Luggage limits on Swiss trains
Brenda is planning several train trips in Switzerland and is looking for information on luggage limits, specifically sizes and weights. She has purchased day saver passes for long journeys from Zurich to Interlaken and Lugano to Zermatt and seeks advice about the best practices for traveling with her luggage in first class.
- Carry your luggage without assistance to comply with train etiquette.
- The Swiss Travel Pass is useful for unlimited travel on the train network and provides flexibility.
- Larger luggage may not fit comfortably in leg space typical for airplanes, so check overhead compartments.
- Storage options can vary significantly between train types, so be prepared to adapt.
- It's common for travelers to carry similar-sized luggage, so you should feel at ease.
AI-generated summary-
Hello:
I’m planning to make several train trips and need to know the limits of luggage for traveling, sizes, etc. I read information about the weight limit being 25kg, but I did not see information about the measurements of luggage. I have purchased day saver passes for my long train trips, from Zurich to Interlaken, and from Lugano to Zermatt, and plan to travel first class. I looked up information on the rail pass but could not find specifics. Please advise on the information if you can.
Brenda
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Hi Brenda,
I am not aware of any limits of the luggage, but as a general rule, you should be able to carry and lift your luggage, without help. Also, the suitcases should not block the aisles and the entrances or occupy other passengers’ seats. Have a look at http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/practical/luggage, to gain more information.
More information about the places you are planning to visit:
- Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/zu rich/activities
- Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt/activities
- Lugano: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu gano/activities
- Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/in terlaken/activities
I hope this helps.
Please take note that the guidance provided above … “Also, the suitcases should not block the aisles and the entrances or occupy other passengers’ seats.” may mean that for complete compliance you may be required to lift your luggage to the overhead storage area!
For the most part your fellow travelers will be understanding and perhaps even helpful if you are unable to lift your luggage to the overhead storage. However you may encounter a culture of intolerance of tourists and with a tourists unfamiliarity with the local culture and established “train etiquette”.
Thanks. I will be traveling with a medium luggage, measurements 26″ × 17″ × 11.25″, bigger than a carry-on for airplanes but not the biggest. I think the size is very manageable but it would’t fit on a normal leg space equal to that in airplanes I think. Are overhead compartments in the train carry-on (airplane) sized?
There is no single rule of thumb apart from “the longer distance train routes have more staorage”.
Attached is a photo or our “medium” size suitcases on a rack on an Inter-City train between Basel and Zurich. They each weighed close to 20 Kg. It’s not easy getting them up there. We had two backpacks as well. They were on the racks on the opposite side of the carriage. The carriage was almost empty so in reality we could have just kept them with us between our seats and only moved them if the train got busy.
Not all trains have such generous racks or even any racks at all. There are many varieties of trains with wildly differing luggage storage options. Most have storage at the end of carriages or where you board, some have enough room between seat backs.
Having recently completed about 8 weeks of train travel around Switzerland (over a period of 3 years) we never really had a problem finding somewhere to fit luggage. On a few occasions we upgraded to 1st Class just to be on the safe side but it probably wasn’t essential.
You will find many tourists carting similar items of luggage around on the trains.
Attachments:
The trains are typically equipped with racks comprised of tubular metal or shelves which generally run the length of wagon (train car). The racks/shelves are mounted quite high above seats.
Here is a link to photos of Swiss train interiors.
Thank you all, very helpful. It looks like we will be just fine! Super excited. One week to go! 🙏🙌💃
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