How far in advance is it required to reserve high-speed and overnight trains? [closed]
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Eurail Pass guidelines state that "reservations are required for all European night trains and most of the high-speed trains". Assuming availability, how far in advance must this be done? Can I just go to the ticket counter 10 minutes before the train departs?
Best Answer
How long is a piece of string? Popular trains at popular times fill up fast, less popular ones never do.
There's some variation across Europe, but reservations generally open 3 months before departure. And if there are still seats available, it's generally safe to assume you can purchase reserved seats up to 1 hour before departure at the ticket counter, although some companies/services have shorter cut-offs.
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How far ahead can you book trains?
Typically, train companies release their Advance tickets 12 weeks before the departure date, although some go on sale as far as 24 weeks in advance! Only a limited number of tickets will be available, so be quick to secure yours as the fare can rise as the date of travel gets nearer.Can I book train before 30 minutes?
Starting today, you can book a railway ticket on the IRCTC website, 30 minutes prior to the departure of a train. In a passenger-friendly move, Railways has also made changes in its system of prepara. Starting today, you can book a railway ticket on the IRCTC website, 30 minutes prior to the departure of a train.How many hours before we can book the ticket?
Reservation is allowed until the first chart is prepared, which is usually 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train. Current reservation is allowed for some trains where you can book vacant seats after the first chart preparation.How far can a train travel in 24 hours?
The greatest distance travelled by train in 24 hours is 5,412.76 km (3,363.33 miles) and was achieved by Yang Yongdan (China), travelling from Guiyang North Station to Guangzhou South Station (both China), on 9-10 April 2021. Yang Yongdan is a high-speed rail enthusiast.WORLD’S LONGEST OVERNIGHT BULLET TRAIN (All-Time Record)!
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Answer 2
The longest such cut-off I know about is for TGV Ouigo (IIRC tickets must be purchased at least 4 hours before departure) but I am not sure that those trains are covered by your pass. Otherwise, buying a ticket or changing a seat reservation is typically still possible even a few minutes before departure.
But that's not what you should be concerned about, availability is. You did write "assuming availability" but limited availability is really what's special about those trains: a reservation is mandatory and there might even be a limited quota of seats for pass holders whereas you can board other trains without seat reservation.
Also, if you show up at the station 10 min before departure, you probably won't reach a ticket counter before the train has left.
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