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Do I need an eTicket for "free to board".

  • January 16, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 113 views
Steve Sims

Hi all, I searched the timetable for London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal, 8:55am, 29/4/2023.  The whole trip includes 3 stops, I paid to reserve 2 seats on St Pancras to Bruxelles Midi, that was highlighted orange, with a cost, and received 2 emailed eTickets from Eurostar.  The legs from Bruxelles Midi to Breda, then Breda to Amsterdam Centraal (Thalys) were highlighted green, no reservation required, free to board.  Does that mean we will get a seat on the Thalys train from Bruxelles to Amsterdam, just by referencing our Global Pass number ? Thanks very much for your help, the Eurail site lacks some linking information in this area.  

 

 

Best answer by BrendanDB

Thalys doesn’t stop in Breda, so you are on the slightly slower Intercity from Brussels to Amsterdam that doesn’t require any form of seat reservation. Your pass is the (e-)ticket with a valid QR code for that day.

You also don’t want to take Thalys, between Brussels and Amsterdam it’s bad value for money. It’s only slightly quicker. A seat reservation costs as much as cheap advance tickets.

You don’t have to switch in Breda, you can just stay on the train to Amsterdam (not switching only adds 10 min travel time and a lot less hassle).

With your Eurostar seat reservations you’re good to go on the route you’re planning!

4 replies

seewulf
Railmaster
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  • seewulf
  • Railmaster
  • January 16, 2023

For thalys you still need a reservation but you can take the slower reservation free Intercity from.Brussels to Amsterdam. 

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
A
Schelte
Steve Sims
BrendanDB
Full steam ahead
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  • BrendanDB
  • Full steam ahead
  • Answer
  • January 16, 2023

Thalys doesn’t stop in Breda, so you are on the slightly slower Intercity from Brussels to Amsterdam that doesn’t require any form of seat reservation. Your pass is the (e-)ticket with a valid QR code for that day.

You also don’t want to take Thalys, between Brussels and Amsterdam it’s bad value for money. It’s only slightly quicker. A seat reservation costs as much as cheap advance tickets.

You don’t have to switch in Breda, you can just stay on the train to Amsterdam (not switching only adds 10 min travel time and a lot less hassle).

With your Eurostar seat reservations you’re good to go on the route you’re planning!

A
Steve Sims
Steve Sims
  • Steve Sims
  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • January 16, 2023

Thanks very much for the replies, very helpful, cheers.  

BrendanDB
M
Full steam ahead
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  • mcadv
  • Full steam ahead
  • January 16, 2023

And IF wanted-maybe depending on where your HTL in AMS stands: you can same day, some QRcode, also use a local train in AMS from CS to another stop that maybe be closer by. But train=yellow only, not the metro (which has gates to enter anyway for chipcards)

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