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From Zermatt (Swiss) to Milano (Italy)

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I’m planning a trip from Zermatt (Switzerland) to Miilano, Centrale (Italy) on August, 9.
I’d like to know if the following route is OK with my Eurail pass.
The route is not listed on the Eurail. com for seat reservation, but it is listed on SBB app (Swiss train). Can I use the following route with my Eurail pass?


The route that I want is as follows. 
Departure 08:13 RegioExpress 224, Zermatt 

Arrival 09:37 Brig Bahnhofplatz 
-Trasnfer time: 7min

Departure 09:44 EuroCity 37, Brig

Arrival 11:40 Milano Centrale

 

Please replay. I’ll be waiting for your answer.
Thank you in advance.

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Best answer by thibcabe 6 June 2023, 16:23

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R
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In case I have to buy a new reservation because I missed my booked train by my fault, can I do it right at the train station?

Yes you can.

Would the tickets from Brig to Milano (actually tickets from Domodosola to Milano) be not fully booked on 9, Aug., on the day or a day before in general? 

My crystal ball doesn't work very well :)

But it's in the middle of the week and there's no Italian or Swiss national holiday so I see no reason why it would be very busy.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
BrendanDB
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No, technically you only need a reservation for the EC from Dommodossola to Milan. If you want to avoid that, like @AnnaB said, take a regional train from Domodossola to Milan (IR and R-trains, not EC).

But it’s kinda advisable to get them from Brig of course. You can get the reservations from ÖBB https://shop.oebbtickets.at/en/ticket . Do not select “seat reservation only”, but add to your passenger details the discount “Interrail/Eurail Global pass”.

Via this way you can reserve any train in Italy with mandatory reservations too.

BrendanDB
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Follow these steps:

(Note: Dommodosola should be Milano in my example)

Click change, in the travellers input.
If needed, add an adult (or other type of traveller). Then add discounts for each passenger.
Search for Interrail/Eurail Global pass. Confirm, it should be added.
Click find services, one-way tickets and day tickets.
Select the train you want to reserve. 10 EUR per seat. Only EC is reservable, but is quite fast. The IR+R is not reservable, but included in the pass. Your choice which train you use.

 

R
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What is the difference between reservations on the eurail site “seat reservations” and OBB site?

The price. Eurail always adds a €2 booking fee per person and train and optional reservations are often already much more expensive to begin with. ÖBB don't add any extra fees.

Why is making a reservation on OBB recommend rather than Eurail site?

Because it's cheaper.

Do I just have two options, Eurail.com and OBB, to make reservation and can I choose whatever is convenient for me? 

There are many ways to book reservations, including various websites, by phone, at the ticket office, and you can indeed use what suits you. See this thread:

And this page:

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
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EC trains do not need a seat reservation within Switzerland or up to the border point (Domodossola).

Those 2 trains are actually a single one but ÖBB doesn't show that at the moment (a bug).

Book Domodossola - Milan and sit on your seat from Brig. If it's occupied, either sit somewhere else until Domodossola or gently ask the person to move as you have a booked seat.

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Thank you very much for your great help.

  1. Do I use the “Rail Planner” app for both the tickets reserved on Eurail and OBB?
  2. If I made a reservation on the OBB, what should I show to the ticket personnel? 
  3. What is the difference in the way of using tickets reserved on Eurail and OBB? (Actually, I’ve already made some reservations on the Eurail.com site. If I make a reservation for other routes on OBB, I worry that if I’m confused of using those tickets as the reservation site is different.)
  4. Actually, I’ve made a reservation from Paris to Strasbourg on Eurail.com site, however, I don’t know how to use it. Can you tell me how? If I make a reservation on OBB, how can I use it?

Thank you very much.

T
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Seat reservations and the pass are completely separate. They'll never appear on Rail Planner, even those made through eurail.com. It doesn't matter where you make them. You only save money by making them on another website than eurail.com.

For all trains : you add the journey on the app (QR-code, your ticket). This can be done at any time, 2 min before boarding is totally fine. You can alter the journey at any point too. The only thing that cannot be cancelled is a pass day as soon as it has started (at midnight).

For trains requiring seat reservations : whenever asked you show both the app (ticket) and the PDF (seat reservation).

Hope it answers your questions :)

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Thank you very much for your great help.
1. What do you mean by ‘the app (QR-code, ticket) in the following?
You mean ‘Rail Planner’ app? What do you mean ‘your ticket’? Does it mean my Eurail ticket?

***Do I have to use ‘Rail Planner’ app for both the seats reserved on Eurail and OBB?

 

  1. What do you mean by the ‘app (ticket)’? Do you mean ‘Rail Planner’ app as well? 
    1. Is the PDF (seat reservation) will be sent to me if I make a reservation?
R
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1. What do you mean by ‘the app (QR-code, ticket) in the following?
You mean ‘Rail Planner’ app? What do you mean ‘your ticket’? Does it mean my Eurail ticket?

The Eurail pass  = your ticket. In case of a mobile pass, that is the QR code for each travel day in the rail planner app. Please see:

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/eurail-mobile-pass/getting-started

***Do I have to use ‘Rail Planner’ app for both the seats reserved on Eurail and OBB?

Reservations cannot be done in the rail planner app and won't be visible in it. You'll receive a PDF.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
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Thank you very much.
The time schedules shown on Eurail.com and OBB are different for my planned route. 
Why are they different? Which one is more correct?
If a schedule appears on any of the sites, that is a possible route?
Thank you in advance.

Angelo
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They have not the same update sometimes. To be 100% sure check the website of the train company that runs the train. 

In your case SBB in Switzerland and Trenitalia in Italy.

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
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Thank you.
I checked SBB site, but some of the time schedules on the SBB are not listed on the Eurail and/or OBB.
But then if a RE time schedule appears on SBB, can I use the route with Eurail pass?
Thank you in advance.

BrendanDB
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You can take any train of each railway company that’s part of the Eurail/Interrail programme.

SBB and Trenitalia trains, all included. Each of their trains, from the smallest village to the biggest city you can take with the pass.

95% of all trains is included in Europe, some smaller (touristic) railways sometimes not.

See this overview of what’s included and not: https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/tips-and-tricks/trains-europe/railway-companies

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Thank you.
Panorama Express of Switzerland is not included, right?
What can I do to use the PE route with Eurail pass?
Thank you in advance.

BrendanDB
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The Gotthard Panorama Express you mean? Do you have first classes passes or not?

It’s included, but you’ll need a seat reservation (and a class upgrade if you have 2nd class passes).

https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/tips-and-tricks/trains-europe/scenic-trains/gotthard-panorama-express

But you can easily do this route without any extra cost, by just taking ordinary trains. The views are the same.

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Thank you very much.

  1. What can I do with the following PE route? How can I make a seat reservation?
  2. Also, How long would it take for the short transfer in Brig?

Thank you in advance.

T
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This is the Glacier Express. It cannot be booked for such a short journey (or maybe at the prohibitive rate of 49 CHF).

Don't worry, there are 2 hourly trains from Zermatt (no seat reservation needed or even possible) : every hour at xx:13 and xx:37

However if your goal is Milan, no need to take the RE and change in Domodossola (unless you want to of course). Here is the best route :

- RE Zermatt - Visp 07:37 - 08:46

- IR90 Visp - Brig 08:55 - 09:02

OR

- RE Zermatt - Brig Bahnhofplatz 08:13 - 09:37

- enter the main building (easy)

- EC Brig - Milano Centrale 09:44 - 11:40

You book the seat reservation from Domodossola through tickets.oebb.at and that's it. If the journey doesn't appear on the app : either add it in 2-3 steps or manually. No need to do that in advance.

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Thank you for the route you recommended. I’d take it. 

  1. Is the 7 minnute transfer time enough from Brig Bahnhofplatz to Brig? (09:37-09:44 as shown below) How far is it? Can you show me the way for transfer?
  1. What do you mean by “No need to do that in advance”? Do you mean that I can make the reservation even on the travel date or a day before? 

Thank you very much.

T
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.

T
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Sorry for the confusion. Adding the train to the app can be done at any point. It works like a diary.

However you need to make seat reservations in advance when required : through tickets.oebb.at for this route and all Italian trains.

The transfer in Brig is simple :

- arrival in front of the station

- enter the main building on your left

- go up the stairs or the ramp to plaftorm 4

I've done it a few times, although not with luggage (it shouldn't change much). I'd definitely do it. If you're worried, take the 07:37 train.

 

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Thank you very much.
1.

In case I miss the planned train, which includes a paid seat ticket from Domodosola to Milan, can I take the next train, or should I buy another ticket?

2.
Can I cancel or change the ticket that I buy on OBB with Eurail discount if my schedule changes?

Any fees? If any, please let me know how much.

Thank you in advance.

T
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1. If you miss it due to delays, speak to staff at Brig train station and they'll issue a new one free of charge. In addition you can always take reservation-free regional trains.

2. Seat reservations are generally non-refundable.

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Thank you very much.

If I miss the train not due to the train delay but my fault (such as being late for transferring etc,), then will the the staff also issue a new one free of charge for the next train? Or else what should I do in that case?
 

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From Milano (Italy) to Venezia, the following schedule is listed on Eurail.com.
However, those schedule was not found on OBB.
Why is that?
I’d like to make a reservation on OBB. What can I do?
 

 

 

 

R
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From Milano (Italy) to Venezia, the following schedule is listed on Eurail.com.
However, those schedule was not found on OBB.
Why is that?
I’d like to make a reservation on OBB. What can I do?

For which date is this?

It could be that the ÖBB booking website hasn't been updated yet with the latest timetables.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.

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