End of August London to Bolzano - book ahead or Inter rail

[Ian99]

Looking at travelling to Bolzano in Northern Italy around the 31st August.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the cheapest routes? Happy to stop once on the way.

I can see
London to Lille £56.50
Lille to Macon £52.50
(overnight stay)
Macon to Milan £44.50
Milan to Bolzano £21.70

but wondering whether an Inter Rail pass might be better....

 

[Austriantrain]

Looking at travelling to Bolzano in Northern Italy around the 31st August.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the cheapest routes? Happy to stop once on the way.

I can see
London to Lille £56.50
Lille to Macon £52.50
(overnight stay)
Macon to Milan £44.50
Milan to Bolzano £21.70

but wondering whether an Inter Rail pass might be better....

If you chose Interrail, going to Brussels, then on an ICE through Germany to Munich (changing at Köln or Frankfurt Airport) and then on a direct EC train to Bozen/Bolzano will almost certainly be cheaper, as neither DB not ÖBB charge supplements for Interrail users. Reservation is not mandatory either, though I would strongly recommend it.

 

[StephenHunter]

Interrail is definitely better; you can save quite a bit on Eurostar.

 

[Lewlew]

Don’t forget that you’ll need to pay reservation fees on top for some trains. This can range from 3€ to 30-40€

Book seat reservations

Search for train times of most trains across Europe and book your seat reservations.

www.eurail.com

 

[30907]

Depends a bit on where you live in the UK - IR is particularly useful if you are coming from well outside London, even more so in 1st/SP, because that bit comes effectively for free.

On your choice of route - IR supplements from France to Italy are on the high side, and remember that Macon-TGV is out of town! Even internal TGV supplements seem to be 20 instead of 10 now (August, 4 weeks' notice).

If I were doing the journey I would try and use the Brenner route at least one way, either going via Brussels - Munich overnighting at (eg) Nuremberg, or via Paris Est-Strasbourg (overnight) -Zurich-Arlberg.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

On your choice of route - IR supplements from France to Italy are on the high side,

Does that also apply to the Trenitalia services now operating on the route?

 

[JB_B]

Does that also apply to the Trenitalia services now operating on the route?

The last I heard was that IR simply isn't valid on the Trenitalia Paris-Milan services.

See: https://community.eurail.com/train-...e-new-frecciarossa-services-in-to-france-1529

I'd be interested to know if that has now changed.

 

[Lewlew]

The last I heard was that IR simply isn't valid on the Trenitalia Paris-Milan services.

See: https://community.eurail.com/train-...e-new-frecciarossa-services-in-to-france-1529

I'd be interested to know if that has now changed.

Not valid, they show as “not in pass network” on my Global pass

 

[rvdborgt]

The last I heard was that IR simply isn't valid on the Trenitalia Paris-Milan services.

See: https://community.eurail.com/train-...e-new-frecciarossa-services-in-to-france-1529

I'd be interested to know if that has now changed.

AFAIK that is still the case.

Not valid, they show as “not in pass network” on my Global pass

That doesn't necessarily mean anything, unfortunately, since the rail planner app and the Interrail website contain many errors.

 

[Lewlew]

AFAIK that is still the case.


That doesn't necessarily mean anything, unfortunately, since the rail planner app and the Interrail website contain many errors.

It only shows as not valid for those specific services though and reservation needed (with price quoted) for the other trains so I’m leaning towards it being correct

 

[eastwestdivide]

neither DB not ÖBB charge supplements for Interrail users

Is that the case on the Munich-Brenner-Italy EC services? I had to buy an interrail supplement on the train in 2018, travelling from Innsbruck to Brixen due to insufficient research.

 

[rvdborgt]

Is that the case on the Munich-Brenner-Italy EC services? I had to buy an interrail supplement on the train in 2018, travelling from Innsbruck to Brixen due to insufficient research.

South of Brenner and Tarvisio you need to pay a supplement indeed. Some ticket inspectors don't ask for it though and the price on the train is still not any higher AFAIK.

 

[Austriantrain]

South of Brenner and Tarvisio you need to pay a supplement indeed. Some ticket inspectors don't ask for it though and the price on the train is still not any higher AFAIK.

It’s 10 Euros but with a supplement if bought on board. I suppose if you change to one of the hourly regional trains at Brenner you can avoid it?

 

[dutchflyer]

1.how do you plan to come back? If also by train, then you cannot beat a pass. And can vary the route too. make decision quick, as pass-supplmts on EuroStar are limited and in high demand.
2.NO-its now near impossible to avoid the 10€ surcharge (Incl REServ if done ion Germany or Austria at counter) as the trains In IT south of Brennero are now run as SAD=local, and do not accept passes=you pay, perhaps a little less as that 10, and loose a lot of time too.
One can avoid it by going via DE-Swiss and changing then at border/Chiasso, to a local/reginoale, this will add a lot to total triptime due to destination but then add local IT fees for IC.

 

[Austriantrain]

2.NO-its now near impossible to avoid the 10€ surcharge (Incl REServ if done ion Germany or Austria at counter) as the trains In IT south of Brennero are now run as SAD=local, and do not accept passes=you pay, perhaps a little less as that 10, and loose a lot of time too.

Thanks for correcting me. I did a quick search but could not find information that IR is not valid on SAD local trains. Should have looked for longer.

 

[rvdborgt]

It’s 10 Euros but with a supplement if bought on board.

Is it confirmed that they've added an on-board supplement? Until now, I've only seen reports that the price is the same when buying it on the train.

 

[Austriantrain]

Is it confirmed that they've added an on-board supplement? Until now, I've only seen reports that the price is the same when buying it on the train.

I found the info on the ÖBB Homepage. However, it might very well be waived if you are on the train from Germany and could not easily buy the supplement there. Now that you mention it, I think that in general the on-Board surcharge is not charged if you enter Austria on an international service. I am not certain, however (it’s not something I have practical experience with).

 

[Porty]

Looking at travelling to Bolzano in Northern Italy around the 31st August.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the cheapest routes? Happy to stop once on the way.

I can see
London to Lille £56.50
Lille to Macon £52.50
(overnight stay)
Macon to Milan £44.50
Milan to Bolzano £21.70

but wondering whether an Inter Rail pass might be better....

If price is a major consideration don't forget the German €9 option of travelling by Regional trains as long as you can complete your German travelling by the end of 31st August. UK to the first station in Germany, then it's a relatively short distance from the German/Austrian border to Bolzano.

The DB website/app is quite easy to use to exclude IC or EC trains in the search options - so you can see what alternatives there may be. This routing may be useful if you don't mind stopovers.

 

[Ian99]

If you chose Interrail, going to Brussels, then on an ICE through Germany to Munich (changing at Köln or Frankfurt Airport) and then on a direct EC train to Bozen/Bolzano will almost certainly be cheaper, as neither DB not ÖBB charge supplements for Interrail users. Reservation is not mandatory either, though I would strongly recommend it.

Thanks, as we plan to go on down to Bari and then onto Greece, the Interrail does look a better bet. Does anyone know if there is a way where we can see in advance that there are Interrail reservations available on Friday 2nd for the Eurostar to Brussels (and subsequent trains too, although if there were problems with other trains, there are at least alternatives).

 

[Flying Snail]

Thanks, as we plan to go on down to Bari and then onto Greece, the Interrail does look a better bet. Does anyone know if there is a way where we can see in advance that there are Interrail reservations available on Friday 2nd for the Eurostar to Brussels (and subsequent trains too, although if there were problems with other trains, there are at least alternatives).

https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish for Eurostar, to book there you need a pass cover number that interrail do not issue with mobile passes but can be created by this tool https://www.interrail.eu/en/book-reservations#/generatePassCoverNumber

Bahn or OBB websites for the rest of what you seem to be planning, OBB sell reservations for Italian IC and Frecce trains, FS don't.

 

[Ian99]

Thanks for the input.

In the end, I bought some Inter rail reservations and will travel via Bruxelles, overnight in Munich and then onto Italy the next day.

Because I had to go to different sites for the different reservations, I didn't get to check if the Bruxelles connection was officially recognised. We are due to arrive Bruxelles on the Eurostar at 1205hrs and depart on the InterCityExpress 315, Bruxelles-Midi at 1225hrs.

Does anyone have any tips on making a quick change in Bruxelles in case there is any minor late running of the Eurostar?

 

[ashkeba]

Because I had to go to different sites for the different reservations, I didn't get to check if the Bruxelles connection was officially recognised. We are due to arrive Bruxelles on the Eurostar at 1205hrs and depart on the InterCityExpress 315, Bruxelles-Midi at 1225hrs.

Does anyone have any tips on making a quick change in Bruxelles in case there is any minor late running of the Eurostar?

I believe all the xx05-xx25 connections are recognized and the ICE may be held a few minutes if needed but try not to rely on it.

Main tip is to go directly to your ice platform from the south corridor (couloir sud) that Eurostar usually sends you out into. Do not waste time going to the main concourse. Look at the screens on the wall in the corridor to confirm platform and double check on the train side as you board. Very occasionally another ice will be waiting another departure in the facing platform.

Seat61 website has a detailed station guide.

 

[Ian99]

That all makes sense, thank you.

I noticed was on the OBB website that I had the option when booking, "seat reservation only" for the Munich to Bolzano trip, to up grade to first class for 10 Euros. I guess that I couldn't do that as I had a 2nd class Inter Rail pass but then wondered, "why not?" Maybe one can upgrade?

 

[rvdborgt]

I noticed was on the OBB website that I had the option when booking, "seat reservation only" for the Munich to Bolzano trip, to up grade to first class for 10 Euros. I guess that I couldn't do that as I had a 2nd class Inter Rail pass but then wondered, "why not?" Maybe one can upgrade?

That is strange. If you go via "Seat only", then you should only see 3€ seats, either in 2nd or in 1st class. Do you have a screenshot?

 

[Ian99]

Actually, I see that I didn't go for the Seat Only option. Instead I bought tickets specifying InterRail as a discount code at a cost of 10 Euros each.

According to the screen grab below, I could have upgraded at only 5 Euros per ticket...

 

[rvdborgt]

OK, so that's the Brenner supplement (which is not a reservation). In first class, it's 15€ (5€ more than in 2nd), but you still need a 1st class pass.

 

[Ian99]

Oh, you've confused me now. Does that mean that I didn't need to buy those but instead just buy seat reservations only to go with my 2nd class Inter Rail passes?

 

[Flying Snail]

Oh, you've confused me now. Does that mean that I didn't need to buy those but instead just buy seat reservations only to go with my 2nd class Inter Rail passes?

You can choose not to buy the supplement before travelling but will in all likelihood be required to pay it to the ticket inspector when your interrail pass is checked.

 

[30907]

Oh, you've confused me now. Does that mean that I didn't need to buy those but instead just buy seat reservations only to go with my 2nd class Inter Rail passes?

I've just tested this: the site doesn't ask you what class your pass is, so offers the first class supplement anyway. It might ask you to confirm your ticket class later in the process.

 

[Ian99]

In the end the Bolzano bus connections weren't so good so going to Padua via Bruxelles, Frankfurt & Munich instead...

Just double checking everything for the journey this coming Friday and had a couple of queries:

General query - I've got 2 people's Inter rail passes on my phone - is there a back up option so that we are not reliant on my one phone?
I hadn't envisaged printing reservations but would have them on my laptop if need be.

Travel to St Pancras from South East London via London Bridge (no underground travel envisaged) in rush hour - can't find the actual journeys on the Inter rail planner so have added them manually.

Eurostar journey to Bruxelles saved to My Trips on the Interrail app and the reservations will be on phone and laptop.

We have a 20 minute changeover at Bruxelles to get the ICE to Frankfurt for onward connection to Munich. However I read on this thread here that that train can be cancelled and that I should have an alternative plan (eg, "Brussels to Welkenraedt, then the local train to Aachen"?) in case. Any thoughts on how I should best formulate a 2nd plan to get us to Munich?

Frankfurt to Munich - looks as though there are a number of trains to Munich in case we couldn't make the 19 minute connection at Frankfurt.

Any comments gratefully received!