Luggage size on European Trains

[Mattuk]

I will be travelling around Europe by train this summer and I wonder if they are strict about luggage sizes. In particular I will be using the OBB, the nightjet, and both continental and cross-channel Eurostars. I saw that the strictest luggage size is 75x53x30 on the ex-Thalys trains and my luggage is 82x49x32, I wonder if they will throw a fuss if I bring that case, especially if bringing one on board needs a security check.

Do anyone has any experience with bringing oversized luggage on trains or are they don’t really care like the British ones?

Thanks

 

[rvdborgt]

As long as you can carry your luggage yourself and it fits in the racks or under the seats, then nobody cares.
82x49x32 is quite large though and I'd consider slimming down (wash clothes every now and then) and/or using a smaller suitcase and a backpack.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Exception to this is the budget airline style services like Avlo, they do check and do care.

On traditional services they don't.

However a case nearly a metre tall and half a metre wide is going to be very hard to stow - I would as others have said definitely go smaller and perhaps add a rucksack too. Avanti explicitly say this - two smaller bags are better than one larger one.

 

[Nunners]

I will be travelling around Europe by train this summer and I wonder if they are strict about luggage sizes. In particular I will be using the OBB, the nightjet, and both continental and cross-channel Eurostars. I saw that the strictest luggage size is 75x53x30 on the ex-Thalys trains and my luggage is 82x49x32, I wonder if they will throw a fuss if I bring that case, especially if bringing one on board needs a security check.

Do anyone has any experience with bringing oversized luggage on trains or are they don’t really care like the British ones?

Thanks

I believe on TGVs you have to have a luggage tag with name and address if you want to put it in the luggage racks. I don't know how well enforced this is.

 

[Teebs]

I believe on TGVs you have to have a luggage tag with name and address if you want to put it in the luggage racks. I don't know how well enforced this is.

I've never bothered and it's not been an issue ever and I see plenty of other cases without (I probably do ~8 TGV journeys a year).

 

[DanielB]

I believe on TGVs you have to have a luggage tag with name and address if you want to put it in the luggage racks. I don't know how well enforced this is.

Not at all when I made a trip by TGV last year. The tags however are easily available: at Paris Est last year there were piles of them laying on each ticket machine.

 

[Alfonso]

Unless you have something that absolutely has to be in such a large case, like a musical instrument, it's got to be more comfortable to take something less bulky...using more laundry services or whatever to travel lighter. Such a big case makes urban transport, luggage lockers, getting away from pickpockets etc a pain.

 

[43096]

Unless you have something that absolutely has to be in such a large case, like a musical instrument, it's got to be more comfortable to take something less bulky...using more laundry services or whatever to travel lighter. Such a big case makes urban transport, luggage lockers, getting away from pickpockets etc a pain.

Agreed. Far too many people take far too much junk with them when travelling. I blame wheeled cases which have made it easier to take stuff.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Not at all when I made a trip by TGV last year. The tags however are easily available: at Paris Est last year there were piles of them laying on each ticket machine.

I've never had tagged luggage in France, and I can only remember one occasion when I was pulled up over it ... and that was decades ago.

 

[Dougal2345]

Just don't be one of those people who, seeing an empty luggage rack, just chucks their suitcase in it flat taking up the whole shelf, leaving people boarding later to have to hoick it up on its side or base to get their own luggage in (grrrr)