Do trains have space for suitcases?

Is there space for luggage on trains?

Man, the train to my sister's place in Denver last July was a beast. Packed, I tell you. I swear I saw someone's chihuahua in a carrier practically battling for space with a freaking golf bag!

Three bags, they said? Hah. More like three reasonably sized bags. My oversized duffel, stuffed to the gills with hiking gear for the Rockies? Yeah, that was a tight squeeze. Felt like a sardine. The overhead bins were a disaster. I ended up shoving my backpack under the seat, which was less than ideal. My knees hated me the whole trip.

Then this lady with a monstrous suitcase, bigger than my entire carry-on, tries to cram it into the already-full overhead. It was a circus. People were muttering. Seriously, people bring everything on these trains.

• Oversized luggage is a problem. Definitely.
• Space is limited, even for "allowed" luggage. It’s not a free-for-all.
• Expect a struggle for overhead bin space. Especially during peak times.
• Be prepared for uncomfortable seating if your luggage takes up space. The whole floor might be luggage sometimes!

My duffel was a nightmare. And, the train was delayed, adding hours onto my already long trip. Next time, I'm shipping my gear. I'm serious.

Where to put big luggage in a train?

Okay, so last year, July 2023, I took the TGV from Paris to Nice. Man, that train was packed! My suitcase, it's a beast, you know? A huge, hard-shell thing. I almost couldn't lift it.

First, I tried the overhead racks. Nope. Too small. My bag was ridiculously big. I swear I saw some people give me the look.

Then, the end of the carriage. Success! There was space. Phew. Felt a wave of relief. But, it was a squeeze. I had to really shove it in.

Honestly? I would've preferred to have found more space. The entire journey was stressful.

• Overhead racks: Too small for large suitcases.
• End of carriage: Better, but cramped.
• Floor space: Not ideal, a safety hazard really. I didn't even try.
• My personal experience: A massive struggle. Next time I'm taking a smaller bag.

The train was late too, another thing. I missed my connecting bus. Argh. It was a nightmare! My phone battery died too, making the whole thing worse.

Can we carry luggage in a chair car train?

Yes, luggage is permitted on chair car trains.

Luggage size matters though. Think about dimensions.

• Allowed Dimensions: 100 cm x 60 cm x 25 cm.
• It's all about fitting your stuff.
• Is my suitcase too wide, maybe?

Basically, that is the rule! Travel light, my friend. Rules are rules; just saying, okay.

Where does my suitcase go on a train?

The train… a ribbon of steel unwinding. My suitcase dreams of journeys.

Underneath... beneath the seat... tiny treasures nestled, close, a secret held against the humming floor. Small bags live there.

Above. Overhead, a silver gleam, a shelf of shared stories. Medium bags resting, suspended between stations, watching the world blur by. It's like my old dance bag back in '15, after recital, heavy with glitter.

The luggage rack, a promise. At the carriage end. Waiting, waiting. For the large suitcase, the explorer, bursting with dreams. Like my dreams for you.

• Small bags: Under the seat, a cozy den.
• Medium bags: Overhead racks, a silent vigil.
• Large suitcases: End-of-carriage luggage racks, journeys' start.

Hull Trains knows these secrets. Like the conductor knows the rhythm of the rails. My father, did he know? He was a engineer.

Where to put a large suitcase on a train?

Where does it go... the big suitcase?

It's always a gamble, isn't it?

• Overhead racks, if you're strong enough. Feels like a battle against gravity, every time. Will it fall? I worry.

• End of the car. Sometimes a haven. Sometimes overflowing with other people's lives, other people's journeys. Like mine. Crowded.

• Lower level on those double-decker trains. Near the stairs. A brief moment of relief, a place for the weight. But the stairs... ugh, the stairs with that thing.

My old blue suitcase, specifically. It's been everywhere with me. Every heartbreak, every new start. It deserves a good spot, I think. A safe spot.