Is it possible to make all our train reservations in one of the London stations or just the ones for brit rail? How about in Paris? Can we make reservations for Italy and Germany and Austria? Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
50 posts
You must make reservations in the country as each has its own railway system.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I will venture a guess--and only a guess. Since Britrail passes and Eurail passes are totally separate, I am guessing that you cannot reserve trains on the continent while you're in London. However, since Eurail passes are good in many different countries on the continent and the national rail companies are all tied into the same computer network, I am guessing that you can make all your continental reservations in Paris. But this is only a guess!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Okay, I decided that guessing wasn't good enough so I called Budget Europe Travel Service (BETS). Here's what I learned. A few years ago it was easy to book reservations in one country (France, for example) for travel in another (Italy, for example). However, the various national rail companies are more "fractured" (the agent's term) now than they used to be. A ticket agent in France is still capable of making a reservation for outside of France but may (1) refuse or (2) charge a higher fee. Why? Because the French rail system doesn't benefit monetarily for making reservations for travel solely outside of the country. There is no problem, however, making reservations at a single station for travel anywhere in France, including trips that don't start or end at the station in question. And there is no problem making reservations for a train that starts in France and ends in another country (Italy, for example).