Brussels to Italy, via Germany and Switzerland. Advice more than welcome!

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@rvdborgt

If I'm correct, there is no mandatory reservation for all trains for the proposed journey, right?

Correct, not until Milan.

Thank you for the confirmation!

Then it is better to travel directly to Milan porta Garibaldi, which is included in my global pass. But that has certainly not been decided yet, because walking 1.8 km with a suitcase is still not that bad.

 

 

By the way, NMBS should be able to book a pass reservation for the night train at the ticket office. That way, you don't pay any booking fee and you don't need to struggle with the problems of Interrail's booking module when booking multiple passengers for an Italian night train.

 

Thanks for the tip that I can reserve a pass rate for this night train here in Belgium.
But I'm going to look for regular tickets anyway, because these are usually cheaper, I've read here on the forum.

It's just not clear to me whether you can book 2 rooms next to each other, with a door between them?
I thought I read somewhere that this is possible on Italian night trains.

R
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Thanks for the tip that I can reserve a pass rate for this night train here in Belgium.
But I'm going to look for regular tickets anyway, because these are usually cheaper, I've read here on the forum.

That depends on what's available and what accommodation you book, but there should be good advance fares available if you book early enough. I see this night train is still not available for the summer timetable.

It's just not clear to me whether you can book 2 rooms next to each other, with a door between them?
I thought I read somewhere that this is possible on Italian night trains.

I'm not sure. Seat61 doesn't mention it but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

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.
S
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Thanks for the tip that I can reserve a pass rate for this night train here in Belgium.
But I'm going to look for regular tickets anyway, because these are usually cheaper, I've read here on the forum.

That depends on what's available and what accommodation you book, but there should be good advance fares available if you book early enough. I see this night train is still not available for the summer timetable.

It's just not clear to me whether you can book 2 rooms next to each other, with a door between them?
I thought I read somewhere that this is possible on Italian night trains.

I'm not sure. Seat61 doesn't mention it but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

 

 

I have sent a message to ( Italiarail, Trenitalia via chat, and to Treinreiswinkel ) for clarity about this.
Hopefully I get a clear answer on this.

S
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Thanks for the tip that I can reserve a pass rate for this night train here in Belgium.
But I'm going to look for regular tickets anyway, because these are usually cheaper, I've read here on the forum.

That depends on what's available and what accommodation you book, but there should be good advance fares available if you book early enough. I see this night train is still not available for the summer timetable.

It's just not clear to me whether you can book 2 rooms next to each other, with a door between them?
I thought I read somewhere that this is possible on Italian night trains.

I'm not sure. Seat61 doesn't mention it but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

 

 

Le Frecce says this about booking 2 rooms next to each other, with a door in between.
Anyone able to work with this explanation? It's really not clear to me yet.

 

LE FRECCE SAY :
Select the travel solution you are interested in and the fare. In the drop-down menu relating to offers and services, you will find sleeper or wagon and the wording communicating

R
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Le Frecce says this about booking 2 rooms next to each other, with a door in between.
Anyone able to work with this explanation? It's really not clear to me yet.

LE FRECCE SAY :
Select the travel solution you are interested in and the fare. In the drop-down menu relating to offers and services, you will find sleeper or wagon and the wording communicating

I have no clue. I don't see that in the choices. For 7 June:

So nothing with “communicating”. Note that the lowest fare is still available, so there should still be many places left.

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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@Angelo 

 

I see you live in Italy 🙂

 

Do you happen to know on which night train connections it is possible to book 2 rooms next to each other with a door in between?

 

Can you confirm with certainty whether you can travel with the pass between Milan Central and Milan porta Garibaldi?

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There are works planned in Switzerland, which means that my planned connection is no longer possible.
I thought to do this connection, August 26.
Lugano departure 19u55 - Monza,    Monza - Milan porta Garibaldi arrival 21u29.

Can anyone offer me an equivalent alternative?
I thought the arrival of 21u29 was really ideal, because our night train leaves at 22u13.

 

@Angelo @rvdborgt @runner.on.rails @seewulf 

S
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This one should work:

 

 

@rvdborgt 

Thank you very much!

I will then travel via Chiasso from Lugano.

My route that I have now mapped out:

Lugano - Chiasso = 19h32 - 19h55 (No reservation costs on the EC)
Chiasso - Milan porta Garibaldi = 20u09 - 21u21

S
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@Angelo @rvdborgt @seewulf 

 

According to Trenitalia's Conditions of Carriage, which I have reviewed on both their English and Italian websites, seat reservations are covered by their "BASE ticket".


My question : Would you be able to choose your seat yourself based on what is free of course, without additional costs of 2 euros? Because it says that holders of a "BASE ticket" can choose their seat for free.


I normally go to the station in Ghent, NMBS, this Saturday and really hope that it is possible to choose seats myself from the ones that are still available.
The customer service of NMBS is not sure, and says I should try it at the counter.

R
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NMBS don't have an extra fee for choosing a specific seat as far as I know.

Do let me know what kind of ticket you get for the Italian night train. NMBS recently claimed they don't issue electronic tickets yet for these trains, although a few months ago, they said they had just switched to electronic tickets (PDF) only for all international tickets (this incudes the ticket offices).

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.
Angelo
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I don’t know. I don’t think that SNCB/NMBS can select seats. 

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
S
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NMBS don't have an extra fee for choosing a specific seat as far as I know.

Do let me know what kind of ticket you get for the Italian night train. NMBS recently claimed they don't issue electronic tickets yet for these trains, although a few months ago, they said they had just switched to electronic tickets (PDF) only for all international tickets (this incudes the ticket offices).

 

 

They are seats for Trenitalia, so it is Trenitalia's conditions of carriage and sales that count. So if an interrail fare is considered the "BASE ticket", I would be allowed to choose my seat for free.
Trenitalia's customer service is a joke! You can't get any info there, hopeless.

The seats I want to choose are on a Frecciarossa 1000 train. This is apparently not possible on the night train, if you choose a bed.


Keep your fingers crossed that it all works out, because it is always a challenge at NMBS.
A few years ago they sold me the wrong pass rate for SNCF at the counter, and I was fined on the train! Fortunately, NMBS has paid back the fine.

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I don’t know. I don’t think that SNCB/NMBS can select seats. 

 

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed!

S
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Do let me know what kind of ticket you get for the Italian night train. NMBS recently claimed they don't issue electronic tickets yet for these trains, although a few months ago, they said they had just switched to electronic tickets (PDF) only for all international tickets (this incudes the ticket offices).

 

 

I'll let you know how it went on Saturday evening for the purchase of the tickets for Trenitalia.

 

For the night train I will go for 1 room with 2 beds. Vagone deluxe doppia cabina intera.


The other train that I already want to book is the Frecciarossa 1000, Roma Termini 6.25 am - Milan Central 9.24 am.
This way we still have enough time to catch the train at 10:20 am to Colico where we have to transfer to a bus to get to Tirano.

S
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My experience with NMBS today.

 

When I told at the counter in Ghent sint Pieters that I wanted to book interrail fares for Italy, it was immediate. Yes, but that's not possible here with us, they made it very difficult for us!
I did not let myself be, and she that I had already informed myself well in advance at the customer service. And the counter clerk commented on that too.
Yes, "they can say that well"

 

Finally, she went looking for her computer, and it didn't work.

I had written everything down nicely, and wanted to book the intercity notte, and the Frecciarossa.
After waiting for 10 minutes, she said she could only reserve the Frecciarossa. But she could only reserve seats in coach 5 !? Strange, because that is 2nd class, while I have a 1st class interrail pass.

And then suddenly, after waiting a few more minutes, it suddenly worked. The lady had found the places I specifically wanted to reserve. The lady didn't know how she did it, but she had my desired seats! Yay!!

 

 

 

It did not work out for the intercity notte. The train did not show up on her computer program.

I then showed her via the Trenitalia app that the train is indeed for sale, and she also looked at the Trenitalia website.

 

She then looked on the "HAFAS" website, and the train is not listed there after August 5 or 6.
I didn't think about that when I was at the counter. But presumably that is the problem, that the timetable of the intercity trains is not yet in the planner of "HAFAS"?

 

The lady could not advise me where or whether I could book the intercity notte with NMBS.

I am disappointed in the customer service of NMBS via twitter / email, because they confirmed to me that it would certainly be possible to book the intercity notte at the counter in Ghent.

 

 

@rvdborgt

seewulf
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My experience with NMBS today.

 

When I told at the counter in Ghent sint Pieters that I wanted to book interrail fares for Italy, it was immediate. Yes, but that's not possible here with us, they made it very difficult for us!
I did not let myself be, and she that I had already informed myself well in advance at the customer service. And the counter clerk commented on that too.
Yes, "they can say that well"

 

Finally, she went looking for her computer, and it didn't work.

I had written everything down nicely, and wanted to book the intercity notte, and the Frecciarossa.
After waiting for 10 minutes, she said she could only reserve the Frecciarossa. But she could only reserve seats in coach 5 !? Strange, because that is 2nd class, while I have a 1st class interrail pass.

And then suddenly, after waiting a few more minutes, it suddenly worked. The lady had found the places I specifically wanted to reserve. The lady didn't know how she did it, but she had my desired seats! Yay!!

 

 

 

It did not work out for the intercity notte. The train did not show up on her computer program.

I then showed her via the Trenitalia app that the train is indeed for sale, and she also looked at the Trenitalia website.

 

She then looked on the "HAFAS" website, and the train is not listed there after August 5 or 6.
I didn't think about that when I was at the counter. But presumably that is the problem, that the timetable of the intercity trains is not yet in the planner of "HAFAS"?

 

The lady could not advise me where or whether I could book the intercity notte with NMBS.

I am disappointed in the customer service of NMBS via twitter / email, because they confirmed to me that it would certainly be possible to book the intercity notte at the counter in Ghent.

 

 

@rvdborgt

The problem is Trenitalia have to load their trains into HAFAS  and even have to provide the sheduled configuration in the booking systems.They do it sometimes quite late or more and more never. Hafas was once the “European Rail managment System” but many Railcompanies made their own system and now it´s difficult to put them together.

I´ am not working for Eurail or Interrail i just share my knowledge here. Please ask in the Community and not via private message as this is the fastest way to get an answer. I prefer English/German/ Czech for my answers. In case of Reservationquestions please share some details like Route, Date, Trainnumber as otherwise we can just provide general advices or answers
S
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My experience with NMBS today.

 

When I told at the counter in Ghent sint Pieters that I wanted to book interrail fares for Italy, it was immediate. Yes, but that's not possible here with us, they made it very difficult for us!
I did not let myself be, and she that I had already informed myself well in advance at the customer service. And the counter clerk commented on that too.
Yes, "they can say that well"

 

Finally, she went looking for her computer, and it didn't work.

I had written everything down nicely, and wanted to book the intercity notte, and the Frecciarossa.
After waiting for 10 minutes, she said she could only reserve the Frecciarossa. But she could only reserve seats in coach 5 !? Strange, because that is 2nd class, while I have a 1st class interrail pass.

And then suddenly, after waiting a few more minutes, it suddenly worked. The lady had found the places I specifically wanted to reserve. The lady didn't know how she did it, but she had my desired seats! Yay!!

 

 

 

It did not work out for the intercity notte. The train did not show up on her computer program.

I then showed her via the Trenitalia app that the train is indeed for sale, and she also looked at the Trenitalia website.

 

She then looked on the "HAFAS" website, and the train is not listed there after August 5 or 6.
I didn't think about that when I was at the counter. But presumably that is the problem, that the timetable of the intercity trains is not yet in the planner of "HAFAS"?

 

The lady could not advise me where or whether I could book the intercity notte with NMBS.

I am disappointed in the customer service of NMBS via twitter / email, because they confirmed to me that it would certainly be possible to book the intercity notte at the counter in Ghent.

 

 

@rvdborgt

The problem is Trenitalia have to load their trains into HAFAS  and even have to provide the sheduled configuration in the booking systems.They do it sometimes quite late or more and more never. Hafas was once the “European Rail managment System” but many Railcompanies made their own system and now it´s difficult to put them together.

 

 

 

Do all international sales stations work with the " HAFAS " program to sell international tickets ?

 

Does nmbs only work with HAFAS to sell international tickets?

R
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The problem is Trenitalia have to load their trains into HAFAS  and even have to provide the sheduled configuration in the booking systems.They do it sometimes quite late or more and more never. Hafas was once the “European Rail managment System” but many Railcompanies made their own system and now it´s difficult to put them together.

Do all international sales stations work with the " HAFAS " program to sell international tickets ?

Does nmbs only work with HAFAS to sell international tickets?

NMBS and NS work together and have a common back-end system that connects with a number of others to sell tickets, e.g. DB and SNCF and also Trenitalia. The basis though is that the timetable must be available. All railways (in principle) send their timetables to MERITS, the European Timetable Centre, which has updates twice per week If they don't do that, then others don't know them and often no tickets can be sold. It looks very much like Trenitalia still has to send an update to MERITS that includes this night train from 7 August.

DB can also sell this night train. Maybe they can also do it via the train number search. In that case, they don't need to rely on the timetable being available, since that system directly connects to the reservation system. For RENFE trains, that works but I don't know if that also works for Trenitalia trains.

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.
S
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The problem is Trenitalia have to load their trains into HAFAS  and even have to provide the sheduled configuration in the booking systems.They do it sometimes quite late or more and more never. Hafas was once the “European Rail managment System” but many Railcompanies made their own system and now it´s difficult to put them together.

Do all international sales stations work with the " HAFAS " program to sell international tickets ?

Does nmbs only work with HAFAS to sell international tickets?

NMBS and NS work together and have a common back-end system that connects with a number of others to sell tickets, e.g. DB and SNCF and also Trenitalia. The basis though is that the timetable must be available. All railways (in principle) send their timetables to MERITS, the European Timetable Centre, which has updates twice per week If they don't do that, then others don't know them and often no tickets can be sold. It looks very much like Trenitalia still has to send an update to MERITS that includes this night train from 7 August.

DB can also sell this night train. Maybe they can also do it via the train number search. In that case, they don't need to rely on the timetable being available, since that system directly connects to the reservation system. For RENFE trains, that works but I don't know if that also works for Trenitalia trains.

 

 

Yes, that is with 1000% certainty that Trenitalia has not yet forwarded their timetable to the correct authority so that other train companies can display the correct timetable of Trenitalia, starting August 7th.

The timetable of the night train, 797, is not visible anywhere else than at Trenitalia. It is not found in the scheduler of DB, SBB, ...

 

Now, what can I do as a customer to find out from when this intercity notte can be booked at NMBS?
Already sent a message to twitter nmbs.

Shall I email MERITS to ask when they expected Trenitalia's timetable?
Or what else can I do?

 

I prefer not to use the DB option, because then there will be costs that I have to incur.

S
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I called B Europe this afternoon, as I still had not received an email confirming my reservation for the Frecciarossa. And also because I can't upload my reservation in the B europe app.

I have now received the email. There was an error in my email address.

It is still not possible to upload my reservation in the app. The employee does not know why this is.

 

I therefore asked if she could check whether it was possible to reserve the intercity notte for the date of July 30, and that was possible. So it is clear, I have to wait for the train to appear on the HAFAS website, so that I can book the train via NMBS.

 

 

I will print the reservation confirmation and ticket again just to be sure. This way we both have 1 document, with which we can hopefully easily go through the gates.

At the counter I only received 1 document with both travelers with 1 barcode, and in major stations such as Rome and Milan, you have to go through gates.

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@Sven For the trip to Milano Porta Garibaldi (PG) you can use hourly R11 (Regional Train) of Trenord from Chiasso directly to Milano PG (but it stops at every station). Or change in Monza from RE to an R to Milano PG. You could also use EC151 (compulsory reservation) directly to Milano PG. 

 

 

These options were already known to me.
Thank you for confirming that interrail is valid here with Trenord.

 

 

If you have time in Milan walk from Centrale to PG and go eat good italian food at a ristorante for dinner, the ICN should start at 22:13 from Milano Porta Garibaldi.

 

The earliest we can arrive at Milan Central Station is 17u17, based on the times currently available. ( until June 3 )
It is also the intention to have something to eat in Milan in the evening, before we take the night train to Naples.

It is the first time traveling on an overnight train, the first time traveling with the Interrail mobile pass, and the first time in Italy. So we want to be as prepared as possible, and take enough time between the different trains.

An other option is to use from Milano Centrale a Regionale Veloce or Regionale to Piacenza (next stop of the ICN and enter there the train) or you go to the stop before Milano, which is Novara and take the Regionale Veloce from Centrale to Novara.

 

 

 

I checkt now with ÖBB scotty app, that the Malpensa Express of Trenord runs from Centrale to Garibaldi. But Interrail is not accepted, but I have in mind that special fare of this train is only for passengers that go to/from the last stations at the airport Malpensa. It should be for trips before a normal regional train, but I'm not sure. You could ask directly Trenord.

 

 

I am trying to contact Trenord customer service via instagram as they are not responding to my message via email.

 

 

For your other question, do you have tried to book for two persons in the same time? Beacuse then it should be possible to be more people in one compartment. 

Be also prepared that covid rules of Trenitalia could change, because many rules are finishing Trenitalia could start to sell compartments for more people.

 

 

Yes, it is indeed possible to book 1 cabin with 2 people. But I prefer to reserve a cabin separately for each.
I would have loved to have reserved 2 cabins, with a door in between. That would be practically very easy.

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The problem is Trenitalia have to load their trains into HAFAS  and even have to provide the sheduled configuration in the booking systems.They do it sometimes quite late or more and more never. Hafas was once the “European Rail managment System” but many Railcompanies made their own system and now it´s difficult to put them together.

Do all international sales stations work with the " HAFAS " program to sell international tickets ?

Does nmbs only work with HAFAS to sell international tickets?

NMBS and NS work together and have a common back-end system that connects with a number of others to sell tickets, e.g. DB and SNCF and also Trenitalia. The basis though is that the timetable must be available. All railways (in principle) send their timetables to MERITS, the European Timetable Centre, which has updates twice per week If they don't do that, then others don't know them and often no tickets can be sold. It looks very much like Trenitalia still has to send an update to MERITS that includes this night train from 7 August.

DB can also sell this night train. Maybe they can also do it via the train number search. In that case, they don't need to rely on the timetable being available, since that system directly connects to the reservation system. For RENFE trains, that works but I don't know if that also works for Trenitalia trains.

 

 

 

 

Now, what can I do as a customer to find out from when this intercity notte can be booked at NMBS?
Already sent a message to twitter nmbs.

Shall I email MERITS to ask when they expected Trenitalia's timetable?
Or what else can I do?

 

I prefer not to use the DB option, because then there will be costs that I have to incur.

 

@rvdborgt 

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@Angelo 

 

Do you know when the Italians have summer vacation? So far, no clear website has been found about this.

Likewise, when is it School holidays in the summer?

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Currently, the plan is to return from Switzerland to Brussels on September 1.

In the morning I would like to do another trip from Chur to Zurich.

 

From Zurich I would then like to make the journey to Brussels, preferably with ICE because of the low costs (5.30 euros/person for a certain seat)

There is a connection at 11:59, 13:59, with a change at Frankfurt main.

 

My question : Isn't it better to travel from Zurich to Cologne, because of many delays / and even cancellations in Frankfurt?

 

If you have any other suggestions, let me know. Thank you!

 

 

 

( Just saw that the price has gone to 5.90 euros, instead of 5.30 euros. )

seewulf
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Currently, the plan is to return from Switzerland to Brussels on September 1.

In the morning I would like to do another trip from Chur to Zurich.

 

From Zurich I would then like to make the journey to Brussels, preferably with ICE because of the low costs (5.30 euros/person for a certain seat)

There is a connection at 11:59, 13:59, with a change at Frankfurt main.

 

My question : Isn't it better to travel from Zurich to Cologne, because of many delays / and even cancellations in Frankfurt?

 

If you have any other suggestions, let me know. Thank you!

 

 

 

( Just saw that the price has gone to 5.90 euros, instead of 5.30 euros. )

The question is if the trains at 11.59 and 13.59 goes to Cologne :) As usually the ICE´s from Zürich goes from Frankfurt via Kassel & Hannover to Hamburg :)
From Basel you have trains that goes to Cologne :)

another option is you may catch arround 10am the Eurocity from Zürich via Rhine Valley & Cologne to Hamburg and connect then in Cologne for a ICE to Brussels. (Have a scenic Route through the Rhinevalley at the end of the trip) and in case of 1st class you can even enjoy it from the panoramic carriage :)

I´ am not working for Eurail or Interrail i just share my knowledge here. Please ask in the Community and not via private message as this is the fastest way to get an answer. I prefer English/German/ Czech for my answers. In case of Reservationquestions please share some details like Route, Date, Trainnumber as otherwise we can just provide general advices or answers

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