These trains can sell out, sometimes weeks in advance (Eurostar). Without a seat reservation, you don’t get on it.

Trains with mandatory seat reservations (TGV in France, Eurostar, Frecce-trains in Italy).

Advisable to reserve on busy travel days, like summer-weekends, long holiday-weekends,…

You can board any train you’lld like and find a free seat, but if someone shows up with a reservation you’ll need to find another seat.

Trains with optional reservations (Long distance trains in Germany and the UK, IC, EC, ICE, RJ.).

S, L, IR, RE, RB, Sprinter, R, TER,… many different names)

Reservation free trains (Most trains in Europe, mostly local and regional services.

Wether to reserve seats in advance, really depends from train to train.

For some trains, you’ll need a seat reservation. And it’s valid on more than 90% of all trains in Europe. You could have reserved seats for that train, but as tickets are not-refundable, you’lld better stick to your ordinary tickets. You already have tickets for the trickiest train, Eurostar (France-England-Belgium).

Please avoid to book, see above.ītw a 1st class pass doesn't cost much more, if you'd like to. Yes it is possible to book seats together. The Eurail Pass generally does not include transportation in cities, exceptions are suburban trains (but not worth to use a pass day for them, buy regular tickets instead). It's best to avoid making reservations on due to extra fees and more expensive optional reservations (8€ instead of 3€). There are always reservation-free alternatives, just in case. Germany : 3€ per train or 4.50€ per journey You have chosen fantastic countries for the pass : Switzerland does not require seat reservations at all, Germany has optional ones (a good idea on long-distance journeys, they do not cost much) and Italy has a very good network (even if high speed trains require seat reservations there, there will be availability the day before on most trains). With a pass you have a lot of flexibility as you can basically choose 2 min before boarding where you'd like to go. But once a train requiring seat reservations is full, it's full. There is no quota for passholders on the vast majority of trains, exceptions are Eurostar, Thalys and TGVs to Belgium.

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