1) Check out the train plan. Usually not far from the track is a diagram showing which cars will pull up where. If you know you're ahead of the game.
2) Be aggressive. Europeans are willing to throw elbows for a compartment to themselves; Why shouldn't you?
3) If there are more than 2 people in your group: split up. 2 stay toghether and one goes to the far end of the train. The single grabs the first compartment they see and defend it with tactics described further down. The two start at the far end and work their way down. If the find a compartment one uses said tactics and the other finds the single. The pilot decides which compartment is better and returns to it. The three are united again.
4) If there are two of you. Head to the furthest point from the station where compartments will be and work your way back along the train when it comes in.
5) If you luck upon multiple compartments in one car, take the closest one to the door on the station side. People will walk past assuming that there will be an available compartment along. If not they are less likley to walk all the way back to your compartment and more likely to settle along the way.
6) By yourself: Same as # 4 but be more aggressive on the defending part described herein
Defending a Train Compartment
Me and my travel buddies have employed several techniques. You may not be brave enough to try them right away but keep them in mind if you need them one day during you travels. Here are some basics first.
- Smoking cars are less popular
- Sitting right beside the door with the window and curtain closed and a bare foot in the window is effective
- Have beans and carrots for dinner (RISK: Methane Poisoning)
- Throw the contents of you bag on all the seats and claim people are sitting there in very fast, difficult to understand english
- Obvious, really pretend to be sound asleep (you just happened to fall asleep in the perfect position to completely block the door)
Advanced Defence
- Disrobe down to your underwear and stand in the door chanting a mantra of some sort
- Shamelessly smoke a cigar, remove your socks, and open your laundry bag (combine with the carrots and bean option above for extra potencey)
- Shamelessly engage in some form of sexual activity with the door and curtains wide open
(particularly effective if you are alone, much more fun if you're not)
I could keep going but I don't need to turn all of my readers away