FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Railpass.com offers both city-to-city train tickets and rail passes, providing excellent options for travelers looking to explore European countries. 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 seat reservations or pay supplements, but many routes allow for unlimited pass use without any extra fees.

City-to-city tickets are good for short distance travel, such as travel from one point to another within a country (like between Rome and Florence) or if you only plan to visit only one or two places (like Paris and Amsterdam). The drawbacks to city-to-city tickets are having to wait in ticket lines, dealing with local currencies and languages, and higher prices. Purchasing individual train tickets, however, is an ideal option for those who plan on limited travel and who already know their exact destinations prior to departure. There are a number of options for individual train tickets, depending on the destination and type of train you choose.

With thousands of different pass and ticket combinations from which to chose, purchasing a ticket or pass can be confusing. Railpass.com uses state-of-the-art technology that connects directly to European rail reservations systems.

To determine which option is best for you, it helps to define your travel plans. 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 or four countries? Do you want to experience more than four countries? Knowing the number of countries you want to visit will help you determine whether a single-country or global pass is best for you.

How many days of train travel do you need? A rail pass is based on days of travel, not the number of train rides, so you will need to know the number of calendar days you will be travelling by train in order to purchase the correct number of travel days. How long do you need the pass to be valid? The number of days you need the pass to be valid is equivalent to the length of your entire trip, not how many days you will be on the train. So if you’re going to Germany for a month, but only plan on using the train for, say, 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. Will you be taking trains frequently (in which case an unlimited, consecutive-day pass might be best) or just a few long trips here and there (in which case you might do better with a flexipass, which is good for a certain number of travel days within a set time frame)? How many people are traveling, and what are their ages? Most passes offer adult, youth, and senior fares. Generally, the adult passes are in 1st class, while the youth pass is available as either a 1st and 2nd class pass. Up to two children aged 4–11 will be issued a pass for free when traveling with an adult passholder.

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

Reservations are required for: Sleeping accommodations on all overnight trains; most high-speed trains (e.g. Eurostar, TGV, TAV, Thalys); Long Distance and Express Trains in Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe; and Long Distance and Express Trains during high season (July and August). You can make a reservation at the station or by contacting the participating railway company directly.

Once you have decided which countries you wish to visit and how many travel days you will need for each destination, you can order the pass online at Railpass.com

Rail passes must be printed then shipped to you. We will need a minimum of 5 days within the U.S. to process your order, 10 days for out-of-country orders. Delivery options in the U.S. include USPS Priority (3–5 days), FedEx 2Day Domestic, and FedEx Standard Overnight.

If you are traveling on a high-speed train or overnight train (especially in France and Italy) a seat reservation is mandatory. Same goes for most international trains. Each train reservation will incur a fee. Fees for reservations start at €10 for a seat and can range upward, depending on the type of overnight train accommodations you select. If your plans include a ferry crossing, such as between Italy and Greece, reservations are required; these fares are discounted for Eurail passholders. If your routing takes you through a country that is not included on your pass, you will be required to purchase a ticket covering that portion of the trip.

For Rail Pass Orders: We must print and ship the rail pass to you. If your order is completed by 3:00 p.m. ET, it will be shipped out that day in the manner you select. Please be sure you leave 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. For questions regarding delivery, include your Order ID number and name in an email to info@railpass.com. Please review our Shipping Information page for more information.

It is possible to change the name on a pass so long as the pass has not been used. This requires you sending the pass back to the issuing office (where it was printed) in order to have the pass re-issued with the new name(s). Please send an email with your Order ID number and the correct information for all persons named on the pass.

No, unfortunately you can not extend the validity of your pass. You may purchase a new pass to cover additional days.

You can receive a refund if the pass is not used or activated before the first day of validity. This can be done either by railway staff or by sending the pass back to the issuing agency.

Purchasing travel insurance is a good idea. It can include coverage if you are injured or sick and have to cancel your trip. It can also cover your lost or stolen rail pass or other important travel documents. It is best to check with your travel insurance provider for a list of what is covered.

With Traveler Insurance.

You can email us at info@railpass.com. Our customer service team will check the status of your order and advise on shipment tracking, if available.

Most orders received before 3pm EST, Monday to Friday, will be shipped the same day. Orders after 3pm EST will be shipped the next business day. We do not ship on Saturday, Sunday or holidays, so please allow an additional 24 to 48 hours for weekend orders. Passes are shipped via USPS or FedEx domestically, and using TNT internationally. Please note that we cannot deliver to P.O. boxes when shipping with either FedEx or TNT.

Domestic USA Shipping: Our standard shipping for passes is Priority Mail by the U.S. Postal Service, which takes 3–5 business days, but you can upgrade to FedEx 2-3 day Domestic or FedEx Standard Overnight if your order requires a quicker ship time. We provide tracking number for all packages and a signature is required for delivery of the package.

Global Shipping: We ship passes & tickets anywhere in the world via TNT and Fedex. Average international shipments are sent and usually received in 10 business days, except in remote areas where it might require additional time. Priority international shipments will arrive in most countries between 5-6 business days. International orders are subject to additional verification before we can send the order to you. Please allow for additional time to process your order. Some products require additional processing, and, as a result, orders will not be shipped same day. Please be sure to also review our Privacy Policy.

Rates: You can select your preferred shipping option at the time of purchase: We offer Free Shipping for orders received more than 15 days before your departure for Canada and USA residents. USPS Priority (3–5 business days) for USD $10; Fedex Domestic 2-3 days for USD $25; FedEx Domestic Overnight for USD $35; International Shipping (up to 10 business days) for USD $30; International Shipping (5 business days) for USD $50.

Rush Orders: It is possible to place a rush order. Please email us at for assistance and be sure to include your Order ID number, name, address, and departure date.
 

For More Information: Please contact us

Rail passes cannot be issued electronically. They must be printed and shipped.