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Where to find Europe's train network?

  • 4 March 2024
  • 5 replies
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S

Hi there! I’m from Argentina. I just got a pass for 5 days in may. I’m starting from Switzerland and need to travel to Ghent Belgium afterwards. I tried googling and searching but couldn’t find out what is the best way to get there. Is Google Maps public transport mode reliable? Because it tells me to do like 5 combinations, is there no direct way from one country to another?

Besides this case, how can I know, for each city, which trains and destinations are available?

Also, if I understand well, the pass doesn’t guarantee any seats, right? So if I don’t reserve seats and the train is full I lose it or travel standing up?

Sorry I am really lost, if anyone could point me to some useful articles I would be really grateful.

 

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Best answer by thibcabe 4 March 2024, 14:00

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Use bahn.com or the DB Navigator app to search for international train journeys.

Within Switzerland, sbb.ch or the SBB app is the best.

Some train require a seat reservation, some have optional reservations, and most have no reservations at all. Within Switzerland, you can book seat reservations for some trains, but it's not necessary and basically a waste of money.

For the best places to book reservations, see:

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

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.
S

Ok thank you!

I’ve just used the app to link Switzerland to Belgium and saw that it wasn’t within the Eurail network… is that true? Like there is no way to get from one country to the other one in the network?

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First read these 2 links to introduce you to train travel :

https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a-eurail-pass.htm

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

Reservations are sometimes required. You'll get a fine if you don't have one.

Use DB Navigator app for planning.

Switzerland - Bruges is doable via Paris but it would require 2 expensive reservations. I'd rather travel via Germany even if it takes a bit longer :

- any train to Basel

- ICE Basel - Köln Hbf (Cologne)

- ICE Köln Hbf - Brussels-Midi -> often full so reservations very recommended

- any train to Bruges

T
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Ok thank you!

I’ve just used the app to link Switzerland to Belgium and saw that it wasn’t within the Eurail network… is that true? Like there is no way to get from one country to the other one in the network?

What did you see exactly ? The Eurail Pass is valid on hundreds of companies across Europe : SBB, DB, SNCF are a few of them.

There are at least a dozen ways to go to Belgium : through Paris (expensive), through Luxembourg, through Cologne,...

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Indeed, please show the exact journey (with individual trains) and the travel date; only then we can say what is the problem.

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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