> >Correct me if I am wrong, but I take this to mean I need to board the
> >second train car from the front and look for seats 53 and 54. Is there
As many said. Car number 2 won't be necessary the second from front. On
ES sets it can be second from front or from end (since car numbers are
fixed, but train set invert the direction they run at a terminus). On
other trains you might even expect car numbers not to be sequential (but
this is more for night trains).
Seats numbers are viewable, but sometimes I found the arrangement is not
sequential or obvious (in open space ES cars ... it is strictly
sequential in older compartment IC cars ... in this case 53 and 54 would
be in compartment 5.
Usually cars have doors at either end, provided they both work.
Otherwise you can alight in the neighbouring car and move back or
forward. If you are very late, jump in anywhere and then move along the
train (a bit painful, but better than missing it).
As already said in many big stations there are displays with the
composition of the trains (usually somewhere along the platforms similar
to the timetables). They show the arrangement of the train with the car
numbers and position with respect to a lettered reference ABCDEF. The
positions A,B,C etc. are marked along the platform (white cubes with
blue letters).
> If there is an open seat plan, there is some luggage space above the
> seats and a larger luggage storage space at the end of the car. If
There is usually also luggage space between the backs of adjacent seats.
That's usually the best space if the luggage is not too bulky, but heavy
enough to be painful to be lifted overhead.
> >On the Eurostar, I noticed there is a restaurant car. Is it safe to
> >leave our luggage behind, or should we take turns going to the
> I have never had a problem with my luggage on the train. I think
I never had problems as well, although I'm suspicious. I generally watch
my luggage during stops at stations. If I travel for business, my
luggage is light, so I can take it with me at the restaurant. I'm afraid
you cannot "take turns" between yourselves easily on italian trains.
Unlike other places (like e.g. Germany or Switzerland) where the
restaurant service is continuously flowing, the typical arrangement here
for proper restaurant cars is to have shifts. You should reserve as soon
as you board.
This is one of the few differences between 1st and 2nd class. A
conductor passes to collect reservations, and he passes first in the 1st
class. If there are no places left, sometimes he does not even pass in
2nd class. So I learned, if I want to be sure to eat, to reserve as soon
as I board. On a trip like Rome-Milan e.g. there could be two shifts,
one would occur on the Rome-Florence stretch (no stop, so one can trust
to leave baggage unattended) and another later on.
Personally when I used to use restaurant service a lot, this was mainly
for time reasons (leaving Rome at 7pm after a meeting day), but I found
that the price was not worth the food (usually a fixed menu with a
choice of two courses) and the service. Much better in older times.
Some other trains have self-service cars serving lighter (but hot)
meals, and you can get there any time. It should always be possible to
get snacks, sandwiches, coffee.
If you want really good food, it's better to bring it with you.
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