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seat reservations for trip from south of France to Amsterdam

  • July 29, 2026
  • 6 replies
  • 42 views
P

I have been traveling from Amsterdam to south of France and so far, no major problems occurred. However, now I want to book a train from Avignon back to Amsterdam (or at least initially to Paris or Brussels-Midi) on August 1, 2026. Whatever option I try, I am unable to make any seat (and journey) reservation. I have tried virtually all departure times, different partial bookings and different itineraries (Paris, Lille, Brussels, Lyon), and I tried multiple times (the app often suggests: we can’t add this journey to your cart right now, try again later; or no seat prices are given), but it looks like I will be stuck in Avignon and cannot get anywhere.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!

Best answer by rvdborgt

Reservations are also available from the SNCF ticket office, provided there is availability of course, which you can check on e.g. Rail Europe. Advantage is that the ticket office doesn't have any booking fees.

Another thing is not always to request the entire journey in one go, because that will always result in the fastest options.

If you look for part of the journey separately, then you will sometimes see that a slightly later train has availability when an earlier one did not.

6 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
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  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • July 29, 2026

You don’t have to buy these reservations from Interrail. In fact it can be quite buggy. 

Try Rail Europe. I don’t see passholder availability on the direct morning TGV to Brussels, but there is on the 17:49 departure.

if you have a first class pass, there seems to be reasonable availability to Paris, departing 07:41 or 09:41. As well as the afternoon direct to Brussels

    R
    Railmaster
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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • Answer
    • July 29, 2026

    Reservations are also available from the SNCF ticket office, provided there is availability of course, which you can check on e.g. Rail Europe. Advantage is that the ticket office doesn't have any booking fees.

    Another thing is not always to request the entire journey in one go, because that will always result in the fastest options.

    If you look for part of the journey separately, then you will sometimes see that a slightly later train has availability when an earlier one did not.

    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.
      ralderton
      Railmaster
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      • ralderton
      • Railmaster
      • July 29, 2026

      The 15:49 Avignon-Brussels (only if you have a first class pass) gets you to Brussels in time for the ECD to Amsterdam

       

      -

      I also see availability on the 14:12 to Lille

        P
        • Pieter J Vos
        • Author
        • Rail rookie
        • July 29, 2026

        Thank you ralderton and rvdborgt for your quick feedback!

        I hold a second class Interrail pass.

        From your answers I understand that I can make seat reservations via Rail Europe or SNCF, but -as far as I know- I still would need to book my journeys on the Interrail app (which is impossible without the seat reservation). How do I add the seat reservations from Rail Europe or SNCF to my Interrail pass? Or do I need to buy a complete new ticket from Rail Europe or SNCF? (that would be a pity as I have my Interrail pass, for which I paid € 381)

        ralderton
        Railmaster
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        • ralderton
        • Railmaster
        • July 29, 2026

        The reservations are entirely separate from your pass. Just add the trains you intend to take to My Trip in the app, and show the reservation separately. 

          R
          Railmaster
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          • rvdborgt
          • Railmaster
          • July 29, 2026

          The Rail Planner app doesn't book anything. It's just the digital equivalent of the paper pass diary, where you have to write every train you take by hand. You can book trains wherever you like and then enter them into the Rail Planner app.

          The best overview of where to book which reservation is 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.
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