Tips and tricks for travel by train in Italy and France?

When you do get the Thomas Cook Schedule, it's helpful to know that the "espresso" trains in Italy are the opposite - they are really a milk run that stops everywhere.

I went all over Europe with my railpass a few months ago, and all I can say is take the smallest luggage you can possibly fit all of your shit into. The trains are small, especially if you have to take a night train, and they are often quite packed so there is not alot of room for your luggage. I almost got left by my train because I could not find a car that would store my huge bag. Just make sure you always have your pass with you so they can check it, if you don't have it they will make you pay ridiculous fees on the train. I also think it is helpful to make reservations whenever possible. You are required reservations on some trains(all night trains), and this you can find on the time table book. It is totally worth the small charge for the reservations when you are not sure if the train will be busy or not, because it is a pain in the ass to be looking for a seat all day. It is alot more intimidating than it actually is. Have an awesome time, I'll be there in mid-August!

If you have reservations for trains where it's possible to reserve, once you get to the platform, look for a diagram of where your cars will be. I don't know about Italy, since I've never taken a train there, but in France, there will be a series of letters (usually A-E, but sometimes others) along the platform. In the middle, there will be a chart labeled "composition des trains" that indicates where each car will arrive, more or less, in relation to the letters on the platform. So if your reservation is for car (voiture) 12, look for no. 12 on the composition des trains. On French TGV high-speed trains, reservation is mandatory and you should sit in your assigned seat. The larger TGVs consist of two trains coupled together, with no way outside of the stations to go between them. So make sure you get on at the right car. Don't worry too much about it, though; it's pretty easy to figure out.

It's been a while since I travelled with a EuroPass, but a few things in general about Italy trains:the 'little pillar things' are orange/yellow boxes on pillars (usually) at the beginning of the platform.To validate: convalidareIf the validation boxes don't work (or you were running for the train and didn't validate), use a pen to write the full date and time on your ticketbetter option than above: the minute the train starts to move, find the conductor and explain/gesture that you forgot to validate in your rush for the train. I have yet to meet a conductor who won't validate it for you.sometimes your destination is not the last stop on the line, which makes things a bit confusing when trying to hunt down your platform on the departures board. Look for the exact time printed on your ticket and the type of train (EuroStar, InterCity, Regional, Diretto) Train strikes (sciopero - pl. scioperi) generally only last 24 hours here (as compared to weeks when I was trying to rail through France) and except for extreme cases there's usually a (very) minimal amount of service for the larger cities. Check http://www.trenitalia.com/en/notizie/index.html for strike info.If you are on an overnight IC train, but not in a couchette, the seats (6 to a compartment, three facing three) actually slide out horizontially so you can sleep (but I always travel 2nd class, so they might be a bit fancier in 1st)I have yet to meet a train with checked luggage (again, could be the fact I always travel 2nd class). There are sometimes sections on either end of the wagon to put your luggage, or there are overhead racks, depending on the type of train (former usually on EuroStar, latter usually on Intercity & below)Ticket/s: bigletto, bigletti One way: solo andata Return: andata/ ritorno (A/R) Platform: binario Departure: partenza Arrival: arrivio Date: data Time: orario Price: tariffa adult/ children: adulto/bambini Reservations prenotazione Wagon: carrozza Seat/s: posto, posti Station: stazione Out of Order: fuori servizio, guasto, non funziona Late: (in) ritardo

most trains have a luggage compartment at the start of the carriage, so you leave your bags there then go find a seat. usual warning about being careful and not assuming they'll be fine. other trains (usually in cities) just have luggage racks above your head. these racks are always just a little smaller than your bag, so you'll end up carrying it between your legs and annoying all the commuters. don't fall asleep in a train in Italy with your legs on the seat across from you. it doesn't matter that they were only on the plastic part, it doesn't matter that your feet weren't dirty, you will be fined for it. and it will really hurt your budget and for four days you will eat nothing but pre-made pizza bases that you bought cheaply from a supermarket because they went out of date a week ago. but yeah. it's great fun. have a blast!

In my experience, some trains will check your luggage, some will not, and I found it difficult to find out what the rule would be from train ride to train ride. This may sound really duh, but make sure you can lift your luggage. Easily. Without requiring much leverage. It can be very awkward getting into the train, especially when crowded. This is also great motivation to pack lightly and bring the smallest possible bag, as the corral at the front of the car for suitcases gets full pretty quickly.

This is kind of obvious, but if you're about to miss a train and your seats are in one of the last cars and you might no make it in time, hop on an earlier car...then you can walk to your seats after the train starts moving (although it can be pretty tight if you're carrying a lot of luggage).

Thanks for all the helpful advice! Can you tell me a bit more about the luggage system? Do I have to haul everything with me? My Eurail packet alludes to 'checked' luggage, but it's never really discussed. Did I mention I know nothing about traveling by Train? Thanks again!

What everyone else said, plus a couple things I noticed last year on my 4th major Eurail trip: First, be very careful in the train stations in the big cities. Two hours waiting for the police station in Rome Termini to open after your backpack is stolen will not be remembered as the best part of your trip. Second, watch out for train strikes. My friends and I were almost stranded in Slovenia when Trenitalia decided to go on strike the day we HAD to get back into Italy. We basically did what http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/41259#635302 did: got to a town on the border, made our way to the Italian train station, and found a train that could get us to our destination around the strike. My wife and sister-in-law have had a similar experience in Spain. Luckily, the strikes are generally announced ahead of time, so you should be able to make alternate arrangements if you notice one posted. Third, make sure you get your railpass stamped at the station before you try to use it. In my experience from several trips with Eurail passes, conductors love to scrutinize your railpass when they come through checking tickets. Also, if your pass will allow it, try to get it stamped a day or so before you actually need to use it. That way if you have an early train you don't need to stress if the ticket windows aren't open yet, etc. Finally, you should generally be okay without Italian as you're going to be in big, heavily-touristed cities, but if you do end up in some small-town station somewhere (like, say, on the Slovenian border), be prepared for ticket agents who speak NO English. Maybe try to find some Italian podcasts or CDs before you go? Even just getting the basics will probably get you enough to communicate in an emergency. Like others have said, train travel in Europe is definitely the way to go. Have fun!