Interrail and ÖBB disagreeing over pass validity

[A S Leib]

The Interrail app says that the pass (a global one, in this case) is not valid from Feldkirch to Lindau-Reutin; the ÖBB app, putting in an Interrail pass as a discount, gives a price of €0.00 for the journey. Is it safe to assume that this is one of the Interrail app's not infrequent errors*, given that as far as I can tell it's an ordinary ÖBB service?

*Another for the same journey is that Liechtenstein isn't listed as a visited country on the map despite getting a train from Schaan-Vaduz; maybe they didn't bother to include it.

 

[Peterthegreat]

The Interrail app says that the pass (a global one, in this case) is not valid from Feldkirch to Lindau-Reutin; the ÖBB app, putting in an Interrail pass as a discount, gives a price of €0.00 for the journey. Is it safe to assume that this is one of the Interrail app's not infrequent errors*, given that as far as I can tell it's an ordinary ÖBB service?

*Another for the same journey is that Liechtenstein isn't listed as a visited country on the map despite getting a train from Schaan-Vaduz; maybe they didn't bother to include it.

It probably only says this because the train comes from Schruns. Between Bludenz and Schruns the train is operated by the Montafonerbahn and IR is not valid on that section but is valid over the OeBB section.

 

[A S Leib]

Thank you.

 

[rvdborgt]

The RPA still can't manage trains on which the pass is only valid on a part of the route. It's a known issue. Workaround: add the train manually.

 

[AdamWW]

The RPA still can't manage trains on which the pass is only valid on a part of the route. It's a known issue. Workaround: add the train manually.

I belive (but can't find a reference) that on trains between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen which suffers from the same problem the operator has said that they don't require an entry in the travel planner - an Interrail pass valid for the day is sufficient so no workaround is needed in that particular case.

But not much harm in playing safe and adding manually anyway...

 

[A S Leib]

It's let me add it despite saying the pass isn't valid.

 

[rvdborgt]

It's let me add it despite saying the pass isn't valid.

You can save it in your trip (which is what you've done now), but you won't be able to add it to your pass.

I belive (but can't find a reference) that on trains between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen which suffers from the same problem the operator has said that they don't require an entry in the travel planner - an Interrail pass valid for the day is sufficient so no workaround is needed in that particular case.

I've read that in a Facebook group, but that's now how the pass works. They will also be missing income if they allow this.

 

[SeanG]

When I did this route on interrail and I tried to add it to the app and it wouldn't work.
I explained to the guard and they knew it was a problem and we're content with seeing my other journeys that day and that it was valid

 

[rvdborgt]

When I did this route on interrail and I tried to add it to the app and it wouldn't work.
I explained to the guard and they knew it was a problem and we're content with seeing my other journeys that day and that it was valid

I understand that's what the guard said. But they that also means they did not get any share of the pass revenue for your journeys there.

 

[SeanG]

They did scan the barcode so not sure if that meant anything

 

[rvdborgt]

They did scan the barcode so not sure if that meant anything

Distribution of the pass income doesn't work via the barcode. It doesn't contain the trains added to your pass and it would mean that trains without a guard would not generate any share of the pass revenue.

 

[A S Leib]

I'm not sure if I will do this route in the near future yet; for which services, if any, are seat reservations mandatory between Spiez, Zweisimmen and Montreux? Is it that services shown as having reservations available on DB Navigator do not need reservations, and those showing reservations unavailable do?

Would it also be a reasonable assumption that that route in January, especially after the first week, should be relatively quiet?

 

[Tester]

I'm not sure if I will do this route in the near future yet; for which services, if any, are seat reservations mandatory between Spiez, Zweisimmen and Montreux? Is it that services shown as having reservations available on DB Navigator do not need reservations, and those showing reservations unavailable do?

Would it also be a reasonable assumption that that route in January, especially after the first week, should be relatively quiet?

Unless something has changed recently, none of them do. I've certainly seen 'reservations recommended' on the through gauge-changing trains, but nothing more than that. I've travelled on the MOB quite a few times in the last few years, without reservation or problem.

Yes, a reasonable assumption.

 

[A S Leib]

Thank you.

 

[AdamWW]

Unless something has changed recently, none of them do. I've certainly seen 'reservations recommended' on the through gauge-changing trains, but nothing more than that. I've travelled on the MOB quite a few times in the last few years, without reservation or problem.

I have heard (though can't say from personal experience) that while the reservation fee isn't compulsory on the gauge changing trains, they aren't keen on letting anyone on if fully reserved.

It's easy enough to avoid them anyway, but if you want to do it for the experience* you can see how many seats are free on a given train on the MOB web site.

They didn't seem to be selling out in May when I was paying attention, so I suspect you wouldn't have a problem in January.

*The actual gauge change isn't all that exciting and indeed it's not even particularly obvious that it's happening, but the whole thing is certainly a novelty. And the carriages are quite nice.