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

 

[Warragul]

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...

View attachment 508878

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)

View attachment 508879

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

View attachment 508880

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

Had similar experiences on those trains as well.
Another factor is joining a train that is halfway through its journey can see all the luggage space taken before you even get on.

 

[lovestotravel]

That photo above, was on an

Had similar experiences on those trains as well.
Another factor is joining a train that is halfway through its journey can see all the luggage space taken before you even get on.

Yes good point - On the outbound - we join the train usually at the first stop (airport) so there is heaps of time to get on, and we still get on first to claim the best luggage spaces.

On the return journey we are the 2nd stop normally and most luggage space is already taken.

My trips are in Winter, so more larger bags, ski boots and skis etc. Lots less luggage on the summer trips

 

[WilsonM]

Most of the SBB regional trains have a space for bikes, which also come with fold-down seating - not a bad option if its only a couple of large bags and there's no space on luggage racks.

Some also do have luggage racks but they can vary in size and quantity for sure. As a side note, SBB First is often insanely priced for what you get, especially on the regional trains.

Man in Seat61 should have layouts of the trains you'll take, which might help you at least with seat selection or which carriage to get on etc.

 

[VPS]

I guess the other thing to consider is, can you lift the suitcase up into a rack if you need to.

 

[Forg]

I appreciate all the responses, and yeah the larger suitcase wouldn’t have been heavier enough than the smaller one to make any difference to lifting onto a rack … but for the sake of a few pineapples (less than the one night in Zurich) vs the added convenience of NOT lugging Grimace around, we’ve decided we’ll get my wife a new suitcase and I’ll use her older one.

It’s her birthday this weekend, it can be a prezzy.

Those photos make it look like space prolly is at a premium, I suspect more so between mid June & mid July, and the seats have already been reserved (combo of the luggage being within view and us sitting together but not opposite someone else) (upstairs on one TGV trip ‘cos I wanted the better view although I think another trip may still be the single story … Atlantics?) (I think I did use Mr 61 as part of the seat-choosing although from memory the tickets that allow reservations had diagrams when choosing seats which turned-out not to vary appreciably from Mr 61’s diagrams - some seat-choosing diagrams can choose form over accuracy).

 

[Quickstatus]

Our suitcases in the hotel...

Ah, so it is not crazy to have lots of luggage.

Our record was approx 500kg not including carry on one time (winter too)

 

[Warks]

As others have said there are always the racks at the ends of the cars, and sometimes in the middle. I've never seen that much luggage though. We travelled for five weeks in Europe last year with one large bag (not even super large) plus a 30L backpack (larger day pack) and a smaller day pack. Honestly we could have taken less. We had warm clothes for the first week but after that we didn't need them. I'd go hand luggage everywhere myself but Mrs Warks couldn't survive without checking several gallons of necessities for the bathroom.

 

[lovestotravel]

Ah, so it is not crazy to have lots of luggage.

Our record was approx 500kg not including carry on one time (winter too)

Not at all LOL

Our trips are usually 6-8 weeks and are both Winter skiing and then a warm destination after so lots of clothes