Hi All -

I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.

Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
large enough for a suitcase?

Thanks in advance for any information on this subject!

"John Smith" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi All -
    > I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    > but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    > Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    > example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    > large enough for a suitcase?


How large is your suitcase?


--
Luigi Donatello Asero
(sono italiano ma vivo in Svezia)
(я итальянец но я живу в Швеции )
(我是 意大利人 , 但是 我 住 在 瑞典)
(minä olen Italian kansalainen, mutta minä asun Ruotsissa)
https://www.scaiecat-spa-gigi.com/sv...-i-italien.php

Hello Liugi -

That was a fast reply (almost before I typed it!).

First suitcase is 66cm x 23cm x 46cm (26" x 9" x 18").
The second suitcase is 56cm x 36cm x 20 cm (22" x 14" x 8")

Thanks!

    > How large is your suitcase?

"John Smith" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello Liugi -
    > That was a fast reply (almost before I typed it!).
    > First suitcase is 66cm x 23cm x 46cm (26" x 9" x 18").
    > The second suitcase is 56cm x 36cm x 20 cm (22" x 14" x 8")
    > Thanks!
    > > How large is your suitcase?


Well, it might depend on which train and whether you have reserved a
couchette or Sleeping car or you only find a seat in the corridor.

I used to travel myself a lot by train from and into Italy many years ago
and as far as I remember there was little room for the baggage on the
corridor.
Again it might depend on how many people have reserved a couchette or a
sleeping car in the same compartment
but here you have a description of one train anyway
http://www.trenitalia.com/it/trenita...def-Stampa.pdf



--
Luigi Donatello Asero
(sono italiano ma vivo in Svezia)
(я итальянец но я живу в Швеции )
(我是 意大利人 , 但是 我 住 在 瑞典)
(minä olen Italian kansalainen, mutta minä asun Ruotsissa)
https://www.scaiecat-spa-gigi.com/sv...-i-italien.php

"Luigi Donatello Asero" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > "John Smith" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Hello Liugi -
    > >
    > > That was a fast reply (almost before I typed it!).
    > >
    > > First suitcase is 66cm x 23cm x 46cm (26" x 9" x 18").
    > > The second suitcase is 56cm x 36cm x 20 cm (22" x 14" x 8")
    > >
    > > Thanks!
    > >
    > > > How large is your suitcase?
    > Well, it might depend on which train and whether you have reserved a
    > couchette or Sleeping car or you only find a seat in the corridor.
    > I used to travel myself a lot by train from and into Italy many years ago
    > and as far as I remember there was little room for the baggage on the
    > corridor.

in the corridor.

I think I used a suitcase which is larger than yours and that I found a
place
somewhere, probably in the couchette.
But it might have been very difficult to find
overhead luggage racks in the corridor which are large enough for the
suitcase.
And these overhead luggage racks in the couchette compartments are normally
used also during the day when the compartments have seats instead.
--
Luigi Donatello Asero
(sono italiano ma vivo in Svezia)
(я итальянец но я живу в Швеции )
(我是 意大利人 , 但是 我 住 在 瑞典)
(minä olen Italian kansalainen, mutta minä asun Ruotsissa)
https://www.scaiecat-spa-gigi.com/sv...-i-italien.php

In article <[email protected]>, Luigi Donatello
Asero <[email protected]> wrote:

    > "John Smith" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Hi All -
    > >
    > > I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    > > but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    > >
    > > Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    > > example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    > > large enough for a suitcase?
    >
    >
    > How large is your suitcase?

Which train will you be taking ?

jay
Sun Sep 25, 2005
mailto:[email protected]

    >>> I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains, but don't
    >>> know what steps I can take to prepare for it.

If you are awake, and your luggage is either in your compartment or within
sight, it shouldn't be a problem. If you are on an ES train the problem is
further diminished, because all seats are reserved, and it doesn't stop that
often, so that a thief would likely not only have to plan to take the
luggage just as it arrived at a station, but would also probably not even
bother paying the stiff supplement to take the ES train (just place your
luggage ahead of your gaze, instead of behind you, if you are as compulsive
as I am). If you are asleep in a couchette, be sure to lock the couchette
compartment door--though if someone goes to the bathroom in the middle of
the night it could still be a problem. If I figure to be asleep on a train
in any country in a compartment that others may enter, I sometimes use a
bicycle cable lock to chain the suitcase to something fixed in the
compartment--but even without doing that I've never had a problem.

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 16:48:27 -0700, John Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Hi All -
    >I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    >but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    >Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    >example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    >large enough for a suitcase?

There are, and should be big enough.

If you are still worried, you can lay your suitcase down, and use it
as a foot rest. Even as you sleep, noone will touch it. Of course this
will affect the person opposite.

Also, wear sunglasses, even at night. That way people don't know if
you're actually sleeping or not.

(unless you're snoring, in which case everyone will know and hate you
for it)
--
---
DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com
---
--

"John Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi All -
    > I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    > but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    > Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    > example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    > large enough for a suitcase?

Several previous answers have assumed that you will be using a couchette,
but you don't indicate this. I'll assume that you are travelling in a day
train!

There are two issues with a suitcase - volume and weight. I would hesitate
to risk another heart attack by lifting a suitcase with two weeks' luggage
on to an overhead luggage rack. Stowage in open carriages is no problem -
there will be storage racks, including some at floor level, at the end of
the carriage. Stowage between seat backs may also be possible. Compartment
stock is more problematic - it's either the overhead rack or leave your
stuff in the corridor, which won't make you popular in a crowded train.

Having said that, I have had no problems in recent years when carrying
luggage on teh Milan-Venice line. I've paid a bit extra for first class and
have had no objection to leaving my suitcase in the corridor.

I have also NEVER had any problem with theft or attempted theft of luggage
in Italy.

Alan Harrison

On Sun, 25 Sep 2005 16:48:27 -0700, John Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Hi All -
    >I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    >but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    >Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    >example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    >large enough for a suitcase?
    >Thanks in advance for any information on this subject!

The interregional trains have overhead shelves that are a fairly good
size, and if you can lift your suitcase over your head, it will
probably fit up there. Also, on these trains the corridors are fairly
wide and people often keep their suitcases in the corridor, moving
them temporarily if someone has trouble getting past. These trains
usually don't have reserved seats, so you can put some luggage on the
floor next to your seat if the train doesn't get crowded.

Trains that have individual compartments seating six, rather than open
carriage seating, have the most space for luggage storage. (These are
mostly intercity trains in my part of the country.) There are two
shelves above each seat, and one of them can hold rather sizeable
suitcases. There is also space under the seat for smaller bags. If all
the compartment seats are taken, people often sit on little jumpseats
in the corridors, with their luggage beside them. Making your way
through the corridor can sometimes be a challenge on a crowded train.

On the Eurostar trains, open carriage seating is the rule and I find
that anything larger than a backpack may not fit on the overhead
shelf. Small bags may also fit under the seat. Usually you have pairs
of seats facing each other, and there is space behind the seats for
small suitcases. Anything larger than that would have to go in the
bins at the end of the corridor, as the corridors are not very wide.

In any case, I don't believe there is a widespread problem with stolen
luggage on Italian trains. Maybe there is on certain lines, but I
travel quite a lot by train, and I've never heard of anyone having
something stolen.
--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

John Smith wrote:
    > Hello Liugi -
    >
    > That was a fast reply (almost before I typed it!).
    >
    > First suitcase is 66cm x 23cm x 46cm (26" x 9" x 18").
    > The second suitcase is 56cm x 36cm x 20 cm (22" x 14" x 8")
    >
    > Thanks!
    >
    >> How large is your suitcase?

John,

Those suitcases shouldn't be a problem on the trains, except it seems
like a lot of stuff to be hauling around.

To introduce you to using the trains in Europe see my page at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm

John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------
This email powered by Thunderbird. Learn more at:
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

John Smith wrote:

    > Hi All -
    >
    > I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    > but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    >
    > Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    > example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    > large enough for a suitcase?

A few years ago a bought a thin cable with an eye at each end, and two small
padlock. I use that to close my luggage, and fix it to something once put
in the overhead racks.

Since I like to use the restaurant on the train keeping everything in sight
is not really an option. Tying it down does give peace of mind.

--
/<rist

Hi,

Personally, I think the problem is overrated: yes, it's there but it's not as
bad as you might have been led to believe. I'm sorry to say this, but some
Americans and Australians seem to be slightly paranoid about Italy or any
southern country (one of my friends wouldn't even go south of Rome because of
the perceived danger).

Heed the advise you've got here, keep a constant eye out for your luggage,
particularly in the south, but by all means also relax and have a good time.

Ralph

P.S.: I've never had anything stolen from me in Italy, nor in any country where
theft is supposed to be a problem. The only place where I lost things was
oh-so-safe Australia, and that was in a backpacker's at night, and the item in
question was a wet towel. :-) Heed the advise and you should be fine.

John Smith wrote:
    > Hi All -
    > I have read that luggage theft is a problem on Italian trains,
    > but don't know what steps I can take to prepare for it.
    > Are there ways of keeping one's luggage within eyesight? For
    > example, are there overhead luggage racks and, if so, are they
    > large enough for a suitcase?
    > Thanks in advance for any information on this subject!

Bonjour John,

This information is for the TGV in France... but there are some general
baggage tips here that might be of interest to you. On the FAQ page
there's a specific answer dealing with baggage on trains.

http://bonjourlafrance.net/france-tr...ravel-tips.htm
http://bonjourlafrance.net/france-tr...ns-answers.htm

Bon Voyage

Sam at [email protected]

Thanks very much to all of your for taking the time to respond.
You've given me some valuable suggestions!

Now, off to Italia!