Eurorail - 1st v 2nd class
 

Is there a major difference in 1st and 2nd class on the Eurorail??

I've done both and there is not a major difference. In first class the seats are slightly larger and more comfortable and you get a newspaper, drink and snack.

Sorry, but you do NOT get a "newspaper, drink, and snack" in First Class on all trains in Europe. Those things depend on the type of train you take and in which country.

Otherwise I would agree that the seats are slightly larger and there are fewer seats in the same amount of space in First Class.

Second Class tends to fill up sooner than First because it is cheaper.

Please do not believe the stories about locals not taking First Class because plenty of them do. The difference is that the locals who take First are willing to pay more to do so.

Intrepid is correct in that it depends on what country you are in as to the service in first class. I should have stated such.

Hi ebi,

There are no Eurorail trains.

RailEurope is a marketing consortium of most of the European railroads for the purpose of selling railpasses.

On some trains 1cl is worth the difference, on others it is not.

My rule of thumb is to go 1cl for trips of 4 hr or more.

((I))

just a heads up--

2nd class you sit with chickens over head..

1st class you have a private compartment and AC

Which would you choose?

Sorry, Andy but you are wrong (or maybe just mischievious). We took 2nd class seats in Dec 2004 and had our own seating area for 4 with a little table to have our own train picnic. For the 3.5 hour ride, it would not have been worth it to pay 1t class. However, if I was doing a very long trip, I know it would be worth it.

If you buy a Eurailpass or Eurail Select Pass, you don't have a choice. Youth passes (up to 25) are only second class and adult passes are only first.

You can buy them from Eurailpass.com with free shipping regardless of order amount. RailEurope requires a minimum US$299 for free shipping.

I took many trains in December in 3 countries all first class...no private compartments on any of the trains..and of course no chickens in 2nd class. It was more crowded than first though.

It does indeed depend on which national rail system is providing the trains.

I never ride 1st class in Switzerland because 2nd is good enough.

I rode 1st class from Munich to Zürich and darned if the car was not mixed smoking and non smoking with no floor to ceiling partitions separating the two areas. My non smoking seat was next to a smoking seat. Bad show all around.

Fortunately, I was able to move.

Also, I decided on that trip that the cost was not worth it.

In some places on Sunday afternoons, you might find a seat in first class whereas you might not in second, particularly non smoking second class.

It depends on your comfort level and the length of the trip. The primary difference is the size and comfiness of the seats - and the liklihood of all seats being full.

For a short trip - IMHO - first class is not worth the extra money. For a longer trip - 3 hours plus - I would always take it for the more comfy seat.