Thanks very much - I did not know that, and this is very useful info.MD trains in Catalonia don't have compulsory reservations. The DB planner shows this correctly (although it calls them IR).
Thanks very much - I did not know that, and this is very useful info.MD trains in Catalonia don't have compulsory reservations. The DB planner shows this correctly (although it calls them IR).
Provided it is 'Global' (all countries) pass, then you could use it [with the E* reservation and supplement] for the entire Manchester-Paris journey on Day oneI am hoping to start planning this trip tonight now I know I can have the Thursday off. I was looking at an Interail pass but I don't think it will work out any cheaper and it looks like it might be a lot of hassle in terms of filling in the paper work etc. Am I right in thinking that the only UK Journey I can include on that is London to Europe via the Eurostar? E.g I couldn't use it to get from Manchester to Paris as a one day journey?
You're not right in thinking that. You can use up to 2 days in your country of residence, typically to leave and return. This question is asked multiple times per day in multiple Facebook groups, almost always by UK residents. I wonder why...I am hoping to start planning this trip tonight now I know I can have the Thursday off. I was looking at an Interail pass but I don't think it will work out any cheaper and it looks like it might be a lot of hassle in terms of filling in the paper work etc. Am I right in thinking that the only UK Journey I can include on that is London to Europe via the Eurostar? E.g I couldn't use it to get from Manchester to Paris as a one day journey?
You can use any train you like to get to London. Get a free reservation if you feel like it.Finally if I end up booking a London to Manchester CIV ticket is there a time limit between getting to London and my scheduled Eurostar train? There is a Eurostar train at 5pm which I am tempted to get, but I was thinking of getting to London around 12ish so I can get some dinner and relax a bit before the Eurostar train.
The one journey can utilise an unlimited number of trains. Reservation prices are generally fixed yes, only Nightjet use dynamic pricing now but that's not relevant for this journey. Uniquely for Eurostar and TGVs there is a limited quota but you'll find plenty of availability in advance.Thanks I was a bit confused with the wording which said one journey from your country of residence. Also are the reservation prices fixed? I am a bit reluctant to buy a ticket and then find that TGV will cost me £100 for the reservation. I am not sure if I should make a separate post about all my questions or keeping them on this thread?
The one journey can utilise an unlimited number of trains. Reservation prices are generally fixed yes, only Nightjet use dynamic pricing now but that's not relevant for this journey. Uniquely for Eurostar and TGVs there is a limited quota but you'll find plenty of availability in advance.
The one journey can utilise an unlimited number of trains. Reservation prices are generally fixed yes, only Nightjet use dynamic pricing now but that's not relevant for this journey. Uniquely for Eurostar and TGVs there is a limited quota but you'll find plenty of availability in advance.
Correct.Isn't it the case that on TGVs there's a quota of Interrail reservations at 10 Euros, then if they run out you can now get one for 20 Euros so long as there are seats left?
Something like that indeed. But Eurostar is in such high demand that prices go up rather sooner than later and consequently pass reservations are then not available anymore.For Eurostar I think the quota is based on availability of something like the third most expensive fare, so fairly generous.
Correct. Though you'll be lucky to get EUR10 at all on busy routes and days.Isn't it the case that on TGVs there's a quota of Interrail reservations at 10 Euros, then if they run out you can now get one for 20 Euros so long as there are seats left?
Correct. Though you'll be lucky to get EUR10 at all on busy routes and days.
Otherwise the supplement/reservation fee isn't variable.
My impression (which may be wrong) is that Eurostar-ex-Thalys and TGV-Lyria have a blanket ban rather than a quota on peak trains (Friday evenings, Monday mornings...).
The Belgian Railways International site referenced by Seat61 is useful as it allows test bookings before you buy your IR.
TGV: https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish
ES: https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish
Yep, I think you can even get them for the limited counted places when there's no seats. But I didn't want to over complicate things too much, especially as they were only available from a ticket office/TVM for a while, and I didn't know if that was fixed.Isn't it the case that on (domestic) TGVs there's a quota of Interrail reservations at 10 Euros, then if they run out you can now get one for 20 Euros so long as there are seats left?
Hope so, but unless it's changed recently the ones to/from Germany do too. Although interestingly on board DB staff are capable of selling Interrail "reservations" for that train after the quota is exceeded (for €35), but of course one could probably be fined if it wasn't sorted before the compulsory reservation section started.The only TGVs left with a quota are the ones to Brussels. A fairly limited quota they have.
Lyria doesn't have any quota. I'm not sure they ever had.My impression (which may be wrong) is that Eurostar-ex-Thalys and TGV-Lyria have a blanket ban rather than a quota on peak trains (Friday evenings, Monday mornings...).
They don't anymore.Hope so, but unless it's changed recently the ones to/from Germany do too.
There's no pass holder quota anymore. But it seems that DB have a separate quota per train for all of their sales, which still complicates things. And some of the DB staff don't know how to book a pass holder reservation. DB now also sell regular reservations online without any warning that they're only valid with a regular flexible ticket; even some DB ticket office staff have sold them as a pass reservation apparently. The guards are quite annoyed about it. Some have you buy a new reservation for the onboard price of €35. You can probably get that back via e.g. the söp but that takes time and effort.Although interestingly on board DB staff's machines are/were capable of selling Interrail "reservations" for that train after the quota is exceeded (at the normal price), but of course one could probably be fined if it wasn't sorted before the compulsory reservation section started.
The latter one is supposed to be able to book all TGVs and Eurostars now. They're great for getting an overview of what's available, but I don't use them to book anymore because of the booking fee. I now book on raileurope.com (no booking fee).The Belgian Railways International site referenced by Seat61 is useful as it allows test bookings before you buy your IR.
TGV: https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish
ES: https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish
I was going by months-in-advance searches a couple of years ago, so happy to be corrected.Lyria doesn't have any quota. I'm not sure they ever had.
AFAIK Red Eurostar uses buckets, just like the other Eurostar, with the pass holder fares in one of the buckets, so pass holder fares are available as long as fares from that bucket are available. If you find counter examples, please provide them.
Something like that indeed. But Eurostar is in such high demand that prices go up rather sooner than later and consequently pass reservations are then not available anymore.