trains: luggage capacity
 

Hi
How big is the space inside Italy's trains for your luggage? (I mean the space in the place where you seat)
I don't want to check in my luggage (like in planes). In Spain I got robbed because I wasn't travelling with my luggage and I had to check it in :(
Thanks

I didn't think you could check luggage on trains, I though you had to carry it on yourself.

Is Spain different?

First, make a seat reservation so that you can put your luggage overhead. Otherwise, you may be sitting in aisle seats (unless you have to stand) with your luggage in the entryway and no good way to watch them. Getting a seat without a reservation is the luck of the draw.

Sorry, forgot to speak on the space available. I would suggest one bag above as there are 6 people to a compartment. Other bags would have to be between your legs on the floor or on your lap.

http://www.pac-safe.com/product.aspx?pId=654

I don't own this brand, but a retractable cable may give you some piece of mind if you must leave your luggage out of eyesight.

We had alot of luggage last time we took the train from Milan to Florence. We had some overhead and some at the end of our car. When the train was coming in for stops someone in our party got up and stood by it until the doors closed again. We were lst class on the trip down and 2nd on the return and had no trouble.

ES* and Cisalpino trains in Italy have &quot;lounge&quot; like seating of 4 people facing each other. Therefore, there's a pretty large space <b>behind</b> your seat. I didn't try it, but I think it will fit a 26&quot; suitcase.

That, and the overhead.

A 22&quot; will fit behind the seat (in 1st class), but I think a 26&quot; might be pushing it. There were also bins overhead as well as the storage racks at each end of the car.

I think it also depends on when you're travelling. Trains weren't crowded when we travelled mid-week.

Can you really check luggage on trains in Spain?

Would a 25 inch fit in the overhead bin or is that space like an airplane overhead bin?

On a lot of trains there is more of an overhead <b>rack</b> rather than an overhead bin similar to those on airplanes.

Storage capacity depends on the configuration of the equipment; sometimes there are racks at the end of the cars as well as overhead racks, storage space under seats and behind seats.

I've stored HUGE duffel bags as well as luggage in avrious places on trains...I think you can find a place for a 26&quot; case and if you are at all concerned about the possibility of theft the locking bicycle cable would serve you well.

I would not try to put a 26&quot; in the overhead rack. It's not that deep. The key question is can you lift a loaded 26&quot; suitcase up there? I couldn't.

The racks are very high. It'd be dangerous to put anything larger than a 20-21&quot; up there. They may fall, and you will have trouble getting them up there in the first place.

I could definitely lift it (I've been working out and I'm tall enough), but the issue of the depth of the rack will send me to the regular luggage hold. I may do the bike lock thing. I only fear the lock will jam and I won't be able to get my bag off, ha, ha.

Most people leave their suitcases in the luggage racks at the end of each car (if it doesn't fit about their seat) and do not use cable locks.

Don't know about Italian trains, but Mrs. Fly was able to get her 27&quot; suitcase between back-to-back seats on German trains.

I used to always take a combination cable lock to secure my luggage at the end of train cars, but I just stopped doing so as it seemed so silly. I no longer take the locks.

If you can get by with a 22inch suitcase it will be easier for you ItalyLove.

Even easier if you take no suitcase at all. Don't take anything that you can't stuff into your pockets! (I would put a smiley here, but I can never remember how.)

Suze
I got robbed in a bus in Spain, from the luggage storage place.