A reservation is mandatory if you travel in a sleeping or couchette coach. Almost all vendors automatically include the reservation in the ticket when you book a place in a sleeper or couchette coach (e.g. ÖBB, SBB, DB, SNCF, Trenitalia, SJ, VY). However, it doesn't hurt to do a quick check when booking.
The situation is different for seats in seating coaches: Depending on the rail operator, you may have to buy your ticket and reservation separately. Check this during the booking process - otherwise, you may be left without a seat.
If you have an Interrail Pass, almost all night trains require separate reservations and often an additional ticket. The Interrail website has more information.
Find the best night train for you
This blog post is part of our «FAQ Night Train» series. Here, you'll find all the valuable tips and tricks we've collected on many night train journeys.
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