Introduction / Travel Abroad / Ticket / Reservations
Seat Reservations, Sleeper and Couchette Tickets in International Travel
To be certain you will travel in comfort, you can purchase a reservation:
- for a seat (seat reservation)
- in a couchette carriage (couchette supplement)
- in a sleeper carriage (sleeper supplement)
Sleeper and couchette supplements can be purchased for inland transport in carriages belonging to ČD or Slovakia’s Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko.
Price List for Reservation Documents
The sale of reservation documents is generally initiated 2 months prior to the train’s scheduled departure, for certain trains, however, the period of advance sales can be extended to up to 6 months prior to the train’s departure (e.g. CNL overnight trains, certain seasonal connections, etc.). Sales are terminated according to the type of reservation and the handling station as follows:
| Type of Reservation | Termination of Sales |
|---|---|
| reservation for a sleeper or couchette carriage | 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train (or carriage) from its originating station (except for trains R 405, EN 456 at the time of the train’s scheduled departure from the boarding station) |
| reservation for an automobile carriage | 2 hours prior to the train’s scheduled departure from Praha hl.n. (or Košice or Poprad-Tatry) |
| non-required seat reservation or reservation for a bicycle | 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train (or carriage) from its originating station |
| non-required seat reservation – “express reservation” | at the time of the train’s scheduled departure from the boarding station |
| required seat reservation or reservation for a bicycle (including category SC trains) | at the time of the train’s scheduled departure from the boarding station |
The sale of sleeper supplements for train R 409 (Prague - Moscow) does not terminate per the overview above and supplements can be purchased until the train’s scheduled departure time from the passenger’s boarding station. For this reason, the sale of sleeper supplements for this train is not handled by this train’s accommodation carriage attendants.
The sale of reservation documents abroad is subject to terms and conditions set by the relevant carrier, which may differ from the overview above.
A reservation document is valid only in combination with a valid ticket and only as far as the station specified thereupon.
Passengers forfeit their claim to a reserved seat if they do not occupy it within 15 minutes following the train’s departure from the boarding station specified on the reservation document. If the journey is interrupted, the reservation document ceases to be valid at the station where the journey was interrupted.
Terms and Conditions for Using Reserved Seats
- On category EC, IC, EN and Ex trains, and on selected category R trains it is possible to reserve any seat. Reserved seats on these trains are typically marked prior to departure from the originating station with reservation tickets placed in the corresponding frames for specific seats in individual carriages (or they are displayed electronically). The reservation ticket contains information on the reserved segments, journey date, train number, carriage and seat for which it was issued.
- On category EC, IC and Ex trains, and selected category R trains, a certain number of seats are set aside with sales up to the time of the train’s scheduled departure from the boarding station. These seats are included in the express reservation system and are marked as such in the train. On these reservation tickets the reserved segment is not listed, nor is the journey date or seat number; there is only a notice stating that it is necessary to make such seats available to passengers with a valid seat reservation. These seats can be reserved in any segment for the duration of the train’s journey.
- On category SC trains a seat reservation is required. These seats are not marked, as it is possible to reserve them in any segment for the duration of the train’s journey. Only passengers with a valid seat reservation purchased in advance may board these trains.
- If the passenger requires a seat in a reserved carriage for a child up to 6 years of age, he or she is required to purchase a seat reservation for such a child. One seat reservation can be used for two children up to 6 years of age provided both children occupy only one seat.
- When ordering a reservation for a seat set aside for passengers with reduced or restricted mobility or ability to orient themselves, it is necessary to state this circumstance and to demonstrate eligibility at the time of purchase as well as at the time of ticket inspection.
Terms and Conditions for Using Reserved Seats in Accommodation Carriages
- Seat reservations in accommodation carriages differ according to type of supplement, train category and quality of services. Accommodation services are normally divided into services in sleeper carriages, in couchette carriages and in carriages with specially modified interiors and seats for overnight passenger transport (sleeperette). Reservation documents are issued according to this differentiation, i.e. sleeper supplements for sleeper carriages, couchette supplements for couchette carriages and seat reservations for carriages with specially modified interiors and seats for overnight passenger transport.
- Sleeper carriages have 1st and 2nd class compartments which are reserved separately for men and women. Passengers of mixed gender who wish to use a compartment together must pay for supplements and tickets at a regular fare for any empty beds. Children up to 10 years of age accompanied by an adult may be placed in a compartment regardless of their gender. For use of a bed of the category Single (a compartment with one bed), it is necessary to present a travel document issued for 1st class travel. For use of a bed of the category Tourist or Double, it is sufficient to present a travel document issued for 2nd class travel.
- Couchette carriages have 2nd class compartments for men and women together (with the exception of certain connections). In the compartment there are four or six berths. To use a berth it is necessary to present a travel document issued for 2nd class travel.
- One sleeper or couchette berth can be used together by at most two persons, of whom at least one must be under ten years of age. Children up to 6 years of age for whom you do not require a separate sleeper or couchette berth pay no sleeper or couchette supplement, nor do they pay fare. If you require a separate sleeper or couchette berth for a child up to 6 years of age, the sleeper or couchette supplement must be paid in addition to half fare. If two children up to 6 to years of age use one sleeper or couchette berth together, only one sleeper or couchette supplement and one half fare must be paid.
If one child 6 to 10 years of age or two children 6 to 10 years of age together use one sleeper or couchette berth, only one sleeper or couchette supplement must be paid; fare, however, is paid for each child separately. Children from 6 to 10 years of age for whom you do not require a separate sleeper or couchette berth pay no sleeper or couchette supplement; they must always pay fare, however.
For every child from 10 to 15 years of age it is necessary to pay the fare and sleeper or couchette supplement separately. - Seats are usually converted for sleeping after 22:00 and for sitting after 8:00. By agreement among all passengers in the compartment this can occur at different times; if after 21:00 at least one passenger in a sleeper compartment wishes to convert the berth for sleeping, all berths in the compartment will be converted. Reservation documents for these seats can be purchased only from the carriage attendant. Reservation documents for an entire compartment can be purchased at any ticket office.
- Upon boarding a carriage, passengers are required to hand over to the carriage attendant all travel documents and leave them with him for the duration of the journey (except for passes for MPs and senators).
- It is not permitted to bring live animals onto the carriage except for dogs, which are permitted provided the passenger has his or her own compartment; outside the compartment the dog must be kept on a leash and must have a muzzle.
- The carriage attendant will wake the passenger at a time specified by the passenger or no later than 30 minutes prior to the passenger’s destination station and will return the passenger’s travel documents upon exiting the train.
- Seat reservations in carriages with modified interiors and seats for overnight passenger transport are handled in the same manner as seat reservations for daytime transport.
- In special cases for certain types of overnight trains the price for the fare or a supplement for special supplementary service is tied to the price of the sleeper or couchette supplement.
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