Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNDERSTANDING TRAIN TICKET PRICING
Understanding the various pricing structures can be confusing, but it's not too bad once you
become familiar with them.
The simplest tickets are for regional and local trains. These trains are slow and they mainly
connect smaller towns and villages. The pricing for these trains is fixed so you can buy them
at the station and reservations aren't needed or possible.
Similarly, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland operate on a fixed pri-
cing system for domestic train journeys. You can purchase tickets online but the only thing
you'll save is a bit of time by avoiding the ticket window. However, Switzerland does offer spe-
cial fares on some routes so spend a few minutes online to see if you can save a few bucks.
Nearly all high-speed and long-distance trains now operate on a tiered pricing structure
where the cheapest seats are sold first and the price rises as the departure date nears. Bookings
open between 60 and 90 days prior to departure so buy early before the good seats are
snapped up. Eurostar tickets can be booked up to 120 days in advance.
Some countries give you the option to buy a seat reservation, but it probably isn't necessary
unless it's a super busy route (notably Friday and Sunday night). If the train is super full, you'll
still be allowed on the train if you don't have a reserved seat but you might have to stand or sit
on the floor—it's rare, but possible.
All overnight trains will require a reservation regardless of the country, but it will be
factored into the price of the ticket.
QUICK OVERVIEW—POINT-TO-POINT TICKETS VERSUS TRAIN
PASSES
You have two ticket options when it comes to using Europe's rail network—purchase indi-
vidual train tickets or purchase a rail pass. There are advantages and disadvantages to both
methods, but knowing which option is best for your trip can be difficult to determine because
there are so many factors to consider.
In general, the cheapest option will be purchasing tickets one to three months in advance.
So if you have a set itinerary, this will be the most affordable way to travel Europe by rail. On
the other hand, if you want maximum freedom and spontaneity, then a rail pass will almost
always be a more economical and practical option than buying individual train tickets last
minute.
Again, I want to emphasize that there are exceptions to the advice mentioned in the para-
graph above, but it's a good guideline to follow. In the following sections, I'll cover more in-
depth details about point-to-point tickets and rail passes, so you can use the information to
determine your best option.
PURCHASING INDIVIDUAL TRAIN TICKETS
