If one books 3 tickets for a T4 (4-berth) cabin on the overnight train, is it likely that the 4th berth will be filled by a stranger?

As I'm travelling with my two children, I'm wondering if I should book the extra berth so we have the compartment to ourselves.

Anyone taken this train before?

Thanks!

Just as likely as booking 3 seats on a 400-seat Boeing 747 and wondering if the seat next to you will be taken...

This train is pretty popular, and can leave full.

How old are the children? Under 4s go free if sharing a bed, and 4-11 year olds can also share for a child rate, but only IF the parent(s) have sole occupancy of a compartment (ie aren't sharing). Booking all 4 berths (in fact, there's also a family rate for a whole 4-berth at a similar price to 4 x 4-berth special fare)

You can see photos of what this train is like at www.seat61.com/Spain.htm or www.elipsos.com

Thank you Man in Seat. I can't find the option to book a 4-berth family rate. Do you know how that can be done?

I don't think this can be booked online, but you can easily book 4 tickets at the special rate using www.voyages-sncf.com, which is the same total cost (leave 'France' selected to collect tickets at the station, see advice on using this site at www.seat61.com/France-trains.htm)

Thanks, I'll let you know how it works.

well unless you book the 4 berth family thing

and you book 4 regular fares and only occupy 3 berths i think the train conductor could consider the 4th person booked as a no show and then could give that place to someone who boarded without a berth - not sure how these Talgo Night Trains work but traditionally if someone does not show up their seat or berth would after 20 minutes or so be given to someone else.

But the clever thing is, if your 3 people were a family of mixed sex, what sex would that fourth person have to ne to keep the compartment single-sex as it was no longer wholly occupied by one party? I reckon it'd be OK on this train.