Question : Locking my bag on a train.

I have read here that I need to get a good lock to secure my bag while on a train. I'm not sure how this would work. I have looked at my backpack and don't see anything that I could hook to, or run a cable through that couldn't be cut off, unclipped, or whatever. How do you attach the bag to a cable or whatever (suggestions on what to use?), so that it won't disappear if I leave the car? Am I over thinking the problem?
Thanks for any help!

Robv, I must start off by saying that my wife and I spent over three weeks on trains running all over India, and never found it necessary to chain up our backpacks (although the trains had a kind of ring under the berth especially for this purpose).... we simply stowed them under our berths. This, of course, may have something to do with the routes we took and the class we travelled in (mostly 3AC or 2AC). And, also, we could sleep a little easier knowing that our money and passports were (relatively) safe on our persons!

I expect that if someone were really determined enough to take your backpack, there is nothing that they couldn't cut or saw or hack through; however, most major Indian railway stations have a stall or small shop at which you can purchase various solutions to the security problem, and at a far cheaper price, probably, than you'd pay at home. We watched as one tourist bought an ingenious cable/lock device which would probably be reasonable effective -- however, we never felt the necessity to imitate him.

Hi robv-just buy a combination lock attached to a plastic covered steel chain for around $2 in any bargain basement type shop. Seen them in most parts of the world. Thread the chain through the ring under the seat in 2A (only sleeper class we've travelled in) and through the handle or whatever on your luggage and rest easy. Keep valuables on you in a neck wallet or money belt & relax. If anyone wants your stuff badly enough, they'll probably get it! I might add the Indian guy I slept with didn't bother securing his stuff.

General advice: Whatever you can just not live without take in a small hand bag and keep it on person at all times. Like contact addresses book (or contact lenses for that matter), money, cards, cell phones...

Other stuff like clothing etc can be in another bag which you can secure with any odd padlock and chain sold right there at the station, you can find it in the shops in the station or from the poor walking shop who will approach you.

Being in contact of your bags (by holding onto its strap/handle or using it as a pillow) at all times is more secure than trusting a lock. Which cries 'pick me' to a bag lifter...

Whatever locks you may use will not guarantee that you will leave the train with as many bags as you got inside it with.
This may sound like an extension to the 'anything goes' attitude of the Indians.. but hey in this case theres a hint of reality included.

Take a look at this thread PadLock and chain! posted in forum Packing Tips.

id not recommend lugging that lock/chain about that is linked to soulfoods post. id say about 33-60% smaller. get a cable at home depot and crimp it.

locks as i recal suck in india but they will do. you can get great locks in se asia -cheap.

bottom line - if i thief wants your gear they can cut the bag. you just want to keep people from nicking it whilst you are on the nod or off to the wc.

big tip: dont lv your bag unattended while the train is stopped.

We took locks and cables for securing ricksacks and bags and never used them, we found that after a few minutes you got the feel for the people travelling with you and there was no need, We travelled sleeper 2AC and found that there was that much luggage(mostly ours) packed under the seats it would have been hard to move anything without anyone knowing. Of course keep your valuables etc on you as others have said, a good tip is to get in the carriage first if you can and get the best spot for the bags we had the lower births and our bags were near us all the time, we only actually saw one person using the chain method and that was an Indian lady who was travelling on her own she was constantly leaving her seat moving up and down the carriage. For the zippers on our backpack/Rucksack I took electrical ties and used them on the zippers then cut them off when I needed to, some of the locals had never seen them before and we had fun showing them how they worked and tying there fingers together.

to respond!