Generally, it’s not an issue. Your pack is usually on a rack directly above your seat and you’re sitting there. Occasionally, you’ll end up leaving your pack in a luggage storage area at one end of the car — which makes it possible for someone to grab it at a stop and hop off the train. However, many trains don’t make a lot of stops so it’s relatively easy to keep an eye on your pack. I take a cheap lock for just such circumstances and have never used it. Frankly, unless it’s obvious that you’ve got something valuable in your pack it’s unlikely to get stolen — who wants your dirty laundry?

I had a little thing to tie and lock around the rack whenever I had to leave my bag on one end of the train.

It was funny though…because on my very first long train ride in europe…I had to go from paris to barcelona..and it was a night train…and it was fresh off me reading about all the horror stories of theft and what not…anyway, I bought a first class ticket on accident…so I’m sitting in first class…w/ like a nice spanish family ahead of me…an old kind french woman next to me…my seats back…the lights are dim…people are asleep….they’ve got their baggage above them like normal people…and I have my backpack right under me…and the day pack is on me…but in front….so my arms are kind of crossed over it as I sleep….and I have one of those rope lock things…and its crossed through the backpack….through the zipper on my day pack…and around the actual seat I’m lying in…so its all locked together…now the rope wire was thin…so you couldnt see it at all if you just looked quickly…but at one point, the old lady has to go to the bathroom…I’m asleep…and she says "excuse me"…and in my sleep I forgot all that shit was tied together…so I try to get up and move away so she can get by…and I’m like tied to the god damn thing looking bloody ridiculous…I felt like I was wearing a straight jacket…and had to fumble around w/ the damn combination on the lock to untie me and my things….the lady and I laughed about that…needlesss to say, I never went to those lengths again.

haha username..funny story !..i think lots of us are paranoid in the beginning..but then u let ur guard down and out some black misfortune pounces…

i have never lost a thing.left a really nice woollen scarf at a london pub and that was missing when i went back for it but nothing else.not that im aware of anyway
but..i have been careless…especially with zips on bags and bum bags…coulda lost a phone or money easily…luckily for the most i have travelled with a vigilant friend