Hello, I have a question. I’m going on an Interrail trip for about two weeks, and most of the trains I’ll be taking require seat reservations. I was wondering whether it’s worth booking (as it can be quite expensive) or whether it’s possible to board a train without a reservation (even if it says that booking is compulsory)?
Thanks in advance!
Best answer by Dagi
Usually when it says compulsory it’s compulsory, but it’s worth checking every single train company as Rail planner sometimes says it is, but in fact it’s not.
In most of the high speed trains it’s absolutely mandatory like;
In UK trains, I’ve heard it’s not really enforced even though you’re told you have to. But it’s seems it’s mostly free of charge, so you might as well reserve.
Kopenhagen-Hamburg is another train where sometimes it’s supposed to be mandatory, but as far as I’m aware it’s not enforced.
If you write which routes you ar talking about, I’m sure someone here knows which one is which kind.
Usually when it says compulsory it’s compulsory, but it’s worth checking every single train company as Rail planner sometimes says it is, but in fact it’s not.
In most of the high speed trains it’s absolutely mandatory like;
In UK trains, I’ve heard it’s not really enforced even though you’re told you have to. But it’s seems it’s mostly free of charge, so you might as well reserve.
Kopenhagen-Hamburg is another train where sometimes it’s supposed to be mandatory, but as far as I’m aware it’s not enforced.
If you write which routes you ar talking about, I’m sure someone here knows which one is which kind.
In UK trains, I’ve heard it’s not really enforced even though you’re told you have to.
There is nothing to enforce, since there are no mandatory reservations. However, some British operators send incorrect data on purpose.
Kopenhagen-Hamburg is another train where sometimes it’s supposed to be mandatory, but as far as I’m aware it’s not enforced.
AFAIK reservations are often enforced on Hamburg-Copenhagen (summer only), but not on the ICEs from/to Amsterdam and Brussels or on the ECs between Germany and Poland.
Kopenhagen-Hamburg is another train where sometimes it’s supposed to be mandatory, but as far as I’m aware it’s not enforced.
AFAIK reservations are often enforced on Hamburg-Copenhagen (summer only), but not on the ICEs from/to Amsterdam and Brussels or on the ECs between Germany and Poland.
When I travelled from Hamburg to Copenhagen in August, reservations were not enforced/checked but announced that they are required after we had left every station in Denmark.
I never needed to show a reservation in Poland neither. I assume though they check the reservations on the EIP trains.
I also remember that reservations were not enforced in Norway back in 2022.
I always needed to show a reservation in France, Italy, Spain and Sweden and on every night train of course.
Thanks for your help! I’m going to be travelling from Switzerland to Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Turkey...
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