sayurichik
Traveller
2 comments
Posted 14 years ago
Hello,
I am holding Eurail pass.
I would like to reserve a seat for the night train Irun-Lisbon.
However, when I went to Geneve station in Switzerland, I was told that they can only book trains departing or arriving Switzerland. I can only book the ticket in Spain.
Then I went to Lyon station in France, I was told the same: only trains leaving or arriving France can be booked here.
So, how can I book the ticket outside Spain? Do I have to find a travel agency?
I will take a TGV from Paris to Irun (arriving 21:xx) and take the night train from Irun to Lisbon, it's impossible for me to book it in Spain.
And now I have many tickets cannot booked ahead because I did not visit either the country of departure nor the country of arrival.
Is this a new policy? It nearly makes my pass useless because now it's July and when I arrive that country to book the train, it's almost certain that it's full.
Does anyone have opinion on this?
Regards,
Samuel
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Samuel!
Unfortunately you have met some unfriendly persons at the counters not really knowing what they are doing. It usually is no problem to book trains in foreign countries. I for example just made reservations from CZ > GER, FR > ES, ES > CH from my station in Austria. And I have also already booked the mentioned Irun - Lisboa Surex night train twice from Austria.
So your best option probably is to try to make this reservation in Paris - at the Gare Montparnasse or at any other of the large stations. Or if you\'re still visiting other cities on your way to Paris, try there as well. :)
To buy your reservation online, make use of [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/reservation[/ux]
And for future travels, buy your Eurail pass via our partner link [ux]https://rail.shop/eurail[/ux] and get a free PLUS account [u]https://rail.cc/en/plus[/u]. Thank you! :)
Flo 8)
qwertymz
Traveller
23 comments
Is there a specific International Trains counter we should look out for when booking this, or will any ticket booth do? If not, it might be worth listing the locations of each international booth per station?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
In Paris? There should be monitors above each counter indicating what kind of tickets you can buy there.
sayurichik
Traveller
2 comments
Thank you for your suggestion.
I went to the boutique SNCF shop in Lyon city this morning and this time the staff finally tried to help me book the tickets. Unfortunately the Irun-Lisboa train is full (next time I will do it online more in advance via your link!) but I successfully booked a round trip Barcelona-Madrid ticket there.
However, for tickets involving Eastern / Northern Europe countries, their system simply refused to issue a ticket. The staff showed me the screen showing something like Incompatible tariff (Sorry, I do not read French) and she said For international train sometimes it can and sometimes it cannot.
Trains failed:
Innsbruck-Ljubljana (0:59-8:10)
Budapest-Bucuresti(19:13-10:34)
Budapest-Prague(19:58-3:22)
Oslo-Bergen(23:09-6:56)
Maybe I have to keep trying in Spain or Italy before it\'s too late to reserve a seat on these trains.
qwertymz
Traveller
23 comments
I heard for East Europe, you need to book from East Europe? I might be wrong. You might be able to do the Oslo one online though.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Yes, that\'s right - most Eastern European trains you can only book in Eastern Europe.
And as everybody has to do so, it is usually no problem to get a seat or bed in these night trains even booking only one day in advance - simply avoid Friday and Sunday evenings - and special holiday days.
Oslo-Bergen train: contact the NSB website www.nsb.no ... but I as much as I know you can not book the InterRail discounted ticket online.
If you don\'t get a seat or bed in this night train, use the day train - amazing nature there!! :)
Peter :)
sayurichik
Traveller
2 comments
Today I tried to book the tickets again in Luzern, Switzerland and the staff helped me to book all the tickets I need, including those East Europe & Norway domestic train tickets. She said generally they can book tickets for all European trains.
I do not know if they do not have a consistent policy for all stations or just some staffs don't know the exact procedures to issue an international ticket.
Anyway, my problem is solved.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Perfect to hear. Have a sunny trip, Peter :)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Oh, that's another thing I can't understand. Look: If I have an Interrail, I can take any European train without compulsory reservation just for free? Just take a train and travel. But if I want to book a seat in the same train, I ought to pay for booking, right? (But the most intercity day trains always have free seats,so it's not necessary yes?) The other thing: night trains. If I book a couchette/sleeper place, there's no need in additional booking? And are there night trains without compulsory reservation? What should I do in this case?
Thanks in advance!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
[b]Always do it this way:[/b]
[b]A:[/b] Check the schedule planer [ux]https://plan.rail.cc[/ux]
[b]B:[/b] Compare it to the supplements section: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
[b]C:[/b] Check the routes: [u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
As in some countries, some trains have supplements, especially in France (TGV) and in Spain. In Italy simply avoid the Eurostar Italia and use the free IC trains.
Concerning night trains:
Some have free 2nd class seats - check the list: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-night-train[/u]
For a night train you pay the additional fee mentioned at the topics, that\'s it.
Peter :)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Thanks a lot, Peter!