Please help me. I've been making train reservations through out Germany & having those reservation confirmations sent to me via email. When I attempted to do same for train from Berlin to Copenhagen, DB Bahn said they can not issue this ticket. When I attempt on Rail Europe, it seems my only option is to have them sent to me by postal mail. We have a global pass. Is this my only option? Thank you for your help!
Posted by
Green Bay
21142 posts
I don't think Deutsche Bahn can sell seat reservations for International trains. If you buy a ticket outright, it will include the seat reservation. They can sell you a seat reservation for the Berlin to Hamburg leg. So it looks like you are going to have to deal with Rail Europe for the Hamburg to Copenhagan leg.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
Using a random date in July, Trainline offers the normal options of a reservation on both legs of the journey. The DB site does the same, without any warning about not being able to issue these tickets.
Could it be that you are looking for a date too far in the future?
Posted by
OP
Chesapeake
9 posts
I'm trying to reserve the July 28 train leaving Berlin at 9:06 a.m. It shows part of the trip requires a reservation. I've been trying to book online now with Rail Europe but am getting a red warning message stating there is problem with fare. I'm not familiar with Trainline as have been using DB Bahn up to this point.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
I have, of course, not finished the total booking process, but until the page with personal details (name, adress, etc.) I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary. Only the warning a reservation is recommended, which is not unusual during high season.
Trainline is totally trustworthy.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Ton, are you talking about a passholder reservation or a seat assignment with a ticket? I only see the latter.
Carol, Rail Europe ships by UPS, not postal mail, same as when you bought the pass, but yes, I believe that is your only option within the US. I have no problem getting a Hamburg-Copenhagen reservation into my Rail Europe cart for $14 per person. You can also purchase at a train station in Europe, for instance at the same time that you get your pass activated, probably closer to the rates you've been paying with DB.
FYI, the Hamburg-Copenhagen service only requires reservations for summer travel, not year-round. Like most German trains, the Berlin-Hamburg portion does not require them but DB does sell them online.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
I had searched for tickets with reservation. Now I see you've got a Rail Pass, which indeed makes it a different story. When I select the reservation-only option, I get (in German) the message »Reservierung nicht möglich« (Reservation not possible).
The problem could be the Hamburg-Copenhagen leg, and the solution to buy a ticket-cum-reservation for that part of the journey.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
I might have a solution for you!
Trying the website of the Danish railways (DSB) I found the option of getting a reservation only: https://travel.b-europe.com/dsb-rail/en/reservation-only#Outbound. Putting in your travelling date and time (28/7, 11:28 leaving from Hamburg Hbf) it gave a price of DK 30, which fits a reservation fee.
No guarantee it works, but well worth a try.
Posted by
OP
Chesapeake
9 posts
Thanks for all your replies. I was panicking this morning & ended up reserving seats on the 7:00 a.m. train from Rail Europe. (The 9 a.m. train kept giving me rejects, something about the fare?) I hate waiting for the reservation being delivered by UPS but seemed like it was the only solution at the time. Next time I'll plan ahead better :/