irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hi,
We wish to get the night train from Brussels to Prague.
There is one change : Brussels-Koln 19.28-21.15 , and then from Koln to Prague 22.28- 10.57.
I cant seem to buy a discounted fare for the Interrail pass for Brussels- Koln? Is it easier to call the DB centre to make these reservations?
I am able to purchase the reservation for Koln to Prague but i have a query..
When i choose the discount for 4 people it comes up as follows:
Your ticket To: 4 Surcharge/Pass 1
Print out your online ticket
Only valid for the passenger in person with own identity card. Non-transferrable!
More info
Who is going to use the online ticket?
I shall be using the online ticket personally
Someone else will be using the online ticket
Does this mean each person needs to buy their reservation separately?
Or can I purchase the discount for out group of 4 so that we can share the same couchette?
Thanks in advance.
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Hi.
No need to use the DB.
Brussels - Cologne (Köln) is available with the THALYS trains - but they have expensive supplements for rail pass travelers.
If you call a travel agency or something, usually they will sell you a supplement for the direct way. But it is often the more expensive way.
Do it like this:
Bruxelles-Midi dep: 1824 | IC train - free of reservation fees
Liège-Guillemins arr: 1919
Liège-Guillemins dep: 1933 | IR - free of reservation fees
Aachen Hbf arr: 2024
Aachen Hbf dep: 2051 | Regional train - free of reservation fees
Köln Hbf arr: 2144
The same connection is also available two hours earlier. If you want, use the earlier one and stay two hours in Cologne, drinking a beer. As directly in front of the train station there is the famous Kölner Dome. The biggest German church. Close is also to river Rhine where you can sit and chill. :)
Concerning the night train: you are doing it the right way:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/amsterdam-prague-night-train/f3747[/u]
Select I shall be using the online ticket personally. You can book for all 4 passengers at once. This selection is usually important if you purchase normal fare tickets. When checking in the night train, the staff only wants to see your 4 InterRail passes and the sheet of paper where the reservation and your name is printed on it. If the system ask for a passport or IDcard number, use the one of the document you will have with you on your trip.
Peter :)
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Thanks so much for your help :D
Good suggestions :)
So for the trains with no reservation fees can we just get on with our interrail pass and choose any seat?
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Yes. Just go in and sit down...! :)
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Sorry to bother you again.. Ive been looking at the route planner for this journey. We're making this trip on the 19th June.
The connection from Brussels-Koln is as follows:
Bruxelles-Midi 19.06.11 18:25 ICE 19
Köln Hbf 20:15 Intercity-Express
Subject to supplement, Bordbistro
Would this be a better train to get as it is direct? and if so how and where can i pay this supplement?
I found this info on price supplements for Belgium:
ICE international Reservation NOT required.
1st class: EUR 5.50
2nd class: EUR 4.50
Thanks once again.
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Okay. Then use the ICE which is free of supplements. But it is recommended. Fees like you mentioned.
If you want a reservation , do it like for the night train.
Better to give a date, then it is easier to find the perfect connection.
Peter :)
irishgals
Traveller
15 comments
Hi there, we just purchased our 15 day continuous ticket today.
Its from 18th June-2nd July.
We are flying to Brussels and home from there also.
We werent planning on staying in Brussels for 2 nights though. however, we need to travel back to there on the 2nd July for our flight on the 3rd. we would rather fly to Brussels on the 18th, stay for a while and then get the train on to Prague the same day/night.
However I read you cannot use the ticket until midnight on the first day of your pass? Is this correct?
Can you offer us any solution to this? or perhaps some way to travel to prague after midnight?
Thank you.
Peter
Traveller
9337 comments
Hi.
If your ticket starts on the 18th (start is the 18th at 00:01h in the morning), you can of course use it for the connection from Brussels to Prague via Cologne on the 18th (arriving the 19th in Prague). As you have a continuous ticket it's simple.
Keep in mind to buy an online reservation for the night train Cologne (Köln) to Prague. Follow the link and scroll down:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/germany/de[/u]
Peter :)
nltrainer
Traveller
1416 comments
it depends of course how much you want to travel extra-but for only a return BRu-Praha, buying a pass is a waste of money. On [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] you can very easily check the fares-also for seat or sleep. IF you use bahn-you must break up-it can only sell to or fro Germany-not via.