bostraveler

I am travelling in couchettes with a large group of people, so in fact we will be in two couchettes next to each other. 4 in one... 3 in another. Once the conductor checks our passes/tickets, can we move around? i.e. can someone with a reservation to be in one compartment sleep in the other, and vice versa?

Also, what is the deal with conductors collecting passports at night? When do we get them back? Does this always happen?

Travelnut

They will hold your passport during the night -if- there is a border crossing that requires the id to be provided. This is to prevent them from having to wake you up to get it.

PalenQ

there will be no problem changing compartments - moving around IME

yes usually take passports for reason Travelnut says and also your ticket and or railpass if you have one and return it to you shortly before your stop in the morning

this often freaks Americans out when the conductor takes them and never comes back - but he/she will in the morning.

even on trains not crossing borders with Customs may take the passport and ticket for some reason IME but more and more not.

I've taken hundreds of couchettes and have always gotten my passport back and railpass too.

ira

Hi B,

>..can someone with a reservation to be in one compartment sleep in the other...<

I should think that even with contemporary morés, one is expected to sleep in one's own bed.

Your car steward collects your passports and returns them to you in the AM.

RM67

I like the word 'couchette'.

And 'banquette'.

But not 'gusset'- that's nasty one!

hopscotch

You can move around as much as you like in the bunks you bought. If there is another passenger(s) in one or both couchettes consider consequences. You would probably be better off buying eight T-4 cabin bunks to avoid hassels. Or an entire T-6 cabin and throw momma from the train.

Conductors will collect your tickets and return them in the morning. They may or may not collect your passports for the journey. If so, you will get them back in the morning.