Hi everyone,

At the last minute, I've decided to get off one of my trains early and make a stop in Bern, Switzerland before continuing on to Interlaken. I've already made all my other train reservations through Eurail, and it would be stupid to pay a booking fee again for just one reservation.

The train from Bern to Interlaken is an IC train and it asks that we reserve a seat. It isn't "mandatory," is it? I could do without a seat if I really have to, I only need to make it to Interlaken that evening. Would it be too late to reserve when I arrive in Bern (about 6 hours prior departure for Interlaken)? Is it possible to make this reservation at one of the train stations in Paris?

Thank you.

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Timetable. Page 260 shows that in Switzerland seats may be reserved on IC trains, but they are not mandatory. You can book in Paris, and I expect in Bern: the bookings software of all large stations on the continent to Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Italy is linked. I hope others will tell you whether these hourly IC trains from Bern get crowded.

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As Ben said seat reservation is not mandatory on Swiss trains excet for certain sightseeing ones, eg, Glacier Express. Most trains are not even seat-reservable icluding even some IC trains. So don't worry, get off at Bern, leave your luggage in a locker, enjoy a walk between the train station and the bears' pit (the arcaded old town is a World Heritage site by UNESCO) and take any convenient train on to Interlaken. There should at least be one every hour.

I checked on SBB site just in case. All the IC trains are with R sign (seat reservation possible - but not compulsory). I live in CH and never consider reserving a seat when taking trains.

Generally speaking, for trips that occur wholly within Switzerland, seat reservations are NOT available ("scenic" trains are the notable exception). Do NOT make a seat reservation for the segment Bern to Interlaken as it will be a waste of money..there will undoubtedly be any number of empty seats available.

> All the IC trains are with R sign (seat reservation possible - but not compulsory ..

I meant all the IC trains THAT RUN BERN-INTERLAKEN are. Seat reservation ARE available but you don't need to.

You can't reserve other trains such as D(direct) & R(regional), slower/with more stops, trains.