European Rail Travel - Luggage Safety on TGV and other

On my last trip to europe, I took TGV from Amsterdam to Paris and back. I recall being warned at just about every stop to "watch my luggage" which was about 20 feet in front of me in the part of the car where people exit from. This was ESPECIALLY warned around Brussels IIRC... So at several points, I got up and stood by my luggage during the stops, which may have been overkill..

Anyways, we will be traveling a lot by rail with luggage in an upcoming trip. 4 passengers each will have a "personal item" backpack and a smaller roll bag (carry on size for airport). Is it correct to assum that for TGV busses in France and the Lyria (?) train in Switzerland will need to have our luggage away from us? In this case, being that the trains will be 4ish hours on numerous legs, should and CAN we purchase locks for our luggage to hitch it to the post to avoid the off chance it would "walk off" the train?

Any suggestions for products that would work?

Anyways, we will be traveling a lot by rail with luggage in an upcoming trip. 4 passengers each will have a "personal item" backpack and a smaller roll bag (carry on size for airport). Is it correct to assum that for TGV busses in France and the Lyria (?) train in Switzerland will need to have our luggage away from us? In this case, being that the trains will be 4ish hours on numerous legs, should and CAN we purchase locks for our luggage to hitch it to the post to avoid the off chance it would "walk off" the train?
I assume you mean TGV train, not bus!? And the Lyria service to Switzerland is operated by regular TGVs (some single decker, some Duplex).

First of all, check the timetable for intermediate stops on your train. If there are no (or very few) intermediate stops, then there is less chance of your luggage 'walking' than if the train is making frequent stops in dodgy areas...

IIRC, the single-decker TGVs have a fairly generous luggage rack above the seats, which should accommodate carry-on size luggage (ie: right where you are sitting). However, I think the TGV Duplexes have less overhead space.

If I can't have my luggage right with me, I always try to position it (ie: high up in the racks at the carriage ends) where I can still see it from my seat.

Any suggestions for products that would work?
You could just use a padlock and chain, or a wire-style bicycle lock. There are also some specific travel products for this purpose, but I'm probably not supposed to mention the names here.

You basically just need something you can loop around your baggage (and ideally through handles, etc) and then lock to the frame of the baggage rack.

Well yes, train mostly, but we will be on one bus. (When I booked it, I had no idea it was a bus). I think some of our legs will be single and others double decker, so I will guess that each trip will be a new situation.

I'm happy to have suggestions for feedback if you want to PM me brands/items, I would be happy for personal recommendations.

Thanks for your response.

Before you go buy a couple dozen so called "electric ties" awailable in hardware stores. Bring a common nailclipper to cut away when debarking. Been using them for years.

When I travel by train (and carrying a fair amount of luggage, typically bikes in cases plus regular suitcase) I try to pick trains with the fewest-possible stops, and yes, when the train does make a stop, I'm back there with the luggage. Just to be sure. On overstuffed TGVs (common during the Tour de France), you need to be in the vestibule area before arriving at each station so you can move the luggage away from whatever door the platform will be on (it changes from side to side at the various stations).

I've never had an issue, nor have I heard of anyone having an issue first-hand, but prefer to be safe.

As someone noted, there is often space in the overhead rack that will fit anything that would work as a carry-on on a normal (not regional jet) plane.

Yes, it would be nice to be able to sleep on the train, but I generally don't sleep between end points of my day's (sometimes 24+ hour days) travels anyway.

But in all seriousness, go over the schedule and try to find trains that have as few, possibly zero, stop between your origin and destination. It will be a lot less hassle for you, if you have theft concerns.
Before you go buy a couple dozen so called "electric ties" awailable in hardware stores. Bring a common nailclipper to cut away when debarking. Been using them for years.I assume you're attaching the ties to the luggage rack? Nice idea! Wouldn't work for me in most cases though, since I'm usually having to store my stuff in the area between the cars. Don't think they'd like it if I zip-tied to the door handle!

On TGV trains and Lyria (I've never seen TGV buses), you can put backpacks and carry-on size bags on overheads on single floor trains, not possible on doubledeckers.

I've never ever seen somebody chaining bags on a train in France or Switzerland. I think you would draw far more attention to your bag that way than just putting it into a rack like everybody else (they might not take the bag, but open it somehow to take the supposed valuables out). In some waggons, there are racks inside the seating area (in 2nd class, I don't think in 1st class), that way you can easily watch your bags. In French trains, it is normal, that people leave their luggage unattended while going having a drink at the bar, many people even leave their laptops on their seats. The chance of robbery is quite low.

This is also true for ICE trains in GER/SUI/AUT. Most people just leave their luggage in the racks no matter where they move inside the train. Some are even bold enough to bulid a wall in front of the doors and then to not care when someone has to climb over them to get off or on the train.

Generally speaking (for german trains, I know that it's slightly off topic, but might be useful to others) it is absolutely no problem to leave your luggage unattended, as long as nobody is bothered by the placement of your bags. Especially in the newer ICE trains (class 403 to 415) the overhead stowage capacity is really low, especially near the end of the coaches (where the ceiling is lower) so you might not even have the chance of storing your luggage close to your seat. Additionally, I recommend to place a small piece of luggage onto your seat if you leave the seat (for example for the restaurant) for more than a few minutes to mark it as occupied. Nobody will mess around with your baggage.

The first class TGV cars that I have been on have had luggage racks inside the car. (I think the second class cars have too.) So I don't put my suitcase on the rack near the door; I carry it inside the car and find the rack there. There is a small sign above the rack; it's not very obvious unless you are looking for it.

The only place I worry about luggage disappearing is in the originating station, where the train is stopped for awhile and someone could jump out at the last minute with a stolen suitcase.

FWIW, I've been putting my luggage in vestibule racks on trains all across Western Europe for the last 30 years and have never had a problem.

I don't know the TGV Duplex, but there is often also luggage space between back-to-back seats where the direction switches over. Or sometime these are taken up with litter bins.

I don't know the TGV Duplex, but there is often also luggage space between back-to-back seats where the direction switches over. Or sometime these are taken up with litter bins.

There's very little space there on the duplex, but Lyria doesn't use Duplex and there is lots of room over your seat for luggage. But make sure you board very early if it is a busy time or all the overhead space will be taken. You can usually board 20 minutes before departure at the origin of the train.

I have never worried about my backpack much while on trains, but I have used a long fluorescent-coloured velcro strip (that I used for my textbooks a decade ago) and hooked my bag to a metal bar or something.

It would deter the average grab-and-go thief when the train stops, and even if they take the time to rip the velcro off, I have never remembered the trains to be incredibly noisy as to not hear it when I do it myself.

Unglamorous but people might just think I'm afraid my bag would topple over rather than it containing any valuables (which it does not).

There's nothing wrong with mentioning brand names or the like here; it's merely spammers who get the axe.

In the USA, one can purchase the Pacsafe cable lock (uses a found number combination, easy for the owner to unlock, not so easy for others to try the "spin of fortune", and the cable coils inside the lock for space-saving) for under $20 at some travel stores, REI, etc.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31et68-IdsL._SX342_.jpg

I have used this on occasion in 2nd class travelling through some dodgy areas; it doesn't stick out visually (in black, which it is available in,) and of course a small lock on the zipper helps as well. It's merely a deterrent, of course; nobody prepared and committed will be stopped (but it will take a little time so they will feel inhibited and visible).

One thing that makes it easier to keep an eye on baggage in a train or even in an airplane - put the bag on the rack across the aisle from you.