The Eurail Pass, introduced in 1959 and formerly known as Europass or Eurorail Pass, is a rail pass which permits travel through 33 European countries on nearly all railroads and several shipping lines. The Eurail Group, based in Utrecht, is responsible for the marketing and management of the Eurail and Interrail passes. The company is owned by over 35 European railway and shipping companies.[1] The Eurail Pass is available to non-European residents, and the Interrail Pass (introduced in 1972) is available to European residents. The passes, which provide access to 250,000 kilometres (160,000 mi) of European railway, are used by over 33,000 travellers annually.[1]

Eligibility

The Eurail pass is available to non-European citizens. The Interrail Pass is available to citizens and residents of European Union countries and the non-EU countries of Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Gibraltar, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom (Great Britain), and Vatican City. To obtain an Interrail pass proof of citizenship must be established with a passport or identity card, or proof of residency must be established with government-issued residency documents.[2]

Age groups

Up to two children aged 4 to 11 can travel free of charge when accompanied by a full-fare adult. Eurail Passes are available in four age-based categories:[3]

  • Child: under age 12
  • Youth: ages 12 to 27
  • Senior: over age 60

Types

Global Pass

Map of Europe, with Eurail countries in green
Countries accepting the Global Pass

The Global Pass is valid in all 33 participating countries; as of 2020, they were Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.[2] A Global Pass fare is dependent on the number of days it is valid in a period of time. Fare categories are:[4]

  • Four, five or seven days in one month (flexi)
  • 10 or 15 days in two months (flexi)[5]
  • 15 or 22 continuous days
  • One, two or three continuous months

One Country Pass

The One Country Pass permits travel on the national rail network of one country, with unlimited trips on each travel day. The pass is available in Austria, Benelux, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, the Greek islands, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland (the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.[6] Countries without One Country Passes include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Montenegro, and Switzerland. The passes are available for travel on three, four, five, six or eight travel days in a one-month period.

Reservations

Comfortable seats, with tables
Seats on a Thalys train

Although reservations for Eurail Pass holders are not usually required for local or regional trains,[7] they are needed for most high-speed, international, and overnight trains.[8] Surcharges are often required to guarantee seat reservations, meals, drinks, and free Wi-Fi.[9] The fees vary by carrier, agent and route, and travellers can usually avoid paying excess fees by taking regional or local trains.[10] Reservations can be made at the station, online on the carrier's website, on the Eurail site, in the Rail Planner App, by telephone, or at a travel agency.[11]

High-speed trains

Many high-speed trains require a reservation. Examples include:

  • Eurostar (London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels): second class €10 to €35, first class €15 to €43[12]
  • Thalys (Paris to Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne): second class €15 to €25, first class €25 to €30[13]
  • TGV (domestic routes): first or second class €10 to €20[14]
  • Trenitalia (Italy): Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, Frecciarossa, first or second class €10
  • AVE (Spain): second class €10, first class €13 or €23.50[15] Reservation fees for second (€6.50) and first class (€10) are also required on most other long-distance Spanish trains, including Arco, Euromed, Alvia, Alaris, and Altaria.
  • In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, virtually all fast InterCity and InterCity Express (ICE) trains can be boarded without fare supplements or additional tickets. ICE trains offer reservations for €4.50 (second class) and €5.90 (first class).[16]
  • SJ high-speed train from Sweden to Copenhagen: €7 (second class) and €17 (first class)[17]
  • Some scenic trains have a panoramic coach, which requires a reservation.[9] [18]

Overnight trains

Simple sleeping compartment with a narrow bed
Economy single compartment in an ÖBB double-decker sleeping car

Many overnight trains require reservations, with varying additional costs dependent on preferred sleeping accommodation (including couchettes or sleeping cabins).[19] For Flexi Global Pass holders, overnight trains boarded before midnight are considered as one travel day (the day of departure) if the traveller does not change trains after midnight.[7] The pass must be valid for the arrival and departure dates.

Private-rail discounts

Although Eurail and Interrail Passes are usually valid only on the national railway system of the participating countries; many countries also have private railway systems; some offer free (or discounted) tickets to Eurail or Interrail Pass holders. The discounts are normally between 25 and 50 per cent. [20]

Timeline

  • 1959: Eurail is founded, valid in 13 countries. [21]
  • 1971: Student Railpass (second class) is introduced.
  • 1980: Eurail becomes valid in 16 countries.
  • 1991: Eurail Pass expands to the former East Germany, allowing travel throughout reunified Germany.
  • 2001: Eurail Select Pass introduced.
  • 2007: Eurail Pass is renamed Eurail Global Pass.
  • 2008: Slovenian and Croatian railways join, and the pass becomes valid in 20 countries.
  • 2009: 50th Anniversary Eurail Pass, valid in 21 countries.
  • 2013: Rail Planner App introduced.
  • 2015: Two children aged 11 and under can travel free with at least one adult. Poland, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Serbia join Eurail Global Pass.
  • 2016: Eurail Global Pass covers 28 countries. All passes become available for purchase 11 months in advance.
  • 2017: Eurostar joins the Eurail Group. Youth Pass age increases to 27. Introduction of 2 pass options: Eurail One Country France Pass and Eurail Italy Switzerland Select Pass.
  • 2019: Passes include the Global and One Country Pass Select and Saver Passes are discontinued. First and second class are available for all products except Greek islands domestic. Britain, North Macedonia and Lithuania join Eurail (a British withdrawal from the scheme was announced following a dispute, although the decision was promptly reversed [22]). The Greek Islands Pass is valid for five domestic trips, and the number of islands increases to 53.[23] Eurail Group GIE and Eurail.com join forces and continue activities as Eurail B.V.[24]
  • 2020: Estonia and Latvia join the Eurail Group.[25]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Company - Eurail". Eurail. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  2. 1 2 https://eurailgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/03/Eurail-Pass-CoU-2018-1.pdf
  3. ↑ "Beginner's guide to Eurail passes 2018 | Buy a Eurail pass online". www.seat61.com. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  4. ↑ "Global Pass: Cheapest Rail Pass in Europe". Eurail.
  5. ↑ "How to use a Eurail pass". Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "Eurail One Country Pass". Eurail. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  7. 1 2 "Beginner's guide to Eurail passes 2019 - Buy a Eurail pass online". www.seat61.com.
  8. ↑ "Do I need a reservation?". Eurail.
  9. 1 2 "Reservations".
  10. ↑ "Can I avoid trains with reservations?". Eurail.
  11. ↑ "How do I book my reservations?". Eurail.
  12. ↑ "Can I use my interrailing pass on Eurostar? - Eurostar Help Centre". help.eurostar.com.
  13. ↑ "Thalys high-speed train". Eurail.
  14. ↑ "TGV high-speed train". Eurail.
  15. ↑ "AVE High-Speed Train". Eurail.
  16. ↑ eCommerce, Deutsche Bahn AG, Unternehmensbereich Personenverkehr, Marketing. "Seat reservation". www.bahn.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ SJ. "Our trains - SJ". www.sj.se.
  18. ↑ "About Reservations". Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  19. ↑ "Night Trains in Europe". Eurail.
  20. ↑ "Swiss Private Trains & Lines Benefits". Eurail. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "About Us". Eurrail. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "UK to stay in Interrail scheme after U-turn". 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  23. ↑ "Company".
  24. ↑ "Eurail Group GIE and Eurail.com join forces". October 16, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Baltic Itinerary". www.eurail.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for European rail passes.
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