International coupons

[NorthernM]

Hi im new to travelling around europe via train so please bear with me. I work in the rail industry so im eligible to apply for international coupons. Its almost time for me to apply but when ive looked into doing so I've noticed that there are so many toc options to tick. Im taking the eurostar to Paris so no coupon needed there. From Paris I want to travel to Zurich, from Zurich to Milan and then from Milan to Rome. So my question to anybody who has traveled these routes... which tocs am I likely to require coupons for.
As its my first time doing something like this with my family I want to make it an enjoyable experience..
Thanks

 

[jon0844]

Hi im new to travelling around europe via train so please bear with me. I work in the rail industry so im eligible to apply for international coupons. Its almost time for me to apply but when ive looked into doing so I've noticed that there are so many toc options to tick. Im taking the eurostar to Paris so no coupon needed there. From Paris I want to travel to Zurich, from Zurich to Milan and then from Milan to Rome. So my question to anybody who has traveled these routes... which tocs am I likely to require coupons for.
As its my first time doing something like this with my family I want to make it an enjoyable experience..
Thanks

I think you need coupons for every country you pass through, even if you are travelling on a single train from a single operator. It's a coupon for a country not a TOC I think.

 

[bb21]

Yes, coupons are for countries and not train companies. Some express services may require a reservation or a supplement to be paid.

You get one coupon per year for most countries. Each coupon has four boxes, valid for 48 hours each. Note that coupons for an adjacent country to the UK can only be used in one continuous stay. Once you leave the country for UK, you cannot return and use up the remainder of the boxes even if you have not fully used up all four. The list of countries classed as adjacent to the UK is available from the Rail Staff Travel website. Off the top of my head, it includes France (SNCF), Belgium (SNCB), Ireland (IE), Northern Ireland (Translink), amongst others.

Outside the coupon validity, you can apply for an FIP pass, valid for two years and allows you to obtain discounted fares in Europe.

 

[Denis103]

For France you will need Sncf. However I cannot comment on their validity on the TGV services towards Switzerland.
For Switzerland you need SBB, Swiss Private which covers most smaller lines such as the Sudost Bahn, Montreaux to Zweisimmen Golden Pass Line, BLS which covers local lines round Bern to Interlaken.
Depending on your thoughts for doing some of the lake boat trips such as on lac Leman (lake Geneva) or Zurich See are covered on SP or the Bodensee that borders across to Germany and Austria the you will need VSU.
For Italy you need FS. The only issue with FS is the compulsory reservation for all Highspeed and Intercity services as they are deemed as Global Price. The cost of a FIP supplement sometimes costs more than booking a normal price ticket on line from the FS website.
The FS coupons are not valid on local services round Milan as these are run by Treinnord.

 

[NorthernM]

Thanks for the replies. Ive already applied for our fip passes whivh have arrived. I'm just a little confused as to what i should be applying for with the coupons. We plan on spending only a couple of nights in paris zurich and milan and theb staying for much longer in rome and flying back from there. Once ive been and experienced it im sure ill pick it all up. Im hoping to make it a regular thing because its a great perk of the job

 

[Blinder]

SNCF are not valid on the TGV Lyria services between France & Switzerland. They are valid internally in France, so from Paris to Mulhouse then you will have to either alight and get on a local train or buy a ticket between Mulhouse & Basel.

In Italy FS coupons are not valid on the high-speed services, so either travel on local services or buy tickets at either FIP rate or advance-purchase which are usually cheaper.

 

[30907]

You only need Swiss Private if you are going the Bernina Pass route for Zurich-Milan (which I highly recommend, as does www.seat61.com). If you are in a hurry and want to experience the Gotthard Base Tunnel then it's just SBB.
Tirano-Milan is part of the TreNord system but fares aren't expensive.

 

[NorthernM]

Thanks for the replies. Its a lot to take in. Ive had a look at some of the booking sites linked but when ive looked through the discounts ans supplements there doesnt appear to choice from fip users.

Can anyone recommend a booking agent so i could get a rough quote. The more that i look into this tge confused im getting.

Again i really do appreciate your help

 

[davetheguard]

Thanks for the replies. Its a lot to take in. Ive had a look at some of the booking sites linked but when ive looked through the discounts ans supplements there doesnt appear to choice from fip users.

Can anyone recommend a booking agent so i could get a rough quote. The more that i look into this tge confused im getting.

Again i really do appreciate your help

Hello NorthernM. A company I've used a couple of times now, and who can issue FIP rate (i.e. the Continental equivalent of a PRIV ticket) tickets is Rail Canterbury. Their phone number is 01227 450088. They always seem helpful on the phone. I've found that they will issue FIP or public rate "Adavance" type ticket whichever are cheaper. They do charge a commission, but seem knowledgeable, and in my opinion it's worth it. Ffestiniog Travel is another company that can issue FIP rate tickets, but I've not used them myself.

 

[davetheguard]

Thanks for the replies. Ive already applied for our fip passes whivh have arrived. I'm just a little confused as to what i should be applying for with the coupons. We plan on spending only a couple of nights in paris zurich and milan and theb staying for much longer in rome and flying back from there. Once ive been and experienced it im sure ill pick it all up. Im hoping to make it a regular thing because its a great perk of the job

You might like to look at the Rail Delivery Group's website if you haven't already done so - www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst click on "Where can I go?" followed by "Travel tips for Europe" Scroll down the list of countries for information about what you can and can't do with a coupon in each one. Towards the bottom are "Global or special fares tables" which show when you need to pay a FIP fare rather than using a coupon. I'm afraid for the Lyria service between Paris & Switzerland you'll need FIP tickets. In Switzerland, you'll be fine on anything operated by SBB (which is a lot), but in Italy the coupon is really only valid on local stopping trains operated by TrenItalia; you'll need a reservation & a FIP ticket for anything that is classified as Inter City (IC) or operated by high speed trains.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Having done the majority of this a few years ago, on International TGV services between France and Switzerland or Italy you pay the FIP Global Fare which is similar to Eurostar FIP fares. Its usually cheaper to buy an advanced purchase.

In Switzerland you'll need the SBB coupon, all SBB services you'll be able to travel on within Switzerland, no issues.

In Italy they removed all but the Regionale trains from coupons so you may as well not bother. Buy advanced purchase tickets, they aren't expensive, on some of the high speed routes it'd worth comparing the open access Italo, and state operated FS Frecciarosso/Bianca/Argento services for cheaper fares.