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Hi,

i was trying to book a train from Kolding ( dk ) to Vaduz ( li ) on interrail.eu ( Vaduz train station does not  exist for them ) and on bahn.de ( tere were many possible trains to choose from, but after confirming our dates of birth I got a message that I can not buy the tickets from Deutsche Bahn, but at least Vaduz station exists for them) .

We are 3 adults and a child ( 5 years old ).

Why can I not buy these tickets?

Any restriction for Danish citizens?

Kind regards Jack 

For the Bernina Express you can even ride with the same train as there always are reservation free coaches (right behind the engine if I remember correctly).

Thanks again,

but how to find out which of these swiss expresses are covered by the interrail passes and which are not? So the free coaches are on every scheduled bernina express? What is then the different between free coaches and those requiring extra tickets? cheers

On the page “Trains in Switzerland”, under “Scenic trains” you can click on the individual pages, where detailed conditions are given:

The page on the Bernina Express addresses your question: Look under "See how the trains compare".


 

Just one more questions, are there still trains with berths, like a night trains? If yes, how to find out if the train has berths or not? We have one child , who only is 5 and can get bored over so long trip.

Yes there are, e.g. from Hamburg to Zurich would be interesting for you.

As I said in previous mail I was looking for train on different times on DB and DSB but how to find out if the trains offers berths? 

If the train has the name Nightjet. But with nightjet it is not possible to book as one ticket from Denmark to Switzerland due to different booking pages. You get 2-3 tickets instead.

With Interrail you only need a reservation for the Nightjet (starting from 14€ for seats to Austria, seats to Switzerland run as normal Intercity train of DB, without reservation. Couchette end sleeper need a reservation in any case).


For the Bernina Express you can even ride with the same train as there always are reservation free coaches (right behind the engine if I remember correctly).

Thanks again,

but how to find out which of these swiss expresses are covered by the interrail passes and which are not? So the free coaches are on every scheduled bernina express? What is then the different between free coaches and those requiring extra tickets? cheers

The normal coaches without panoramic windows are without reservation. They are on the top of the train.


I just check on deutschebahn and on dsb.dk ( danish trains ) for the trip from Kolding to Sargans and for the exact same trains for 4 of us, the different between these 2 websites can be like 150 euro ( return ). But for me the biggest chock was, that the same route just 2 hours later or earlier can be much more cheaper or expensive ( like almost 500 euro ). Do you know how is it possible or maybe I make some mistake in search engine?

Most likely, there's no mistake. Railways use yield management for long distance trains, so trains that are busier will be more expensive than quieter trains. In addition, DSB could use another system than DB (although I thought DSB were also booking via the DB system but I may be wrong). In any case, it's useful to compare prices on different websites and for different connections.

Just one more questions, are there still trains with berths, like a night trains? If yes, how to find out if the train has berths or not? We have one child , who only is 5 and can get bored over so long trip.

Yes there are, e.g. from Hamburg to Zurich would be interesting for you.


All routes mentioned by @Schelte above are possible to travel without reservations.


 For sleeper compartments, it works differently.

how does it work for sleeper compartments? what is the different between them?

Sleeper compartments often have 3 berths but can also be set up for 2 persons or 1 person. You will always have a private sleeper compartment if you book 3 berths in a 3-berth compartment (T3), 2 berths in a 2-berth compartment (Double) and 1 berth in a 1-berth compartment (Single). "Double” and "Single” are often just the same compartment but with a different set-up.


  1. But if I would have the pass, then I would still have to pay the 199 for the private compartment or another amount? What I meant was interrail pass, If I had it , would I have to pay these 199 for private compartment or maybe another amount. You answered ...There is no pass fare for a private compartment on a Nightjet…. To be honest I do not understand ur answer.

Hm yes maybe my answer was too technical… it means there is no specific pass reservation for a private couchette compartment. You can only buy a normal ticket with reservation.

  1. I meant here special offers for the interrail passes mentioned by Hector. What are prices for these passes when they are on special offers? And how often are these passes on special?

Passes are often on sale in December/around Christmas/New Year, around March and around black Friday, with a discounts of 10 or 15% or on black Friday maybe 20%. Subscribe to the Interrail newsletter to be informed when the next one starts.


  1. But if I would have the pass, then I would still have to pay the 199 for the private compartment or another amount?

There is no pass fare for a private compartment on a Nightjet.

  1. The special offers were much better then the regular? Are there any particular times of the year when they make the special offers?

These prices are not really special offers. They're always there but availability is limited and the chance to get them is higher when it's not so busy (like now).

 

  1. What is the different between private compartment in 1 and 2 class?

Nightjet does not have a class distinction.


And one more. what is the different between interrail and eurail?

Interrail is for persons living in Europe, Eurail is for persons living outside of Europe. 

With Interrail you have the outbound/inbound rule saying that you can travel on a maximum of two travel days in your country of residence. 


Thank you all for your answers.

  1. I got confused, I will later try to book on obb and compare with db.
    i am not familiar with  the professional vocabulary. Private couchette compartment does it mean that the 4 of us will be the only passenger in this Abteil ( do not know the english name ) or we can still get extra 2 person and will there be 4 or 6 berths / beds in such a Abteil?
  2. What is different between Privatabteil Liegewagen for 199 eu and Liegeplatz im Abteil mit 6 Liegen for 554 eu? For me it seems the same
  3. Where can I see how these Abteilen look like?
  4. Regarding interrail passes. Is the price always the same in particular year or maybe sometimes one can get it maybe cheaper on special?

t1]

Regarding just the booking of a sleeper or couchette compartment for the nighttrain (as shown in your own post), there’s no need to compare. DB is booking the night train with ÖBB booking system, so there’s no difference. 

Private means private. I don’t think this is misleading. It’s a private compartment (= Abteil) just for you. No other people are allowed to join.

There are 6 berths. But it’s possible to keep two of them folded away so you’ll also get a configuration with just 4 beds in the same compartment - you’ll see how it looks like following the link l3].

i2]

It’s not the same. A Privatabteil is private (no other person may join), Liegeplatz im Abteil mit 6 Liegen means that there are two (if you pay for your child) or three other people (if you don’t pay for your child) that may get booked in your compartment - it’s not private. So the cheaper offer is the better one. But for the date shown in your post there’s just one compartement left for 199 € - if someone books it, it’s gone - it’s just a special offer. But remember again: if you’ll buy an interrail pass, it would be complete nonsense to buy any of these offers. Both offers are complete tickets (ticket and reservation) for which you won’t need an interrail pass. 

3]

The train operators website does show it: Couchette - Nightjet

t4]

The price of the interrail pass itself is not the same (normally, there are special offers every year - but the last one did just end last week). 


 


I found something like that 

https://www.international-bahn.de/de/upsale/1448678207?token=1ca24cb2e717577dc7dbc789

but i am not sure if the price of 199 euro for 4 person includes the berths?

It does. It should also be possible to get Hamburg - Zürich for that price, unless the coaches to Zürich are already full (half the train only goes to Basel). I do see it on tickets.oebb.at: 3 adults and 1 child Hamburg - Zürich for €199.


@viking The night jets are run by ÖBB, not by DB. From DB you can buy seats on some night trains but for the sleepers and couchettes you need to look at ÖBB.


I get connections with the night jet on DB. But that is with the night train leaving Köln just before midnight, which not might be a good idea when you have a small child. 

I suggest you check trains between Kolding and Hamburg. Then there is a night train between Hamburg and Zürich. In Zürich you take another train to Sargans.


Do you have interrail passes? What are the dates you will be travelling?

Without exact dates and times it's difficult to advise.

The station is called Schaan-Vaduz normally. 


A quick search gace me tickets for about 180 to 250 EUR (one way) for the four of you on a random monday next month, from Kolding to Sargans. Interrail wil cost at least as much per person, except for your child. 

1. I don't think so. A pass is only interesting if you do more trips (or if you're a bit last minute, sometimes it's the cheaper option). Check ordinary prices and your travel date and compare. Liechtenstein is not big, so if you plan daytrips to Switzerland or Austria you might get more value for money with interrail. 

2. Yes (see above)

3. Deutsche Bahn or SBB for your connection.

4. The map is very bad, and only depicts very few, very cliché destinations. Interrail validity should be seen per company. Check:  https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/tips-and-tricks/trains-europe/railway-companies to know which companies are included. De facto 95% of all European trains ( of which some require seat reservations, but not on the route you'll be taking. Seat reservations are optional on IC and ICE. The rest of your trains doesn't even require reservations ) 


You can travel this route without seat reservations, but I guess you want to make reservations so that you are sure that you can sit together. Reservations are also needed if you want to travel by night train. 

If you give your travel details, (route, departure date and time) you will get advice here.


Note Vaduz does not have a train station, but Schaan (4 km away) does. However, Schaan is only served by local trains between Feldkirch (Austria) and Buchs (Switzerland) from Monday to Friday only. No service in weekends.

The DB travel planner is probably giving you an option including a bus from either Feldkirch, Buchs or Sargans. These buses do actually go to Vaduz and are far more frequent and not much slower than the train to Schaan, but those are not covered Interrail - you can however buy a separate ticket for them - I think I did so on board of the bus. I'd recommend you'd search for a journey to either Feldkirch, Buchs or Sargans, and check the bus timetables from those towns on liemobil.li.

Hope this helps!


The DB travel planner is probably giving you an option including a bus from either Feldkirch, Buchs or Sargans. These buses do actually go to Vaduz and are far more frequent and not much slower than the train to Schaan, but those are not covered Interrail - you can however buy a separate ticket for them - I think I did so on board of the bus.

Yes, you can. You can pay in euro and Swiss franc. The buses from Buchs and Feldkirch also serve Schaan-Vaduz station (Schaan Bahnhof); that station also functions as a node with connections in many directions every 15 minutes.

More info on bus services in/from/to Liechtenstein is here: https://liemobil.li/


Here as here in the Community. There are lots of experienced travellers in the Community who have a lot of knowledge about traveling by train.

 

Using an Interrail pass for travels by train within Lichtenstein will not be worth the money of a travel day. The railway in Lichtenstein is 9,5 km long and has 4 stations.


@viking if you state the dates and times you want to leave for Liechtenstein, we can tell you what option (ordinary tickets or interrail) is the most value for money. Prices can differ a lot on long distance trains.

To answer your next questions:

1. Yes, look at the companies, not the maps. More than 40000 stations can be reached with interrail. It's a real golden hyperflexible ticket! 

2. For example, but Liechtenstein is smaller than the average municipality, it's a micro state. So ordinary tickets will be cheaper anyhow. You won't pay 100 EUR to get from Vaduz to Nendeln 1,5 km away, more like 2 EUR 😅. A pass day is worth about 60 EUR for a 4 day flexible pass.

A 7day pass will be overkill for a week. But if you'lld combine  going to Liechtensteun and want to go for a day trip from Liechtenstein to Zürich, Innsbruck, Ulm or Sankt Moritz e.g.,a 4 day Interrail global pass will be good value for money! 2 days needed to get to/from Kolding to Liechtenstein and two days where you can do daytrips. But always compare to ordinary prices. It's not necessarily the cheapest option. But if you just spend a week in Liechtenstein without any daytrips, just stick with ordinary tickets :)

3. A lot of trains you cannot even reserve. If its wise to reserve on the ones where it's optional... Hmm, it really depends when you'll be travelling. So again, if you tell us when you want to make your trip to Liechtenstein, we can tell if you'lld better get seat reservations for Deutsche Bahn or not.

Fridays and Sunday evenings are usually busy on long distance trains. Same counts for long weekends and beginning and endings of holiday periods (like Christmas, Easter, or weekends during summer holidays). But if you travel off-peak on a random tuesday in the middle of February, you'll have all the place you want without reservations. 


Hi again,

 

I was just looking at different panoramic trains in Schweiz. Do you if they are included in these passes?

regards

Jack

Yes, but you require rather expensive reservations. Like the Glacier and Bernina express

You can do the same route, by ordinary reservation free regional trains that usually go every hour. Same route, same views :) 

For the Bernina Express you can even ride with the same train as there always are reservation free coaches (right behind the engine if I remember correctly).


Hi again,

 

I was just looking at different panoramic trains in Schweiz. Do you if they are included in these passes?

regards

Jack

Yes, but you require rather expensive reservations. Like the Glacier and Bernina express

You can do the same route, by ordinary reservation free regional trains that usually go every hour. Same route, same views :) 


Thank you all for your answers.

  1. I got confused, I will later try to book on obb and compare with db.
    i am not familiar with  the professional vocabulary. Private couchette compartment does it mean that the 4 of us will be the only passenger in this Abteil ( do not know the english name ) or we can still get extra 2 person and will there be 4 or 6 berths / beds in such a Abteil?
  2. What is different between Privatabteil Liegewagen for 199 eu and Liegeplatz im Abteil mit 6 Liegen for 554 eu? For me it seems the same
  3. Where can I see how these Abteilen look like?
  4. Regarding interrail passes. Is the price always the same in particular year or maybe sometimes one can get it maybe cheaper on special?

 For sleeper compartments, it works differently.

how does it work for sleeper compartments? what is the different between them?


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