kiwiajeossi
Traveller
53 comments
Posted 6 years ago
Please forgive me if this is an often-asked question, I couldn\'t find a way to search the forums, sorry!
after all the scare stories about theft on trains, I thought I’d ask here for advice
We’re travelling as light as we can for our month long holiday, http://likhaavat.com/luggage.jpg – two 65L backpacks and a suit/garment bag for some special occasion clothes. The backpacks have detachable daypacks in which we plan to keep most of our higher value items, like Kindles and tablets, when travelling.
Obviously security on our 2 night train trips will be less of an issue, since all our luggage will be with us, but what advice do you have fort maximising the security of our luggage on day trains? After checking their dimensions, I *think* we might be able to take all 3 with us into the seating areas, but if not, what anti-theft/security precautions do you recommend if we have to leave them in a luggage compartment?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
You wont find dedicated luggage compartments/vans on most, if any, trains - they are simply not common anymore throughout most of Europe.
Most trains will have seats in "open-plan arrangement", just like a regular coach/bus (although also with seats facing each other/against the direction of travel). In such trains you can easily put your luggage in the luggage racks above your heads; most modern trains also have luggage racks at both the end and in the middle of the carriage.
If you want to be extra safe you can take a small steel cord with padlock with you to connect your luggage to the luggage racks; however this wont be able on all trains as some luggage racks are made of glass/panels which do not offer options for fixing the cable.
Anyway, in general you are really quite safe throughout Europe if you keep in mind basic precautions - not showing around all your valuables, not leaving open bags etc...you can always ask a fellow traveller to keep an eye on your things if you go to the toilet. Of course it is also a good idea to go on the toilet while the train is moving and not at a station.
If you want to go to the restaurant car you can time your visit so that it is either a) between two stops or b) at the beginning or end of your trip so that you take all your luggage with you.
The only "stories" I heard are of thieves going through trains at longer stops at central stations, looking for valuables (mobile phones, laptops,..) which are lying around in the open and are easy to take (b/c the owner is for a smoke/on the toilet/...).
kiwiajeossi
Traveller
53 comments
Thanks very much Flo. Your answer has given much needed perpsective. Since we ARE travelling as apir, it will be easy fo one of us to always be present to keep an eye on things, and we\'d already sorted the "no valuables on display" thing. It\'s reassuring to know that the precautionary planning we\'ve done will likely be adequate for minimising the risk, much appreciated.
Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments
I absolutely agree with what Flo said. While there is no such thing as absolutely security in life, I think you won\'t find this being as issue as long as you take some basic, common-sense precautions. I\'ve taken several hundred trips on long-distance trains in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Italy, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Spain and Greece over the last ten or so years. The only time I\'ve had anything stolen was at Bruxelles Midi Station: It was the middle of the night in a waiting area accessible to the public, and I had left my backpack on a seat about ten meters away from me, out of sight, while watching a film on my laptop with headphones on. So this is about the level of foolishness it takes for anything to go missing :)
On board long-distance trains, you have nothing to worry about, as long as your lock your compartments during the night on sleepers. The doors cannot be opened from the outside, even with a staff master key (there are usually two locks, make sure you lock them both). Long-distance day trains are very safe for another reason. Think about it from the perspective of the thief: You are in a sealed metal tube, no escape routes, eyes everywhere, and you will be easily overpowered by the staff and passengers if you are found out. Total nightmare! You might want to place your bags onto a rack nearby, where you can keep an eye on them as a precaution, but even that isn\'t really necessary, if you think about it: If you place your bags at the other end of the carriage, a thief won\'t know that they belong to your and not the passenger who is sitting right next to them. The only thing to worry about is longer scheduled stops at major stations, sometimes, there will be shady characters boarding the train looking for something that can be easily picked up. So keep your valuables and electronics with you at all times. You can use the journey planner at plan.rail.cc to check if your trains have long scheduled stops.
Pick-pocketing can be an issue at major stations, so make sure your wallets, cell phones etc are close to your body and not in loose, easy to unbutton pockets, handbags etc. However, that\'s a issue common to all major tourist destinations in Europe and nothing specific to rail travel. But again, as long as you keep your wits about you in crowds and don\'t make it all too easy for them, you\'re going to be just fine.
kiwiajeossi
Traveller
53 comments
Thanks again Quenzon. The reasoning you present is exactly how I\'d been thinking, but as a first-time traveller, it\'s very reassuring to hear seasoned pros confirm that we were right to be sensible but not paranoid.