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Europe's varied offer of special trains:

  • high-speed trains, the newest and most high-tech connections available throughout Europe to get you to your destination in the quickest time possible 
  • scenic trains, taking you past the prettiest spots of Europe.
  • hotel trains, luxury night trains, which cover large distances within Europe during the night

Train Reservations: how to make a reservation

On most trains, having a reservation is not compulsory. However, although a Eurail  Pass may entitle you to unlimited train travel, the Pass does not guarantee you a seat.

We recommend you to make a advance reservation to obtain guaranteed accommodation on a long-distance train, during peak travel periods and if you absolutely must reach your destination by a certain day and time. A reservation will ensure that you have specific seat or bed  in a certain train, on a certain date. Please note that for many local trains it is not possible to make reservations.

Eurail.com does not offer a train reservation service yet. Reservations can best be made at a main train station, once you have arrived in Europe. The reservations fees are lower in Europe. Furthermore most reservations are non-refundable and non-changable. Alternatively, you can contact our customer service for info about call centres in Europe that can help you with reservations.

Avoid extra charges

It's often possible to avoid paying supplements when you research alternative routes! This means that you'll use domestic trains which are slower but free from extra costs. How to find trains which require no reservations:
1. Go to this journey planner
2. Enter your place of origin and destination
3. In the field 'means of transport' change 'standard search' to 'only local transport'
4. Uncheck the box 'Prefer fast connections'
5. Click 'go'
6. In the screen with the train connections click on 'details for all' in the lower left corner
7. You will now see all local train connections, which normally require no reservation.



Supplements

High quality trains, such as trains with special services or trains that are faster than conventional trains, often require a supplement. With a Eurail Pass you pay a special price (Pass holder fare) which varies depending on the kind of train and the service offered.

On some special trains, like for example the Alaris and the Thalys, the number of seats available for Eurail travelers is limited. Also for this reason it's recommended that you make advance reservations.

Reservations

The costs for a reservation are not included in a Eurail Pass and may vary widely depending on the country, type of train, as well as the date of purchase and/or travel. On domestic trains with compulsory reservations in Romania, Poland and Austria, seat reservations are free of charge for 1st class Pass holders (in Poland also for 2nd class Pass holders). Travelers can only obtain these free reservations at a local ticket window.

  • Seat reservations will cost  between USD 4 / AUD 5 / EUR 2 and USD 25 / AUD 30 / EUR 15 if you book at the local ticket window.
  • You can book your seat reservations up to 90 days before your actual trip.
  • Please note that some trains also require a supplement. In this supplement the reservation fee is included.

Generally speaking, all night trains and long-distance express trains require a reservation. For more details, please check the chapter about special trains on this website. Reclining seats and berths also require reservations.

More information about reservations

Eurail Passes

Eurail Countries