We have question and answers from our customers and have tried to put the most asked questions here to assist you in your pass selection. If you have any questions we haven't answered below, please send us an e-mail: sales@britainonrail.com or better yet, call us.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I validate the Passes... ?
2. Where can I find Eurail timetable... ?
3. Why doesn't it says reservation confirmed... ?
4. What is a Couchette and sleepers... ?
5. What are youth and children ages...?
6. What is the difference between Eurail Pass and Europass...?
7. What is the difference between a consecutive day pass and flexi pass...?
8. If I associated a country with my Europass, how many extra days do I get...?
9. What is a Rail Day...?
10. Does my Pass covers Sleepers...?
11. When is seat reservations required...?
12. What is the difference between 1st class seats and 2nd class seats...?
13. How do you send documents...?

1. How do I validate the Passes?

Travel must begin within 6 months of the date the pass was issued for all passes unless otherwise noted.  To validate your railpass, present your pass and passport to the railway official at the ticket window (not the conductor) prior to your first journey. Before boarding the first train each day on a flexipass, write the date in ink in the appropriate box on the pass. A rail travel day is from midnight to midnight.

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2. Where Can I find a Eurail timetable?

At the time of sending your pass, we will include a free timetable and the European map.

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3. Why doesn't it say reservation Confirmed?

Reservations are not included with the pass or tickets. You must get reservation before boarding the trains. You can do your reservation with us or in Europe. There is a $11.00 seat reservation charge per person for day time train and if you are travelling overnight, you could get a Couchette or a sleeper . Charges varies based on city pairs and their is an extra supplement that you will have to pay.

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4. What is a couchettes and sleepers?

First and second-class Sleeper compartments and Couchettes are usually available on overnight trains. Reservations are required. Private Sleeper compartments with wash basin, towels, bed linens and pillows are available for one or two people in first-class and for three people in second-class. Sleeper rates depend on accommodation type and distance traveled.

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The InterCityNight (ICN) and CityNightLine (CNL) are sleek overnight hostel trains that connect major business centers in Germany and Switzerland, offering accommodations ranging from economically priced reclining seats to private, deluxe compartments with complete bathroom facilities. Both the InterCityNight and the CityNightLine offer such hostel amenities as a reception desk, dining/lounge car, phone/fax access, hair dryers, wake-up and room services. A continental breakfast is provided to those in reclining seats, while other guests receive a hearty breakfast in their compartment or dining car. Advance reservations are required for these trains.

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5. What are youth and children ages... ?

For most European railpasses - Children: Ages 4-11 pay half the adult fare, except as noted. Children under 4 travel free but are not entitled to a seat when trains are crowded. Youth: Fares are for persons who are age 12-25 at the time the railpass is validated, except as noted. All Youth fares are second-class and all Child fares are first-class, except as noted.

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6. What is the difference between Eurail Pass and Europass...?

The Eurailpass covers 17 countries which include:  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland and can be purchased as a consecutive day pass or flexipass. The Europass covers the 5 most central and popular countries which are Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and Spain and can only be purchased as a flexipass.

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7. What is the difference between a consecutive day pass and flexi pass...?

The consecutive day pass is valid for the number of days purchased one day right after the other. For an example, a 15-day pass is 15 days in a row, June 1 to June 15. You do not have to travel every day if you do not wish, but you do not get a refund for unused days. Flexipasses give the flexibility of purchasing a number of rail days to be used within a certain time frame. Depending on the pass it may be 15 days, 1 month or 2 months. This allows you to then spend time between your days of train travel.

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8. If I associated a country with my Europass, how many extra days do I get...?

Purchasing Associated Countries does not allow you any more days of rail travel, only additional countries you may visit. Its purpose is to allow you to travel within or through countries not covered by the pass.

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9. What is a Rail Day...?

For the railroad, a day is midnight to midnight. The one exception is if you are using a direct overnight train that the journey begins after 7pm. This may be counted as the following day of travel (may not apply to certain country passes). A month is considered 30 consecutive days.

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10. Does my pass covers SLEEPERS...?

Your railpass does not cover sleepers. If you will be utilizing a night train, it is necessary to make an advance reservation and there will be an additional cost.

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11. When is seat reservation required...?

Most trains are open seating and a seat reservation is not mandatory. Seat reservations are required for most high-speed trains such as TGV, Pendolino, Thalys, Eurostar, X2000, and highly recommended for ICE and certain InterCity and EuroCity trains. As Friday and Sunday afternoons and evenings are peak travel periods for Europeans, you may wish to consider a seat reservation. All long distance trains in Spain, Romania and most in Norway and Sweden require seat reservations.

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12. What is the difference between 1st class seats and 2nd class seats...?

First class is more quiet and spacious with fewer seats
per compartment or car. There is more room for luggage and generally will be less crowded as most Europeans using the train travel in second class.

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13. How do you send documents...?

Railpasses and tickets are the equivalent of shipping cash. To protect you and us, we send them via FedEx so that we can trace the package in case it gets misdirected.