Inter rail seat reservation within France

[Essexman]

Inter rail website won’t let me book seat reservation (which is required) for ICE train Paris to Strasbourg But it will let me book the same train to stations into Germany. Is this because Strasbourg is within France? Is there any problem with booking a seat to the first station in Germany but alighting at Strasbourg?
We are travelling 12th June about 10am.

 

[crablab]

Inter rail website won’t let me book seat reservation (which is required) for ICE train Paris to Strasbourg

I'm unclear why this isn't possible - DB state that there's a "special fare" from Paris to Strasbourg so someone more informed might know if there's some abstraction related agreement with SNCF.

In any case DB don't seen to be selling reservations on that service right now - from the 28th.

Is there any problem with booking a seat to the first station in Germany but alighting at Strasbourg?

Karlrushe? No, that's what I'd do.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

For French domestic reservations, try using www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#Outbound. They charge EUR 4 per reservation rather than EUR2. Or raileurope.com, which often seems to be free.

The interrail website only sells a selection of interrail reservations, no doubt there is a logical explanation for this (ie. beyond my understanding) but it's part of the Interrail travel adventure.

However, if you get a reservation through to Karlsruhe in DE and then get off in Strasbourg, you will be just fine.

 

[crablab]

For French domestic reservations, try using www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#Outbound.

Except for the minor matter that SNCB aren't showing the 9:56 ICE which the OP indicated they intended to take...

Rail Europe do seem to be offering it at £18, which is unusually high for an ICE reservation.

As I say, I'd simply buy a reservation through to Karlrushe from DB.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Fine, they all do indeed sometimes show different availability. All part of the Interrail mystery process.

But agreed that booking to Karsruhe would be just fine (subject to right kind of reservation, see below).

GBP18 sounds like EUR20, which is the non capacity constrained reservation charge for TGV/ICEs in France. Strasbourg-Paris by ICE seems to be charged at the same (at least for Interail purposes) as TGVs are.

NB getting a reservation-only ticket via DB/DB Navigator is very much not recommended. The reservation must state 'Interrail/Eurail' to be valid, those from DB are those with completely flexible tickets seeking a seat reservation only.

More formally, note that DB/SNCF have a formal (and EU Commission-approved) agreement for crossborder TGV/ICE trains, covering marketing, capacity and pricing. They are not at all 'competitors' in the way that GB TOCs are.....

 

[crablab]

NB getting a reservation-only ticket via DB/DB Navigator is very much not recommended. The reservation must state 'Interrail/Eurail' to be valid, those from DB are those with completely flexible tickets seeking a seat reservation only.

The Interrail website disagrees: https://www.interrail.eu/en/book-reservations/how-do-i-book-seats

(See "Germany")

Interestingly it does say:

Leave ‘Book seat only’ switched off for...ICE and TGV to France

So it seems these are treated differently for whatever reason.

More formally, note that DB/SNCF have a formal (and EU Commission-approved) agreement for crossborder TGV/ICE trains, covering marketing, capacity and pricing. They are not at all 'competitors' in the way that GB TOCs are.....

Indeed - that's what I'm alluding to. I don't know what the agreement actually says.

 

[30907]

RailEurope offers Pass reservations (or whatever you prefer to call them) for that day (and no booking fee!) - the 0925 is still EUR10.-

I have never used the IR site for reservations, and I suspect Seat61 doesn't recommend it.

 

[rvdborgt]

Inter rail website won’t let me book seat reservation (which is required) for ICE train Paris to Strasbourg But it will let me book the same train to stations into Germany.

SNCF will only sell a limited amount of domestic tickets/reservations on their international trains (not only this one). But there could also be another reason.
On Rail Europe, always switch to euros because their prices in other currencies are around 5% higher.

 

[Essexman]

Many thanks to everyone for the advice.
I've booked with Rail Europe, pass fare Paris to Karlsruhe (9.56) with seat reservations and we'll get off at Strasbourg. £33.50 for two of us.

 

[rvdborgt]

In any case DB don't seen to be selling reservations on that service right now - from the 28th.

That means you're looking at the wrong kind of reservations, the kind that isn't valid with a pass and that will result in a €35 on-board fee.

 

[DeverseSam]

I'd simply buy a reservation through to Karlrushe from DB.

The reservation fee Paris-Strasbourg is 20 euro, and Paris-Karlsruhe is 19 euro.

It’s not impossible that this “stopping short” could be frowned upon.

In addition, in the event of disruption you might be rerouted via Saarbrücken to get to Karlsruhe!

 

[rvdborgt]

The reservation fee Paris-Strasbourg is 20 euro, and Paris-Karlsruhe is 19 euro.

It’s not impossible that this “stopping short” could be frowned upon.

There are no exit checks. Nobody would know.