I am not bad-mouthing Italian trains, they are very efficient and a great way to see Italy, but they are a challenge nonetheless.

Here is something I've found useful on my train trips - pick up the paper schedule in the train station that includes your trip. I use it to &quot;follow along&quot; and keep track of the stops - kind of like using a map to keep track of where you are. I would know when my stop was nearing and could get prepared to hop off quickly. I also use the German train schedule site - http://www.reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en for a lot of my planning. I usually know what day and approximately when I want to move to the next place and I would check the schedules and print the details (button on the page). I would print several of the routes so I had some flexibility. This also helped to determine which trains were the fast ones and which ones made the fewest stops. This also helps me in planning - I usually like to be on the fast train that makes no stops if I can! I have found this site to be invaluable and the schedules are usually more reliable and up to date than the paper schedules at the station. And I always confirm my departure by checking the main schedule at the station.

In France &amp; Germany I've found the trains run like clockwork. I enter a train station and look at one of the big official clocks that are over the arrivals/departures boards and make sure my watch says the same time. I jump on the train and when it's about time for my scheduled arrival then I gather my luggage and get ready to exit. I do double check and make sure that the signs posted all along the platform we're pulling into say the destination I want.<BR><BR>If I feel I might doze off I set my travel alarm clock and shove it in my pants pocket. I'd hate to sleep through my destination for an hour and have to figure out how to get back.

The answer is simple. I admit it took me a couple of train rides in Italy to clue myself up but how it saved some stress.<BR>When you arrive to catch your train allow yourself a few minutes to jot down from the departures board the names of a few stations before your own. Then on the trip you will have plenty of time to prepare your exit from the train. And to get off at the right station.

Sorry, I should have added that I also wrote down the arrival time of the two or three stations before mine as well as my own.

These are really good ideas - making sure to jot down arrival time of the town you want and also a few towns before is good advice. I will try that next time. The great thing about traveling in Italy, Italians are so ready to help you. Hope I have the same experience in France.

The only stops I remember hearing announced are usually those where the train will &quot;separate&quot; and go two different directions. I've even had the conductor come just before that point to make sure we were in the right car going the right direction once it splits.<BR><BR>For the luggage, I bought a smallish bicycle lock. It is a light weight cable with a combination lock attached. It is perfect for locking your suitcase to the rail or a pole there, or even to a cart or your bench if stuck for a long time in a train station or aiport. It was a smart investment.

Patrick are you referring to French trains? I have a cable lock and it does work rather well - used it on the train from Venice to Rome when my bag was way down at the end of the car and out of sight. I was hoping I didn't have to worry so much in that regard on French trains.

I've taken a lot of French trains and I don't even remember them announcing the stop verbally. Perhaps because there are always signs that make it easy to tell where you are, as you should know pretty well when it's the next stop from the train schedules, so I am not listening that well. I mean you take not when you are in the one before your final stop and get ready. The signs are always very clear in France that I've never had any trouble knowing where I was. They aren't just on buildings, but on signs along the station quays, also, which are pretty clear, I think.<BR><BR>There are some storage places for luggage in the middle of cars on some TGVs I've taken (in-between some seats) so that if you get on early, you can usually get one fairly close to your seat.