Eurail Pass Guide 2015

Eurail
Pass Guide 2015
Download the Eurail
Rail Planner App.
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Dear Eurail Traveler
You have chosen the perfect way to explore Europe – by
train! With the Eurail Pass you will be able to travel in the
most exciting way imaginable, offering you the chance to
fully appreciate Europe’s spectacular landscapes as well as its
cultural and historical heritage.
This booklet is designed to explain how to use your Eurail
Pass so that you can get the most out of your European travel
experience.
Our first tip: download the Rail Planner App to help you plan
your European rail journey. There you can find European
timetables, additional benefits for Eurail Pass holders, and
much more. Many of its features work offline and therefore
do not require a mobile data connection.
Thank you for choosing Eurail. We wish you a fantastic
journey!
Contents
How to use your Eurail Pass in 3 Steps
5
How the Eurail Pass Works
6
Discover Europe’s Trains
14
Practical Information
16
Pass Benefits
19
Conditions of Use
20
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this guide is correct
and up to date. This information, however, can be subject to change without prior
notice, and no guarantee can be made regarding its accuracy or completeness.
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1
How to use your Eurail Pass in 3 Steps
How to use your
Eurail Pass in 3 Steps
efore making your first journey,
B
activate your ticket at your travel agent
or a train station ticket window.
2
Before boarding a new train, bus or boat
you must fill in the Travel Report details.
If you have a Flexi Pass, enter the date in
blue or black ink (no pencil!) in the Travel
Calendar on your Eurail Pass ticket.
3
Once you have finished traveling,
please send us your Pass Cover
including ticket and in return we will
send you a gift.
5
How the Eurail Pass Works
Please read the following carefully to ensure a smooth and pleasant
Eurail Pass experience.
What travel documents do I need?
The Eurail Pass itself consists of the Pass Cover with the Travel Report,
together with an attached ticket, which should not be detached under
any circumstances.
Aside from the ticket and Pass Cover, you will of course need a valid
passport. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a visa to
visit certain countries. Travel insurance is also strongly recommended
– this is not included in your pass!
What Eurail materials do I get?
Besides this Pass Guide, you will receive a Pass Cover with your ticket
attached as well as a Eurail Map which helps you to plan your trip.
How do I start using my Eurail Pass?
First, you must activate the ticket. This can be done by the travel agent
you purchased your pass from, or from a ticket window in any European
train station.
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Once the ticket is activated, guard your Eurail Pass as carefully as your
wallet – there are no refunds for lost or stolen passes – and keep it clean
and unmarked. Do not laminate your ticket.
How the Eurail Pass Works
You must activate your pass within six months after buying it. The
person activating your ticket will stamp the date in the activation box
and will fill out your passport number and the first and last valid days of
travel. The first travel day can be the one on which the ticket is
activated, or a later date – the choice is yours. The last day will always
correspond to the complete length of time for which your pass is valid.
What is the Eurail Pass Cover for?
The Pass Cover protects your activated Eurail Pass ticket, which is
stapled inside. It also includes the Travel Report form that you must
present, together with the ticket, to ticket inspectors.
Fill out your personal and ticket details before you start using your pass,
and complete the journey details before you board any new train, ferry,
or bus when using your pass for transportation or a discount.
Is my Eurail Pass valid for all trains and boats in Europe?
A Eurail Pass is valid for travel in the countries or companies printed on
your ticket or, in case of a Global Pass, valid in the countries and
companies printed on the Pass Cover. The Rail Planner App specifies the
different participating railway companies, including participating
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private railways and shipping companies. This information can be found
in the Rail Planner App under Pass Benefits and is listed per country.
For free passage on international ferry routes, your Eurail Pass must be
valid for the country of departure AND the country of arrival. For
discounted passage, the pass must be valid for the country of departure
OR the country of arrival.
Please note that reservation costs and surcharges required for
overnight beds and seats on certain international and high-speed
trains are not included. See ‘How do I make seat and bed
reservations?’ section on page 11.
What if I need to travel through a country not covered by my
Eurail Pass?
If any portion of your journey passes through a country not covered by
your pass, you will need to buy a ticket for that leg of your journey. Do
this at a ticket counter in advance, since tickets on the train will be more
expensive. For example, if you have a Eurail Pass that is not valid in
Austria, and you plan to travel through Austria, you will need to
purchase a separate ticket for this part of the journey.
How often can I use my Eurail Pass?
It depends on the type you have. Eurail Global Passes, valid for 28
countries, come in two sorts:
•The Continuous Pass can be used as often as you want during the
period that it is valid for
•The Flexi Pass can only be used for a specific number of travel days
8
during the period of validity. Eurail Passes that only cover specific
geographical areas (Eurail Select, Eurail Regional, and Eurail One
Country Passes) are all considered Flexi Passes.
Using the Eurail Flexi Pass
If you have a Flexi Pass, please read the following carefully to make sure
you use it properly.
• What’s the Travel Calendar on the Flexi Pass ticket for?
Your Flexi Pass entitles you to a set number of travel days within a
specific period. On any travel day, you can hop on and off as many
trains as you like, but please check in advance if a reservation is
recommended or compulsory. Before you board your first train of the
day, it is extremely important that you write the date in the Travel
Calendar on your ticket. Not doing so is considered the same as
traveling without a ticket, which means you will have to pay for a
full-fare ticket and may also risk having to pay a fine.
How the Eurail Pass Works
Please note that you can take your first trip anytime after 00.00 hours on
the first day that your pass is valid and you must finish your last trip by
midnight (24.00 hours) on the last day of validity.
• How do I fill in the Travel Calendar on the ticket?
Your Travel Calendar will have a day and month box for each of the
travel days you are entitled to. Even if you already have a carefully
planned schedule worked out, do not fill in the whole calendar at
once – you’ll lose all flexibility as to when you can travel! As you start
each travel day, write the day and month in the proper boxes under ‘1,’
for the first travel day, ‘2’ for the second, and so on. Do not do this in
pencil – you must use blue or black ink!
Example of activation
Travel Calendar
Do’s and don’ts for the Travel Calendar
• Only use a pen with black or blue ink (not erasable)
• Do not use pencil
• Never correct a date
• Enter 2 digits per day/month; see example above
9
•What if I make a mistake filling out the Travel Calendar?
Be very careful. Mistakes cannot be corrected, since an altered travel
date can be interpreted as attempted fraud. In case you made a mistake,
you will have to enter the correct day in the next date box, which
means you ‘lose’ one travel day.
•How to enter an overnight journey in the Flexi Pass Travel Calendar
and save a travel day
A travel day lasts from midnight to midnight. For all overnight trips, your
Eurail Pass must be valid on the dates of departure and arrival. However,
depending on the departure time of the overnight train, there is a
special Eurail offer that could save you a travel day.
If you board a direct overnight train (with no connections/no change of
trains) after 19.00h (7pm), which arrives at its final destination after
04.00h (4 am), you only need to use one travel day – the date of arrival.
For instance, if you take the direct overnight train from Budapest to
Munich, which departs on August 2nd at 21.10h (9:10 pm) and arrives
the following morning at 06.15h (6:15 am), you only have to write
August 3rd in the Travel Calendar on your pass.
If you board an overnight train before 19.00h (7 pm), you need to use
two travel days. Fill in the date of departure in one set of boxes and the
date of arrival in the next.
When traveling by night ferry, you only have to use one travel day. You
may fill in either the date of departure or arrival on your Travel Calendar.
The choice is yours.
10
How do I make seat and bed reservations?
Certain trains – such as high-speed, international, and overnight trains
– usually require you to reserve a seat or a bed for an extra fee. Seats on
these trains in popular countries like France, Italy, and Spain can be in
great demand during July and August (the high-season months in
Europe) and the number of seats allocated to Eurail Pass holders on
these trains can be limited. However, Austrian and German high-speed
trains usually do not require reservations.
How the Eurail Pass Works
Does my Eurail Pass entitle me to extra benefits?
Yes, your pass entitles you to a great range of special benefits, including
free or discounted transportation on European buses and ferries. For the
complete list of extra benefits, check the Pass Benefits section of the Rail
Planner App. For more information, see also page 19.
Because of this demand, booking in advance is strongly recommended
– preferably before you arrive in Europe (most trains can be booked up
to three months in advance). Should seats for pass holders be sold out
for a train you want, you will have the option to purchase a full-fare
ticket. However, you can also try a different day or time, or perhaps
consider an alternative route. To find out if a train requires a reservation,
consult your travel agent, a railway company or the Eurail Rail Planner
App. See also point 9 off the conditions of use.
Before your trip, you can make reservations through most travel agents
selling Eurail Passes and with several European railway companies,
online and/or via call center.
Once in Europe, you can make reservations at a railway station ticket
counter, or at Eurail Aid Offices managed by the national railway
companies. These are usually located at the international ticket counters
at the major train stations and at select airports. See the Pass Benefits
section, listed by country, on the Rail Planner App.
For more information about reservations, please visit
www.eurailgroup.org/eurailreservations
Tip: On the Rail Planner App, it is possible to
use the filter ‘Trains without compulsory
reservations’ to plan your trip. Please note that
you might spend more time traveling and may
need to make more changes of trains.
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The Rail Planner is a free and convenient app that provides offline
access to the European train timetables. With the app, you can
use the ‘Trip Planner’ feature to plan your trip in advance, at the
train station or even on the train!
Available for download from:
Eurail Rail Planner App
Free, Offline, Convenient.
You can also:
• Find the train stations nearest to you using augmented reality
• See what extra discounts and benefits you are entitled to,
including ferry crossings, hotels and city tours
• Read facts about the countries you are exploring
Discover Europe’s Trains
Each European train has its own characteristics; they can be different in
style, technology, comfort levels, speed, and the onboard experience
differs the moment you cross a border. Here is a basic overview of the
different trains in Europe:
Local trains
In general, these trains travel short distances and often stop at smaller
stations. They are very popular among local people, especially
commuters. Please be aware that some of these trains are made up
entirely of 2nd class carriages.
Express trains
Domestic and international express trains make fewer stops, speeding
you to your destination much more quickly than local trains. These are
commonly called InterCity (IC) or EuroCity (EC) trains. These trains
sometimes require a seat reservation.
High-speed trains
Want to cover a long distance really fast, or as luxuriously as possible?
There are many high-speed services (sometimes traveling at speeds of
up to 200 mph) that criss-cross Europe – with comfortable 1st and 2nd
class cars and catering services. Seat reservations are usually required at
an additional cost. For more information about reservations, please visit
www.eurailgroup.org/eurailreservations
Scenic rail routes
Of course Europe is bursting with picturesque scenery that can be
enjoyed from any type of train. But there are numerous train routes that
are celebrated for the magnificent landscapes they pass through. Eurail
Passes are valid for many of them, or entitle you to a discount.
Reservations are sometimes required – they are always highly
recommended.
14
Overnight trains
Overnight trains run between many of Europe’s major cities and offer a
variety of sleeping accommodations to suit different budgets. A night
train can also save you money, since the supplement you pay might
cost less than a hotel room, depending on the accommodation you
choose. Some overnight trains offer reclining seats (generally only in
2nd class), which have the least expensive surcharge. The majority offer
standard couchettes as well as more luxurious sleepers, with the
required supplement rising accordingly in price. Couchettes are
compartments with four open bunks in 1st class and four or six open
bunks in 2nd class. These are shared with other passengers of both
sexes. Washbasins and toilet facilities can be found at the end of each
train car corridor, and a sheet, blanket, and pillow are provided. Sleepers
offer more comfort and privacy, accommodating one or two passengers
Discover Europe’s Trains
in 1st class, and two or three in 2nd class. They usually have a private
washbasin and are allocated exclusively for either men or women,
unless your party occupies all the beds in the compartment. Some
night trains even offer deluxe sleeper compartments with a private
toilet and shower. Reservations are always required.
To ensure that you have the best onboard experience, take a few
sensible precautions: safely store your belongings and remember to
lock the door of your cabin when you are inside.
Travel document collection
Border crossings and passport checks often take place on these trains in
the middle of the night. It is therefore quite common before you go to
sleep for the car attendant to collect your Eurail Pass and passport for
border formalities, so you won’t be disturbed. Don’t worry – this is
standard procedure, and your documents will be returned to you in the
morning. Be sure to double-check that the returned documents are
indeed yours, and that they are all there.
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Practical Information
Assistance while traveling
in Europe
In several major train stations,
you’ll find Eurail Aid Offices where
you can get information and
assistance with reservations,
among other things. They are
usually located at the international
ticket counters. If your pass has
been issued or activated
incorrectly, do not use it! Instead,
exchange it for a new one at a
Eurail Aid Office in a country for
which your pass is valid. You will
find information on the location of
the Eurail Aid Offices listed in the
Eurail Rail Planner App.
1st or 2nd class
Your class of travel depends on the
type of Eurail Pass you have bought
and is indicated on your pass ticket.
If you have a 2nd class pass and
wish to travel 1st class on a
particular journey, you will need to
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pay the price difference in advance
at a ticket window. If you have a 1st
class pass, you are not entitled to a
refund if you travel in 2nd class.
Some domestic trains do not have
1st class cars, and boat services do
not generally offer a class
distinction. At some major stations,
there are special railway lounges
that may be available to 1st class
pass holders: these are listed in the
‘Pass benefits section in the Eurail
Rail Planner App. Please note that
railways have the right to change
their policy on pass holder access to
these lounges without prior notice.
When and where’s my train?
The Rail Planner App provides you
with offline European Timetables.
Remember that European time is
given using the 24-hour clock:after
12:00 (noon) comes 13:00 (1 pm),
14:00 (2 pm) etc., up to 24:00
(midnight).
Larger stations almost always have
a staffed information counter as
well. On the train platforms, you’ll
usually find displays confirming
the next train’s departure time and
destination.
Big city, many stations!
Most larger cities have multiple
railway stations, and trains
generally don’t stop at all of them.
If you want to arrive at a specific
station in a particular city, be sure
to check that the train you want
to take does indeed stop there.
And when heading on to a new
destination, be sure to double
check exactly which station you
need to depart from.
Are we there yet?
Station stops are not always
announced or may be announced
in a foreign language that you do
not understand. Take note of your
scheduled arrival time and the
names of the stations before your
stop, so you will be prepared to
disembark when the train arrives
at your destination. Station names
are usually clearly visible on their
platforms, but you can always ask
the conductor or a fellow
passenger if you are not sure.
Practical Information
You’ll find departure schedules
and platform information in all
train stations, ranging from
posters (departures on yellow
paper, arrivals on white) to boards
providing up-to-the-minute
information.
Getting on the right train – and
staying on it!
All aboard? If you’ve made a
reservation, you’ll find the car and
seat number printed on the ticket.
Some platforms feature a poster
indicating exactly where specific
cars stop on the platform.
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Be ready to board the train the
minute it arrives – station stops
are often very brief. You can see if
a car is 1st or 2nd class by the
numbers posted near the train
door or window (some trains have
both classes in one car). Also keep
in mind that trains are sometimes
split in the middle of a journey, so
that they can continue on to
different destinations. Pay close
attention to the destination
displays, where this will be
indicated, and to any car numbers
you see near the doors. Before
splitting, the conductor will
announce which cars are going
where.
Food on board
Many long-distance and
high-speed trains have full-service
restaurant cars offering breakfast,
lunch, and dinner. On express
trains, there are sometimes buffet
and bar cars that sell light meals
throughout the trip and vendors
who pass through the carriages
selling snacks and beverages.
Food service is not very common
on local domestic trains. If you
want to know if your train has a
buffet or restaurant car, ask at the
station. And, of course, you can
always pack your own picnic meal
beforehand!
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Money
In most stations, you’ll find many
ATMs affiliated with Plus (Visa) and
Cirrus (MasterCard), where you can
regularly get cash for daily
expenses. Bring a credit and/or
debit card and enough cash in the
currency of the country you’re
arriving in for a day or so as an
emergency backup. Make sure this
is mostly in small denomination
bills ($50 equivalent or less) as
larger bills aren’t always accepted
in certain outlets and trains.
Luggage
Since you’ll be carrying or
wheeling this around for most of
your trip, we recommend that
you travel light! Depending on
the type of train, you’ll find
luggage racks above the seats
and/or at the end of the car. Keep
an eye on your luggage, since
railways cannot be held
responsible for lost or stolen bags.
Most major train stations offer
storage facilities or coin-operated
lockers for luggage.
Safety
Train stations can be busy,
exciting – and sometimes
overwhelming places. In Europe,
they are generally quite safe, but
unfortunately those with a lot of
tourist traffic will occasionally
attract thieves and pickpockets.
Use common sense and be
especially alert in stations and on
trains going to or from an airport.
And always keep a close eye on
your valuables!
Pass Benefits
Pass Benefits
As a Eurail Pass holder you can take advantage of many other extra
benefits such as discounted boat tours, hotel rooms and museum
tickets and much more. These benefits can usually be arranged on the
spot. For some benefits, particularly with international shipping lines,
advance booking is needed.
On the Eurail Rail Planner App, in the Pass Benefits
section, you will find the necessary contact details
for making reservations with the benefit partner
concerned (phone number, email address or
website). Also a list of participating companies, airport links, and
Eurail Aid Offices.
When making use of the benefits, keep the following points in mind:
1) For Flexi Pass holders:
•You may only use free transportation on a travel day that you have
written on your ticket.
•Discounted travel does not require use of a travel day. You can take
advantage of this at any time (even if you have used all your travel days) as
long as your journey takes place before that last day of your pass’ validity.
2) For Continuous Pass holders:
•You can take advantage of the benefits until the last day of your pass
validity.
This information is also available on the Eurail Group website,
www.eurailgroup.org/benefits-eurail
Please note that benefits are subject to change without prior notice:
before booking or buying a ticket, confirm that the company still
honors the discount.
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Conditions of Use
1. Eurail Pass definition
A Eurail Pass consists of a ticket
and a Pass Cover that includes the
Travel Report. Neither the ticket
nor the Pass Cover is valid on its
own. Those who travel using one
without the other are subject to
the payment of a full-fare ticket
and a maximum fine of 200 euros,
subject to the rules of the relevant
railway undertaking.
2. A Eurail Pass is strictly
personal
A Eurail Pass is strictly personal,
non-transferable, and valid only
upon presentation of a passport or
other recognized photographic
identification document (no
copies accepted). Those who travel
with a Eurail Pass without a
passport or a legal equivalent, are
subject to the payment of a
full-fare ticket and a maximum fine
of 200 euros, subject to the rules of
the relevant railway undertaking.
3. A Eurail Pass must
be activated
A Eurail Pass must be activated
before it can be used. In case a
Pass is not activated at issuance,
activation can be done at a major
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train station ticket window or at a
Eurail Aid Office (see Rail Planner
App). An activated pass will show
the first and last day of validity of
the pass. Activation must take
place within six months of the
issuing date stamp in the upper
right hand corner of the ticket.
Activation by the ticket inspector is
allowed on board a train only if the
pass holder is entering the valid
country on a train from a country
where the pass is not valid. In such
cases the pass holder must report
to the train staff immediately upon
boarding the train.
Those who travel using a ticket
without an activation date stamp
are subject to the payment of a
full-fare ticket and a maximum fine
of 200 euros, subject to the rules of
the relevant railway undertaking.
The train staff administering the
fine and issuing the full-fare ticket
will also activate the Pass.
4. Countries and companies for
which the Eurail Pass is valid
4.1 Validity of the Pass
The Eurail Global Pass is valid for
travel with the participating
4.2 Journey not entirely covered
by the validity of the Pass
If a traveler chooses to make a
journey which is not entirely
covered by the validity of his pass,
the missing section has to be paid
for at a normal fare.
There are two kinds of benefits,
namely those entitling to free
passage/entrance and those
granting a reduction.
5.1 Free benefits
For a free travel benefit on a
domestic service the pass must
be valid in the country where the
service is granted. For a free
benefit on an international
shipping line the pass must be
valid in the country of departure
and the country of arrival.
For holders of a Eurail Global Pass
Flexi, Eurail Select Pass, Eurail
Regional Pass or Eurail One
Country Pass the use of a free
travel benefit can only occur on a
day of which the date has been
filled in into the Travel Calendar.
5. Benefits
Benefits are price reductions
offered to the pass holders. Not all
passes offer the same benefits.
A benefit can only be obtained:
•on presentation of an activated
pass
•within the overall validity of a
pass
•generally only in Europe from
the local ticket office,
call-centre or website of the
company granting the benefit
5.2 Reduction benefits
For a reduction benefit on a
domestic service the pass must
be valid in the country where the
service is granted. For a reduction
benefit on an international service
the pass must be valid in either
the country of departure or the
country of arrival.
For holders of a Eurail Global Pass
Flexi, Eurail Select Pass, Eurail
Regional Pass or Eurail One
Country Pass the use of a reduction
benefit can occur on any day
within the overall validity of the
pass, even if all the travel days in
the calendar have been used up.
Eurail Passes entitle the holder
to benefits on the lines of some
companies and nontransportation organisations as
listed in the Rail Planner App . For
details regarding the specific
benefits see the Rail Planner App
or visit www.eurailgroup.org for
the latest information.
6. Recording personal, ticket,
and journey details in the
Travel Report
All Eurail Pass holders must fill out
the personal and ticket details
(including the travelers passport
number and signature) on the Pass
Cover Travel Report before using
the pass. Before boarding a train,
Conditions of Use
railway undertakings and shipping
companies in the countries listed
on the Pass Cover. Eurail Select,
Eurail Regional, and Eurail One
Country Passes are only valid for
the country, countries or
companies that are printed on the
ticket. All participating railway
undertakings and shipping
companies are listed in the Rail
Planner App under Pass Benefits. A
Eurail Pass is not valid for travel in
the country of residence of the
pass holder. For travel in his/her
country of residence, the pass
holder needs to buy a regular
ticket valid till the border or airport.
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bus, or boat, each journey must be
recorded on the Journey details
section of the Travel Report in blue
or black non-erasable ink (using a
pencil is forbidden).
Please be aware that Journey
details are a crucial part of
the ticket. Whithout these
details your ticket is not valid.
Those who travel without having
recorded the Journey details are
subject to the payment of a
full-fare ticket and a maximum fine
of 200 euros, subject to the rules of
the relevant railway undertaking.
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7. Flexi Pass: filling in the Travel
Calendar box on the ticket
Flexi Pass holders may choose the
days on which they travel within
the period of overall validity of the
pass. Before boarding the first train,
bus, or boat on a travel day, the
date must be correctly entered by
pen in blue or black non-erasable
ink only (using a pencil is
forbidden) in the corresponding
Travel Calendar boxes on the
ticket. The date must be entered
with two digits (7th of May is
07/05) and in sequential order as
in the following example:
Those who travel on a date that
has not been entered on the ticket
are subject to the payment of a
full-fare ticket and a maximum fine
of 200 euros, subject to the rules of
the relevant railway undertaking.
Once a travel date is entered, any
attempt to correct it will be
considered an attempt of fraud
and the ticket will be confiscated.
If a mistake is made, the pass
holder can:
•Enter the correct date in the
next travel day box, which
means that the pass holder
loses a (non-refundable) travel
day; or
•In all other cases, before ticket
control, ask a ticket inspector
for advice.
Conditions of Use
8. Flexi Pass:
Overnight journeys
If the Pass holder boards a direct
overnight train after 19.00h
(7 pm), and the train arrives at its
final destination after 04.00h
(4 am), it is only necessary to enter
the date of arrival in the Travel
Calendar boxes on the ticket. This
also covers travel between 19.00h
(7 pm) and 24.00h (midnight) on
the date of departure, as long as
the dates of departure and arrival
both fall within the overall period
of the pass’ validity.
When using an overnight ferry
covered by the pass, either the
date of departure or arrival may
be entered in the Travel Calendar
boxes on the ticket.
If the Pass holder boards an
overnight train before 19.00h
(7 pm), it is necessary to fill in two
travel days on the Travel Calendar.
9. Seat availability,
reservations, and surcharges
A Eurail Pass does not guarantee a
seat on a train or boat, unless a
separate reservation is secured in
advance. Fees for seat reservations,
sleeping accommodation, port
taxes, meals, and other services
while on board trains and boats
are not included in the pass.
For certain trains and ferries,
reservations in advance are
compulsory and surcharges and/
or supplements may apply.
Pass holders must book and/or
pay in advance the following:
• Seat reservation for most high
speed trains (like SNCF TGV, Thalys,
Lyria, Trenitalia Freccia, Renfe AVE).
The holder must pay in advance
charges and supplements, in
particular, those levied for seat
reservations (sometimes
additional services are included in
the reservation fee),
•Sleeping accommodation: the
use of sleeping accommodation (couchettes, beds and
sleeperettes) for all night trains,
•Panoramic coach: some scenic
trains have the option to travel
in a special panoramic coach,
which requires a reservation.
•Meals, which are included in
the supplement of some trains,
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•Other services offered on board
trains (telephone, newspapers
etc.)
•on which the data has been
altered (on any of the boxes),
•used outside its period of
validity,
Special ferry surcharges; Pass
holders must book and/or pay the
following in advance:
•the use of cabins, berths and
reclining seats on ships of the
ferry companies,
•season supplements during the
months June to September on
the shipping lines operated by
Attica Group (Superfast Ferries
and Blue Star Ferries) or Minoan
Lines between Italy and Greece,
•port taxes,
•the use of certain boats.
10. Misuse of a Eurail Pass
and confiscation
Railway staff are entitled to
confiscate a pass:
•which is a photocopy or a
counterfeit,
•that is being used by anyone
other than the person to whom
it was issued,
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•used without a passport or
other recognized photographic
identification document (no
copies accepted).
Moreover, the Pass holder is
subject to the payment of a full
fare ticket for the journey made
and a maximum fine of 200 euros,
subject to the rules of the relevant
railway undertaking. In all the cases
above, the Pass holder is
considered to be attempting fraud
against both Eurail Group and the
carrier they are traveling with. This
will be reported to national
authorities, who will determine the
appropriate penalties.
11. Luggage
With regard to the transport of
luggage, holders of a Eurail Pass
are subject to the same conditions
as holders of normal tickets with
12. Eurail Pass period of validity
A Eurail Pass is valid within the
overall time period indicated on
the pass. Travel can begin after
00.00 hours on the first date of
validity, and the last trip must be
finished by midnight (24.00 hours)
on the last date of validity.
13. 1st and 2nd class
A Eurail Pass is valid for travel in
the class indicated on the ticket.
1st class passes are also valid in
2nd class cars. Those wishing to
travel 1st class with a 2nd class
pass must pay the full difference
between 1st and 2nd class fare on
the respective route. There is no
refund for 1st class pass holders
traveling in 2nd class.
14. Eligibility
Citizens from countries outside
the European Union and outside
the countries listed hereafter, or
persons officially residing outside
the European Union and outside
the countries listed hereafter, are
eligible to travel with a Eurail Pass:
Albania, Andorra, Belarus,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYR
Macedonia, Gibraltar, Iceland,
Kosovo, Liechtenstein, , Moldova,
Monaco, Montenegro, Norway,
Russian Federation, San Marino,
Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey,
Ukraine and Vatican City.
Citizens from EU member countries
or one of the countries listed above,
and persons officially residing in
one of these countries are eligible
to travel with an Interrail Pass.
Proof of citizenship can be
established by a passport/identity
card. Proof of residence can be
established by government
issued residency documents.
15. Duplicates and replacement
of Eurail Passes
A duplicate Eurail Pass cannot be
issued for those that are lost or
stolen. Damaged passes or passes
bearing incorrect information
(due to the Issuing Office or the
officer who activated the ticket)
may be replaced without any
payment. A Pass which is
damaged by the owner can be
replaced if an extra fee is paid. The
Pass holder has to pay EUR 30 or
the equivalent in local currency in
case of a Eurail Global Pass, Eurail
Select Pass or Eurail Regional Pass.
The fee for the replacement of a
Eurail One Country Pass is fixed by
the carrier concerned.
In the event of incorrectly issued
tickets the holder may not alter it
under any circumstances. He/she
must return to the issuing office
or take it to the nearest Eurail Aid
Office for replacement. Deletion
or alterations on the pass shall be
treated as a case of misuse (see
article 10).
16. Eurail Pass categories
Restrictions apply to using Eurail
Passes in different categories:
•A Child Pass can only be used
by travelers who are younger
than 12 years of age on the first
day that the pass is valid. A
Child Pass can only be used in
combination with an Adult Pass
and a maximum of two Child
Passes per Adult Pass can be
issued. Children younger than
4 years of age can travel for free
and without a Pass, unless a
separate seat or bed is
requested. In that case a
Conditions of Use
the railway undertaking whose
train they travel on.
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separate Child ticket or Pass
may be required.
In some countries different age
restrictions may apply for
children traveling on a Eurail
One Country Pass.
•A Youth Pass can only be used
by travelers who are younger
than 26 years of age on the first
day that the pass is valid.
•A Saver Pass is valid for
everyone in the party (between
two and five Adults) listed on
the Control Voucher, but only
when they are traveling with
the Saver Pass in their
possession. If people in the
party split up and travel
separately, those who are not
carrying the Saver Pass will
need to buy a separate train
ticket. Refunds cannot be
applied in this instance.
17. Cancellation and
refund policy
In order to obtain a refund, the
pass holder shall either:
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•return the pass to the place of
purchase before the first day of
validity, or
•have a railway official certify it
on the ticket as ‘UNUSED’ before
the first day of validity. Refund
applications for passes certified
as ‘UNUSED’ are accepted up to
a year after the date of issue.
Refunds are subject to the
deduction of a 15%
cancellation fee.
Once activated, passes are
considered ‘used’ and, therefore,
non-refundable. Passes that are
partially used, lost, damaged or
stolen will not be refunded or
replaced. The same applies to
tickets of any sort purchased to
replace lost or stolen tickets.
All requests for refund for tickets
must be made in writing by the
ticket holder exclusively at the
agency/office where the pass in
question has been purchased
while presenting the original
ticket in its ticket cover.
19. Compensation policy
In the event that a pass holder
experiences, during the period of
validity of the Pass, three or more
train delays that are longer than
60 minutes each, he/she will
have the right to apply for
compensation from the Eurail
Group. For further information
and for details on the procedure
for compensation, please refer to
www.eurailgroup.org/
compensation.
carrier(s) that they utilize with the
Eurail Pass, as well as to applicable
legislation, including Regulation
(CE) 1371/2007 when traveling in
EU Member States. If the carriers
involved in the services have
implemented the ‘Uniform Rules
concerning the contract for
GCC-CIV/PRR’, the transport will
be also subject to these rules. Any
dispute is subject to the
jurisdiction of the country where
the transport was or should have
been performed.
Conditions of Use
18. Liability
Eurail Group G.I.E. only acts as an
intermediary of European carriers,
and is not liable for operation of
the carriers or for damages or
extra costs incurred due to loss of
baggage, theft, force majeure,
strikes, cancelled trains or other
causes.
21. Prevalence of
English version
In the event of a conflict between
the English version and other
linguistic versions of these
Conditions of Use, the English
version (see www.eurailgroup.org)
shall prevail.
20. Legal provisions
Pass holders are subject to these
Conditions of Use and to the
Conditions of Transport of the
27
Eurail Group G.I.E.
P.O. Box 2112
3500 GC Utrecht
The Netherlands
English version
EG E1505