CrossCountry charging tickets for luggage on seats

[Purple Train]

Good. Put your luggage in the rack or don't bring it.

Why, WHY, can't people travel light? You see people with cases the size of a planet all the time.

I can go away for a week with a small laptop sized bag. Why can't you?

Edit: you and in people not you as in the OP!

Given you hail from the north-east I presume you don't have a line in thick woollen jumpers like I do!

Nevertheless, I do think it is a good thing to encourage people to travel as light as possible. I certainly try to, although I have an aversion to using luggage racks so have to pack light enough to fit under my seat. I very much approve of encouraging people not to take up extra seats, in whatever form that encouragement takes. If I can manage it with a large rucksack on a 165, so can you!

 

[Tester]

Eurostar conditions require all luggage to be labelled but I have never seen it enforced.

That's a SNCF thing.

 

[Chriso]

In my experience XC guards rarely leave there cab anyway making the announcement even more farcical

 

[CyrusWuff]

Good. Put your luggage in the rack or don't bring it.

Pendolinos, Voyagers and pretty much everything built around the same time have overhead racks that are basically unusable for bags deeper than a laptop bag.

I have one of these Wenger overnight bags (has a centre section for clothes) and that's too deep for said overhead racks, even with the central section unexpanded.

 

[Russel]

I can fit a week's worth of clean clothes in my normal-sized work backpack - in addition to tools, safety shoes, journal, book, technical essentials, a sketchbook and stationery. In outdoors mode I can live indefinitely out of a 50L backpack - clothes, shelter, cooking, electronics, etc.

A 50L backpack is somewhat bigger than a laptop bag though!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jan 2026 ==

In my experience XC guards rarely leave there cab anyway making the announcement even more farcical

That's actually not a bad point.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Good. Put your luggage in the rack or don't bring it.

Why, WHY, can't people travel light? You see people with cases the size of a planet all the time.

I can go away for a week with a small laptop sized bag. Why can't you?

Edit: you and in people not you as in the OP!

Yes I also have this talent.
A lot of times when I’ve been abroad with friends, they’ve paid five times more for hold luggage than I have for my ticket! Not something I can understand myself, I find luggage to be a burden.

 

[Russel]

Yes I also have this talent.
A lot of times when I’ve been abroad with friends, they’ve paid five times more for hold luggage than I have for my ticket! Not something I can understand myself, I find luggage to be a burden.

How do you fit all of your North Face coats into a laptop bag?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

How do you fit all of your North Face coats into a laptop bag?

Oh my god, don’t even go there
(I only take one per trip, this week it’s the teal )

 

[LancasterRed]

Had to do this yesterday travelling from SOU-COV but got it in a rack at RDG. The reality was that so many cruise passengers were travelling that some suitcases had to go on seats. CrossCountry weren't prepared for how many northbound passengers came off the ship.

In normal circumstances I'd agree but XC don't seem to be able to handle cruise days. I imagine OP experienced the reverse of this - people heading to the cruise.

 

[Russel]

Oh my god, don’t even go there
(I only take one per trip, this week it’s the teal )

Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Had to do this yesterday travelling from SOU-COV but got it in a rack at RDG. The reality was that so many cruise passengers were travelling that some suitcases had to go on seats. CrossCountry weren't prepared for how many northbound passengers came off the ship.

In normal circumstances I'd agree but XC don't seem to be able to handle cruise days. I imagine OP experienced the reverse of this - people heading to the cruise.

Of course, Southampton has also taken a hit in service frequency since COVID, losing its 1tp2h service to Newcastle via Solihull (N/S) and Doncaster, so likely more customers using the Manchester trains now. Thankfully most four cars these days seem to be on Newcastle Reading or NE SW instead! It’s usually five or doubles these days.

 

[Kite159]

Had to do this yesterday travelling from SOU-COV but got it in a rack at RDG. The reality was that so many cruise passengers were travelling that some suitcases had to go on seats. CrossCountry weren't prepared for how many northbound passengers came off the ship.

In normal circumstances I'd agree but XC don't seem to be able to handle cruise days. I imagine OP experienced the reverse of this - people heading to the cruise.

Neither can SWR, especially when you get folk with suitcases containing the kitchen sink which don't fit* on the overhead racks and the inability of leisure users to spread along the full length of the platform.

(* Or the passenger isn't strong/confident enough to lift the suitcase onto the overhead racks)

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've long complained about the lack of provision on 197s, when the 175s they replaced had twice the provision and used to struggle.

197s have massive overheads - we just need to get people to use them when they have a hand luggage sized bag. After all they would on a plane. That keeps the stacks free for big stuff.

175s have overheads that barely take a coat, so I find them far worse.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2026 ==

I can go away for a week with a small laptop sized bag. Why can't you?

Because I don't want to. For a customer focussed railway that is the only answer needed.

Lumo exists for sanctimonious light packers. Meanwhile when I fly I book a hold bag and enjoy the civility of taking what I want and breezing through security with just a small shoulder bag.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2026 ==

Yes I also have this talent.
A lot of times when I’ve been abroad with friends, they’ve paid five times more for hold luggage than I have for my ticket! Not something I can understand myself, I find luggage to be a burden.

I find a hold bag good value. Luggage at airport security, now that's a burden.

That aside a relevant fact may be (aside from people who don't want a fresh shirt each day, maybe they sweat less than me) that S clothes have roughly half the fabric volume of XXL, and size 14 shoes are twice the size (ish) of say size 6. Thus how much each person needs is not dissimilar to the fact that some people think a Voyager has tons of legroom and some think it's cramped.

 

[Angmering1974]

Is there a touch of jealousy about lots of luggage? Many people go on long, multi-activity holidays - beach + outdoor activities + fancy dinners etc needing multiple types of shoes, active wear, casual wear, smart wear. Staying in hotels where laundry is less available etc.

Lumo exists for sanctimonious light packers. Meanwhile when I fly I book a hold bag and enjoy the civility of taking what I want and breezing through security with just a small shoulder bag.

Hear hear

 

[Archvile]

Nothing wrong with putting luggage on the seat next to you if there are plenty of spare seats around.

I do it to send a signal that I don't want to be sat next to, so you can choose any of the other available seats.

If it gets busy, I remove it.

 

[Krokodil]

197s have massive overheads - we just need to get people to use them when they have a hand luggage sized bag. After all they would on a plane. That keeps the stacks free for big stuff.

There's one stack per coach (excluding the former Standard Premium coaches, which have two stacks in that compartment and none at all in the other). If you're lucky you might fit two big suitcases in the bottom row of a stack. Maybe one more can be lifted into the next shelf. What are the other 67 passengers in the same coach coming home from Manchester Airport, travelling to their caravan sites in Rhyl or returning from uni in Bangor supposed to do?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What are the other 67 passengers in the same coach coming home from Manchester Airport, travelling to their caravan sites in Rhyl or returning from uni in Bangor supposed to do

How often do you work a train on which every single passenger including every child however young has a large (bigger than airline carry on size) trolley case?

I can't remember ever having travelled on such a train.

That's not to say there shouldn't be more luggage space on these trains, but I personally find them to be far better than 175s for accommodating the luggage people actually have, because the overheads are so big.

 

[tehmarks]

A 50L backpack is somewhat bigger than a laptop bag though!

My work backpack is not a 50L bacakpack. I'd love to tell you exactly how big it is, but Osprey seem to have stopped making it. I can assure you though, that it's about the size of a backpack that a normal commuter would throw their laptop in to commute with.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My work backpack is not a 50L bacakpack. I'd love to tell you exactly how big it is, but Osprey seem to have stopped making it. I can assure you though, that it's about the size of a backpack that a normal commuter would throw their laptop in to commute with.

That'd probably be in the region of 25-30l.

 

[Sakuradori]

In practice that will just never happen. Cannot ever recall in my years at XC a complaint from anyone denied boarding because their *luggage* wouldn't fit.

Working at a station with 800s, I see it once or twice a week. We joke that some people try to move house by train. In the last few months I've seen speaker stacks, e-bikes closer to motorbikes, a canoe, and a passenger with what appeared to be a garden waste bag full of belongings refused travel.

 

[Wychwood93]

Nothing wrong with putting luggage on the seat next to you if there are plenty of spare seats around.

I do it to send a signal that I don't want to be sat next to, so you can choose any of the other available seats.

If it gets busy, I remove it.

Exactly the same with me!

 

[LittleRedTrain]

I have got into a heated argument on XC before where the only seat left in the carriage was occupied by someone's suitcase, and I insisted they move it so I could sit down. I sympathise with their argument that there's nowhere else to put it, but in the end, seats are for passengers, and they just have to live with cuddling it until space frees up in the rack! I've certainly had to do that myself in the past.

I think it's not unreasonable for trains to accommodate a 'sensible' amount of luggage per-passenger, especially if they serve airports or leisure destinations. CrossCountry (and many other TOCs) are simply not doing that, especially given how pathetically small the overheads are. I've never had the same issue when travelling in Europe!

For mobility reasons, my wife and father-in-law sometimes need to bring small (suitcase size) folding mobility scooters onboard to allow them to get around at their destination.
XC refuse to let them be stowed in the wheelchair slot unless they sit in them for the entire journey!
Proper luggage provision would also make life easier for them, as well as parents with pushchairs, cyclists etc!

It does make you think that driving would be a far better experience, but sadly, for me that's not an option!

 

[ricoblade]

It shouldn't be on the person without a seat to ask, though. XC are especially bad, in my experience, for overcrowding so I support this attempt to make the point you can't take up two seats.

I boarded a 4-car XC at Doncaster this lunchtime, the screens were showing red in coaches B and F and Amber in D, so I went for D.

A lot of people got off but there were still mamy people in the vestibules and standing by the extended luggage racks.

I took a punt and wandered down the carriage and, lo and behold, there were a few seats occupied by bags and one by someone sleeping across 2 seats.

I just politely but assertivevly said "can I sit here please" and he moved his bag no problem but with a look of disdain (tough!).

Someone else asked the couple on the 4 table seats to move their bags and they did without a problem, no one challenged the sleeper!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I boarded a 4-car XC at Doncaster this lunchtime, the screens were showing red in coaches B and F and Amber in D, so I went for D.

A lot of people got off but there were still mamy people in the vestibules and standing by the extended luggage racks.

I took a punt and wandered down the carriage and, lo and behold, there were a few seats occupied by bags and one by someone sleeping across 2 seats.

I just politely but assertivevly said "can I sit here please" and he moved his bag no problem but with a look of disdain (tough!).

Someone else asked the couple on the 4 table seats to move their bags and they did without a problem, no one challenged the sleeper!

I don't think four carriage Voyagers have Coach B, it's typically the unreserved carriage on 5-221s.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Good. Put your luggage in the rack or don't bring it.

Why, WHY, can't people travel light? You see people with cases the size of a planet all the time.

I can go away for a week with a small laptop sized bag. Why can't you?

Edit: you and in people not you as in the OP!

I blame the invention of suitcases on wheels. Prior to that the general rule of thumb was if it's too heavy to lift then it's too big to take on a train. If only such things could be uninvented!

 

[35B]

I blame the invention of suitcases on wheels. Prior to that the general rule of thumb was if it's too heavy to lift then it's too big to take on a train. If only such things could be invented!

Knowing one traveller and his luggage, wheels are not the root cause. Some people just travel heavy, as demonstrated at every airport where passengers are made to repack to reduce cases below 32kg

 

[Krokodil]

How often do you work a train on which every single passenger including every child however young has a large (bigger than airline carry on size) trolley case?

It doesn't need to be every single passenger. It just needs to be more than three or four and suddenly you have cases that can't be properly accommodated on the one stack provided in each carriage. Luckily 197 vestibules are fairly spacious so some big cases end up getting tucked into the corners there. Otherwise the bike and wheelchair spaces quickly get filled up, which creates arguments for me when the rightful users turn up and I have to refuse to move the train until this is resolved. Some people try and put cases in behind the front cab door, or in front of the rear one; again the train will not be moving until both I and the driver could access the entire unit in an emergency.

You really need to turn up at Chester on a Monday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday in peak season to see what I mean.

 

[londonbridge]

I once witnessed a woman allowing her dog to sit on the seat next to her, without blanket or covering. I darned well hope that's against the rules and there are severe penalties. At least luggage and coats don't leave a mess behind; although I agree there should be a penalty for people not removing them when someone wants to sit there.

I’ve seen dogs on seats on the bus on more than one occasion, again, TFL rules (and presumably other bus operators) explicitly state that dogs are not allowed on seats.

 

[rmHawk765]

That's a SNCF thing.

And indeed on my last TGV journey, I was given a strap for my suitcase. IIRC it is only required for luggage in the area at the front/end of the coach, not overhead.

 

[JulienD]

I’ve seen dogs on seats on the bus on more than one occasion, again, TFL rules (and presumably other bus operators) explicitly state that dogs are not allowed on seats.

Why would you even let your dog sit on the seats? The same logic around not putting your feet on the seats apply here. The dog could have stepped in mud or **** and now it's tracking that on the seats...