spunk60
Traveller
4 comments
Posted 10 years ago
Hi there!
I know you've posted a guide for interrailers about this exact subject, but i can't seem to understand it.
I'm going interrailing in the end of this month(omg, that's soon), and it would really be nice to understand this, because it would suck, if i get on a train relying only on my interrailpass, and then pay a bill because i don't have a damn ticket...
Thank you!
Christina
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hey Christina,
what exactly is it that you do not understand? On some trains (those with compulsory reservation) you need a seat reservation in addition to your InterRail pass to travel. A list of trains with/without compulsory reservation for each country can be found here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
We are happy about feedback what is complicated for InterRail travellers to include in future guides on reservations. :)
To support the free information and the forum on railcc, please be fair and buy your official Interrail pass via our railcc partner link: [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
Thank you! :)
Flo 8)
spunk60
Traveller
4 comments
Well.. Take this example: My friend and i want to pay Lyon a visit when we leave Paris for Italy. I've found tickets here: [link timed out - please copy the schedules to the forum]
- My first problem is, how to but the damn tickets, because that's not possible on the website.
My second problem is not about this train, but we will be on the rails for a month, and maybe we just deside when we are away, that we want to go a random city, but how do we know we actually can go on a train, without paying?
- I hope you understand what i mean, it's a bit confusing, even i get confused reading it. (-:
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
First things first: If you are using DB website for looking for schedules (which is a reasonable idea) please use this link: [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] - if you are going to book regular tickets via this link you pay the same price but support railcc, thank you.
Now let's have a look at the reservation issue.
When travelling with InterRail you have to make a difference between ticket and reservation. Your InterRail pass is your ticket that in principle allows you to use any train you want in the 30 InterRail countries (we put aside the few exceptions that exist for now). However, for some trains you need an additional reservation to be allowed to board. These are the trains with compulsory reservation which is usually marked with a [R] symbol on paper schedules or with the remark compulsory reservation (or similar) in the online schedule planners.
If you are about to use a train with compulsory reservation, the common way to buy this reservation is at a ticket desk at a railway station: show up with your IR pass and ask for a reservation for the train you want to take.
Other options, such as online or at ticket machines are not available in all countries neither for all trains.
While you are travelling and you decide to take a certain train, you can check the train category in a schedule planner or at the paper/electronic timetables at the station where usually there are remarks whether or not a train has compulsory reservation. Also cross-check in the list I linked in my previous post. If that train happens to be one with compulsory reservation, you can then make a reservation at the ticket desk.
Keep in mind that some trains can be full if you want to get a reservation on the day of departure - it is advisable to make reservations at least one day ahead. However, this depends on country, time of day, day of the week, how many connections there are etc...you can never predict 100% whether a train will be full or not...
It may sound/read a bit confusing and frightening at first, but you will get the hang of it while travelling, no worries!
spunk60
Traveller
4 comments
Flow, you're the man -thank you! (-: