Eurail Select Pass

France requires reservations on mainline trains, 9 euro on TGV's and 6 euro on IC trains. They only allocate a certain number of Eurail pass tickets on each train. Italy requires a 10 euro reservation on all Freccia high speed trains, and 3 euro on IC trains.
http://www.eurail.com/plan-your-trip/reservation-guide/reservation-fees/domestic-train-reservation-fees

It primarily depends on the country and the speed of the train, with French TGVs being the most important trains to book ahead at http://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm. See also http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/reservations. The DB train schedules give you the most objective and detailed information about which legs of any train ride are "subject to compulsory reservation."

Hi,

France is no longer a party to the Select Pass,...a pity really, only to the Global Pass. Do you really need four countries listed on a Select Pass. Maybe only two suffice. Which 4 countries are you considering?

Well, Eurail seems to be selling Select Passes with France included.

April 1st of 2014 France started participating in the 4 country Select Pass.

Started participating again.

I am glad that the French have reversed their decision not to participate in the Select Pass arraignment, assuming that since they can be listed in 4 country Select Pass, that it applies also to a three country Select Pass. Now that France is back on again, that makes it a lot easier to do my zig zag traveling between Germany, France and Austria. I assume the price for a four country Pass is the same for a three country one.