Large luggage on European trains

[Forg]

My wife pulled the bags down which we had intended to take to Europe with us, and the one I was going to take has that sticky gooey rubber-falling-apart problem with the handle. I considered sports tape or something to cover it, but the retraction mechanism is busted as well (plus the rubber's falling apart so it wouldn't hold).

That bag is roughly 640mm x 400mm x 250mm - it's an Antler and a pretty standard size.

The only other bag we have reminds me of Grimace (it's purple) and looks massive to me ... roughly 760mm x 490mm x 310mm - a Samsonite, this is also a standard size.

My wife's taken Grimace overseas before, but only when Grimace stayed in the one hotel the whole time.


But this time we have a half-dozen train trips, admittedly mostly First Class (~10% extra why not?), on

• EuroStar
• SNCF TGV
• SBB (one regional & one international)

plus I'd planned mostly trams between stations & accommodation (not that much walking - a few hundred metres each time maybe).

And so to the actual question - does anyone have experience getting bags the size of Grimace into train luggage racks in Europe - specifically the named carriers? Is Grimace too big? I'm not so worried about wheeling Grimace around, it's just that I've only caught two Euro trains with luggage, 25 years ago, and while I recall zero about getting luggage into the racks I doubt the bag was as large as Grimace then either. The tram thing doesn't worry me either, either size bag is going to be as annoying as the other where there aren't luggage racks.
Or should I get my wife to check Choice then duck out to Westfields (or order through Amazon - they all seem to be on sale) and dis Grimace in favour of something less large?

 

[Hunter4vr]

It'll most likely be fine unless it's some regional train without large luggage racks. I have a hard shell Samsonite that is 750 x 520 x 310 and it was fine on every train we've taken, but from what I recall I had to lay it flat a couple of times.

 

[OZDUCK]

My wife pulled the bags down which we had intended to take to Europe with us, and the one I was going to take has that sticky gooey rubber-falling-apart problem with the handle. I considered sports tape or something to cover it, but the retraction mechanism is busted as well (plus the rubber's falling apart so it wouldn't hold).

That bag is roughly 640mm x 400mm x 250mm - it's an Antler and a pretty standard size.

The only other bag we have reminds me of Grimace (it's purple) and looks massive to me ... roughly 760mm x 490mm x 310mm - a Samsonite, this is also a standard size.

My wife's taken Grimace overseas before, but only when Grimace stayed in the one hotel the whole time.


But this time we have a half-dozen train trips, admittedly mostly First Class (~10% extra why not?), on

• EuroStar
• SNCF TGV
• SBB (one regional & one international)

plus I'd planned mostly trams between stations & accommodation (not that much walking - a few hundred metres each time maybe).

And so to the actual question - does anyone have experience getting bags the size of Grimace into train luggage racks in Europe - specifically the named carriers? Is Grimace too big? I'm not so worried about wheeling Grimace around, it's just that I've only caught two Euro trains with luggage, 25 years ago, and while I recall zero about getting luggage into the racks I doubt the bag was as large as Grimace then either. The tram thing doesn't worry me either, either size bag is going to be as annoying as the other where there aren't luggage racks.
Or should I get my wife to check Choice then duck out to Westfields (or order through Amazon - they all seem to be on sale) and dis Grimace in favour of something less large?

I can only speak with regards to SNCF TGV but we found the luggage situation better than on D Bahn or the Polish Railways. There seemed to be more luggage racks available. The only thing is that they are 'double deckers' so if you are concerned you would probably be better off booking seats on the lower deck as there are less steps to worry about. The TER trains (regional expresses) were all single deck. Our largest case was 61 X 500 x 250. As usual it is a good idea to be ready to disembark as soon as the train stops.

 

[lovestotravel]

We are on the TGV's each year, in first class and the stress of getting our bags on is the lowlight of the trip but we always get them on eventually.

Our suitcases in the hotel...



We have 4 large suitcases 81.0 x 54.0 x 35.0, so larger that Grimace

TGV - They wont' fit in the overhead racks, but it will fit in the luggage areas near the doors, however there is only space for a few bags.. (not my photo)



SBB is also fun, there is less storage on the double decker train we went on...



You will be fine, but a smaller bag would be a bit easier..... Bags end up sitting at the doors near the toilet area

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes as mentioned above, the lower deck is easier for luggage, but we've had to put luggage in the phone area before as well on the TGV ! LOL