Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Eurail

Eurail is a Pass for train travel throughout Europe. The Eurail Passes exist since 1959. There are several types of Eurail Passes which you can use for travel. The most popular Eurail Pass is the Eurail Global Pass, which enables you to rail travel in 20 European countries with one Pass.

Eurail.Com is a is a subsidiary of the Eurail Group. This is a cooperation between 30 European Railways and some shipping lines. This means that Eurail.Com offers Eurail Passes directly from the source.

Eurail does not offer so-called 'point-to-point tickets', meaning tickets for one time travel between two cities. The Eurail Passes are meant for travelers who wish to travel for a number of days within a certain period.

Eurail is not a railway company itself. This means that there is no such thing as a Eurail train. Instead, we facilitate rail travel by cooperating with railway companies in 30 diferent countries.

The Eurail Global Pass is valid in no less than 20 countries:
Austria (including Liechtenstein), Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France (including Monaco), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Eurail Global Pass is not valid in the Czech Republic or England.

You can choose from the following countries: Austria (including Liechtenstein), Belgium/Netherlands/Luxemburg, Bulgaria/Montenegro/Serbia, Croatia/Slovenia, Denmark, Finland, France (including Monaco), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

The Eurail Select Pass is not valid in the Czech Republic or England.

Click here for more information on how to count the countries

With a Eurail Select Pass you can pick 3, 4 or 5 adjoining countries.

These are the rules for counting the countries:

- Belgium Netherlands and Luxemburg together count as 1 country (BeNeLux)
- Croatia and Slovenia together count as 1 country (Croatia/Slovenia)
- Austria and Liechtenstein together count as 1 country (Austria)
- France and Monaco together count as 1 country (France)
- Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro together count as 1 country (Bulgaria/Montenegro/Serbia)
- The following countries count as 1 country each: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
- You can travel between the countries as much as you like. If you have want to travel from Germany to Switzerland to France, and then back to Germany, that still counts only as 3 countries.

A travel day is the period between 12 midnight on one day to 12 midnight of the following day (i.e. a 24 hour period). During this travel day, you can take as many trains as you wish. You can change trains, and also travel internationally, as long as you stay within these 24 hours, it will always count as one travel day.

An additional benefit is the 7PM rule: If you board a direct, overnight train after 7pm on a certain day, then only the following day (the day of arrival of the over night train) is counted as a travel day. On your Eurail Pass, you would write the day of arrival on the pass prior to boarding the overnight train.You effectively will receive 5 hours of travel for free.

Do you want to travel by train almost every day? Or do you only need some travel days within the time of your holiday ?

- When you choose a Select Pass or Regional Pass you will have a number of travel days within a period of  2 months. You can choose yourself when you want to have a travel day. You can use them non-consecutively.
- The One Country Passes have the same system: some travel days within a period of 1 or 2 months.
- With the Global Pass you can choose whether you want the travel days to be any travel day within a certain period, or a limited number of travel days within a certain period. The options are 10 or 15 travel days within a period of 2 months, or 15 days, 21 days, 1, 2 or 3 months consecutively

There are two 15 day Eurail Global Passes:

• The 15 days pass Global Pass. This pass is valid for a period of 15 days. You can choose on which days during this period you wish to travel. If the pass starts on August 14th, it is valid until August 28th. You can travel on any day during this period
• The 15 days in 2 months Global Pass. This pass is valid for a period of 2 months. During these 2 months, you can pick 15 days on which you travel. You will fill in a calender box on the Pass to show on which day you travel. You can fill in the days on the day on which you travel, you do not need to decide in advance. The 15 days can be consecutive, or non-consecutive, just as you please. This type of Pass used to be known as Flexi Pass.

The difference between first class and second class is that in first class, there is more space and seats are more comfortable. Generally, first class is more intended for business travelers, and second more for leisure travelers. Sometimes, a meal is served in first class.
If you buy a first class Pass, you can also travel in second class. If you buy second class, you will not be able to travel in first class, unless you buy an upgrade for each travel day.

With a Eurail Global Pass you are entitled to unlimited* travel by train in 20 countries. The pass is available in two types.
The first type is valid during a consecutive period. You can choose from 15 days, 21 days, 1 month, 2 months or 3 months. You can travel as many days as you like during the period of validity of your pass.

The second type is a pass with flexible travel days. This means you can travel a specific number of days within a longer period of validity. The traveler chooses the days on which he/she wants to travel and fills in the these days in the calendar box on the pass. Flexible travel days may be used consecutively or non-consecutively, as long as they are used before the expiry date. This pass, which is also known as Flexipass or Flexi Pass, is available in two durations: 10 days of travel within two months or 15 days within two months.

* Some special trains require a supplement or reservation (more info)

A pass with 4 days in 2 months, means that you can choose any 4 days of travel, within a 2 month period. For example, your pass would be valid from 1 July until 31 August, and you could pick any 4 travel days during this period.

With a 5 day pass, you could pick 5 travel days etc.

A travelday on a Eurail Pass is the period from 12 midnight on one day until 12 midnight on the following day. You can travel as much as you like during that 24-hour period and hop on an off any train whenever you want (except for high speed trains which require seat reservations, they still count as one travel day, but you will need a reservation prior to boarding).

There is an extra bonus called the "7pm" rule that lets you travel after 7pm on a direct overnight train. You will only need to count the day of arrival as travel day (and fill it in on your Pass). You in effect could get an extra 5 hours for your day if you only use it after 7pm on a direct overnight train.

No, there are no Eurail passes available for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The only part of the British isles where you can travel with Eurail is the Republic of Ireland, with its capital Dublin (Republic of Ireland: Railway info / Tourist info).

If you have a Eurail Global Pass, or a Eurail Select Pass or Regional Pass which is valid in the Benelux, you may profit from reduced boat crossings and Eurostar trains to Great Britain.

No, Eurail does not offer point to point tickets, like single trips, one way tickets or a ticket from city to city.

We offer passes only, which are valid in one or more countries. Passes start from 3 travel days, up to 3 travel months.

Prague (Czech Republic) is not covered in the Eurail Global Pass and Eurail Select Pass. You can travel to the Czech Republic with 2 Eurail Regional Passes: the Eurail Austria-Czech Pass and the Eurail Czech-Germany Pass.

If you want to travel to Prague with a Global Pass or Select Pass, then you can buy a separate ticket from the Austrian or German border up to Prague and back. You can buy this ticket at the larger train stations in Austria or Germany. The costs of such a ticket from Germany will be about 20 Euros second class. The travel within Austria or Germany up until the border will be free if your Pass is valid on the day of travel.

Eurail.com accepts the following credit cards for secure payments in US dollar (US$):

- American Express (Amex)
- Discover Card
- Mastercard
- Visa

Eurail.com accepts the following credit cards for secure payments in Australian dollar ($AUD) or Euro (€):

-American Express (Amex)
- Delta
- JCB
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Visa Electron

All online payments will be handled in a fully secure way!

You can buy a Eurail Pass if you are a resident of a non-European country, like USA, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Singapore, China, India, Hong Kong.

You are considered to be a resident of a country if you have been living in this country for longer than 6 months on the first day on which you use the Eurail Pass. The train staff will check your residency in your travel documents (passport, visa), so we advice you to bring these documents on the train.

European residents from the following countries can buy an InterRail Pass.
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroer, Finland, FYR Macedonia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican.

Eurail and InterRail travelers can travel together on the same trains.

We ship to any country in the world. All our shipments are sent secure. Just pick your country in the list of shipping countries when ordering.

Overview of fees and delivery times for each destination:

USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brasil and Mexico
Standard shipping: up to 5 working days, FREE!
Express shipping: 1-2 working days, USD 25 / AUD 30 / EUR 17.

European countries # (non-European residents only)
Standard shipping: not available.
Express shipping: 2-3 working days, USD 35 / AUD 45 / EUR 25.

Rest of the World
Standard shipping: up to 5 working days, USD 15 / AUD 18 / EUR 10.
Express shipping: not available.

# Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroer, Finland, FYR Macedonia, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican.

Do you use the Safari browser? And do you try to order a Eurail Pass in the currencies Euro or Australian dollar? Then you may get an error message with a red cross like the one below at the moment when you get to the payment page in the shopping cart.

This issue may occur if:
- you are using the browser Safari 3.x (both on Mac and on PC) and
- if your security setting are set to "only allow cookies from sites you navigate to" (this is the default setting).

We advise you to temporarily change the security settings in your Safari browser to "always accept cookies".

You can also use a different browser (like Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer) or pay in US dollar. We are sorry for this inconvenience! Our payment provider hopes to solve this problem in the future.

If you don't use Safari but also encounter problems when trying to pay, please send us a message with a description of the problem, the Pass you try to order, the currency and language you selected and the browser you are using.

A Eurail Pass is only available as a paper document which we will send by registered post. Therefore it is not possible to print the Pass yourself or have it e-mailed to you.

Because of security reasons the Pass is not available as e-ticket. We print the Passes on special paper with various safety measures like watermarks, to prevent false copies.

An optional Pass Security Plan is available for any pass purchased via the eurail.com website. The Pass Security Plan will refund the unused portion of the rail pass in the event of loss or theft of the pass while travelling in Europe. The cost are USD 12 / AUD 14 / EUR 10 per person.
More information about the Pass Security Plan >>

If you are already in Europe, we can ship your Pass to you for USD 35 / AUD 44 / EUR 25.

Please note that prices in Europe are about 20% higher than outside, and not all Passes are available for sale in Europe.

The following Eurail Passes are for sale in Europe:

• Eurail Global Pass
• Eurail Select Pass
• Eurail Austria-Croatia-Slovenia Pass
• Eurail Austria-Hungary Pass
• Eurail Croatia-Slovenia-Hungary Pass
• Eurail Greece - Italy Pass
• Eurail Hungary - Romania Pass
• Eurail Croatia Pass
• Eurail Greece Pass
• Eurail Holland Pass
• Eurail Hungary Pass
• Eurail Ireland Pass
• Eurail Italy Pass
• Eurail Norway Pass
• Eurail Portugal  Pass
• Eurail Romania Pass

Eurail.com is now also available in Spanish en Portuguese. To visit the Spanish version, click on the link Español in the top of the page or go to espanol.eurail.com. To visit the Portuguese version, click on the link Português in the top of the page or go to portugues.eurail.com.

We may be offering our website in other languages too in the near future. We are working on it!

For now, Eurail.com does not offer support by telephone. Please send all your questions about the Eurail Pass through email. We will answer your email within three business days. Please visit our contact section for contact details.

Only for after sales questions it is possible to call our fulfilment centres in the USA or Australia. You will find the phone numbers in the confirmation mail of your order.

With a 1-month continuous Global Pass, you can board the train on any of the days during one month. The number of travel days you have, depends on the length of the month in which you start to use your Pass. July has 31 days, then you can use the Pass also for 31 days. February has 28 days, then you can use the Pass also just for 28 days.

Examples:

If you start traveling on the first day of the month it is easy: you can travel during the complete calendar month. Your Pass is valid from 1 July until 31 July or from 1 February until 28 February (or 29 February in a leap year).

If for instance your 1-month pass starts at 12 July, it will be valid until 11 August. If your Pass starts at 12 February, then it will be valid until 11 March. You can board the train during any day in this period.

Take a look at the number of days of the months at this Calendar page.

A travel day is considered any travel between 12 midnight on one day to 12 midnight of the following day (i.e. a 24 hour period). An additional benefit is the 7PM rule: If you board a direct, overnight train after 7pm on a certain day, then only the following day (the day of arrival of the night train) is counted as a travelday. On your Eurail Pass, you would write the day of arrival on the pass prior to boarding the overnight train. You effectively will receive 5 hours of travel for free!

Validation of your Pass means that the first day and last day of validity have to be filled in prior to your first train trip. Furthermore the box ' Validating Stamp'  needs to be stamped.
You should always have your pass validated prior to your first train trip in Europe. This means, before your first trip in Europe, a Railway official at a ticket window has to stamp your Pass and will fill in the first and last date of validity on your Pass.
It is not possible to validate the Pass yourself.

Yes, you can travel both inside the countries in which your pass is valid and between them. You can also backtrack between the countries, so you can go back and forth as often as you like. Remember that if you cross the border of a country where your Pass is not valid, you have to buy an additional ticket.

To check if a train requires reservations, we recommend the following steps:

1. Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=212.27&newrequest=yes
2. Fill in your departure station and destination
3. In the screen which shows the connections, click on 'details for all'
4. You can now see the details of the trains. If a train requires a reservation, this is listed as 'compulsory reservation' in the train details. There is also a small red icon with an 'R'.

Although most high-speed trains require reservations and/or supplements, it's often possible to avoid paying these supplements when you research alternative routes! This means that you'll use domestic trains which are slower, but it normally means also that your travel is free from those extra costs.

To find trains which require no reservations, we recommend you follow the following steps:
1. Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
2. Enter your place of origin and destination
3. In the field 'means of transport' change 'standard search' to 'local trains only'
4. Uncheck the box 'Prefer fast connections'
5. Click 'go'
6. In the screen with the train connections click on 'details for all' in the lower left corner
7. You will now see all local train connections, which generally speaking require no reservation. If a train still would require a reservation, it will be listed as 'compulsary reservation'.

The extra costs of a night train or hotel train depend on the train you are taking and on the level of comfort you are looking for. In some trains, there are also seats (not only beds), which are available for free. The costs of the bed, depend on whether you travel in a 6-person, 4-person or 2-person cabin. They start at about USD 37 / AUD 44 / EUR 25 per bed. Some night trains, in Spain, Italy and France, have beds only.
Travelling by nighttrain will save you the costs of a hostel or hotel.

You can find more info in an online timetable, such as: http://www.oebb.at/vip8/oebb/en/index.jsp. In the details of a specific connection, you will see whether this train has seats, beds, and whether it requires a reservation.
Reservations can be made from 3 months in advance, the earlier you book, the larger the chance of getting the accomodation of your preference.

Eurostar is a highspeed railway connection betwen France/Belgium and London. Eurostar is a private company and not included in the Eurail Pass. Furthermore your Eurail Pass is not valid in the United Kingdom. However you can get a discount on Eurostar.

All fares are subject to availability and the Eurail Pass must be valid in either the country of departure or the country of arrival. To find out the exact prices for your trip we would suggest to look at the Fares pages at Eurostar.com:

- From London to Paris / Brussels / Lille / Calais / Avignon
- From Brussels / Lille to London

You should look for the 'Passholder fare'. It is not possible to book an 'Eurail-discounted fare' online. The 'pass holder fare' can be purchased from Eurostar terminals.  You can also call Eurostar at +44 (0) 1233 617 575.

Reservations are usually recommended to make sure you get a place on the boat. In general reservations for boats can only be made at the ticket window of the particular shipping line company. Sometimes you can make reservations online through the shipping company's website.

Reservations are not compulsory on most European trains. However, they are highly recommended for long-distance trains, during peak travel periods or if a certain connection is essential for your travel schedule.
Unfortunately, www.eurail.com does not yet offer reservations on our site.
You can make reservations at larger European train stations or often through the websites of the various national railway companies.
You can also make reservations through one of the Eurail Group agents. Visit the page Eurail Sales Agents for more information on the worldwide sales agents. 

The advantage of making reservations at European stations is that reservations are non-changeable and non-refundable. They are also less expensive if made in Europe at a local train station ticketing office. The advantage of booking before your travel is that you will be assured of a seat on the specific train that you wish to travel on.

There are basically three types of trains:

• Trains without reservations: local and regional trains generally require no reservations.
• Trains with optional reservations: you can make a reservation if you want to be assured of a seat, but it is not necessary
• Trains with obligatory reservations: Reservations are required for some high-speed trains such as the TGV, sleeper trains, or, if you want a couchette during an overnight journey.

Reservations can be made at the main European train stations for just a few dollars or outside of Europe for an additional service fee.

To check if a train requires reservations, we recommend the following steps:
1. Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=212.27&newrequest=yes&
2. Fill in your departure station and destination
3. In the screen which shows the connections, click on 'details for all'
4. You can now see the details of the trains. If a train requires a reservation, this is listed as 'compulsory reservation' in the train details. There is also a small red icon with an 'R'.

To check if a train requires reservations, we recommend the following steps:

1. Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=212.27&newrequest=yes
2. Fill in your departure station and destination
3. In the screen which shows the connections, click on 'details for all'
4. You can now see the details of the trains. If a train requires a reservation, this is listed as 'compulsory reservation' in the train details. There is also a small red icon with an 'R'.

Although most high-speed trains require reservations and/or supplements, it's often possible to avoid paying these supplements when you research alternative routes! This means that you'll use domestic trains which are slower, but it normally means also that your travel is free from those extra costs.

To find trains which require no reservations, we recommend you follow the following steps:
1. Go to http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
2. Enter your place of origin and destination
3. In the field 'means of transport' change 'standard search' to 'local trains only'
4. Uncheck the box 'Prefer fast connections'
5. Click 'go'
6. In the screen with the train connections click on 'details for all' in the lower left corner
7. You will now see all local train connections, which generally speaking require no reservation. If a train still would require a reservation, it will be listed as 'compulsary reservation'.

The extra costs of a night train or hotel train depend on the train you are taking and on the level of comfort you are looking for. In some trains, there are also seats (not only beds), which are available for free. The costs of the bed, depend on whether you travel in a 6-person, 4-person or 2-person cabin. They start at about USD 37 / AUD 44 / EUR 25 per bed. Some night trains, in Spain, Italy and France, have beds only.
Travelling by nighttrain will save you the costs of a hostel or hotel.

You can find more info in an online timetable, such as: http://www.oebb.at/vip8/oebb/en/index.jsp. In the details of a specific connection, you will see whether this train has seats, beds, and whether it requires a reservation.
Reservations can be made from 3 months in advance, the earlier you book, the larger the chance of getting the accomodation of your preference.

Reservations are usually recommended to make sure you get a place on the boat. In general reservations for boats can only be made at the ticket window of the particular shipping line company. Sometimes you can make reservations online through the shipping company's website.

For now, Eurail.com does not offer support by telephone. Please send all your questions about the Eurail Pass through email. We will answer your email within three business days. Please visit our contact section for contact details.

Only for after sales questions it is possible to call our fulfilment centres in the USA or Australia. You will find the phone numbers in the confirmation mail of your order.

The Eurail Saver Pass options allow 2 to 5 passengers to travel together at all times under one single pass which is about 15% cheaper than the normal Adult Pass. The prices listed are per person. Not all people listed on the Pass have to be on the train together, but only one part of the group can travel separately since there is only one Pass with all names listed.

Read more about Eurail Saver Passes

The Youth Pass offers 35% discount for travelers who are 25 or younger on their first day of travel. It is valid in second class only. Young travelers can also travel in first class with an Adult Pass, but then there is no discount. The following passes offer first class youth options: Greece Pass, Poland Pass, Romania Pass.
More about Youth Passes

If you are a family with children 3 or younger on their first day of travel, then your children can travel for free. You will not need to buy a ticket for your children. If there are 2 or more adults, these can buy a Saver Pass, which allows 15% discount on the Adult fare.

If you are a family with children in the age between 4 and 11 on their first day of travel, then you can all buy a Saver Pass. The Adults will receive a 15% discount on the Adult fare, and the children will then pay half of the Saver fare.

If your children are aged between 12 and 26 on their first day of travel, then they can get a discount by buying a Youth Pass. However, this Youth Pass is valid for travel in second class only. The Adults can then buy a Saver Pass, but would need to downgrade to second class, for the family to be able to sit together. Alternatively, all people over 12 can together buy the Saver Pass and receive a 15% discount.

Senior Passes can be used by travelers who are 60 years or older on their first day of travel. For the following Eurail products discounted Senior Passes are available:

- Eurail Ireland Pass (2nd class)
- Eurail Romania Pass (1st class)

Other Eurail Passes don't offer a senior discount at the moment.

While staying in Europe, you will find that many museums and other sights as well as some accomodations offer special discounts for seniors.

Eurail does not have specific student tariffs. All travelers who are 25 or younger on their first day of travel can buy the Youth Pass. The Youth Pass gives a 35% discount on the Adult fare, and it is valid in second class. Students who prefer first class can buy the Adult Pass, or, if they travel in a group, the Saver Pass.

We don't have printed brochures about Eurail. You can find all the latest information about our products and conditions at Eurail.com.

If you order a Eurail Pass, you will receive a Eurail Traveler’s Guide. This guide offers detailed product information such as the participating railroads, shipping lines, benefits and many useful tips for the traveler.

You can also download a PDF version of the Eurail Traveler's Guide 2008 in various languages:

• Chinese traditional (2,3 Mb)
• English (0,9 Mb)
• French (0,9 Mb)
• Japanese (1,6 Mb)
• Korean (1,1 Mb)
• Portuguese (1 Mb)
• Spanish (0,9 Mb)

With your Eurail Pass, you will receive a free railway map of Europe. This map contains the main rail connections in Europe.
You can also download a digital version of the map on this page.

For a map showing the Eurail Global Pass countries, go here.

For a map showing the Eurail Select Pass countries, go here.

All railway companies have facilities for passengers needing assistance. Examples are special compartments for wheelchair users, lifts or mobile ramps to ensure you can access the train, assistance in boarding by trained staff or toilets suitable for disabled travelers.

You can find out more about the arrangements in each country on this website: www.railpassenger.info (see the page 'Passengers Needing Assistance').

Many long-distance trains have full-service restaurant cars that offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. Others offer an at-seat meal service. On many trains, buffet and bar cars sell light meals throughout the trip, and vendors with food trolleys often pass through the carriages selling beverages and snacks.

Enquire at the station or check an online timetable to find out whether a train has a buffet or restaurant car. You can also consider taking your own meal! There are often grocers near the train station, or even supermarkets in the station itself where you can buy bread, cheese, cookies, soft drinks, wine and more.

That depends, the rules are different per country and sometimes even per train. On most trains it is allowed to bring along smaller pets. On some special trains (like high speed trains or night trains) it is not possible.

Passengers must supervise the animals they take with them. In most countries you can bring along small animals in cages/boxes for free. Sometimes you have to pay half of the adult fare, depending on how big your animal  is. 

Pets are usually not allowed to take passenger's seats. As a general rule, passengers may take dogs without their being in a box on condition that they are on a lead and are muzzled. Special provisions may be applicable to guide dogs for the blind.

Detailed information about pet transportation can often be found at the websites of the national railway companies. Examples: Belgium / Germany.

That depends, the possibilities are different for each country / railway company and sometimes even per train. Sometimes bicycles may be carried free of charge, sometimes you have to pay a supplement.  You can find information about transporting bicycles per country at this website: www.railpassenger.info.
At most larger train stations there are facilities to rent a bicycle.

Many visitors to Europe want to see London or start their travel from there. Please note that Eurail Passes are not valid in the United Kingdom.

Eurostar
The fastest train connection between London and the European continent is offered by Eurostar. This private railway company runs a high-speed passenger train from London (St Pancras station) to Paris & Brussels through the Channel Tunnel.

Eurail Pass holders can buy tickets at a special fare. These discount tickets cannot be booked online. For telephone bookings please call 0044 1233 617 575. All fares are subject to availability and the Eurail pass must be valid in either the country of departure or the country of arrival.

Ferry
You can also consider taking a ferry from coast to coast and continue your travel by train. An overview of ferries from England to the European continent can be found at visitlondon.com.

Please note that Eurail Pass holders are entitled to a 50% discount on the ships of SeaFrance (Calais, France - Dover, UK) or a 30% discount on the ferries of Stena Line (Hoek Van Holland, The Netherlands - Harwich, UK).
From Calais to Paris it takes about 2 hours by high-speed TGV (seat reservation is compulsory) or 3,5 hours by regional train. From Hoek van Holland it's only 30 minutes to Rotterdam and 1 hour 45 minutes to Amsterdam by regular intercity.

EuroNight is a general term for international long-distance night trains in Europe. Examples are the Berlin Night Express between Berlin (Germany) and Malmö (Sweden) or the Artesia de Nuit connecting France and Italy. With a Eurail Pass you can travel with these trains, but usually you have to make a reservation or pay a supplement.

Take a look at our overview of night trains and the information about train reservations.

You can also find a list of EuroNight trains at the German Wikipedia-page.

Most trains in Europe don't carry cars or motorbikes, just passengers and their luggage (and often bicycles).

There are some trains on selected holiday routes that offer the option of transporting cars. Often these are special trains run by private companies. Therefore Eurail Passes are not valid for these trains. Some examples:

- Germany to France, Italy, Austria, Croatia:  DB AutoZug website
- Netherlands to France & Italy:  Autoslaaptrein.nl (Dutch only)

Yes you can. There are car rental companies all over Europe. Often they have offices next to major train stations. Eurail offers no discount for car rental as we hope you’ll enjoy the train as much as possible.

Some general information and tips about renting a car in Europe can be found at About.com.

The best way to find up-to-date information in the (rare) case of a strike of a railway company is on the homepage of the specific railway. You can find links to the railway companies in each country in the section Railway Information.

It is different per situation and country how strikes are handled by the railway company. Sometimes alternative ways of transport will be offered, like extra buses.

You can receive an 85% refund for an unused and unvalidated Eurail Pass by returning it to us at the following address:

Eurail.com Refunds
48 Glen Ave.
Newton, MA  02459 USA

Please add a short note to your package, explaining why you need a refund.

Since passes are like cash, we recommend that you ship it to us in a trackable manner such as Fedex, UPS, Airborne or similar. Once received it will be submitted for refund and you should see a credit on your statement within 3-5 weeks.

Please make sure that you purchased your Pass from www.eurail.com before returning it. Refunds should always be requested from the agency or website where you purchased the Pass. Send an e-mail to service@euraildirect.com for more information.

A Eurail Pass expires after six months. You can apply for a refund within one year after the Pass was issued.

Shipping costs cannot be refunded. Unused days on a Pass cannot be refunded.

With each order from www.eurail.com you will receive a confirmation email. In this confirmation email, the tracking number for FedEx, DHL or UPS will be mentioned. You can go to the website of the shipping company to find the exact status of the order. Just enter the tracking number you received in the email in the box on the homepage.

The souvenirs are handled by Eurail.Com's mother company, the Eurail Group G.I.E.

To inquire about the status of your souvenir, you can send an email to souvenir@eurail.nl. Please note that it can take up to 3 months before your souvenir arrives.

As the name and passport number of each traveler appears on a Eurail Pass, it can only be used by the person(s) mentioned on the Pass. You can contact our after sales department if your name is printed incorrectly on the Pass.

Send an e-mail with your order number and correct name to service@euraildirect.com. You will receive info about how to return your Pass and they will send you a new Pass with the correct name.

Are you sure you haven’t received a confirmation? Please check your folder with spam / unwanted email, sometimes confirmation mails show up there.

If you really can’t find a confirmation, you can e-mail our after sales department: service@euraildirect.com. Please include as much info as you can about your order, like the date/time of ordering, your name & address and the Pass you ordered.

We only sent Eurail passes to your home by registered mail, so the chances of packages getting lost is minimal. After your order is processed, you will receive a shipping number which allows you to track and trace your order through every stage of the shipment process.

If your Pass doesn’t arrive, you can e-mail our after sales department: service@euraildirect.com. Please state your order number in the mail. Also check if no mistakes were made in your shipping address.