Zurich to Milan Seat reservation (Eurail Pass)
 

We have got our Eural pass which includes Germany,Swiss & Italy

Unfortunately yesterday my travel partner purchased the seat reservations for Zurich-Milan (EC 13 train @ 07:09-10:50 on 14th Aug) & Milan to Venice ( Ferr 9723 13:05-15:40 on 14th Aug) ... planned to take 2 hrs break in Milan.

He was expecting it all e-ticket, Milan to Venice is e-ticket ok.. but Zurich-Milan is written self service, it seems that we need to convert it to the ticket from a self service kiosk only from one of the italian stations mentioned.

We cannot do this from italy because we are travelling from Zurich to Milan...

Is there any way to convert it from Zurich ticket/reservation counter ?
or
can we board the train with this reservation printout do they accept it ?
or
Is it better to cancel the current reservation and take a fresh reservation from Zurich railway station counter on the same day? - we are worried if there are no seats available...

or
is there any alternate suggestion?
We are on very tight schedule
Kindly advice...
All reservations done via trenitalia.com
Shanavas

Trenitalia only allows collection from Italian stations.

If you cannot get to an Italian station first, the money paid for the Zurich-Milan reservation is lost, just put it down to experience and buy a new one at the station in Zurich or online at the relevant Rail Europe passholder reservation system.

is there any alternate suggestion?>

Yes I would go into the Zurich train station and ask about that and if necessary make a new reservation there - cheaper than doing thru Rail Europe because they usually also put a hefty mailing/handling fee on transactions under a certain amount as this certainly would be.

It is easy IME to get railpass reservations - especially if yours are in first class anytime for those trains - and reservations are not required on the Swiss portion, just after Brig/Visp in Italy - I would worst case scenario just board with what you go, which if it has seat numbers on it is probably all you need.

You could also call Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com and ask him - even though you already have a pass and are not buying anything IME he will expertly answer questions like that - I have bought passes thru him for years - he'll know the definitive answer (or simply contact the agency that sold you the reservation. I have never heard of having to take a RE reservation to any ticket window or self-service kiosk.

Thanks Man_in_seat_61
I spent lot of time in your website for my last trans-siberian trip. tons of information let me thank you for that first.

Regarding Zurich-Milan seat reservation, I did the booking through www.trenitalia.com (the official website of FRECCE), they did not charge any other charges than booking and there is an option to cancel the reservation & refund...I will try and update here.

Please correct me if I am wrong...

If we have a eurail pass:

ICE trains running in Swiss/Germany (domestic or intenational) trains "reservation optional/receomended" - means even though there are no seats available you can board the train and stand atleast.

Italian fast trains (domestic or intenational) "reservation cumpulsory" - means without a seat reservation you cannot board the train.

thanks PalenQ I send a mail to them too.

"ICE trains running in Swiss/Germany (domestic or intenational) trains "reservation optional/receomended" - means even though there are no seats available you can board the train and stand atleast.

Italian fast trains (domestic or intenational) "reservation cumpulsory" - means without a seat reservation you cannot board the train."

Yes you are right. You will have absolutely no problem up to the Swiss border station of Chiasso. If you know the numbers of your wagon and of your seats and if you board the train as soon as it will enter Zurich HB railway station (usually not erliar than 15 min before departure), you will not have to stand, because your seats will be marked as reserved.

But as long as you cannot proof to the Italian train crew that you already paid the EC train supplement for the Italian leg (about 10 EUR/pax) this would be of no help. Therefore it's easier to buy new seat reservation tickets at Zurich.

ttt