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train fully booked on DB but not in interrail app

  • January 2, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 52 views
H

Hi! i wanna go from Utrecht to Kopenhagen on the 4th of January. But im not sure what to do with my reservation on the ICE from hamburg to KPH, so any help would be nice:)) 

there are two options:

  • Option 1 is at 14:47, interrail says a reservation is not needed, but DB says the train is fully booked (so i cant make a reservation anyway), can I still board the train? and just sit somewhere and hope for the best? Via the interrail site, i can however still make the reservation, so that would also be an option? (although it feels weird that I can make a seat reservation via interrail but not Db’s?)
  • The second option is the ICE at 16:49. Interrail says I need a seat reservation for that one, and DB says that I can still book the seat via their website. 

My preference would be option 1 bc my partner is taking that train, but he already has a seat reserved. I guess I can always go for option 2 but was wondering what my prospects are at option1 . ANy help is appreciated, thanks:)

 

also small side question that I can probably already find somewhere on the community: If I travel twice from and to my homecountry, can I use my in- and outbound day the second time instead of the first? Or do you have to use it on the first time/day?

thanks in advance!!

Best answer by eurocity101

Both trains actually have optional reservations. The information in the railplanner app about the second train is wrong. Check DB navigator.

You can travel on the sold out train without reservation but you will very likely need to stand/switch seats. They only throw people without reservations off the train if it is dangerously overcrowded.

Maybe try the ÖBB, CD or DSB websites for reservations. If Interrail still sells reservations, either one of them also might.

I used a train on that route in the opposite direction about two weeks ago where I couldn’t get reservations beforehand too. Turned out they sent a replacement train where all the reservation bookings were invalid.

5 replies

E
Railly clever
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  • eurocity101
  • Railly clever
  • Answer
  • January 2, 2026

Both trains actually have optional reservations. The information in the railplanner app about the second train is wrong. Check DB navigator.

You can travel on the sold out train without reservation but you will very likely need to stand/switch seats. They only throw people without reservations off the train if it is dangerously overcrowded.

Maybe try the ÖBB, CD or DSB websites for reservations. If Interrail still sells reservations, either one of them also might.

I used a train on that route in the opposite direction about two weeks ago where I couldn’t get reservations beforehand too. Turned out they sent a replacement train where all the reservation bookings were invalid.

I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
H
  • hallometfreija
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • January 3, 2026

Thank you! How could I have found out that the information on the interrail website is wrong? Because on db i cannot necessarily find that information and i find it a bit scary to take the risk to not make a reservation although interrail says you need one. Thanks in advance:) 

M
Full steam ahead
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  • Marvin Heer
  • Full steam ahead
  • January 3, 2026

The 2 trains are not even booked out. (Edit: I did not look close enough, no seat reservations can be bought anymore but its not booked out in the sense that they stopped selling tickets for it, which also can happen) 

They only recommend a reservation not require it.

Trains that have a mandatory reservation are marked with an R on the DB site like this.

On the website it looks similar.

H
  • hallometfreija
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • January 3, 2026

Thanks a lot! Ill take the first then and hope for a spot. I see indeed that there are still tickets but no seat reservations available, im not sure why but thanks for the screenshots! I now understand that its not required and should be fine. Thank you so much! :)

R
Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • January 3, 2026

Thanks a lot! Ill take the first then and hope for a spot. I see indeed that there are still tickets but no seat reservations available, im not sure why but thanks for the screenshots! I now understand that its not required and should be fine. Thank you so much! :)

A train with optional reservations cannot sell out, although DB sometimes stop selling tickets (but there's usually a way around it).

Look for the BahnBonus seats. These cannot be reserved. The DB Navigator app will indicate the carriage where you can find them.

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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