Germany - International Compulsory reservations (Euro 2024)

[ABB125]

Could someone please clarify what exactly the situation is regarding the compulsory reservations on international trains in Germany this summer?

My understanding is that all long-distance international trains require a reservation, except anything crossing the border at Salzburg. However:

• Does this apply only to DB services, or all operators?
• Related to the above, what about jointly-operated services, eg: Zurich-Munich EuroCity?
• Are there any other "free" crossings?

Thanks very much

 

[Tester]

Could someone please clarify what exactly the situation is regarding the compulsory reservations on international trains in Germany this summer?

My understanding is that all long-distance international trains require a reservation, except anything crossing the border at Salzburg. However:

• Does this apply only to DB services, or all operators?
• Related to the above, what about jointly-operated services, eg: Zurich-Munich EuroCity?
• Are there any other "free" crossings?

Thanks very much

Basel and Schaffhausen are explicitly 'free'

 

[ybrikm]

Crossed the Belgian German border last week. Guard was telling all those without a reservation to get off at Aachen.

I assume they would be able to use other operators to cross the border then?

 

[nwales58]

• Does this apply only to DB services, or all operators?
• Related to the above, what about jointly-operated services, eg: Zurich-Munich EuroCity?
• Are there any other "free" crossings?

Applies to all ICE, EC and RJ(X) services irrespective of operator but as above excluding Basel and Schaffhausen.
Only the border-crossing or near-border stretch has compulsory reservations - check train details on your favourite site.

Salzburg services *are* reservation-compulsory, but the implementation of this seems to be on the stretch within Austria, eg Salzburg-Linz or Hallein (!).

Free crossings: use regional services, there are plenty.

Regs (SCIC-NRT) say if you are on a service without a reservation you are charged the reservation price plus Eur 30.

On Hamburg-Copenhagen, just before the football started, DSB conductor was checking everyone had a reservation and telling people to get off at the next stop. Platform displays were showing 'only for travellers to Germany' as well as 'reservation compulsory'. DB crew from Padborg didn't check my ticket until after Schleswig.

Berlin-Amsterdams had no seats left at the times I wanted middle of a Sunday so I used the RB61 which was full and standing from Rheine onwards, but that may be normal.

 

[30907]

Could someone please clarify what exactly the situation is regarding the compulsory reservations on international trains in Germany this summer?

My understanding is that all long-distance international trains require a reservation, except anything crossing the border at Salzburg. However:

• Does this apply only to DB services, or all operators?
• Related to the above, what about jointly-operated services, eg: Zurich-Munich EuroCity?

Most DB international services are jointly-operated from a ticketing POV including this one, whatever the rolling stock.

Crossed the Belgian German border last week. Guard was telling all those without a reservation to get off at Aachen.

I assume they would be able to use other operators to cross the border then?

They would use the regional trains to Liege or elsewhere.

 

[nwales58]

PS, DB crew's main job Padborg-Hamburg was documenting broken toilets. Carbon-copy triplicate or quadruplicate pads.

 

[DanielB]

Only the border-crossing or near-border stretch has compulsory reservations - check train details on your favourite site.

Exception is the Netherlands, where despite you'd be allowed to use the ICE domestically with a supplement (or an NS subscription, then no supplement is needed) I've seen plenty of reports of domestic passengers being refused to board. The train has also been carefully erased from the departure boards (which show "Do not board" towards Amsterdam and have Utrecht Central and Arnhem Central removed towards Germany) and journey planners.

NS tried the same with the Amsterdam - Berlin IC, but allowed domestic passengers again relatively quickly after they were informed this is a breach of the franchise (the train uses a domestic path within the Netherlands and is part of the domestic IC frequency west of Deventer)

Berlin-Amsterdams had no seats left at the times I wanted middle of a Sunday so I used the RB61 which was full and standing from Rheine onwards, but that may be normal.

I actually saw an announcement on the displays at Amersfoort Central this afternoon stating the IC Amsterdam - Berlin (starting in Amersfoort today) may be very busy due to Euro 2024.

 

[rvdborgt]

Salzburg services *are* reservation-compulsory, but the implementation of this seems to be on the stretch within Austria, eg Salzburg-Linz or Hallein (!).

For services on a line that has the border tariff pont in an actual station, the stretch with compulsory reservations depends on the planner you consult. E.g. DB will say e.g. Passau to Linz has compulsory reservations on the ICE Frankfurt-Vienna, but ÖBB will in turn say it's on Plattling to Passau. I'm not sure how DB and ÖBB can enforce compulsory reservations outside of their jurisdictions.

 

[duesselmartin]

Crossed the Belgian German border last week. Guard was telling all those without a reservation to get off at Aachen.

I assume they would be able to use other operators to cross the border then?

That is tempory measure due to the Euros. Usually you dont need reservations on the Brussels ICE

 

[StephenHunter]

There's a DMU service that runs from Berlin-Lichtenberg to Kostrzyn. That's no reservation.

 

[DeverseSam]

The Offenburg to Freiburg (via Europa Park) TGV is reservation-only

 

[30907]

The Offenburg to Freiburg (via Europa Park) TGV is reservation-only

Thanks. Checking reveals that the same applies between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. The latter is likely to have slightly more impact on internal travellers

 

[nwales58]

All cross-border SNCF TGVs are always reservation-compulsory cross-border, not just currently (this thread is about Germany summer 2024). Only within Germany/Switzerland is a reservation not necessary.

Edit: within Germany not quite correct, see @rvdborgt below.

 

[30907]

All cross-border SNCF TGVs are always reservation-compulsory cross-border, not just currently (this thread is about Germany summer 2024). Only within Germany/Switzerland is a reservation not necessary.

That was what I understood - but the DB planner states that reservation is compulsory on the internal sections just mentioned (not elsewhere). May be an error of course.

 

[rvdborgt]

That was what I understood - but the DB planner states that reservation is compulsory on the internal sections just mentioned (not elsewhere). May be an error of course.

There are 2 kinds of TGVs: the ones for which DB and SNCF cooperate and the ones that SNCF operate on their own. The TGV to Freiburg is of the latter kind and has compulsory reservations on the entire route. TGVs to Frankfurt/Stuttgart/Munich are in cooperation and only have compulsory reservations to/from the first/last stop in Germany. Compulsory reservations between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart would be an error.

 

[pne]

Applies to all ICE, EC and RJ(X) services irrespective of operator but as above excluding Basel and Schaffhausen.
Only the border-crossing or near-border stretch has compulsory reservations - check train details on your favourite site.

What is the purpose for the compulsory reservations on the cross-border portion?

 

[ABB125]

What is the purpose for the compulsory reservations on the cross-border portion?

To help manage passenger flows during a minor sporting event being held at a few different places in Germany.

(European Football Competition, or whatever it's called)

 

[DanielB]

To help manage passenger flows during a minor sporting event being held at a few different places in Germany.

Especially international passenger flows obviously, as there is only a limited number of trains crossing the borders.

 

[rvdborgt]

What is the purpose for the compulsory reservations on the cross-border portion?

DB claim the Euros, although that finishes next week and DB keeps the compulsory reservations until 1/9.

Especially international passenger flows obviously, as there is only a limited number of trains crossing the borders.

DB are obviously incapable or unwilling to provide enough capacity. Some of the trains have had capacity problems for years, although it's been getting worse over the past few years.

 

[DanielB]

DB are obviously incapable or unwilling to provide enough capacity.

It indeed is quite obvious that border crossings which have a relatively limited number of trains are now having those mandatory reservations. The crossings into the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Austria are not exactly at capacity with regards to number of trains AFAIK.
The demand is there: I was looking recently if it was worthwhile to change a reservation (Vienna - Hannover) to a later train after receiving an email with a timetable change, finding that the next train had every single seat already reserved more than a month in advance.

Towards Switzerland in general more frequent services are available and those don't have the mandatory reservation thing.

 

[ABB125]

Towards Switzerland in general more frequent services are available and those don't have the mandatory reservation thing.

Indeed - would I be right in thinking that there's at least an hourly 12/13 car ICE crossing the border at Basel, and often two per hour? Compared to most other crossings having a 7/8 car ICE every 2 hours...
Edit: actually, Salzburg is normally at least hourly as well, but still with shorter trains

 

[CyrusWuff]

DB claim the Euros, although that finishes next week and DB keeps the compulsory reservations until 1/9.

Which also covers the Olympics, but only the first week of the Paralympics.

 

[rvdborgt]

Which also covers the Olympics, but only the first week of the Paralympics.

AFAIK DB never used those as excuses.