Luggage for Rail Journeys

Packing your bag or suitcase for train travel


Near Leicester station is this statue of Thomas Cook, the person who did more than anyone to promote and facilitate long-distance travel, usually by rail in his day. He is depicted with a couple of small suitcases, but how realistic this is I would not like to say. We are used to seeing in period films rich people (especially ladies!) travelling with copious quantities of luggage with the aid of the small armies of porters that railway companies used to provide, although Hercule Poirot always seems to manage with one small case, and Michael Portillo never has any baggage in his train travel TV programmes except in the opening sequence! (I once asked him what happens to the luggage and apparently it is taken in a van - along with other equipment needed by the production team, I presume!)

Ready for our summer holiday!
If one is to enjoy the journey as part of the holiday, which with train travel is a big part of the idea, then managing the luggage is an important aspect to planning the trip. Those used to taking things "just in case" (no pun intended) which then spend a week in the boot of the car have to think differently when those things spend a week being lugged around instead!

Again, we have seen people board trains with huge rigid cases like American refrigerators on castors: I cannot think what they carry in them! Of course, if you are going away for two or three weeks you may need a lot of stuff, and there are porterage firms (Carry My Luggage, for example) who will take your luggage on ahead like the railway companies (and British Rail, come to that!) used to do as part of their service. But for one week it is easy enough to take your own luggage with just a little thought. Easier in summer than winter because the clothes are lighter and thinner and you need fewer jumpers and coats, but you may wish to change more often. We have been away in both cold and hot weather and have never struggled with our luggage, even though one of us never travels without comprehensive photography equipment including a computer!

One key is not to take things that are provided by the hotels or B&B where you are staying: hair-dryers, soap, shampoo, shower gel, towels etc are quite unnecessary these days. Take small sizes of things you do need, rather than the large "economy" sizes of toothpaste etc. Wilko and Boots sell travel-sized tubes of toothpaste in a section with other travel goods, not with the toothpastes, and if you are starting with the sleepers to Scotland (First Class) or Cornwall the comfort pack includes toothpaste in an even tinier tube. I kept the case from my Caledonian Sleepers comfort pack together with the toothbrush that packs into its own handle and all the other useful stuff it contains. By removing the bedsocks (!) which I did not find necessary there is room for a small stick deodorant and aftershave - I decant aftershave into a tiny spray bottle which I got from a Christmas cracker, but I think you can buy them in chemists. I manage without the electric toothbrush while I am travelling. When the packable-up toothbrush finally wore out, I was able to buy a replacement (Wisdom brand) in Savers.

My case and backpack on the right,
Alison's stackable cases on the left
I usually take a backpack which contains my photographic gear and Macbook together with cables, chargers etc, and this backpack is pre-loaded with things I take with me on every trip of any length whether on foot, by car or by train, such as small first-aid kit, multi-way tool for repairs etc (also came in handy for opening beer on train when crew seemed not to be able to lay hands on bottle-opener!), nail clippers. These days I do not take a torch: the iPhone lamp is fine. A compact telescopic umbrella fits in a side pocket on one side and a bottle of water on the other. There is room for a picnic lunch in the backpack as well if that is required by our plans, or a waterproof jacket (but not both!). I have a telephone charger that can be plugged into a shaver or continental socket as well as the standard British one, and that stays in the backpack, too. Incidentally, not all trains have power sockets for charging phones and computers, so because we like to use our smartphones for journey information, mapping etc I also carry a plug-in spare battery which keeps a phone going for another few hours if I have not had a chance to plug it in.

All the clothes together with the aforesaid Caledonian Sleeper toilet case go into a modest-sized wheeled suitcase with retractable handle so that it can conveniently be carried where necessary. We have expandable cases so that we can cope with longer trips and/or thick winter clothing. We also each have a smaller case which can be fitted to the extended handle of the wheelie case if we really need lots of space! We tend to wear for travelling the smartest outfits we are taking, so that they do not become creased in the suitcase; it's always nice to dress up a bit when travelling First Class anyway, as we tend to do on long trips if we can book far enough in advance. Another trick is to be reasonably monochrome in the clothes we take, so that we can mix and match easily: I took three black shirts to Edinburgh with black jeans and smart black trousers, jacket and warm jumper and my grey Berghaus jacket! Sometimes I take brown instead of black, or grey, and in summer can be slightly more adventurous ...

We did discover on a ten-day package that although we could manage to pack everything in these cases the porterage company only took one case each, the largest, leaving us carrying our smaller but non-wheeled cases, which soon seemed heavy. So when we take another tour where porterage is provided we'll invest in the next size of case so that we do not need to carry anything but my backpack. We shall not use them for shorter trips, though, or where porterage is not available.

Our cases also have outside zip pockets which take items like books and magazines to read on the journey. Duly packed, with travel tickets, passports etc handy in zipped jacket pockets we are ready to leave for the station. With cases stacked and with a backpack, one hand is always free for opening doors and gates, showing tickets etc (or carrying an umbrella).

Luggage facilities on trains vary widely. Almost all modern trains have racks at the ends of each coach, but these can sometimes be some way from where we are sitting and therefore difficult to keep watch over - and inconvenient if something is needed. Many trains also have some space between seat backs, although back-to-back seating is becoming less common. All have overhead racks and if cases are kept small and light enough this is usually the best option, although on Voyager trains used on some CrossCountry and Virgin Trains (West Coast Main Line) services the overhead racks will take nothing bigger than a briefcase, so the other options are essential. It is bad manners to place luggage on seats which others may need if the train becomes busy, and if the aisle is blocked this will prevent the refreshment trolley getting through!

Once checked-in at a hotel for a stay, the luggage obviously stays there and no longer has to be lugged, but on some trips we visit places en-route before checking in or after checking out, and provision has to be made then. So far we have had no problems; hotels have always been happy to store our luggage before check-in and/or after check-out. These days only a few major railway stations have left luggage facilities: the days when almost all of them had cheap-to-use self-service lockers are gone, largely because of security considerations, and now staff check the baggage and store it carefully for passengers, which costs money and is not viable except at busy places. We left our bags at Aberdeen station on our Scottish trip last year, but that is, I think, the only time. On other occasions we find that we can leave our things at the venue we are visiting: many museums etc have cloakrooms or self-service lockers which will also take cases, National Trust properties usually have lockers, or desk staff will look after things on request. If in doubt we check when devising the itinerary, and our hotels and B&Bs have always, when asked, let us leave our luggage before check-in or keep it for us after check-out. We have never struggled to find somewhere to leave our cases.

That's luggage for two of us for a continental trip in winter.
The people just boarding clearly do not travel the way we do.
Those used to flying may be used to keeping weight down and/or restricting size to cabin baggage, so managing with minimal luggage may be second nature. When travelling by train we also have to look after all our things all the time - no baggage reclaim: when you get off the train you are free. It helps to keep a mental note of how many items each of us is carrying. At each change of train a quick check, and look at the seat, table and overhead rack to check nothing is left will make happier trip with none of those heart-sinking "where is my ...?" moments!





mwtrips travelwear shop

In my shop on this website is a selection of bags suitable for days out and for short stays, so do have a look at that if you want something a bit different and that celebrates travel by train!

clothes and accessories for the traveller







3 comments:

  1. What takes travel backpacks miles ahead of the traditional backpack is the daypack added to them. small travel backpack

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  2. Carry on luggage with wheels is well suited for use on any type of travel. lightweight carry on luggage

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    Replies
    1. Some interesting suggestions among those reviews, although I have to say I do not know any of the brands!

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