I have two questions on the EuroStar to Naples from Rome.

1.Are reservations needed. Trenitalia.com indicates they are required. Do we make them from here or after arriving in Rome? It would be easier to make them on-line and not have to fool with them in Rome.

2.What about luggage...most trains in Italy and Europe are hotspots for thiefs. The luggage racks near the door make it pretty easy for someone to just grab and jump off. We only take airline carry-on size, but many European trains do not have any room by the seats to keep it near you.
Anyone have any comments on luggage on the Rome Naples run?

I understand that there are no reservations on the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento. Is there room for luggage by the seats?

Yes Eurostar reservations required. As for Naples-Sorrento train this is a commuter train that at times can be very crowded - without normal luggage racks as it is a commuter train.

The local train is the exception rather then the rule. On the Naples-Sorrento commuter run, you can and should keep your luggage near to you. Just get a seat at the back of the car so you are out of the commuters' way.

While I hear your understandable caution with regard to other (Eurostar and regular) trains, the actual amount of theft from trains is much lower than the gossip about it...security is much better now than 10 years ago. Your point of vulnerability is at the moments of departure and arrival and if you can keep a sharp eye on your stuff until you are rolling and then anticipate arrival by a couple of minutes you will do fine...thats what the Italian business people who frequent the trains do.

We took the Naples - Sorrento train last summer and my wife survived an attempted pickpocket by a young woman holding a baby - just be cautious.

The problem is less with the trains and more with the Naples station -- we were repeatedly approached but were firm about shooing away purported beggars (women with "babies" often) before they even got close to us. Creepy but survivable -- just stay alert, look them in the eye, and look P.O.'d.

Actually with our incident the woman got on the train with us and pulled my wife's wallet out of her purse and then stuck under her baby's blanket. My wife somehow instinctively knew what happened and reached under the blanket and told the young woman "you have my wallet" - the woman just scooted over and exited at the next stop. We now laugh about it, but it was rather distressing at the time.

Hi grayland. We just returned from Italy. We took the 10:45am Eurostar from Rome to Naples on a Thursday morning. We booked first class seats online ahead of time - ticketless travel - everything went smoothly - the conductor checked our printed email receipt and issued us a ticket receipt on the train. Since we were on a direct train, with no stops, we were comfortable leaving our luggage in the bin at the end of the car. We also took the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento - this was another matter - it was hot & crowded and there was no way we could make it to the seats with our luggage. We had to stand in the area where the doors open and close and hold on to our luggage. It was a bit stressful since we knew this was the most likely area for encountering pickpockets, but I had our passports and most of our money in a moneybelt under my clothes. Just be prepared for this part of the trip. Have a good time.

Hi gray,

All ES* trains are reserved seating only. If you buy a ticket, the seat reservation is included in the price.

If you have a railpass, you will have to make and pay for a seat reservation in Italy (about 12E)or from a travel agent.

ES* trains have luggage racks for small suitcases above the seats, like on airlanes, and space between the seats.

On the Circumvesuviana you put your luggage between your feet.

Re theft: The only time a thief can steal your luggage is when the train is in a station. I just stand up and watch my suitcase if it is on the rack at the end of the train.

Thanks for the replies. We have traveled for many years on European (including Italian) trains. I should have checked but was not aware that the ES train was non-stop. The stops are the problem, of course.
I used to take a bicycle chain and lock the luggage to the rack in Eastern Europe. This does eliminate the snatch and run at the stations. You can lock several pieces together and make it impossible to run off with the luggage. It works well in rental car trunks as well.

Thanks for the help.