Hi all, hoping someone can clairfy - first time using trains in Europe and want to enusre we get the right one. Thinking of doing a trip to Italy(overnignt in each maybe 2 overnights - Rome, Pisa, Bologna and return. One site says we can use Eurorail but another one says to use interail.
Does anyone know? which ever one we purchase, do we still require to make a reservation?
Best answer by Sebastian Vetter
Interrail is for European residents, Eurail is for non-European residents. So if you’re living in Canada you could get a Eurail pass. Other than the name, they will work mostly the same. So you will see those two names used interchangeably on the interrail community.
If you are just doing those journey, I would double check on trenitalia.com what the regular point-to-point fares would be for your travel dates. In Italy, high-speed trains require a 13€ reservation on top of your pass, slower intercity trains 3€. Only local trains require no reservation. My guess is, that regular tickets will be cheaper than a one country pass for Italy. Maybe also have a look at the trenitalia pass (reservations fees included, but not valid on regional trains) https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm#trenitalia-pass
If you post your exact travel dates or trains you want to use, we can better help you.
Interrail is for European residents, Eurail is for non-European residents. So if you’re living in Canada you could get a Eurail pass. Other than the name, they will work mostly the same. So you will see those two names used interchangeably on the interrail community.
If you are just doing those journey, I would double check on trenitalia.com what the regular point-to-point fares would be for your travel dates. In Italy, high-speed trains require a 13€ reservation on top of your pass, slower intercity trains 3€. Only local trains require no reservation. My guess is, that regular tickets will be cheaper than a one country pass for Italy. Maybe also have a look at the trenitalia pass (reservations fees included, but not valid on regional trains) https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm#trenitalia-pass
If you post your exact travel dates or trains you want to use, we can better help you.
our dates are st ill up in the air. just tring to figure a budget and determine which service is most cost saving - pass or purchase daily tickets - we have been on trenitalia and realize the cost does increase closer to the day of travel in question
I guess I should also ask - if we buy a pass, make a reservation and we end up missing our window time how hard is it to ereschedule for the next train?
also which trains are the regional trains?
I guess I should also ask - if we buy a pass, make a reservation and we end up missing our window time how hard is it to ereschedule for the next train?
also which trains are the regional trains?
That depends on the next train and what ticket you have. If you have an Interrail pass and the next train requires reservation, then you need to get new reservations (which can be done last minute at the station if there are seats available). If it doesn’t require seat reservations, you just add the next train to your “trip” (=travel diary) and you’re good to go.
If you have point-to-point tickets you’re usually entitled to hop on the next train with no extra cost. You should talk to a member of staff.
That being said: It doesn’t seem like you have long travel days with lots of connections. So you should be fine. You can always book connecting trains with enough connection time to be sure to not miss it.
Regional trains/ local trains usually have an “R” in their name (like IR, RE, R, RV) and will stop at (almost) every station and therefore take much longer. For example Rome-Pisa will take 2h30 on a high-speed train or 4h on a regional train.
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