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I have been trying to book a seat reservation with a Eurail pass from Domodossola (Italy) to Basel on the direct Eurocity. This train starts in Milan.

  • Eurail says no seat reservation available
  • Rail Europe says need to book at the station

We need to get to Basel in tome to catch train to Paris and can do this on regional trains without passes but it means an early start from our base at Lake Maggoire (Verbania-Palanza) plus multiple changes.

I see there was a post 2 years ago about not being able to reserve this Eurocity but that may now be resolved?

Of course it might just be that there are no seats left as  it is early June we need to book.

Any suggestions if a reservation is possible and how to get one? Should we just try at a station once we are in Europe?

 

There is no mandatory reservation from Domodossola to Basel. You may just hop on the train.

In Switzerland, there's no need to go by regional trains anyway. There's no mandatory reservation for any normal train in Switzerland (except some tourist trains). For the tariff, Domodossola to Basel is already considered to be a trip just in Switzerland (even if Domodossola is in Italy).

You didn't provide a concrete date but from June 9th the train is not running from Milano anymore for the summer.

Thank you Hector

it is confusing as the Eurail seat website says a reservation is needed. We are travelling a few days before 9 June luckily. 

The Railplanner says that reservations are optional between Domodossola and Basel.

 

The Railplanner says that reservations are optional between Domodossola and Basel.

 

These aren't direct EC trains. 😉

For the EC trains it does indeed show a mandatory seat reservation which is wrong.

You need to charge your phone. 🙃

 

it is confusing as the Eurail seat website says a reservation is needed.

As written: This information is not correct. 

The Railplanner says that reservations are optional between Domodossola and Basel.

The trains at xx:58 from Domodossola are regional trains and don't have reservations :)

The rail planner app does claim that there are mandatory reservations on e.g. EC 50 at 8:48 but that's incorrect of course. Since SBB operate this train from Domodossola, it's relevant what they say:

Reservations are possible, but not mandatory.

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