The train companies have alot to answer for in my opinion. As I remember from my 2010 trip you pay a hefty surcharge (especially in Switzerland and Austria) to take a bike on a train, yet people can get on with as much luggage as they want, and it is usually stuffed in the bike spaces (where people also like to hang around). I never could quite understand this, especially in Austria where you get a spoke card and a reserved spot for your bike, only to hop on and find your space full of luggage which you would either have to move or locate the disgruntled owners (too bad I used to tell them, I paid for this space!)

We are in europe at the moment (croatia, heading back to Italy today) but this time we have bought bike fridays in the travelcases and we can get on any and all forms of transport with no penalties, even though our total luggage would be not that much less in overall dimensions to a regular bicycle. I still dont get the policies, but fwiw I will keep my cases well away from the bike areas whenever I travel (this is why trains have luggage racks). Hope you are feeling better soon Machka.