Hello Fodorites,

I have very limited experience with TGV trains and I’m hoping to get a question answered.

I bought a train ticket on the Swiss Rail website, from Metz, France to Lauterbrunnen, for October. I got a printable paper ticket with a QR code on it.

The TGV portion of the train leaves from Metz with its final destination in Mulhouse. This train seems to stop in Strasbourg.

Can I hop on this train in Strasbourg on the same day and time, and not use the Metz to Strasbourg portion, as long as it is the same train number? Or do I need to have it officially changed at the ticket office in Strasbourg before I board?

Thank you!

You can ask here
https://www.sbb.ch/en/help-and-contact.html
read here.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holida...tgv-lyria.html

I doubt it, as all TGV tickets have seat reservations for the day of use.

If I understand your question, you are planning to get on the train that you have a ticket for, just not at the original boarding point, but rather, one further down the line. If I have that right, you're probably OK. It's not like an airplane where they overbook and check to see that every seat is filled. They may not even check tickets on this route before Strasbourg. As long as it is stopping where you think it is, I think you should be OK.

Yes, it doesn't work like airlines. Your seat will be waiting for you. And if it is occupied, the person in it will have to move.

Yes, correct, I am planning on boarding the train one stop down the line, same day, same train #,

I just wasn't sure if I can validate the ticket in Strasbourg even though I was originally set to board on Metz, the previous stop.

Thank you, will I be able to validate the ticket in Strasbourg, even though it's one stop down the line?

I don't think you validate tickets with a QR code, or those for a specific train and time. They will come by and scan it at some point during your journey.

YOu don't validate tickets that are nonrefundable for a specific date/time/seat reservation. The point of validating a ticket it to show it is used, and the reason for that would be if any ticket could be used on any date/time, like metro tickets.

They do oversell the TGV, letting last-minute passengers board without a seat reservation, as they expect that a certain percentage of reserved passengers will no-show. Those with unreserved seats can then find any empty seat, or use one of the fold-down seats in the corridors. If you find a passenger in your seat you can try to talk them into leaving - - I don't think it's like German ICE trains, where if reservations are not claimed within 10 minutes of the departure station on the reservation, the seat is up for grabs.

Thank you everyone for your responses!