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Serj_PT
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6 comments

Posted 12 years ago

Hey, me and my girlfriend want to travel with an Interrail pass, from around 10th August to maybe 21, 22. We plan on doing London - Scotland - (back to London) - Sweden (passing Denmark) - (maybe Norway) - back to London or to Portugal.

We know there are some trains in the way that require reservation, I think we may be able to get most of those in [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] ( I can't properly search for reservation stations here on railcc, I try to type London in station and only weird names appear, seems to be borked), but I'm not sure if it's still possible to reliably get reservations right now, since it's probably high season and the trains will probably be full.

Thanks a lot

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Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hi.
Yes of course it is still possible to make reservations for August.
What do you want to reserve from or to London?
In the UK you won't need any reservations (except night train). See here for information:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/united-kingdom/uk[/u]
Night trains UK: [u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/united-kingdom/uk[/u]

Like mentioned at the website, we absolutely do NOT recommend to use the expensive Eurostar train between London and Paris/Brussels. It is one-way with Interrail EUR 75!!!
Eurostar is only available at the stations or by phone booking, not online with Interrail discount: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/eurostar/78[/u]
Cheaper options: either by bus or ferry.
Details London-Paris: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/london-to-paris[/u]
Nice option via Harwich and Hoek van Holland: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/london-to-amsterdam[/u]

And you can only make reservations for trains on Bahn website which run within Germany or night trains (CNL) with either start or end in Germany. Reservations are always recommended ot make at train stations (except in the UK).

Peter

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Serj_PT
Traveller
6 comments

replied 12 years ago

Awesome, that London - Amsterdam connection looks great, no extra fees and takes us to a very good location for further travelling.

I thought Bahn were able to make reservations for all Europe, at least 1 year ago I was able to make reservations from my trip from Germany all the way back to Portugal in there (not online though, it was at the station).

We're going to nail down our trip in the next few day probably, from Amserdam - Copenhagen, then probably Stockholm, and then back.

Still need to plan where to sleep, night trains are good for that but not always possible due to semi-tight schedule.

Anyway, that starting info was really helpful, if something else comes up I'll come back =)

Thanks again

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Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

replied 12 years ago

Okay, you are talking about German railway stations - but you also can buy reservations at other stations in other countries (except the UK). That's the recommended way.
I like the ferry trip via Harwich and Hoek, especially the night trip. Booking of the discounted ferry ticket is only available at their Netherlands website - or by phone as much as I know.
Peter :)

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Serj_PT
Traveller
6 comments

replied 12 years ago

Oh, so the interrail pass doesn't count as ticket for that? Been browsing the site and didn't see any Interrail mention, maybe only by chatting \ e-mail \ phoning.

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Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

replied 12 years ago

No. Interrail is a rail ticket - ferries are only an extra bonus if you get a discount there.
Details here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-ferry/harwich-hoek-van-holland/17[/u]

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Serj_PT
Traveller
6 comments

replied 12 years ago

Ok, that ferry part is taken care of, is there any online place where I can book a set reservation for night trains from london-edinburgh and back?

I don't think I can book a reservation in the train station here, from what I gathered last time they were only able to make reservations for Spain \ France, maybe Germany. If the UK train stations are no good for that, I might be screwed with UK trains that need reservations :\

Edit: Nvm, in the UK it's possible to make reservations for inside the UK, just not for outside. Less of a problem then.

Calling the Deutsche Bahn booking centre, is it possible to make reservations then? I'd have to go to a Bahn station to pick them up, but that would be no problem then.

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Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hej,

of course it is no problem to get reservations for UK trains at UK stations. ;) The seat reservations usually even are free, also on the night trains! :)

You can reserve at least the night trains to Scotland from outside UK, but I am not sure if this is only possible for the sleepers or for seats also. If it is possible to get seat reservations as well, you will have to pay, I guess about 3-4€.


Flo 8)

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Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

replied 12 years ago

Like Flow wrote: I mean it is not possible to make reservations in the UK for outside of the UK - like it is standard in Europe. Of course you can make reservations for night trains at the station of departure. :)

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Serj_PT
Traveller
6 comments

replied 12 years ago

It seems I can't make any reservations from stations here in Portugal, and I'm afraid that in August, mid-high season it'll all be reserved already.

Is there any possibility of making online reservations for UK, or only by someone going in an UK station and getting them for me?

I'd need to make one reservation from Amsterdam to Copenhagen as well (night train), but that one would be screwed up as well as can't make them from here, can't expect to have any seat reservation made same day in the beginning of August as well.

We want to go London - Edinburgh - Amsterdam - Copenhagen - Stockholm - Oslo - Hamburg - Basel \ Zurich - Lisbon, but the start of the adventure (up to Amsterdam) is getting very complicated x.x

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Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

- I've been travelling several times with UK night trains, always made my reservation at short notice, usually even on the day of departure. If you are travelling alone or as a couple there shouldnt be a problem. Remember that seat reservations made in the UK a free! Also, there are several night trains up north. To Glasgow, to Edinburgh and one to Aberdeen/Inverness/Fort William. If the train to Edinburgh would be full you can always try to get a seat on one of the other night trains. Attention, no night trains on Saturday nights!

- Amsterdam - Kobenhavn can be made online :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/amsterdam-copenhagen-cnl-40457/10[/u] Attention, you have to get a reservation Duisburg - Kobenhavn since it is not possible to get the Amsterdam - Kobenhavn reservation online. Anyway, explain your situation to the conductor and it should be no problem to join the train in Amsterdam.
If I have time next week I'll write an email to CNL to check this issue.

- The rest of the trip should be rather easy and straightforward; you could change Oslo and Stockholm and travel the other way round.. :)

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Serj_PT
Traveller
6 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hm, I've tried to make a reservation for the Duisburg HBF - Kobenhaven H route and it doesn't let me, says reservations can only be made on call. Is there any problem with the site or are they out of seats?

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Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

For what date?

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Peter
Traveller
9333 comments

replied 12 years ago

Do it via the Optional way for reservations (Deutsche Bahn)!

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Serj_PT
Traveller
6 comments

replied 12 years ago

Wow, that optional way for reservations works, hadn't seen it before. Makes me wonder why isn't there a simpler way of booking a simple reservation for interrail xo

Great job, thanks a lot for the help so far =)