Skip to main content

First class or not!!

  • May 28, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 140 views
E

Good day you all!

We just got back travelling with Eurail for 22 days, through France and Italy. 

We had first class tickets. Ons a previous Eurail trip through Germany, Austria and Switzerland that was definitely a pro.

However, this time, we were almost never able to travel first class!

I'm excluding reserved and high speed trains here.

Normal trains in Italy,  seldom háve a first class!

In France, we experienced the same. 

So our first class ticket was actually a waste of money in these countries. 

I thought to share this for those of you who consider travelling first class.

E

2 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+8
  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • May 28, 2025

I always have a slight pang of disappointment whenever I board a second-class only train with a first class pass.

But the pass is great value to start with, and the first class pass is a very reasonable extra cost. 

It certainly pays to check the trips you will be doing and whether they offer First, but in general I don’t worry about it too much.

Z
Z
Engin-ius
Forum|alt.badge.img+7
  • zagmund
  • Engin-ius
  • May 29, 2025

It depends on what you mean by “normal trains”.  I’m not 100% sure, but I would be very surprised if any of the Freccia or Italo trains in Italy were only second class.

Most long distance trains in Europe will have both classes.  Local trains rarely do.  If you are traveling from a city to a suburb, or between two small towns then most of the time there will only be second class.  By and large intercity and express trains will all have first class.

If you are doing a “slow travel” trip using local trains to experience places off the beaten track then you are more likely to be on trains with second class only.

Terms and Conditions & Privacy PolicyAccessibility statement