Suitcases on European trains
 

I'm planning to travel through several European countries by train (incl. TGV to/from Paris and an overnight between Vienna and Zurich). I'm considering bringing a small wheeled suitcase (26" x 18" x 10") as well as a backpack that will fit under a seat.

My question is...will the suitcase fit in the overhead racks in train cars (or is it possible to place it somewhere else within my view?) Or will I have to check it?

Thanks to anyone who can answer...

That size of suitcase ought to fit just fine in the overhead racks above your seat :-) I've never heard of "checking" your baggage on a train... has anyone else?

Nope, there's no checking baggage on a train. You need to board with it yourself (up a narrow flight on stairs onto the car) and lift it into a rack above your head. Sometimes there are larger racks at the ends of each car available. To me a 26" plus a backpack would be too much to manage (I stick to a 22" max. and a medium size shoulder bag). Never been on a TGV so can't comment if that might be different.

This question has been beat to death. 26" luggage and train travel are incompatible.If you insist you will regret it.

You don't need ot watch your luggage - people are rarely interested in other people's clothes - they're secondhand and wouldn't fit, don't be so paranoid. If you're insured you could get a whole new wardrobe and compensation for the hassle if someone thinks your're stylish. Your case is tiny, and if the train is quiet you can put it on a seat next to you.

I must agree with mgmargate. Also I would not call a 26 inch suitcase "small", as that is much too big to be carried onto a plane--I realize you are travelling by train but that is just the rule of thumb I use to categorize luggage. While it is true that it will fit in the overhead rack, that is just b/c you will have to put it in sideways, therefore taking up more space than if you could put it in the other orientation. This limits luggage space for all travellers on a crowded train--esp now that many countries have closed the racks at the ends of the cars.

26" is small, i take what must be at least a 33" case that expands just for a week. I used to travel on UK trains with a large case, you're not getting off at every stop, 26" is fine.

Never say never. I saw a baggage car full of checked luggage on a TGV from Geneva to Paris. In fact, we were in the same car as the Saudi princess, her 20 handmaidens, their aromatic take-aboard dinners, and consort.

That was once in 30 years of training in Europe. Normally you just put your bag in the rack above your seat.

You can't do that? Then you brought too much stuff. It has been preached on Fodors and everywhere so often that it is surprising your question has not brought down the wrath of everyone aboard this forum. In any case, your definition of "small" will certainly change during your trip.

Ignore m kingdom2's words. Do be paranoid about having your luggage out of your sight while on trains in Europe. Well organized gangs prey on passengers by walking through the trains and grabbing what they can just as the train starts off. Tickets are not checked until the train is well out of the stations so the opportunity for thieves is enormous. Watch or hold on to your stuff.

Q. Why would a thief steal a piece of luggage not knowing what is in it?
A1. He has a girlfriend or mother who would really appreciate some American clothes.
A2. He can sell whatever at the flea market.
A3. He's just a dumb thief.

On all the French trains I've been on it would be VERY hard to hoist a 26" suitcase and fit it into the overhead luggage racks. 26" is too big for train travel unless you're a bodybuilder. You'll be SO sorry you brought it!

There's no such thing as checking bags on a train in Europe that I know of. There are compartments at the ends of trains where you can leave luggage, but I don't do that unless the overhead bins are totally full - because thieves DO take bags and also because there is always the possibility of someone getting off before you do and mistakenly taking your suitcase.

From personal experience which was not good, I highly recommend that you bring the smallest suitcase possible. There are a few narrow steps up to the train and if you have a large, heavy suitcase you will regret it very much. Don't talk about the impatient passengers who are in a hurry to board.

What happened to the luggage-check service that SNCF was offering last year? You could have your luggage picked up the night before, I think. I remember getting an e-mail from SNCF about the new service.

I was able to hoist a 26 X 18 X 10 inch wheeled case to the overhead rack on a TGV. This was not a plan. The TGV came to rescue us after our Eurostar broke down. The large case is not a big deal on trains that have storage at the ends (like Eurostar) but I think the French are still restricting those spots. I would be reluctant to plan on taking a case of that size on TGV because there may not be room for your stuff.

Recent short article said France was not going to allow luggage to be left in the storage areas at the ends of the cars. Security? All your luggage must be with you at your seat. Sorry I don't remember when the start date was, maybe someone else read about this. Would sure be crowded spaces for legs etc. in second class.Lisa

Yes, be warned - when I travelled on the TGV during May this year the storage space for luggae at the end of cars was blocked.

I'm glad I read this thread, despite the crabby posts from a predictable couple of testy types.

I've never taken anything larger than a 22" wheeled suitcase, and even that can seem a lot when wrestling it onto a train with lots of impatient commuters behind me.

We've always left our bags in the storage area at the end of the train (the few valuables we take along remain in small carryons). I hope the storage areas in trains in Spain aren't blocked off this fall. I'm not tall and would have difficulty stuffing my 22" bag into the overhead.

>I've never heard of "checking" your baggage on a train... has anyone else? <

Once upon a time, one checked one's luggage at the departure station before boarding and retrieved it at the destination station.

There were porters as well.