twoflower

Can anyone explain to me the status of companies like Rail Europe with regards to European train timetables? Does Rail Europe actually determine what the timetables will be, or are they merely a booking agent for European rail travel?

I ask for a reason. We are trying to book 2 tickets Montpellier to Barcelona on 19 October. I had been told that long distance European rail travel can only be booked 90 days ahead or less. But right up until today (only 82 days ahead), Rail Europe's website is giving me the message "It is too early to book the requested journey. The reservation will be available as from..." (no date quoted). After much difficulty I finally got a message through to a Rail Europe person who replied saying "the timetables haven't been loaded yet; try again around mid-August."

My difficulty is that we leave NZ for our European travels in 2 weeks. We won't be here to take delivery of tickets - even if we did manage to get them booked before we leave.

I'm wondering about the Rail Europe person's wording "the timetables haven't been loaded yet", hence my opening question. Does it mean Rail Europe hasn't determined what the timetables will be yet? Or does it mean the timetables are determined, but Rail Europe (as a booking agent only) hasn't loaded them onto their systems yet?

I checked out another company called Rail Plus who seem able to offer me tickets on the day I want, but with a more limited (less convenient) timetable, than the one Rail Europe advertises but won't let me book. This indicates (or does it?) that a timetable does exist, and that the problem is simply that Rail Europe are slow loading it on to their system. But I hesitate to plunge into booking the Rail Plus offer because of all this uncertainty and because they seem not to offer the fast international courier delivery that Rail Europe offers.

Finally, a more general question. When you book these inter-country rail journeys, are you booking seats as well? Or is that extra? Some of what I've read on Rail Europe's travel forum seems to be saying that booking rail journeys and booking seats are two different things!

Thanks...

Andee01

Yes, Rail Europe is a booking agent. I used Captain Train and Loco2 to book train travel in Europe last year as they don't charge booking fees.

With regards to this journey, it does appear that it is not yet available if you are booking through an agent, although when I went in the SCNF website I was able to see fares for your travel date. Have a look here: http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

With all our train bookings we did not have to reserve separate seats, this is done at the time of booking for the TGV/Renfe highspeed trains.

I suggest you have a look at this website for lots of good information about train travel in Europe: https://www.seat61.com/

Good luck

thursdaysd

I think 60 days ahead is more common than 90, and in Spain it is often less than that.

You don't need to have tickets delivered. You can pick them up in France. Or print them out yourself.

Definitely spend time at seat61.com - it will tell you all you need to know. And avoid Rail Europe, which is a travel agency owned by some of the European rail companies and tends to offer only the higher fares. Once the booking window opens, the earlier you book the cheaper the fare, provided you don't need flexibility. In fact it looks like fully flexible fares are not on offer for your date.

PalenQ

RE is owned by the French and Swiss Railroads but nevertheless usually has higher prices than you can find yourself online -the best way to get the cheapest fare -simply book your own- www.voyages-sncf.com for Montpellier to Barcelona - sometimes bulky for foreigners -www.thetrailine.eu has the same prices and is easier to use many say.

Sometimes after winter schedules pop into play around mid-September not all trains within 90 days or so will be settled yet as to schedules - but the French Railways site - www.voyages-sncf.com should be the definitive source for that since it originates in France -I checked www.bahn.de/en -German Railways pan-European scheduling site for Oct19 and it lists a direct 9:38 AVE (Spanish high-speed French TGV-type trains) train to Barcelona Sants that takes just 3 hours - this should be on www.voyages-sncf.com as Andee001 has found.

For amazing insights on booking your own train tickets online (you get either an e-ticket or a code to retrieve the ticket I believe_check www.seat61.com - has all the answers -for general info like 1st v 2nd class I also like www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Fares will not go down so book NOW before they go up when supply of discounted tickets is exhausted. Such tickets are also non-chaangeable non-refundable I believe after issued so be sure of your dates and specific train time and don't miss the train.

RailEurope is not a booking agent per say - many booking agents and travel agents book thru RE -they are a wholesaler of tickets from the source (again largely owned by SNCF or French Railways - www.voyages-sncf.com is French Railway's site) but traditionally mark-up tickets -this is due to change I understand but has not yet - so better go right to the source - www.voyages-sncf.com -plenty of Fodorites use it to book their own and many are glad to help if you have trouble (or www.thetrainline.eu again has same fares and by all accounts is easy for foreigners to use).

janisj

Don't book any tickets through RailEurope.

>>Does Rail Europe actually determine what the timetables will be, <<

They don't determine <i>anything</i> . . . except how much they will mark up the fare they charge you.

PalenQ

I checked out another company called Rail Plus who seem able to offer me tickets on the day I want, but with a more limited (less convenient) timetable, than the one Rail Europe advertises but won't let me book>

???

Rail Plus it says on their Aussie web site says quite noticeably it is a Rail Europe Company as is of course RailEurope Australia. Should have same info and same booking engine one would think???

Anyway try the SNCF and The Train Line sites and ask for help if needed.

PalenQ

because they seem not to offer the fast international courier delivery that Rail Europe offers.>

Another reason to book your own - RE charges $15 for non-rush orders I believe for the U.S. - may be more to Oz?

There are no surcharges or fees if you book your own thru the sites mentioned above and no delivery at all - e-tickets or gives a code to show conductor on train or retrieve in a French train station ticketing machine or at the window (bring same c card you booked the ticket on - some say they were asked this to retrieve their tickets on trains from conductors or in stations.

janisj

>>Don't book <B>any</B> tickets through RailEurope. <<

Don't book <B>any</B> tickets through RailPlus.

See a pattern here?

Book through sncf . . . .

Andee01

Sorry, just to clarify from my earlier comment. Captain Train has been renamed to Trainline EU. I used their app for my France train bookings and it was very easy. I used Loco2 for Spain trains. But as mentioned previously suggest you use SCNF directly for your booking.

StCirq

I won't go near Rail Europe. I generally use www.voyages-sncf.com, but that sometimes will not work if you try to use an American cc. As suggested, use Trainline.eu, exact same schedules and prices as SNCF (at least every time I've checked) and no problem with American ccs.

StCirq

Oh, and for long-distance trains, it's 92 days out from your travel date(s) that the cheapest (PREMs fares) become available, but they are nonexchangeable and nonrefundable, so make sure your plans are solid.

PalenQ

If you do not want to peg yourself into a certain train at a certain time 3 months out you can always buy tickets once there - you will pay full price of course but don't book in advance just out of fear of not getting on trains -or book a fully flexible ticket that can be changed.

But the savings with discounted tickets can be huge.

tomboy

Twoflower: lest the above be unclear, one can book A train from X to Y any time. The cheap "prem" fares, and accompanying schedules, appear online exactly 3 months before each train day. Those cheap fares can be VERY discounted, like 70% off!!

What I have done is to go thru the motions of getting a ticket 3 months out from TODAY, just to find out what the schedules would be for the day I WOULD want, so that my decision making can take place prior to the eventual booking day.

Since you're now 11 days past the 'ideal' booking date, I'd suggest you book today, and print your tickets today. There's also a way to put the QR code representing your ticket on a smartphone, which would replace the paper ticket. Obviously (perhaps), technology has obviated the need to have tickets mailed to you.

PalenQ

And check first-class too - especially if lower tier discounted tickets are gone - sometimes may not be much higher on a discounted basis than cheapest remaining 2nd class tickets - and there is a significant difference - though 2nd class is perfectly acceptable first-class is a bit nicer -especially with about 25% fewer seats in same-size train cars as 2nd class.

twoflower

I have to say the replies I've received to my posting are immensely helpful. Thanks, everyone. I'll steer clear of Rail Europe and Rail Plus, and study the information on some of the suggested websites.

PalenQ

don' dally - discounted fares can go up anytime!

Christina

I don't know why this is so confusing, Raileurope gets timetables from the national railways, and no, they aren't available long in advance so what they said is right. Spain often doesn't provide them even 90 days in advance, it seems to me.

you can use www.bahn.de (German rail) to check all rail schedules, they get them from all of Europe, also but I think are more comprehensive or at least easier to use than Raileurope. Of course you wouldn't book on there except for Germany. If a schedule isn't on there, either, then no, I presume it isn't available.

People are too obsessed with this "ideal" booking date stuff as if some tragedy will occur if you don't book a ticket exactly 90 days in advance.

PalenQ

People are too obsessed with this "ideal" booking date stuff as if some tragedy will occur if you don't book a ticket exactly 90 days in advance>

If going to book anyway why not do it as soon as your fare appears - waiting can only see fares exhausted or go up?

But these are bookings in stone - don't book until absolutely sure!

PalenQ

When booking chose your seat in the upper deck of TGVs -many now are Duplex or double-deckers -much better views up there than sunken lower level where views are obscured by windblocks, retaining walls, etc.

StCirq

<< waiting can only see fares exhausted or go up?>>

This is not universally true. Sometimes (I've done it, but only when I've decided to go somewhere at the last minute), you can snag a great last-minute fare. But not always and I wouldn't count on it.

That said, I don't obsess about the 92-day "rule," but I do try to book as far in advance as possible. I don't consider it a "tragedy" not to book 90 days in advance, but I'd also always prefer to travel from Bordeaux to Paris., e.g., for 25€ instead of 80€. As a practical matter, that means another nice dinner somewhere for DH and me, or several café stops.