Strasbourg to Frankfurt - reservations compulsory on ICE?

[Watershed]

I know that reservations are compulsory on TGV services, and for ICE journeys to/from Paris. But can anyone confirm whether reservations are also compulsory on ICE services from Strasbourg to Frankfurt for Interrail holders? If so, where is the easiest/cheapest place to obtain them - or the easiest way of avoiding these reservation compulsory trains?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fragezeichnen]

There's an hourly regional service from Strasbourg to Offenburg, from there you can take an ICE or regional train to Frankfurt.

 

[dutchflyer]

Yes, applies to all trips also in/out of FR. And afaik the cost is even the same as for Paris........Plus there may even be quota for passes.
There is also a TRAM, payable (but around 2€ or so/trip), to Kehl, trams going over borders are quite rare, the first stop in DE-but that hourly local also stops there to go onward. Or -if line bashing and not wanting the fastest: use the rather unknown connection Mulhouse-Freiburg more south. Or via Lauter-/or Wissembourg north from Strasbg.
IN DE it is right that the long-distance sleek white IC/ICE are with optional REServ., but at peak days/times these can be very very full.
More tips and info for passholders; community.eurail.com

 

[rvdborgt]

I know that reservations are compulsory on TGV services, and for ICE journeys to/from Paris. But can anyone confirm whether reservations are also compulsory on ICE services from Strasbourg to Frankfurt for Interrail holders? If so, where is the easiest/cheapest place to obtain them - or the easiest way of avoiding these reservation compulsory trains?

Price is €17 and they have a limited quota. Should be available from German, French, Belgian, Swiss ticket offices without a booking fee. Also by phone from SNCF (press #85 for English). SNCF Grandes Lignes ticket machines are also reported to sell them (enter Interrail as a discount).
But cheaper of course is the regional service to Offenburg. To find journeys, use the DB planner or app and enter Appenweier as a via station.

 

[StephenHunter]

Yes, applies to all trips also in/out of FR. And afaik the cost is even the same as for Paris........Plus there may even be quota for passes.
There is also a TRAM, payable (but around 2€ or so/trip), to Kehl, trams going over borders are quite rare, the first stop in DE-but that hourly local also stops there to go onward. Or -if line bashing and not wanting the fastest: use the rather unknown connection Mulhouse-Freiburg more south. Or via Lauter-/or Wissembourg north from Strasbg.
IN DE it is right that the long-distance sleek white IC/ICE are with optional REServ., but at peak days/times these can be very very full.
More tips and info for passholders; community.eurail.com

I did the Kehl tram during my visit to Strasbourg last year. You can also walk over the border by one of three bridges for the novelty of that.

 

[Watershed]

Price is €17 and they have a limited quota. Should be available from German, French, Belgian, Swiss ticket offices without a booking fee. Also by phone from SNCF (press #85 for English). SNCF Grandes Lignes ticket machines are also reported to sell them (enter Interrail as a discount).
But cheaper of course is the regional service to Offenburg. To find journeys, use the DB planner or app and enter Appenweier as a via station.

A shame, but thanks for confirming.

I'll probably take the local service to Offenburg - looking at the timetable based on when I arrive into Strasbourg (ironically on a TGV that has a Frankfurt portion, albeit sold out), I'd arrive into Frankfurt at virtually the same time via Offenburg as on the direct ICE. It just involves an extra change, which I don't mind.

I'll consider getting a seat reservation for the ICE from Offenburg to Frankfurt as it's only €3 on the ÖBB site - although my Interrail is first class, so I'd like to hope that there would still be spare seats left.

 

[Flying Snail]

A shame, but thanks for confirming.

I'll probably take the local service to Offenburg - looking at the timetable based on when I arrive into Strasbourg (ironically on a TGV that has a Frankfurt portion, albeit sold out), I'd arrive into Frankfurt at virtually the same time via Offenburg as on the direct ICE. It just involves an extra change, which I don't mind.

I'll consider getting a seat reservation for the ICE from Offenburg to Frankfurt as it's only €3 on the ÖBB site - although my Interrail is first class, so I'd like to hope that there would still be spare seats left.

On OBB website/app If instead of searching for "Seat Reservation Only" You add Interrail as discount and search "One Way Tickets..." 1st class reservations are free.

 

[Feuillesmortes]

Yes, applies to all trips also in/out of FR.

not exactly, see #2

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Apr 2023 ==

Price is €17 and they have a limited quota. SNCF Grandes Lignes ticket machines are also reported to sell them (enter Interrail as a discount)

Only for domestic TGVs I think. I'm happy to be corrected though

 

[rvdborgt]

Only for domestic TGVs I think. I'm happy to be corrected though

SNCF ticket machines also sell some international pass reservations. In any case France to Switzerland and I've seen multiple reports of France to Germany also being sold there. I haven't been able to verify myself yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Apr 2023 ==

Addition: https://next.bahn.de seems to offer these reservations for €4.50 only, instead of €17... I have't tested actually booking one yet.

 

[peteb]

Yes, applies to all trips also in/out of FR. And afaik the cost is even the same as for Paris........Plus there may even be quota for passes.
There is also a TRAM, payable (but around 2€ or so/trip), to Kehl, trams going over borders are quite rare, the first stop in DE-but that hourly local also stops there to go onward. Or -if line bashing and not wanting the fastest: use the rather unknown connection Mulhouse-Freiburg more south. Or via Lauter-/or Wissembourg north from Strasbg.
IN DE it is right that the long-distance sleek white IC/ICE are with optional REServ., but at peak days/times these can be very very full.
More tips and info for passholders; community.eurail.com

"Or -if line bashing and not wanting the fastest: use the rather unknown connection Mulhouse-Freiburg more south".

I couldn't find this service, seems to be bus then train?

 

[ricohallo]

I've noticed SNCF seem to be very keen to substitute trains with buses on this line.

 

[30907]

Addition: https://next.bahn.de seems to offer these reservations for €4.50 only, instead of €17... I have't tested actually booking one yet.

That's a seat reservation only - is that valid with an IR?

 

[rvdborgt]

That's a seat reservation only - is that valid with an IR?

Well... "seat reservation only" is what you'd normally use on the DB website with any ticket that covers your journey, so why wouldn't you use it here?

 

[Watershed]

The Strasbourg-Offenburg service was very busy when I did it today. It was formed of two single-coach DMUs coupled up. The legroom on those Stadler Regio-Shuttle RS-1s is atrocious. Before Kehl there was an announcement that they were expecting a lot more passengers, so any remaining bags or coats should be taken off seats. It seemed like some people were almost left behind.

By contrast, I managed to bag individual seats on the Eurostar from London to Paris and the TGV from Paris to Strasbourg, and I had a pair of seats to myself on the ICE. Obviously that was all in first class whereas the Offenburg service is standard only, but the difference in comfort was night and day.

Had a somewhat superfluous grip immediately after departure on the Frankfurt S-Bahn (the RPIs had boarded well before departure, allowing plenty of time to get off if you wanted to!). I was the only person in the tiny first class compartment at the end of the unit, and you could almost see the RPI's face fall when I produced a valid ticket

 

[AdamWW]

Had a somewhat superfluous grip immediately after departure on the Frankfurt S-Bahn (the RPIs had boarded well before departure, allowing plenty of time to get off if you wanted to!). I was the only person in the tiny first class compartment at the end of the unit, and you could almost see the RPI's face fall when I produced a valid ticket

I presume they were in uniform then.

My favourite one was the plain clothes inspector with a DB-issue branded rucksack.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well... "seat reservation only" is what you'd normally use on the DB website with any ticket that covers your journey, so why wouldn't you use it here?

Because with InterRail it's a supplement?

 

[rvdborgt]

Because with InterRail it's a supplement?

DB and SNCF both call it a reservation.

 

[Bletchleyite]

DB and SNCF both call it a reservation.

But it is de-facto a supplement.

Does anyone know for certain if this is valid?

 

[rvdborgt]

But it is de-facto a supplement.

I know but the average Interrail user only knows they should buy a mandatory reservation.

Does anyone know for certain if this is valid?

I don't even know if booking works and what you'll have at the end of it. Haven't tested it yet.
But it should be valid by default: you need a reservation for this train and this website sells you one.

 

[cactustwirly]

Because with InterRail it's a supplement?

Why would you need a supplement to use interrail on an ICE service

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why would you need a supplement to use interrail on an ICE service

Because these services aren't really ICEs, they are TGVs in ICE clothing operated using the French fares model, and a supplement is required to use a TGV on an InterRail.

You don't (I think) need a supplement or a reservation to use any other German train (bar night trains) on an InterRail, though you did used to need a supplement for ICE at commercial rate and an IC/IR supplement ticket (flat DM7 for IC and DM3 for IR when they were abolished, if I recall).

 

[AdamWW]

You don't (I think) need a supplement or a reservation to use any other German train (bar night trains) on an InterRail, though you did used to need a supplement for ICE at commercial rate and an IC/IR supplement ticket (flat DM7 for IC and DM3 for IR when they were abolished, if I recall).

There have been and I think still are compulsory reservation services in Germany. I don't know what happens if you get on one without a reservation. Maybe it's fine unless it's too busy in which case they know who to throw off.
I do not recall being asked to show a reservation the one time I did use one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There have been and I think still are compulsory reservation services in Germany. I don't know what happens if you get on one without a reservation. Maybe it's fine unless it's too busy in which case they know who to throw off.
I do not recall being asked to show a reservation the one time I did use one.

There have been but there aren't any more other than night trains and totally separate stuff like Flix. The ICE-Sprinters, a few "superfast" ICEs to/from Berlin, had the compulsory reservations removed about 10 years ago.

 

[AdamWW]

There have been but there aren't any more other than night trains and totally separate stuff like Flix. The ICE-Sprinters, a few "superfast" ICEs to/from Berlin, had the compulsory reservations removed about 10 years ago.

Hamburg to Copenhagen used to be compulsory reservation in the summer in the days when it went on the ferry. I had a vague feeling that it still was. Could be wrong.

There's been talk here of ICE services from Amsterdam being made compulsory reservation this summer.

It's true that these are international services but they operate with a regular DB fare system not TGV style "global" pricing, so would be examples of where (in principle at least) Interrail users would need to purchase a reservation but not a supplement.

 

[Flying Snail]

Hamburg to Copenhagen used to be compulsory reservation in the summer in the days when it went on the ferry. I had a vague feeling that it still was. Could be wrong.

There's been talk here of ICE services from Amsterdam being made compulsory reservation this summer.

Hamburg - Copenhagen had compulsory reservations last summer, this summer is dependent on the DSB getting the temporary Loco hauled IC trains in service, if not and they are still using their units no doubt compulsory res will be needed again.

Amsterdam ICE will have compulsory reservations 17 June - 18 Aug.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hamburg to Copenhagen used to be compulsory reservation in the summer in the days when it went on the ferry. I had a vague feeling that it still was. Could be wrong.

There's been talk here of ICE services from Amsterdam being made compulsory reservation this summer.

It's true that these are international services but they operate with a regular DB fare system not TGV style "global" pricing, so would be examples of where (in principle at least) Interrail users would need to purchase a reservation but not a supplement.

True, there are odd international edge cases. The Berlin-Warszawa Express (just sold as a PKP service these days I think) is too, but it's a bit more like those TGVs - it's really a Polish service that operates under Polish conditions which includes compulsory(ish*) reservations. But the specific ICEs under discussion aren't really ICEs, they are TGVs in ICE clothing and follow all French norms, from ticketing to catering and everything in between. This was part of the agreement between SNCF and DB for the joint operation, which is a bit like Thalys in concept but unlike that isn't a separate jointly-owned** company.

* Other than the EIP (Pendolino) where there's a fine for not reserving, PKP's setup is a bit like what we do now on IC type routes - tickets are sold with a reservation, but there's no penalty for not having one, though unlike here all coaches are reservable and reservations aren't marked, so not having one leads to an awkward game of musical chairs.

** DB sold their stake in Thalys I believe.

 

[AdamWW]

But the specific ICEs under discussion aren't really ICEs, they are TGVs in ICE clothing and follow all French norms, from ticketing to catering and everything in between.

Understood and I don't understand in that case what a regular reservation does on one of these trains if it's for a cross-border journey since tickets would normally come with an assigned seat under the TGV model.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Understood and I don't understand in that case what a regular reservation does on one of these trains if it's for a cross-border journey since tickets would normally come with an assigned seat under the TGV model.

Yeah, I can't see the point in one either given that so far as I know TCV tickets are no longer a thing.

What I suspect it might be is that DB's website is just seeing a train with the ICE classification and selling a standard reservation on it without realising that it isn't really an ICE and should really have the TGV Zuggattung in order to invoke the correct sales conditions, with perhaps a note along the lines of "this TGV is operated using ICE rolling stock".

It may well be that the thing DB's website is selling basically has no validity whatsoever (I don't know if German contract law would mean an incorrectly sold ticket or reservation does have value like it would in the UK). It might have some sort of niche applicability like DB staff passes perhaps?

 

[Flying Snail]

True, there are odd international edge cases. The Berlin-Warszawa Express (just sold as a PKP service these days I think) is too, but it's a bit more like those TGVs - it's really a Polish service that operates under Polish conditions which includes compulsory(ish*) reservations. But the specific ICEs under discussion aren't really ICEs, they are TGVs in ICE clothing and follow all French norms, from ticketing to catering and everything in between. This was part of the agreement between SNCF and DB for the joint operation, which is a bit like Thalys in concept but unlike that isn't a separate jointly-owned** company.

* Other than the EIP (Pendolino) where there's a fine for not reserving, PKP's setup is a bit like what we do now on IC type routes - tickets are sold with a reservation, but there's no penalty for not having one, though unlike here all coaches are reservable and reservations aren't marked, so not having one leads to an awkward game of musical chairs.

** DB sold their stake in Thalys I believe.

All of which is entirely irrelevant to a passenger purchasing a reservation for a DB train on the DB website. If SNCF have a problem with that then it is between them and DB, the passenger has used a valid ticket with a valid reservation, end of story.

 

[Bletchleyite]

All of which is entirely irrelevant to a passenger purchasing a reservation for a DB train on the DB website. If SNCF have a problem with that then it is between them and DB, the passenger has used a valid ticket with a valid reservation, end of story.

That'd be true in the UK, but is it true of German contract law?

I'd really not try this unless willing to be chucked off or have to fight some sort of penalty.

Has anyone here used one of these successfully?