Ambiguous reservation system


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  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • 18 replies

I don't know if member's are aware, that if you book Amsterdam to London. Eurail have no direct trains, but you have to book 2 separate trains, one from Amsterdam to Brussels either IC or Thalys, change in Brussels and go through security, before boarding Eurostar.

I got caught out by the website and finished up with a Brussels to London ticket. I have to now book at extra cost Amsterdam to Brussels with all the hassle of security in Brussels, and making sure my train arrives early enough. But I can't do this until 90 days before.

I have tried to cancel or reschedule my trip through both Eurail and Eurostar to no avail, they just don't want to know.

I reckon they take your money then abandon you.

Be careful with booking on the Eurail website.


27 replies

Userlevel 7
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Sure there are direct trains Amsterdam - London but not so many as Brussels-London. So it some journeys are with a change, which you can see when you look up the timetable. Also, it sometimes happens that Eurostar does not run from Amsterdam because of engineering works.

Amsterdam-Brussels can be done with the reservation-free intercity.

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From my enquiries, Eurostar definitely do run trains direct from Amsterdam to London, but they are not available on the Eurail website, certainly not for the day I want, only change in Brussels.

Userlevel 7
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From my enquiries, Eurostar definitely do run trains direct from Amsterdam to London, but they are not available on the Eurail website, certainly not for the day I want, only change in Brussels.

That is possible. Capacity from Amsterdam is limited and from experience, pass holder seats from Amsterdam sell out sooner than from Brussels. Even on the same train.

What is your travel date?

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14th July 2023, thanks for the tip about intercity not requiring reservations, just a couple of Euros additional fee. I will probably travel on IC.

Userlevel 7
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14th July 2023, thanks for the tip about intercity not requiring reservations, just a couple of Euros additional fee. I will probably travel on IC.

The IC does not have any additional fee with a Eurail or Interrail pass. The information on the page with reservation fees is wrong.

@Mukhammad @Camilo. Please have this information changed here and here. The IC Direct trains in the Netherlands do not require any fee for Interrail and Eurail and IMO it's a good idea to mention that. I had already reported this more than a year ago but nothing has been done.

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Thanks for that, there are only 2 intercity trains on that morning, the direct one gets into Brussels at 12:17. My Eurostar to London departs at 14:52, so I should have lots of time to kill. I have a 1st class global pass, do I just board the the IC train in Amsterdam, and take any 1st class seat, or do I need to book. I am sorry if this is a dumb question, but I have not used a Eurail pass before.

Userlevel 7
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Thanks for that, there are only 2 intercity trains on that morning, the direct one gets into Brussels at 12:17. My Eurostar to London departs at 14:52, so I should have lots of time to kill. I have a 1st class global pass, do I just board the the IC train in Amsterdam, and take any 1st class seat, or do I need to book.

There's nothing to book. Before boarding, you just have to add the train to your pass (mobile pass) or write it in the trip report (paper pass) and then you look for a free seat.

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That's easy, thanks for your help 😊

Userlevel 7
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By the way, availability for 1 person Amsterdam-London on 14 July currently looks like this:

 

Userlevel 7
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For Eurostar and Thalys trains pass holders should use the B-Europe site - it shows all available trains and the reservation fee.

https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish

You do not need a pass to check availability but will require a Pass Cover Number to book. There is a link to the Pass Number Generator for mobile pass holders here:

 

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I am already booked on train 9141 from Brussels to London, depart 14:52, just need Amsterdam to Brussels 

Userlevel 6
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14th July 2023, thanks for the tip about intercity not requiring reservations, just a couple of Euros additional fee. I will probably travel on IC.

The IC does not have any additional fee with a Eurail or Interrail pass. The information on the page with reservation fees is wrong.

@Mukhammad @Camilo. Please have this information changed here and here. The IC Direct trains in the Netherlands do not require any fee for Interrail and Eurail and IMO it's a good idea to mention that. I had already reported this more than a year ago but nothing has been done.

Hi @rvdborgt 

I see what you mean. I will forward this to the website department. Thank you! 

Userlevel 6
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14th July 2023, thanks for the tip about intercity not requiring reservations, just a couple of Euros additional fee. I will probably travel on IC.

The IC does not have any additional fee with a Eurail or Interrail pass. The information on the page with reservation fees is wrong.

@Mukhammad @Camilo. Please have this information changed here and here. The IC Direct trains in the Netherlands do not require any fee for Interrail and Eurail and IMO it's a good idea to mention that. I had already reported this more than a year ago but nothing has been done.

Hi @rvdborgt 

I see what you mean. I will forward this to the website department. Thank you! 

UPDATE:

Intercity Direct trains are different than IC normal ones. The supplement for IC direct trains is mandatory for the route Rotterdam - Schiphol and it costs 2,70 Euro in 1st or 2nd class. 

On the Eurail website, the price for 1st class will be corrected. 

Have a nice day!

Userlevel 7
Badge +9

14th July 2023, thanks for the tip about intercity not requiring reservations, just a couple of Euros additional fee. I will probably travel on IC.

The IC does not have any additional fee with a Eurail or Interrail pass. The information on the page with reservation fees is wrong.

@Mukhammad @Camilo. Please have this information changed here and here. The IC Direct trains in the Netherlands do not require any fee for Interrail and Eurail and IMO it's a good idea to mention that. I had already reported this more than a year ago but nothing has been done.

Hi @rvdborgt 

I see what you mean. I will forward this to the website department. Thank you! 

UPDATE:

Intercity Direct trains are different than IC normal ones. The supplement for IC direct trains is mandatory for the route Rotterdam - Schiphol and it costs 2,70 Euro in 1st or 2nd class. 

On the Eurail website, the price for 1st class will be corrected. 

No, it is NOT mandatory for Interrail/Eurail pass holders. NS have confirmed this multiple times whenever people asked them via Facebook or twitter. Please update the pages accordingly.

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I am totally confused now, is it mandatory or not?

 

Userlevel 7
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I am totally confused now, is it mandatory or not?

For the intercity Brussels-Amsterdam no reservation or supplement is needed.

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Thank you, and I guess the reverse Amsterdam - Brussels would be the same?

Userlevel 7
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Thank you, and I guess the reverse Amsterdam - Brussels would be the same?

Sure. No worries.

Userlevel 6
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Hi @rvdborgt and @Bigal 

LAST UPDATE: 

Our product specialist confirmed the following:
Intercity Direct supplement (2.70) is mandatory only for the route Schiphol - Rotterdam. On the intercity Amsterdam to Brussels, passholders do not need the ICD supplement when crossing the border. 

The product page and app guide have been updated, and the websites have been requested for update. In a few days the changes will be visible.

Have a nice evening!

Userlevel 7
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Our product specialist confirmed the following:
Intercity Direct supplement (2.70) is mandatory only for the route Schiphol - Rotterdam. On the intercity Amsterdam to Brussels, passholders do not need the ICD supplement when crossing the border. 

The product page and app guide have been updated, and the websites have been requested for update. In a few days the changes will be visible.

I've found back some more information.

Last year, NS customer service already said (on twitter) that no supplement at all is needed for Interrail, not even for domestic journeys:

https://twitter.com/NS_online/status/1550087691030728707

That means all references on the website to supplements on IC Direct services for Interrail/Eurail should be deleted, or better yet, replaced by a message that no supplement is needed, since information about this is quite hard to find.

References to supplements for this train should also be deleted from the rail planner app and the seat reservations module.

Userlevel 6
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Hi @rvdborgt 

We asked NS about this and their answer was that Interrail Passes do count as an international ticket when using IC Brussels for cross-border trips. For domestic trips travellers still need to buy a supplement which the ticket inspectors can check by the journey added to the App. 

The product page and App Guide have been updated; the website page has been requested for an update.  

Userlevel 7
Badge +9

We asked NS about this and their answer was that Interrail Passes do count as an international ticket when using IC Brussels for cross-border trips. For domestic trips travellers still need to buy a supplement which the ticket inspectors can check by the journey added to the App. 

Well… not really. You can always put an international journey in the app. And I'm totally unconvinced that this information is now correct.

The product page and App Guide have been updated; the website page has been requested for an update.  

What/where is the product page?

The timetables in the app and on the website still have incorrect information. They even mention a supplement for journeys like Brussels-Breda, which will lead to lots of confusion.

Userlevel 7
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@Camilo. @Mukhammad 

The latest app update (30.1.0) still mentions a required supplement for the IC Brussels-Amsterdam, even for international journeys. We have already established that this is completely wrong, so when is this going to be corrected?

Userlevel 6
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Hi @rvdborgt 

Thank you for flagging this again. I will ask internally. 

Have a nice evening!

Userlevel 7
Badge +9

@Camilo. Version 30.2.0 still contains this supplement, which is confusing for many people. When will it be removed?

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