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Changing the reservation on the Dacia Express

  • August 28, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 46 views
H

I’m a Canadian, taking a long train ride through Europe to Greece. I’m going there on the eastern route through the Balkans, and back through Italy.

 I reserved a sleeper on the Dacia Express from Vienna to Bucharest on Oct 18. It gets me to Bucharest on Oct 19 afternoon,  I hotel overnight, and the next day Oct 20 I travel to Sofia. Again I overnight in a hotel. The next day Oct 21I would normally take a 5 hour bus to Thessaloniki. But Oct 21-23 there is no 5hr bus, only a 13 hour milk run to Thessaloniki. 

My question is, is it possible to change the reservation to one day earlier. It’s a paper reservation, mailed to me in Canada, which I haven’t even received yet.

It being off season, would they perhaps let me go a day earlier if I arrived a day earlier?

Best answer by rvdborgt

You should never have a reservation sent to you via the post. It takes a long time before you get it, it's more expensive (€9 postage fee per order on top of Eurail's €2 booking fee per person and seat) and refunds/exchanges are a lot of hassle, because you'll have to send back the paper reservation to the point of sales (Eurail). Having it sent to a hotel is certainly a no-no; there have been many stories in this community of that not working out.

This night train can be booked online without any extra fees and with an electronic reservation sent via e-mail on tickets.oebb.at. In general, don't book any reservations via Eurail, and instead use this page as a guide:

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

If you turn up at the ticket office, they'll surely let you on an earlier train, but you'll need to buy a new reservation for the new date and get a refund from Eurail for the one you booked earlier.

Now, before you attempt any exchanges, it's always worth to check other options. A simple Google search brought up Arda Tur, who seem to run 3 buses daily from Sofia to Thessaloniki, including on 21/10.

    3 replies

    R
    Railmaster
    Forum|alt.badge.img+10
    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • Answer
    • August 28, 2025

    You should never have a reservation sent to you via the post. It takes a long time before you get it, it's more expensive (€9 postage fee per order on top of Eurail's €2 booking fee per person and seat) and refunds/exchanges are a lot of hassle, because you'll have to send back the paper reservation to the point of sales (Eurail). Having it sent to a hotel is certainly a no-no; there have been many stories in this community of that not working out.

    This night train can be booked online without any extra fees and with an electronic reservation sent via e-mail on tickets.oebb.at. In general, don't book any reservations via Eurail, and instead use this page as a guide:

    https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

    If you turn up at the ticket office, they'll surely let you on an earlier train, but you'll need to buy a new reservation for the new date and get a refund from Eurail for the one you booked earlier.

    Now, before you attempt any exchanges, it's always worth to check other options. A simple Google search brought up Arda Tur, who seem to run 3 buses daily from Sofia to Thessaloniki, including on 21/10.

    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.
    H
    • Harold
    • Author
    • Rail rookie
    • August 29, 2025

    Thank you very much. That certainly deals with the problem. I was baffled that I would have to get a paper ticket in this era of smart phones, especially delivered here a lifetime away. 

    I’ll be more careful and follow Mr. 61 a bit more closely.

    Harold

    R
    Railmaster
    Forum|alt.badge.img+10
    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • August 29, 2025

    Some reservations still aren't available electronically, but AFAIK, the ones that Eurail still offer on paper are all available electronically elsewhere.

    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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