Hi everyone,
New to train travel here. I purchased a same day rail Europe ticket from ZUG (Eurocity 311 train) to Milan and return ticket from Milan (Eurocity 324 train) to ZUG. Decided we wanted to go to Como instead. Same train just different times. I was told I can use the same ticket…just get off in Como prior to Milan arrival and get back on in Como (2nd stop) back to ZUG. Just wanted to make sure this is accurate and anything I need to do. Thank you so much for any suggestions/comments.
You can of course get of earlier, and on the way back board later. With train tickets that is not a problem.
However you may lose your reservation on the train back. If the conductor notices that your seats are not occupied when the train leaves Milan he may decide to give them to someone else. And then you board in Como, and someone is in your seats... You can then go and look for free seats yourselves...
Why did you buy from Rail Europe btw? You probably ended up overpaying.
Thank you Wengen. Is there anything I can do to make sure the seats are still available on my return trip? Let the local Como station know when I arrive? Maybe not a big deal as long as there are seats available.
You’re probably right on overpaying. I spent a little time researching and it seemed reputable. My first time booking European train travel. Didn’t seem like a crazy amount.
Thx again
Thank you Wengen. Is there anything I can do to make sure the seats
are still available on my return trip?
Board the train in Milan. It's quite common for there to be a rule that seat reservations are cancelled if you haven't occupied them within a certain time after departure, and there is no way to change that. But you can buy additional seat reservations from Como if you want to be sure that you have a seat.
You’re probably right on overpaying. I spent a little time researching
and it seemed reputable.
They are more infamous than famous in my opinion. It's much better to buy the tickets from the company that actually runs the trains. In you case SBB, www.sbb.ch, would have been a good option. For future trips, don't hesitate to ask.
Didn’t seem like a crazy amount.
Out of curiosity, how much did you pay?
Let the local Como station know when I arrive?
They will not care. Its not a big deal. Once you cross the border into Switzerland, about 5 minutes after you depart Como, seat reservations are not required and people boarding the train thereafter will likely not have seat reservations and will just take any open seat. You should do the same.
Thank you all
$115 U.S. round trip per ticket from ZUG to Milan. How bad did I get fleeced? 😏
When is the trip?
In January
Looking at a random date in January I see single tickets between Zug and Milan for €29, so €58 for a return.
There are three price levels of tickets on that route: Smart, Smart2, and Standard. Cheapest is Smart, and when booking on SBB or Trenitalia you will get those offered if still available. But RailEurope will only offer Smart2 or Standard tickets, so you do indeed end up paying more.
To the OP: If you have never travelled by train before in Europe, and plan on doing this more often you should get familiar with seat61.com
That website basically contains all you need to know.
Still, in the grand scheme of things, €100-ish for this round trip is not a bad deal and way less than full fares, so this is more a "missed savings opportunity" than an actual mistake.
