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How can I tell my seat location on the train?

Thanks to a lot of help in a different thread, I have booked my Prague to Luxembourg trains. The first part of the trip says this:
EC 178, 1 Sitzplatz, Wg. 262,
Pl. 96, 1 Fenster, Großraum,
Nichtraucher,
Res.Nr. 5483 4770 6152 49

Google translate only helps to a certain degree. I know the train is EC178. I know the reservation number is at the end of it. I want a window, non smoking. But does it tell me what carriage it is? And the seat number?
Thank you!

Posted by
2602 posts

Wg is the carriage number, and pl is your seat. Fenster is window, nicht raucher means no smoking. I think you're all set!

Posted by
6788 posts

...nicht raucher means no smoking...

Are there still "smoking cars" on German trains? If so, I'd be surprised. Maybe they ALL just say that.

Posted by
304 posts

It’s wise to label things non smoking even if there is not a smoking option at all.

Posted by
7295 posts

When you get to the station, look around the departure platform for a diagram of the train EC 178. Could be paper or digital. This will show you which platform "zone" you stand in to be near that train car. In English this might be Composition Of Trains.

Posted by
268 posts

Smoking is not allowed anywhere in German trains.
The DB Navigator app will show you the position of the car with your seat on the platform; not sure whether this works for the departure in Prague, though; this functionality might be limited to German stations.

Posted by
2332 posts

You can find the position of your car at this web site of Czech rail. Car no 262 is the last car, just following the restaurant car. Re-check prior to departure. The composition of EC's originating in Czechia is not (yet) visible in the DB app.

Posted by
14507 posts

Hi,

Yes, it's carriage/coach # 262. Your seat is a window seat indicated by "Fenster " seat # 96 located in coach 262 on the EuroCity train #178.

Seat #96 is in the general seating area ie, Großraum. PL = Platz, Wg = Wagen.

On the platform where you board this EC train, look at the "Wagenstandanzeiger" for your departure time so that you'll know where, ie at what letter your coach is supposed to pull in. Sometimes the train stops pretty close to the where it's supposed according to the letter, other times it misses, then you have to walk briskly to find your coach and locate the seat.

Posted by
5697 posts

And even when you find the correct coach, try to enter at the door closest to your seat (seat number range shown on the door) to avoid swimming against the flow -- i.e. if you are standing on front of a door showing "1-49" you want to go to the other door of that car so you only have a short distance to your seat.
But if you get there late, just jump on the train and figure out the rest later as the train is moving.