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ICE - carriage layout not available for reservations

Z
Engin-ius
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I’m trying to book ICE319 from Brussels to Cologne on Friday 27th June, but the reservation systems are telling me that it can’t be booked because the carriage layout isn’t available.

I’ve tried booking the same train on other dates and the layout is there alright.

I’ve checked the train running dates (banhof.de is my new favourite planning tool) and it should be running that day.

Any ideas on what the issue is?

Normally I would be happy enough to worry about it later, but I’ve just booked a Eurostar into Brussels and plan on taking the EC7 from Cologne the next morning and my options for getting between the 2 cities is limited at that time of night.

There’s also a Thalys/Eurostar, but the reservation fee is enough to put me off.

 

An error has occurred

The carriage layout is temporarily unavailable. Please continue your booking without selecting a seat in the carriage layout or try again at a later time.

Best answer by thibcabe

There are very likely engineering works planned that evening. No Sparpreise nor seat reservations available until the timetable is "final". It might only be a 10 min later arrival or a stop in Süd/Ehrenfeld instead. We don't know yet.

Check again in a few weeks, the DB planning team is far behind in uploading work timetables, especially across NRW. The 2 week closure in early May isn't fully shown yet... 

Eurostar would also be affected by these works so no point in booking that one.

In any case, as said, I don't think a seat reservation is necessary.

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    3 replies

    R
    Railmaster
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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • 10675 replies
    • April 3, 2025

    Just try again later.

    But to be honest, I think you don't really need a reservation at this time of the day.

    You can however get it for free if you book it via DB together with EC7 in 1 transaction.

    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.
    T
    Full steam ahead
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    • thibcabe
    • Full steam ahead
    • 4935 replies
    • Answer
    • April 3, 2025

    There are very likely engineering works planned that evening. No Sparpreise nor seat reservations available until the timetable is "final". It might only be a 10 min later arrival or a stop in Süd/Ehrenfeld instead. We don't know yet.

    Check again in a few weeks, the DB planning team is far behind in uploading work timetables, especially across NRW. The 2 week closure in early May isn't fully shown yet... 

    Eurostar would also be affected by these works so no point in booking that one.

    In any case, as said, I don't think a seat reservation is necessary.

    Z
    Engin-ius
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    • zagmund
    • Author
    • Engin-ius
    • 96 replies
    • April 4, 2025

    Thanks for the replies.  I thought I saw somewhere that international ICE journeys were going to require a reservation this summer, so that’s why I was trying the reservation.  I agree though - I don’t think the train will be too full at that time of night.

    I’ll fire ahead and book the EC7 seats anyway and take my chances on getting between the two cities one way or another.  I just need to check now to see if my Cologne hotel reservation can be refunded if needs be - hopefully it is.

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