Railpass.com is the leading online train ticket and rail pass provider in the U.S. Because we have been helping customers plan their train travel for over 20 years, we know what information you will need to make your experience a pleasurable one. Take some time to browse through some of our favorite rail travel tips. We promise, it will be worth it!

Rail Travel FAQs:

Jump to:

• Should I purchase a rail pass or city to city tickets?
• What type of pass should I purchase?
• What does it mean to validate a pass or ticket?
• Do I need a reservation?
• When and how do I make a reservation?
• When can I expect to receive my tickets or passes?
• What is the policy for refunds and exchanges?
• What happens if there is a train strike?

Should I purchase a rail pass or city to city tickets?

Railpass.com offers both city to city train tickets and rail passes, and both are excellent options to explore cities and countries around the world.

Rail passes are an excellent value if you want flexibility, if you plan to travel extensively throughout one or several countries, or if you plan to cover long distances during your travels. Passes provide access to most rail routes and allow you hassle-free travel since you won’t have to wait in lines at the train station to get tickets. In some cases, you will still have to make reservations or pay supplements, but many routes allow for unlimited pass use without requiring any extra fees. Use ourpass search technology to help you determine what combination of passes is best for you!

City to city tickets are good for short distance travel, such as travel from one point to another within a country (like Rome and Florence) or if you only plan to visit one or two places (like Paris and Milan). The drawbacks come in the form of ticket lines, local currencies, languages and potentially higher prices. Purchasing individual train tickets is an ideal option for those wanting limited travel and who already know their exact destination prior to departure. There are a number of different options for individual train tickets depending on the destination or type of train of your choosing. Railpass.com currently only sells tickets for the Australia, Italy and United Kingdom, Use our rail search technology to find the best option for your needs and itinerary!

What type of pass should I purchase?

With thousands of different pass combinations from which to chose, purchasing a pass could seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry. Railpass.com has developed exclusive pass search technology that simplifies the process of searching for and purchasing rail pass products. Railpass.com uses your answers to these four questions to determine which pass combination is right for you:

1. Which and how many countries do you plan to visit?
   Are you planning to travel in a single country? Are you going to two countries? Are you looking to explore three to five countries? Do you want to experience more than five countries? Knowing the number of countries you want to visit will help you determine which pass is your best option.
2. How many days of train travel do you need?
   A travel date is a calendar day. Regardless of the number of trains you take in a calendar day, you will need to know the number of days you are travelling by train in order to purchase the correct number of travel days.
3. How many days do you need the pass?
   All passes are valid for different lengths of time. The number of days you need the pass is the equivalent of how long your entire trip will be, not how many days you will be on the train. So if you’re going to Germany for a month, but you only plan on using the train for 3 days at the beginning of your trip and 2 days at the end of your trip, you will need the pass to be valid for 30 days.
4. How many people are traveling, and what are their ages?
   Most passes offer both adult and saver passes, as well as youth passes. Generally, the adult and saver passes are in 1st class, while the youth pass is generally a 2nd class pass. The adult pass is for a single adult traveling. The saver pass is available at a discounted per person rate based on 2-5 people travelling together at all times. Some passes also offer discounted rates for seniors and children.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, (and 4, in this case!). Just enter the above information into our pass search box, and relax. We’ll do the heavy lifting for you. Railpass.com – simplifying the purchase of train travel.

What does it mean to validate a pass or ticket?

All rail passes must be validated twice. The first stamp is printed automatically by our office and will appear on the top right hand corner of the pass. The pass must begin use within 6 months of this validation. On the first day of travel, all people listed on the pass must go to the ticket office of the train station and have an official validate the pass. The station official should put a second stamp on the pass under the first one. Please note that the pass must be validated at the station—a conductor on a train cannot validate the pass. If you do not validate the pass, or if you tamper with the pass in any way, the conductor has the right to confiscate it, at which time, the unused part of the pass is non-refundable.

All tickets must be validated prior to use in Europe. To validate a ticket, find the platform for your train. Every platform has a validation machine. Once at the machine, insert the ticket in the slot provided, and the ticket will be validated with a date stamp. Don’t forget to remove the ticket from the machine, or you will have to purchase a new ticket on the train! Should your ticket not be validated, you can be fined up to 200 Euros when traveling throughout Europe.

Do I need a reservation?

A rail pass does not guarantee a seat on a train. While it is possible to secure reservations on trip, pass holder seats are limited, making it difficult to secure a seat on a specific train without making your reservations prior to departure. There are additional charges for seat reservations, sleepers, couchettes, and travel on certain high-speed trains.

On many European trains reservations are not necessary; however in some countries (particularly France, Italy and Spain), a pass or a ticket does not guarantee a seat, so reservations are highly recommended. We also recommend reservations to guarantee accommodations on a particular train, date, and time. Reservations are also mandatory for high-speed service and overnight trains. In order to avoid being assessed a fine on board, we strongly recommend that you make a reservation in advance. Reservations can be made at a train station up to 60 days prior to travel if you are sure of your travel itinerary.

When and how do I make a reservation?

Reservations can be made up to 60 days prior to the actual travel date at a train station or in advance through our various websites.

You must be in possession of a valid rail pass or city-to-city ticket that covers the routing of the train they have reserved in order to make a reservation. It is helpful to research the train schedules before making a request.

Reservations are required on:

• Sleeping accommodations on all overnight trains (not on day trains)
• High-Speed Trains (e.g. Eurostar, TGV, TAV, Thalys)
• Long Distance and Express Trains in Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe
• Long Distance and Express Trains during high season (Jul-Aug)

When can I expect to receive my tickets or passes?

Most orders completed by 4:00 pm EST will be shipped out that day in the manner you select. Please be sure there is enough time for your order to reach you prior to departure. No orders are shipped on Saturdays, Sundays, or U.S. holidays. Railpass.com is not responsible for weather related delays or situations beyond our control. Some products are ordered through a 3rd party, and will require a longer shipping time. For questions regarding delivery, include your Order ID number and name in an email to service@railpass.com.

What is the policy for refunds and exchanges?

Please see below for the refund and exchange policy for your pass or ticket.

• Australia Rail passes and tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
• Eurail passes are refundable at 85% of pass value if unused and returned within 1 year from issue date to the address listed below.
• Eurostar tickets are non-refundable.
• France Rail passes are non-refundable.
• Interrail passes are refundable at 85% of pass value only if pass is received at the address listed below prior to the first date of travel. If this is not possible, the pass must be stamped at the station as “Unused,” before the first travel date and returned to the address listed below within one month of the stamped date. There is no refund for any pass that is returned after the 1st date of travel and not stamped “Unused”.
• Japan Rail Passes and Exchange Orders: An Exchange Order (what you receive from Railpass.com) will be refunded 85% only at the very same office that issued the Order, within one year after the date of issue. A Japan Rail Pass can be refunded only within a valid period, and before the first date for its use at any JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office. 10% of the price will be charged as a handling fee. No refund can be made for any reason on or after the first day of use. No alterations can be made to an Exchange Order or a Pass after the exchange.
• Le Visite Paris pass is non-refundable.
• London Visitor Travel Cards are non-refundable.
• New Zealand passes and tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
• Rail and Drive passes are non-refundable.
• Swiss Rail passes are non-refundable, as are Rail and Drives, Paris Visites, some train tickets, and London Visitor Travel Cards.
• TCV tickets are 85% refundable when received at the address listed below 7 days prior to the train departure date.
• Train Tickets: Many train tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable, including Australia and New Zealand. Some train tickets are 75%-80% refundable if canceled and received at the address listed below 7 days prior to date of travel on ticket.
• Pass Exchanges: Pass exchanges must be made via the address listed below. Once your request is received in our office, we will exchange the pass. If there is a rate increase, you will just pay the difference in price plus a $15.00USD exchange fee, and new shipping charges. If the exchange causes a rate decrease, you will be charged a 15% cancellation penalty on the old pass, the cost of the new pass plus a new shipping fee.
• Reservations: If your invoice says International Ticket ® you must return the ticket to the address listed below, and it must be received in our office outside of 7 days prior to the train departure date to receive 80% refund. If your invoice says International Ticket (A), the reservations are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
• Shipping and handling fees are non-refundable.

All refund requests where noted above must be sent in a trackable manner to:

Railpass Refunds
POB 590297
Newton Centre, MA 02459
USA

All pass exchange requests where noted above must be sent in a trackable manner to:

Railpass Exchanges
POB 590297
Newton Centre, MA 02459
USA

What happens if there is a train strike?

Train Strikes, like other transportation strikes, are out of our control. Although we will work on your behalf with the railway, there is no guarantee that you will be refunded in event of a strike. It can take up to six months for a final response from the railway.