We traveled to Venice in 2024 at Christmas time. Because the most direct route through France was still blocked by a landslide we went via Basel using an inter-rail pass. The journey there was fine. Coming back in the period between Christmas and New Year, however, the journey was ridiculous. When we got on the train at Basel for Paris every single luggage space was taken up and we had to fit ourselves and our luggage into our reserved seat spaces.
This Christmas the direct line was open again and we were able to take the Frecciarossa train from Lyon to Milan. (This train journey is not available on inter-rail.) Once again the journey to Venice was fine. We extended our holiday till the 5th January in the hope that this might make for a better return journey. However, although we were able to safely and comfortably stow our own luggage at Milan, we were horrified to discover when we alighted the train at Lyon, that luggage had simply been left in the area between carriages blocking exits.
I’m interested to hear, therefore, whether other people have had similar experiences. We want to travel three times this coming year to Italy - in July, September and December. I wonder whether the only option is to stump the cash for first class seats to ensure safe and comfortable travel?