anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hey!
I’m just planning an interrail trip for 5 people. This is our first time when we are travelling using Interrail. I have read the forum carefully and I found a lot of useful and interesting solutions, but still I have some doubts and I hope someone will help me :) I’ve got a few questions:
1. We are 4 Poles and 1 Ukrainian (but he has been studying in Poland since 3 years, so he’s country of residence is Poland I guess) so we can’t use Interrail in Poland. But can we have some cheaper tickets for travelling from our cities to polish border? I’ve tried to verify it, but I haven’t found anything like this on the website of Polish National Railways and I think that we’d rather have no discount because of my next question.
2. I’ve read about the “night train rule” and it’s very useful for our trip. And there I’ve got another question. I know that the “night train rule” is not valid in the first day of the trip. But our situation is like this:
First of all we’re getting from our home cities to Katowice in southern Poland by train (of course we can’t use interrail here). Then we’ve got the train from Katowice to Vienna at 23:43pm. The train stops at 00:55am. at Zebrzydowice (it’s the border station Poland-Czech Republic) and then goes to the Czech Rep. So my question is: can we buy in Katowice normal polish tickets to Zebrzydowice, and use our Interrail Ticket from Zebrzydowice filling in the date of a new day? (e.g. we’re departuring from Katowice on 15th February at 23:43 pm., the train is in Zebrzydowice at 0:55am. so it’s 16th February. So can we fill 16th February as the first day of our journey? And if so, should we have the polish tickets from Katowice to Zebrzydowice (the last station in Poland) or to Bohumin (the first station in Czech Rep.)?
3. Is the number of InterRail tickets limited or we can buy it just e.g. two weeks before the journey? And do we have to tell the first day of the journey in advance when buying the ticket?
4. And my last question is about trains, well, about supplements. I’ve seen the countries pages and the trains with supplements that are there, but I want to make sure that I understand it correctly. So the trains I want to ask about are:
1. D 407 Dep. Katowice 23:43 – Arr. Wien Westbahnhof 06:22
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
2. RJ 160 Dep. Wien Westbahnhof 07:14 – Arr. Innsbruck Hbf 11:51
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
3. S 4 Dep. Innsbruck Hbf 13:52 – Arr. Brennero/Brenner 14:32
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
4. R 2263 Dep. Brennero/Brenner 15:08 – Arr. Verona Porta Nuova 18:14
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
5. Regionale Veloc 2110 Dep. Verona Porta Nuova 18:45 – Arr. Milano Centrale 20:35
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
6. ICN 799 Dep. Genova Piazza Principe 23:53 – Arr. Napoli Centrale 09:11
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation, we can use “night train rule”
7. R 2398 Dep. Napoli Centrale 14:31 – Arr. Roma Termini 17:10
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
8. ICN 1939 Dep. Roma Termini 21:20 – Arr. Messina Centrale 06:15
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation, we can use “night train rule”
9. R 3835 Dep. Messina Centrale 07:29 – Arr. Palermo Centrale 10:00
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
10. E 1930 Dep. Messina Centrale 19:30 – Arr. Bologna Centrale 08:42
Supplement 5€, no obligatory reservation, we can use “night train rule”
11. R 2260 Dep. Bologna Centrale 12:10 – Arr. Brennero/Brenner 16:52
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
12. REX 5428 Dep. Innsbruck Hbf 18:38 – Arr. Munchen Hbf 21:27
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
13. CNL 1246 Dep. Munchen Hbf 22:09 – Arr. Berlin Hbf 08:22
Supplement 4 € (seat), no obligatory reservation, we can use “night train rule”
14. RE 18320 Dep. Berlin Hbf 19:34 – Arr. Angermunde 20:26
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
15. RB 5824 Dep. Angermunde 21:33 – Arr. Szczecin Główny 22:31
Free of supplements, no obligatory reservation
Do we have buy ticket from Tantow (Gr) (the lat stop in Germany) or from Szczecin Gumience (the first stop in Poland)?
I think that’s all. I know that questions may seem silly for you, but when you’re planning the trip with interrail for the first time you’re not sure about anything :) But forum is very helpful. I hope someone will answer me soon. Thank you in advance, bye :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
1)
Your friend from the Ukraine has to get a Polish InterRail pass, that's correct. There is no discount for travel to the border with a Polish InterRail ticket...but there should be rather cheap fares available for students in Poland - please check directly at a station of PKP.
2)
Since you dont get a discount for travelling within Poland with your InterRail passes your situation isnt complicated. Just get a regular ticket (with a possible student reduction as mentioned above...I'll try to get some information about this) to Zebrzydowice, from there you can continue with your InterRail tickets (please check at the station in Poland, you might need a ticket to Bohumin, I have to check that). So, when leaving Katowice on the 15th, the first day of validity [b]and[/b] your first travel day that you mark on your ticket is the 16th. :)
3)
There is no limit but you have to specify the starting date when purchasing the ticket. You can buy them on the departure date as well, but a maximum of 90 days in advance. If you want to support the work here at the website, you can buy them at the same price online [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux]
4)
D 407 :arr: no reservation needed for 2nd class seats but it may make sense on peak travel days (weekend).
RJ 160, S 4, R 2263, RV 2110 :arr: no reservation needed
:idea: alternative connection, no reservation needed:
Innsbruck 1327 - 1657 Verona PN
Verona PN 1740 - 1926 Milano Lambrate
ICN 799 :arr: no reservation needed, but strongly recommended as for other travellers (without InterRail) reservation is compulsory and you might have to give up your place if someone with a reservation shows up! You can make use of the night train, but you could also enter the train at Genova Brignole, dep 0002. ;)
R 2398 :arr: no reservation needed
ICN 1939 :arr: same as ICN 799
:idea: alternative connection, ICN 1939 (same train as the one you found, but it has through coaches to Palermo that aren't listed in the schedule planner), Dep Roma 2120 - 1040 Palermo Arr
R 3835 :arr: no reservation needed
E 1930 :arr: no 5€ supplement, this train has no 2nd class seats! You have to use a couchette or a sleeper, rates start at 30,50€ for a 4 bed couchette; you can make use of the 1900 rule when starting at Messina, but how have you planned on getting there from Palermo? You could do so with a regular ticket...
R 2260 :arr: no reservation needed
REX 5428 :arr: no reservation needed
CNL 1246 :arr: there are no regular 2nd class seats (for 4€) on this train, only 2nd class sleeperette reclining seats for 10€ (as well as couchette and sleeper)
RE 18320 :arr: no reservation needed
RB 5824 :arr: no reservation needed, you need a ticket from Tantow (Gr)
You're questions aren't silly at all - the forum is here to provide answers for such questions. :) If you need further advice just tell us.
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Grüß Gott Flo! :)
Thank you for your great message.
Now everything looks much more clear for me. In Poland we (most of us) have to buy regular tickets, because we’ve finished studies last year (but if we are still under 26 can we have a cheaper InterRail? :) ). You don’t have to check the students situation – the student discount in Poland since 1 January 2011 is 51% (before it was 37%).
When it comes to trains, now I can understand everything. Earlier I saw the train Roma – Palermo (ICN 1939) but then it has disappeared, so I chose Roma – Siracusa with changing train in Messina. But if that train to Palermo exists, it’s great! So now my questions will be:
The train ICN 1939 is without supplements. We’re planning to go to Palermo, then (using a regular ticket to not to waste a travel day) from Palermo to Catania and from Catania to Messina to catch the train from Catania, which is in Messina after 19:00 :) . But if it’s so expensive (30,50€ or more) I would rather search some cheaper option. Any advices? :) Our goal is to go from Catania to Munchen using only one travel day and departing from Catania as late as possible :) I’ll search some connection, but if you have heard about something, let me know please.
And the last case – CNL 1246 (Munchen-Berlin) – 10€ doesn’t sound as terrible as 30,50€ in case of E1930 but if there is something cheaper... The goal is the same – to reach Berlin departing as late as possible from Munchen and using only one travel day. I know that I saw some connection trough Hannover and Hamburg using Schnelltrain’s, but I have to check it.
There is also another option. When staying in Catania we have 2 travel days to use and 3 days to the end of ticket validity and in that time we have to go back to Poland (and we want to see something if possible). So I was thinking about a route trough Germany to see Munchen and Berlin. But maybe there are some better options and more to see on the route Catania – Poland (we’ve already have visited Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Venice, so maybe some route trough Slovenia or another destinations?)
Once again thank you very much Flo :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
- If you are under 26 [b]on the first day of validity[/b] of your ticket your can buy the >26 InterRail pass. :)
- The Roma - Palermo portion of ICN 1939 only shows up on the Trenitalia website...there's probably a mistake in the database of the schedule planner. :|
- You could go with ICN 1936 Palermo (dep 2020) - Roma (arr 0859), this train has seats with optional reservation for 3€ (again, I would recommend to get these reservations). From there you would have to take a fast ES train (10€ compulsory reservation!) to Verona where you could continue by free EC train to München (arr 2025). There is no possbility to get to München by another connection without reservation within a day starting at 9am in Roma!
- Another alternative would be E 1926 Parlermo (or Catania) - Milano via Bologna - but you would have to get a regular until Villa SG (arr 2000) - and that would include a reservation for 3€. From Bologna you could then procede without paying more until München.
- München - Berlin: If you only have one travel day you have to use the night train. Or take a very early ICE (at weekdays first one at 0431, arrival at 1121). The 1900 rule is only valid for night trains, or otherwise said you have to enter the train between 1900 - 2400 and have to leave after 0400, and that is only the case for the direct night train. If you travel on a monday, there is ICE 1724, dep München 0023, arr Berlin 0807
- Other route via Slovenia...maybe think about going to Venezia, then Ljubljana - but connections are a little bit difficult, have a look here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/venice-ljubljana-train/f3664[/u] From Ljubljana you could go to Wien and then by night train back to Poland.
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hey!
Thank you once again!
If I understood you good, when we will take the train E 1926 (dep. 20:25 Villa San Giovanni, arr. Bologna Centrale 08:05) – it’s free of supplements, and the only payment is a seat reservation, which is 3 €? Does this train have normal seats (because on trenitalia page there is an information about sleeping car and couchette but nothing about seats)?
If I understood you wrong and there is some big supplement for E 1926 I want to ask also about:
E 894 dep. Reggio di Calabria 21:30, arr. Roma Termini 07:08 (no supplements?), and then
ES 9402 dep. Roma Termini 07:45 arr. Venezia Mestre 11:21 (here is 10€ as I know)
We will follow your guides and go home trough Slovenia. So my next questions are about the trains:
R 2226 dep. Bologna Centrale 08:56 – arr. Venezia Mestre 10:51
No supplements, no reservation
R 2450 dep. Venezia Mestre 12:16 – arr. Gorizia Centrale 14:19
No supplements, no reservation
R 4207 dep. Nova Gorica 15:30 – arr. Sezana 16:30
No supplements, no reservation
R 2615 dep. Sezana 16:55 – arr. Ljubljana 18:45
No supplements, no reservation
EN 441 dep. Ljubljana 01:50 – arr. Budapest Keleti pu 10:54
I’ve found it’s a 5 € supplement, no obligatory reservation, but am I right?
Here we have not a lot of time to change the trains (especially if the train from Ljubljana will be in delay) but I think it’s possible to do it? :)
EC 272 dep. Budapest Keleti pu 11:25 – arr. Brno hl.n. 15:33
No supplements? no reservation? (but I'm not sure about it)
R 841 dep. Brno hl.n. 16:02 – arr. Bohumin 18:35
No supplements, no reservation (not sure)
Os 3356 dep. Bohumin 19:13 – arr. Katowice 21:34
No supplements, no reservation (of course only to the polish border)
We want very much to use this route Venezia – Gorizia – Ljubljana – Zagreb – Budapest so that’s why I’m asking about all those connections. If it is like I see it, it would be great. Thank for your big big help
Bye!
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Hey,
it's me again. I've changed other topics and posts and found out that
R 2226, R 2450, R 4207, R 2615 and R 841 are without supplements and reservations.
But my questions are about:
E 1926 (Villa San Giovanni - Bologna Centrale)
E 894 (Villa San Giovanni - Roma Termini)
EN 441 (Ljubljana - Budapest-Keleti pu.)
and
EC 272 (Budapest-Keleti pu.-Brno hl.n.) - because I have read somewhere that it's and in the country topics when it comes to supplements there is that EC trains are for free in Hungary, have 3 € supplement in Slovakia and 7 € supplement in Czech Rep. If I enter the train in Hungary, is it for free till Brno hl.n.?
I think you'll help me with this,
thanks :)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi,
yes, all the R trains are without supplements.
The general rule for E, IC and ICN trains in Italy: No reservation (supplement) needed for a 2nd class seat, but it is possible (and recommended) to get one for 3€. However, not all E and ICN trains do have 2nd class seats, some of them only carry couchettes and sleepers - unfortunately this is the case for E 1926, as well as the later alternative E 1930.
The EN and the EC will be free of supplements.
Flo 8)
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Thank you Flo :)
So I think we will take those trains:
E 894 (dep. Villa San Giovanni 22:12, arr. Roma Termini 07:08) - on trenitalia.it I can see it has 2nd class seats,
and then
ES 9402 (dep. Roma Termini 07:45, arr. Venezia Mestre 11:21) - I know it's 10 €, but I think it's the cheapest option to be in Venice until 12:16 (train to Gorizia Centrale)
Thank you once again for help! :)