You just realised how complicated European rail can be
Sam is your AI assistant for European rail. Get instant answers and build a complete trip plan in minutes.
Covering Europe's Major Rail Operators
European rail planning is complicated
33 countries, hundreds of operators, and a maze of reservation rules. Sam knows them all.
Reservations
Same trip. Five different rules.
Routes
Brussels → Prague, the only way.
6
Changes
4
Operators
3
Countries
Pass rules
"Valid" comes with footnotes.
- ✓ Railjet — no reservation needed
- ! TGV — valid, but pay €10–€29 supplement
- ! Eurostar — limited pass quota, sells out
- ✕ Spanish AVE — tiny quota, often unavailable
- ✕ Home country — only one outbound + one inbound trip
The research rabbit hole
Six tabs. Three answers. None agree.
Do I need a reservation for Nightjet?
posted 4 years ago · 38 conflicting replies
The 7 things nobody tells you about passes
last updated: March 2019
Italian reservation rules — confused
12 replies · "it depends" × 8
Ask any rail travel question
Reservations, routes, pass rules, scenic options — Sam answers in seconds.
Reservation help
Which trains need a booking, and what it costs.
Route options
The fastest, most scenic, or best value route.
Yes — Nightjet sleepers require reservations.
Expect €24–€79 depending on couchette vs. sleeper. If you'd rather skip it, take a daytime Railjet via Salzburg with no mandatory reservation.
Turn answers into a complete trip
From your first question to the platform on day fourteen — Sam plans the route, compares the fares, books the tickets, and stays with you while you travel.
Build an itinerary that actually works
Add cities and nights; Sam checks every leg, reservation, and connection in one place.
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Destinations
Add cities and nights; Sam checks each stop is feasible.
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Reservation guidance
Where and when to book your seats.
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Export
Share with travel companions or export to PDF.
Itinerary
Grand European Tour
Paris → Zurich
TGV Lyria • Reservation required (€9)
Zurich → Vienna
Nightjet sleeper • Private cabin available
Vienna → Venice
Railjet • No reservation needed
Sam's review
Minimises travel time while including the scenic Arlberg Pass. Nightjet availability looks good for your dates.
Pass or point-to-point — Sam does the maths
Sam prices every leg against the relevant rail passes, factors in reservation supplements, and shows you which option actually saves money on your dates.
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Live fare data
Real ticket prices for your travel dates, not averages.
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Reservation supplements included
The hidden costs that make a "cheap" pass expensive.
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Discounts applied automatically
Youth, senior, family — Sam checks every fare you qualify for.
Fare comparison
3 legs • 1 adult
Interrail Global Pass
€289
4 days in 1 month + €27 reservations
Recommended for this trip
Point-to-point tickets
€376
Paris–Zurich €89 · Zurich–Vienna €179 · Vienna–Venice €108
Eurail Select (4 countries)
€312
Includes reservations on TGV Lyria + Nightjet
Buy tickets and reservations in one place
When you're ready, purchase every leg — pass, point-to-point tickets, seat reservations, and sleeper berths — without bouncing between operator websites.
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One checkout, every operator
SNCF, ÖBB, Trenitalia, SBB and 30+ more — pay once.
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Tickets straight to your inbox
Mobile-ready PDFs, attached to the right leg of your trip.
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Sell-out alerts
Sam pings you before reservations open for Nightjets, Eurostars and other limited trains.
Checkout
3 itemsInterrail Global Pass
4 days in 1 month · Adult 2nd class
€289
TGV Lyria reservation
Paris → Zurich · 14 Jun · Coach 4, Seat 21
€9
Nightjet sleeper
Zurich → Vienna · 16 Jun · Private cabin
€169
Total
€467
Real-time help while you're on the move
When a strike hits, a connection is cancelled, or you just want to add a day in Lucerne — Sam adjusts your plan on the fly and rebooks what needs rebooking.
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Live disruption rerouting
Cancelled train? Sam finds the next workable connection in seconds.
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Change plans mid-trip
Add a stop, skip a city, extend a night — your itinerary updates everywhere.
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Answers, on the platform
Which platform? Is luggage storage open? Can I bring my bike? Just ask.
Day 6 · Zurich Hauptbahnhof
14:22
Try a new route via Salzburg.
Zurich → Salzburg → Vienna on the 15:40 Railjet gets you in by 22:05 — no reservation needed. I've updated your itinerary.
Built by travellers, for travellers
Trained on real journeys, tested against real scenarios.
350+
Journeys planned
Real itineraries planned and verified across 33 European countries.
1,000+
Scenarios tested
Unique rail scenarios and edge cases stress-tested before release.
33
Countries covered
Every Eurail/Interrail country, with operator-specific reservation rules baked in.
A human expert when it gets complicated
For complex itineraries, our rail experts can review your plan, confirm reservations, and check every connection is realistic.
Expert validation
Every leg, timing window, and pass rule checked.
Reservation strategy
When to book, which seats to choose, how to avoid sell-outs.
Backup routes
Alternatives if a train is delayed or cancelled.
"We cut eight hours of rail-pass research down to 20 minutes."
Sam stitched the reservation rules, backup routes, and the best night train option together before we finished dinner.
Credit packs for every journey
Buy credits to use Sam for planning, research, and expert answers. No subscription required.
Starter
- Credits
- 100
- Value
- Standard rate
- Valid
- 365 days
- Use for
- Chat, planning & research
Explorer
- Credits
- 300
- Value
- 17% off per credit
- Valid
- 365 days
- Use for
- Chat, planning & research
Adventurer
- Credits
- 600
- Value
- 30% off per credit
- Valid
- 365 days
- Use for
- Chat, planning & research
New to credits? Read How Credits Work. By purchasing credits you agree to our Credit Sales Terms and Conditions.
FAQ
Common questions
How is Sam different from ChatGPT?
Can Sam plan a whole trip, not just answer questions?
How does pricing work?
What if my trip is too complex for AI alone?
Can Sam actually save me money?
Does this work for both Eurail and Interrail passes?
What if I need help while travelling?
Ready to plan your European rail adventure?
Stop bouncing between forums and timetables.