I’ve travelled all over Switzerland over the years, but never with a reservation. As has been said above, just get on the train and find a seat. However, if you look for trains on the SBB website, it usually gives an indication of how busy the trains are likely to be. This means that you can look for an earlier or later train that might be quieter if you have plenty of time.
We travelled extensively in Switzerland a couple of years ago, but none of the trains we used required reservations. This was pre-covid, but there was plenty of room on all the train although they were noticeable busier at the weekends.The only reservations that we had were on the Eurostars to and from Paris and the TGVs from Paris to Basel and back.
Regardless of whether it’s free or not, I can highly recommend a trip on the Lötschberger. It uses the original, scenic line over the Lötschberg Pass whereas all other trains on the Lötschberg route use the new Lötschberg Base Tunnel. Although the new route is quicker, there’s not much of a view from an umpteen mile long tunnel !Ron.
There are some places where the hotels give out free passes for transport in their local area. This can include local trains as well as trams and buses. I’ve been given these in Montreux and Thun, but other places do them as well.
Ferries are fine when the sea’s calm!On the whole though, taking the train is far better for foot passengers as the ferries are mostly vehicle orientated. Neither Dover Marine or Calais Maritime stations exist anymore so travellers have to make their way from the main town stations to / from the ferry ports. I don’t think Newhaven - Dieppe’s any better, either.Harwich to Hook of Holland is better, but a much longer crossing. O.K. for those that don’t get sea-sick! At least Hook of Holland still has a railway station, but it’s only a local train nowadays and you have to change somewhere or other to get a main line / long distance train to anywhere else.So give me Eurostar every time!
For me, the most memorable perfect train ride was one that, sadly, is no longer possible. It was in 1966 and I travelled from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik in what was then Yugoslavia; the line was narrow gauge and it took 14½ hours. That line was closed some years later and it is no longer possible to get to Dubrovnik by train. The nearest option nowadays is Sarajevo to Split, and then a 140 mile 3 hour bus ride. It might be possible to fly, or there is a ferry that runs along the coast, but that takes all day. If anywhere needs its rail connection reinstated, it’s Dubrovnik! There is no train from Sarajevo to Split :/ Only from Sarajevo to Capljina the last few kilometers to Ploce Croatia are not longer in service :/ Oops! Silly me. I mixed Split up with Ploce. We went from Dubrovnik by boat up the Adriatic Coast to Split and, If I remember correctly (it was 55 years ago) we got a train from there to Zagreb. The new line to Ploce was being built at the time of our 1966 vi
For me, the most memorable perfect train ride was one that, sadly, is no longer possible. It was in 1966 and I travelled from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik in what was then Yugoslavia; the line was narrow gauge and it took 14½ hours.That line was closed some years later and it is no longer possible to get to Dubrovnik by train. The nearest option nowadays is Sarajevo to Split, and then a 140 mile 3 hour bus ride. It might be possible to fly, or there is a ferry that runs along the coast, but that takes all day.If anywhere needs its rail connection reinstated, it’s Dubrovnik!
Exactly. It’s not an interrail pass, which wouldn’t allow me to travel within Sweden as a Swede. The Swedish Rail, SJ, offers a special summer ticket for everyone. Check your national rails for a similar promotions if you don’t/can’t travel abroad but want the railway experience. Well, you did call it an interrail pass! As all our railways are supposedly privatised, the nearest thing we have have to an Interrail Pass is a seven day or 14 day All Line Rover Ticket. There are also regional Ranger and Rover tickets which cover specific geographical areas for either one day or several days. These aren’t special offers though; they, or similar tickets, have been around ever since I can remember. I used a Freedom of Scotland ticket as long ago as 1960.
That’s certainly useful, but with the situation changing almost daily it’s still somewhat risky trying to plan anything at the moment. We were supposed to have had all restrictions lifted next Monday, but that’s no longer the case. The current prediction is that all restrictions will be lifted on the 19th July, but I shall believe that if it happens! You’re right. For every day that passes my hope for an intercontinental travel diminishes. I think I’ll be content with a national interrail this year. Our national rail service, SJ, have a summer promotion for a national railing experience. I don’t think you can do that! As I understand it, you can’t use an Interrail Pass in your own country except as part of a journey to another country.No doubt someone will correct me if I’m wrong about that.
https://reopen.europa.eu is a really good resource. Data is updated frequently. It facilitates planning a multinational trip. For example, some countries will allow entry without restrictions if you’re only passing through, others will require testing or quarantine. There’s a tool where you can put in your itinerary and see if it’s possible R not. That’s certainly useful, but with the situation changing almost daily it’s still somewhat risky trying to plan anything at the moment. We were supposed to have had all restrictions lifted next Monday, but that’s no longer the case. The current prediction is that all restrictions will be lifted on the 19th July, but I shall believe that if it happens!Remember all those people that went to Portugal because it was a ‘green’ country? It was then put on the ‘amber’ list and there was a mad scramble as they all tried to get back home before the deadline...I can’t help thinking that the nearest we shall get to Continental travel this year is bu
Did you know that you get 50% discount on almost all lake constance public boat lines with your interrail/eurail pass? Many people don’t know, since it is published nowhere, except in the tariff: https://www.schiffe-am-bodensee.ch/images/befoerderungsbedingungen/Bodensee_Personentarif_2021_website.pdf It can also be helpful to carry this pdf with you, in case the ticket seller don’t knows interrail/eurail! Now he tells me!!!
I think it’s really important to keep updated on the entry requirements of each country...you wouldn’t want to plan a multi cit trip only to find out that you don’t have the necessary paperwork etc to enter a country. I belong to several travel websites where COvid requirements/restrictions are updated frequently. Hopefully 2022 will allow us some normalcy as far as travel goes All we can do at the moment is cross our fingers - and hope!
Travelling on trains is probably safe enough, but most countries won’t let foreigners in! So if you can’t get in, you can’t ride on the trains...
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