py_megapixel
Established Member
I want to make a long journey by train - however I would like to change trains a few times along the way (while still following the same route) to have a bit of variety and take some different traction. I was also hoping to build in a large layover at a station along the route to get a drink on the station and watch the trains for a bit.
This used to be easy - just buy an open return, and I can pretty much do what I like as long as I stick to a permitted route. But compulsory reservations now seem to be the norm on intercity services, and a booking engine will obviously never produce long layovers and what looks like gratuitous changes of train, especially considering that there is an hourly XC service along the route. So I can't get reservations for the journey I want unless I pay for individual singles for every train, which I am not prepared to do as it's far more expensive.
Is there any way I can get reservations, or am I condemned to Voyagers for what I hoped would be a much more interesting journey?
This used to be easy - just buy an open return, and I can pretty much do what I like as long as I stick to a permitted route. But compulsory reservations now seem to be the norm on intercity services, and a booking engine will obviously never produce long layovers and what looks like gratuitous changes of train, especially considering that there is an hourly XC service along the route. So I can't get reservations for the journey I want unless I pay for individual singles for every train, which I am not prepared to do as it's far more expensive.
Is there any way I can get reservations, or am I condemned to Voyagers for what I hoped would be a much more interesting journey?