Different types of trains - HST, IC, EC, IR, D, Sleepers ...

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

hi ...
at the beginning it seems to be complicate ... but you will get a feeling after some days interrailing... :)

Regional trains = slow short distance trains = always free :)
HST = [b]H[/b]igh [b]S[/b]peed [b]T[/b]rain
IC/EC = [b]I[/b]nter [b]C[/b]ity / [b]E[/b]uro [b]C[/b]ity (one crossing borders)
IR/D = [b]I[/b]nter [b]R[/b]egio / [b]D[/b]-Zug = both long distance but not high speed, with a lot of stops
Trains with surcharge = you have to buy an extra supplement
Sleepers = night train with 1/2/3 bed compartments - more comfortable
Couchettes = night train with 4/6 bed compartments - less comfortable
Thalys = high speed train with expensive supplement

just have a look on this topic, select the country you are travelling in and you will find the trains - if not listed, they are free:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/how-to-interrail[/u]

for night trains (as well for some special city-to-city connections like for example by THALYS, mentioned above) please have a look at the country topics of this forum .

Peter :)

clarkey1988
Traveller
6 comments

So HST cost extra
IC/EC are free
What about IR/D? Do they cost or are they also free with the Interrail ticket?

Which is the cheapest between sleeper and couchette and how do you go about reserving a compartment or a seat for example?

:P

Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

... just check the train schedules and then compare it to the supplement section.
HST trains are sometimes free, sometimes not - it depends on the countries.
for IC/EC trains it's the same like for HST trains . sometimes free, sometimes not. and as well for D-trains.

for sleeper and couchettes just visit the country sections here at the forum . supplements for the different types of cabins in night trains are listed there.
about how to buy reservations, read here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
:)