Mandatory reservations and Interrail validity TER Normandie

[biko]

I am looking at going to Granville from the Netherlands in July and checking out whether it’s cheaper to use an Interrail or buy separate tickets. When checking the timetable I noticed that it says mandatory reservation for all TER services between Paris and Granville. That’s strange for TER services, so I checked further and read about mandatory reservations on the TER Normandie website, but it says it’s only the case on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. So my questions are:

- Is bahn.de and NS international correct that these TER services are also compulsory reservation on Mondays to Thursdays?
- if so, how much is an Interrail pass holder fare? And where can those be bought?

Thanks in advance

 

[rvdborgt]

There has also been some discussion about this on the Interrail/Eurail community, since SNCF are doing their best to confuse us all.
The Eurail team has been in contact with SNCF repeatedly. SNCF say reservation is mandatory for pass holders still but have not updated their information about it, specifically not their webpage (which I'd show if any staff complain). As long as that is the case, I would only buy a reservation for any of these services if the conditions on that webpage are met: only from/to Paris, only for the services mentioned, only on Fri/Sat/Sun.
I don't know what the price is, probably a few euros, not 10€ as seat61 is claiming, since I can't imagine season ticket holders should pay that much. They're probably only available in France, maybe even only in Normandy and the stations served outside Normandy.

 

[biko]

Thanks for your reply. I will take €10 into account as worst case for comparing Interrail vs normal tickets, but if I am actually going to use Interrail, I will try to ask staff in Paris. Looking at prices a few weeks earlier, it's more probable that I'll use normal tickets as those are quite cheap on this route, so that would save a lot of hassle.

 

[dutchflyer]

From own experience, last oct, from Paris to Caen, on InterRail: there are now GATes at St. Lazare and these only work with the reservation. I sneaked in with some one else, as I was unaware of it all and train left in 3-4 mins. No problems by the check in train.
For the rest as rian tells-from the EUrail community

 

[rvdborgt]

From own experience, last oct, from Paris to Caen, on InterRail: there are now GATes at St. Lazare and these only work with the reservation. I sneaked in with some one else, as I was unaware of it all and train left in 3-4 mins. No problems by the check in train.
For the rest as rian tells-from the EUrail community

In October, these reservations weren't mandatory yet on any day, so there must have been more ways to get through the gates. Just like now they're only mandatory on certain days. I'd try the barcode on the pass cover (it's also meant for France) or the barcode in the app.

 

[peteb]

It's such a pity SNCF don't simply do the France Vacances ticket like they used to, with none of the bother of additional fees etc that inter-rail incurs. Nowadays it's not at all easy to know by how much your jaunt to France will cost especially if like me you like to jump on a train here and leap off there. Until now TER has been a safe bet with no additional fees. Shame TER they don't do a regional pass for a day or three which could by pass all the extra red tape.

 

[Richard Scott]

Used a compulsory reservation TER service from Rouen to Paris yesterday but didn't have a reservation. Nothing on screens indicated it was necessary and conductor didn't care when he checked our tickets.

 

[rvdborgt]

Used a compulsory reservation TER service from Rouen to Paris yesterday but didn't have a reservation. Nothing on screens indicated it was necessary and conductor didn't care when he checked our tickets.

Thanks, good to know.

 

[biko]

I have just booked a first class advance Paris - Granville on a Wednesday in July for €26, so Interrail clearly wasn't worth it financially. Considering the potential hassle of clarifying the need for a reservation, the choice was easy in the end.

 

[duesselmartin]

This sounds confusing. How do I know what TER has mandantory reservation or not? I thought the whole concept of provincial services is to be flexible?

 

[rvdborgt]

This sounds confusing. How do I know what TER has mandantory reservation or not? I thought the whole concept of provincial services is to be flexible?

It is confusing and SNCF aren't doing anything to make it clearer.
As for now, I'd stick with the information on this SNCF webpage. The train attributes they send to the European Timetable Centre (MERITS), i.e. the "compulsory reservation" you'll see in many planners, often do not correspond with that and can be ignored.

 

[peteb]

I guess they can only allocate seats on new units, I doubt the formations are sufficiently static to permit this reservation tactic on the loco hauled TER?

 

[rivervale]

It is confusing and SNCF aren't doing anything to make it clearer.
As for now, I'd stick with the information on this SNCF webpage. The train attributes they send to the European Timetable Centre (MERITS), i.e. the "compulsory reservation" you'll see in many planners, often do not correspond with that and can be ignored.

I'm trying to get from Paris to Cherbourg and all the interrail seat reservations have sold out. From what I can make out on their website, under the FAQ it says "Si vous n'avez pas la possibilité de le faire, vous pourrez monter à bord sans avoir la garantie d’une place assise." implying seat reservations are not mandatory. However I'm not sure whether "je suis abonné" (what is required to travel without a reservation) includes travelling with an interrail?

interrail.eu says mandatory reservation for all of the services, so I just thought I'd check if anyone here would be able to advise what I'm likely to encounter if I try to travel?

 

[Bletchleyite]

An "abonnement" is a season ticket (literally a "subscription", I think it derives from the way subscribers to newspapers used to get vouchers - "un bon"). Not sure if an InterRail would count or not.

 

[rvdborgt]

I'm trying to get from Paris to Cherbourg and all the interrail seat reservations have sold out.

How do you know? AFAIK there's no specific pass holder quota on those trains. There are just reservations, available to anyone, and you can only buy them in France via ticket offices and ticket machines. Maybe also via SNCF telesales - I haven't seen any reports about that yet. You can't book them via the Interrail website, which will always give the same message that it can't find any results or something similar.

From what I can make out on their website, under the FAQ it says "Si vous n'avez pas la possibilité de le faire, vous pourrez monter à bord sans avoir la garantie d’une place assise." implying seat reservations are not mandatory. However I'm not sure whether "je suis abonné" (what is required to travel without a reservation) includes travelling with an interrail?

interrail.eu says mandatory reservation for all of the services, so I just thought I'd check if anyone here would be able to advise what I'm likely to encounter if I try to travel?

A few months ago, I read a report that staff seemed to be quite relaxed about it. You could also try to get a reservation to the first station from Paris and just stay on the train. Reservations are only required to/from Paris. Also, until the end of this month, only on Fri/Sat/Sun.

 

[dutchflyer]

Dont worry-dpnt stress-do it at SNCF machine-its only 1,50

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jun 2022 ==

Dont worry-dont stress-do it at SNCF machine-its only 1,50 with pass. In Paris-Lazare, the very few remaining platforms in this rebuilt as shopping -centre gare are gated, so you need some form to open them-or slip by with someone else.

 

[rvdborgt]

In Paris-Lazare, the very few remaining platforms in this rebuilt as shopping -centre gare are gated, so you need some form to open them-or slip by with someone else.

You keep repeating this but it's really irrelevant if you have a valid Interrail and there are no mandatory reservations for your train (there are also other trains you know). Also, the barcode in the app and on the pass cover could work.

 

[rivervale]

How do you know? AFAIK there's no specific pass holder quota on those trains. There are just reservations, available to anyone, and you can only buy them in France via ticket offices and ticket machines. Maybe also via SNCF telesales - I haven't seen any reports about that yet. You can't book them via the Interrail website, which will always give the same message that it can't find any results or something similar.

A few months ago, I read a report that staff seemed to be quite relaxed about it. You could also try to get a reservation to the first station from Paris and just stay on the train. Reservations are only required to/from Paris. Also, until the end of this month, only on Fri/Sat/Sun.

I had assumed the interrail.eu booking reservations page showing no availability left was correct, but have since found out it's broken as you say.

I've already bought full fare sncf tickets which seem to have 100% refundability until the 24 before, so I'll keep hold of them until we've arrived in France and can get hold of the reservation. I assume there's still a chance of the seat reservations completely selling out for the trains? Or am I likely to always be able to buy one?

 

[rvdborgt]

I've already bought full fare sncf tickets which seem to have 100% refundability until the 24 before, so I'll keep hold of them until we've arrived in France and can get hold of the reservation. I assume there's still a chance of the seat reservations completely selling out for the trains? Or am I likely to always be able to buy one?

I can't really say for the NOMAD trains, I have no experience there. But I'd be surprised if these trains were fully booked days in advance, especially on normal days. Busy times are of course Friday and Sunday evening, Saturdays in the holiday season and around 14 July.

 

[rivervale]

I can't really say for the NOMAD trains, I have no experience there. But I'd be surprised if these trains were fully booked days in advance, especially on normal days. Busy times are of course Friday and Sunday evening, Saturdays in the holiday season and around 14 July.

Thanks - I'll see how it turns out