FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

A pass is only valid for the person whose name is on it, and you cannot share a rail pass.

Beyond train travel, there are additional benefits associated with each rail pass. Examples of discounts include free or discounted ferry and bus fares, discounts on hotel and hostel reservations, and discounts on tours or attractions.

You need to determine what countries you plan to travel through and how many days you will spend in each country to determine the best pass for your needs. There is a Global passes that will allow you train coverage in 33 countries or one country pass for use within a single country. If your traveling over a country border, in some cases you can purchase a 'partial pass'  giving you the seat reservation for the one country pass and a train ticket and seat reservation for the country not included on your pass.  This will be purchasable through a railway and not through Railpass.com 

You can take advantage of the extra pass benefits by accessing this through the railplanner app - benefits portal. Some offers may require an advance reservation and will require you to mention your pass, so make sure you check if this applies to that specific offer.

You can find many of the offers in on the pass details page.  

No. You may take as many trains as you like within the 24-hour period for each day on your pass.  Example:  If you have a 4 day in 1 month pass you can take as many trains within 24 hours as you like. The days can be stretched out to use throughout the month.  

In most European countries, the vast majority of train lines are part of a national rail service, and any rail pass will usually be valid on all of those trains.

However, many countries also feature a handful of private rail lines, plus regional or urban commuter trains, and a rail pass may or may not be valid on those (or, in some cases, a pass will only get you a discount on certain private scenic lines). You must read the rules of the pass for each country to determine which train lines are included.

For example: In Italy, the local Metros (urban subway systems) are not included on the Italy pass.  Nor are the Italo and Circumsuvenia trains.  

The duration of time the pass will be valid, or the number of travel days you can use the pass for. For example, Eurail Global passes come in  4,5,7 days in 1 month, 10 or 15 days in 2 months and consecutive travel with the 15-day, 22-day, and 1–, 2–, and 3-month versions. If you start using a two-month pass on May 15th, it will be valid until July 14th.

With a flexipass, rail days are normally counted from midnight to midnight.

However, when traveling on a direct overnight train you do not have to burn two rail days. On any train that departs after 7 p.m. (19:00 on European train schedules) and arrives at its final stop after 4 a.m. (04:00), you only need to enter the arrival date on your rail pass calendar.

A travel day is a 24-hour period during which you can travel on trains with your rail pass. It lasts from 12 a.m. (midnight) to 11:59 p.m. on the same calendar day—though, for overnight trains departing after 7 p.m., you need only enter the following day's date on your pass.

A consecutive-day pass provides unlimited rail travel for the duration of the pass, once it has been validated. For example, if you buy a one-month pass you can travel on as many trains as you like on any day during that month.

A flexipass gives the pass-holder a two month period during which to use the number of days specified by pass. For example, if you buy a two-month flexipass with 10 days of travel, you can use each of those ten days at any point during the 60-day validity period.

RailPass.com has sold more than one million passes and offers competitive pricing, expert knowledge, and 24/7 experienced customer service.

A rail pass allows a passholder to travel by train without purchasing a ticket, though you may be required to purchase seat reservations on some trains. Rail passes are valid either for travel throughout a single country or in several countries, and have varying time frames in which they can be used.

Yes, purchasing travel insurance is recommended.

Actually your rail pass is issued as an electronic pass.  You will activate it through the railplanner app and be on your way.  

Overnight trains and hotel trains offer a range of accommodations, including sleepers, couchettes, and sleeperettes. All sleepers and couchettes convert from seats to berths for nighttime travel, and back to seats for daytime travel. Sleeper Compartments have washbasins, soap, towels, shaver plug, mineral water, and a lockable door. The berths come with pillow, sheets, and a duvet or blanket. Stewards are present in sleeper cars to assist passengers and take care of all border-crossing procedures. Most stewards speak the languages of the countries the train will pass through as well as English. Compartments are gender-specific unless booked by couples or families. Fares for sleepers require a First Class ticket or a rail pass plus the sleeper supplement. First Class/rail pass passengers can book a single, double, or triple sleeper. Single passengers can reserve a double sleeper, but they may have to share with another passenger based on availability.

Couchettes are compartments with berths for 4–6 people. Each berth has a pillow, sheets, and blankets. Washbasins are not available in the compartments; shared restrooms are located at the end of the car. Berths can be booked individually or in groups. Compartments are non-gender specific and passengers are expected to sleep in their day clothes. Stewards are available only on international routes. Fares for couchettes require a First or Second Class ticket or a rail pass plus the couchette supplement.

Sleeperettes are seats in open coach cars that recline to allow passengers to sleep more comfortably. Seats may have small head pillows attached but no blankets are provided. Fares for sleeperettes require a First or Second Class ticket, or a rail pass and a reservation. There is normally no additional cost for sleeperettes; however, some hotel trains may charge a higher reservation fee for seats. Hotel trains combine long distance night travel with the security, privacy and comfort of a hotel stay. All compartments have locking doors, and there is access to dining cars. There are three levels of accommodation: Tourist, First Class, and Luxury Class. There are reclining Second Class sleeperette seats on certain trains. Tourist Class accommodations include 4 beds to a compartment. Toilets are found outside the compartment at the end of the car. First class accommodations include compartments with 1 to 2 beds. Toilet and shower facilities are located outside the compartment at the end of the car. Luxury Class accommodations include 1 to 2 beds per compartment and a private toilet and shower within the compartment.

There are several types of night or hotel trains in Europe: CityNightLine covers international routes between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Trains have Deluxe, Economy, Couchette and Sleeperette accommodations. Deluxe compartments have 1–2 fixed beds, moveable chairs and tables, and a full washroom with shower. Economy sleepers have 2–4 beds (for families) and a shared washroom in the car. Deluxe and Economy accommodations include breakfast. Couchette and sleeperette passengers may buy breakfast at the bar. DB Nachtzug covers domestic routes in Germany and international routes to Denmark. Accommodations include Comfort, Couchette, and Sleeperettes. Comfort cabins have doors with key-card locks and private shower and toilet cabin. On German domestic routes a restaurant and bistro car is available.

Talgo Trains service domestic routes in Spain and international routes between Spain and France, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland. Classes of accommodation include Luxury, First Class, Tourist, and Sleeperette. Dinner and breakfast is included for all passengers in single or double accommodation. Thello trains cover international routes between France and Italy. Trenhotel covers international routes between Spain and other European countries including Italy. Hotel Train Lusitania covers travel between Portugal and Spain. Accommodations include Luxury, First class and regular seats. Breakfast is included. Overnight Express services international routes between the Netherlands and Italy. Accommodations include Sleeper, Couchette and Sleeperette. Depending on class, accommodations include free meals or snacks. Please note that Eurail Pass holders must have "Benelux" as an associated country to ride this train, and Eurail Select Passes are not valid on this train.

For more information on specific train lines, visit this page of Participating Railways.