Rail Europe

Welcome to Rail Europe! These General Terms and Conditions of Sale (hereinafter the “General Terms and Conditions”) apply to your use of our services and take effect as of August 7, 2025.

We may revise these terms to reflect market changes, legal requirements or Rail Europe’s business needs. The terms in effect on the date of your order will always apply to your purchase. Thank you for choosing Rail Europe!

  1. Who Do you contract with?
    1. Rail Europe (hereinafter "Rail Europe", "We" or "Our") is a French company operating the e-commerce website https://www.raileurope.com (the "Website" ) and booking services (the "Services"). We are registered with the Paris companies' register (RCS Paris) under number 401 714 993.
    2. For these Terms, you are identified as the Customer ("You" or "Your") placing an Order on the Website.
    3. We sell Rail Products on behalf of transportation providers ("Operators"). These include:
      • Train tickets
      • Rail passes: See details in the Appendix
    4. We also offer related services, like Protection Products ("Ancillary Services"), covered in Article 11.
    5. Rail Europe acts as a simple intermediary for ticket sales between You and the Operators, representing the latter. These Terms cover ticket sales only and not transportation services, though we're here to assist if issues arise.
    6. By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you acknowledge that all Orders placed on the Website are subject to both these General Terms and Conditions and the Operators' Terms and Conditions of Service accessible HERE.
    7. The Customer and Rail Europe are jointly referred to as the "Parties" or individually as the "Party".
    8. Please read these General Terms and Conditions carefully. They are accessible via hyperlink on every page of the Website. Be sure to review them regularly for updates and save or print a copy for your records.
    9. These General Terms and Conditions may be translated for reference. Only the English version is legally binding.
  2. Use of Our Website
    1. To use the Website, You must be at least 18 years old or the legal age of majority in your country of residence, and able to legally agree to these Terms.
    2. You are financially responsible for Website use and purchases made in your name or on behalf of others, including minors, unless proven to result from fraud beyond your fault or negligence.
    3. You guarantee the truth and accuracy of the information provided by You or on your behalf.
    4. Fraudulent use or any violation of these Terms may result in your access to the Services being blocked.
  3. Create an Account
    1. Creating an account before completing a booking allows you to:
      • Easily access your past and current orders.
      • Streamline future bookings with pre-filled personal information.
    2. You can also place orders without creating an account.
  4. Your Order
    1. You can search for Products on our Website for up to 10 passengers.
    2. Following your search, the Website displays available Service options and their prices.
    3. For some Services, in particular Group Services, You can request an estimate for further contact via email. For other Services, select the Service(s) of your choice directly by clicking.
    4. A summary of your selected Services and the total price will be displayed for you to review and correct any errors ("the Specific Conditions"). Ensure all information (e.g., date, time, travel origin and destination, traveller details, delivery preferences) is accurate, as it cannot be changed after confirming your Order.
    5. Specific Terms and Conditions for each Product will be displayed and must be reviewed and accepted before placing your Order. These Specific Terms are part of these General Terms and Conditions.
      You must also accept the Operator's Terms and Conditions, accessible via a link. Be aware of each Operator's policies as they vary from Operator to Operator. For instance, some tickets are non-transferable and must include the traveller's name. During inspections, travellers are required to present a valid ID that matches the ticket. Additionally, in certain countries, tickets must be validated or punched before boarding.
    6. Once you validate your Order and accept all Conditions, the contract becomes valid and binding.
    7. Payment for your Order is made online in secure mode, as outlined in Article 7.
    8. We will email an Order confirmation within five days, including key details like Service identification, price, quantity and applicable Terms and Conditions.
    9. If You do not receive confirmation of the Order, it is Your responsibility to contact us via the Contact page HERE.
  5. Your Tickets
      6. Delivery options vary by Operator:
    1. "Print at Home" Tickets/Passes. Most train tickets available on our Website can be printed at home. Your booking confirmation email will contain instructions for printing tickets on plain paper so that they are valid for travel. You will find all instructions HERE .
      Note: showing the PDF on a mobile device is not always permitted unless Mobile/e-tickets are selected.
    2. Mobile Tickets or E-tickets. E-tickets will be sent via email and can be presented directly on a mobile device during travel.
    3. "Collect at the Station" Tickets. Some tickets can be collected from Self-Service Terminals at European train stations. Your confirmation email will include a collection reference code and instructions for ticket retrieval.
    4. More details about these delivery options are available on our Website: HERE .
  6. Prices and Taxes
    1. The descriptions of the Services presented on the Website specify what is included in the price for each Service. The full details of the Order price will be displayed during the purchase process.
    2. In order to continually invest in high-quality customer support and innovative technology, we charge a fixed booking fee that applies to the entire Order, regardless of the amount or number of tickets purchased.
    3. Prices include VAT where applicable, based on the prevailing rate in France at the time of purchase.
    4. Prices are shown in the currencies displayed on the Website. We do not guarantee the exchange rate used at the time of the Order and are not responsible for real-time updates. Refunds and aftersales processes will use the exchange rate applied during the initial booking, regardless of the current exchange rate.
    5. Additional banking fees related to foreign transactions may apply. We are not responsible for any fees charged by your banking institution or your credit card or debit card issuer, such as international transaction or currency conversion fees.
    6. Additional taxes or fees (e.g., tourist tax, accommodation tax, visa fees or tourist cards) required by some governments are not included in the price of the Services and are your responsibility.
  7. Payment
    1. Only credit or debit cards listed on the Website at the time of Order placement are accepted. We do not accept cash, cheques or bank drafts.
    2. Payment processing is handled by third-party service providers.
    3. For credit card payments, your card issuer's terms and conditions apply. It is your responsibility to review and accept them.
    4. Upon successful payment, you will receive an email confirmation as outlined in article 4.8.
    5. The total amount for the Services, including delivery and booking fees, is debited at the time of Order placement.
    6. We reserve the right to block Orders deemed fraudulent or lacking necessary security guarantees. In such cases, please contact Customer Service via the Contact Page HERE.
    7. In case of payment irregularities, your details may be recorded in a payment incident list, which may block future orders on the Website. You will be notified via email and given the opportunity to resolve the issue with Customer Service.
  8. Use of Vouchers
    1. Payment may also be made using vouchers issued after a cancellation, refund or exchange. Specific conditions for voucher use are specified HERE.

    2. In the event of an order cancellation paid partially or fully with a voucher that qualifies for reimbursement, only the amount paid via credit or debit card will be refunded.

      The voucher portion may not be eligible for reimbursement in any form. The voucher used will be considered fully consumed ("burnt") and cannot be reissued. This policy ensures transaction security and minimizes the risk of fraud.

  9. No Right of Withdrawal
    1. Please not that none of the Services offered on Our Website in the name of Operators are subject to the application of the right of withdrawal in compliance with the French Consumer Code for distance sales.
    2. Consequently, the Services ordered on the Website are exclusively subject to the cancellation and amendment conditions specified in these General Terms and Conditions and/or in any applicable Specific Terms and Conditions.
  10. Exchanges / Modifications / Cancellations
    1. The specific terms and conditions for exchanges and cancellations are provided at the time of your Order for all Services.
    2. These aforementioned terms are also included in the confirmation email sent after your booking and are printed on the back of paper tickets.
    3. In all cases, no exchanges or refunds will be provided in the event of theft, loss or damage.
  11. Protection Plans

    1. We may offer Rail Protection Plans (RPP) to upgrade your Non-Flexible and Semi-Flexible tickets to fully refundable tickets ("Eligible Tickets "). These RPP are optional and are acquired by payment of a flat fee proportionate to the total amount of all Eligible Tickets, which will not be refundable.

      The two protection plans offered are:
      • 'Essential Protection' which are Rail Europe's contractual guarantees implemented by our subcontractor Protect Group;
      • 'Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)' Protection which is a product offered by our partner Koala.
    2. The specific conditions that apply to the 'Essential Protection' are described HERE. These conditions detail the reasons covered by the guarantee that prevent you from using your Ticket(s), as well as the evidence required. It takes effect on the day you purchase the plan (the day of your Order) and expires 60 days after the date of your trip. 100% of the price of your Eligible Ticket will be refunded if the protection plan is used.
      To make a claim you should fill in the form accessible HERE.
    3. The specific conditions that apply to the 'Cancellation for any reason' are described HERE . It takes effect on the day you purchase the plan (the day of your Order) and expires 3 hours before the date of your trip. 90% of the price of your Eligible Ticket will be refunded if the protection plan is used.

      To make your claim, connect to your Rail Europe account. Then go to your trip details where you will be redirected to our partner's portal (Koala).

    4. Rail Europe advises you to print these specific conditions out if you choose to add a Rail Protection Product to your order.
    5. If your Booking contains a mix of Eligible Tickets and Flexible tickets, the Rail Protection Plan will not apply to the Flexible tickets. Should you cancel your entire Booking in such case, you will have to request a refund of your Flexible ticket(s) through your Rail Europe Account.
    6. If your Booking is cancelled or postponed by the Operator, this case will not be covered by the RPP and you should contact Our Customer Service team directly.
    7. For any additional details on these products you can read THIS .
  12. Other Services Offered by Rail Europe Partners
    1. Rail Europe partners with third-party companies offering ancillary services such as accommodation reservations, baggage transport or tax refunds.
    2. If you book ancillary travel services for your travel through these links, you will NOT be entitled to the rights applicable to packages under Directive (EU) 2015/2302 and Article L.211-2 of the French Tourism Code.
    3. Rail Europe is not responsible for the proper execution of these ancillary services. In the event of an issue, please contact the service provider concerned.
    4. However, if you book additional travel services via this these links within 24 hours of receiving confirmation of the booking from Rail Europe, these services will form part of a linked travel arrangement. In this case, Rail Europe has the protection required under European Union law to reimburse payments made to Rail Europe for services not performed due to hypothetical Rail Europe's insolvency. Please note that in this case, there is no provision for reimbursement in the event of the insolvency of the additional service provider concerned.
    5. Rail Europe has insolvency protection through Groupama Assurance-Crédit & Caution, 3 Place Marcel Paul, 92000 Nanterre, France at+33 (0)1 70 96 63 40 or groupama-ac.fr. You can contact these entities if you are denied services due to Rail Europe's hypothetic insolvency.
  13. Our Liability
    1. Concerning the Use of the Website
      1. We do not guarantee that the Website will be free from irregularities, errors or bugs, nor that these issues can always be resolved promptly. Additionally, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted or error-free functioning of the Website or compatibility with hardware or software configurations other than those expressly specified by us. We bear no responsibility for malfunctions caused by third-party software.
      2. We provide hyperlinks to other websites solely for user convenience and do not control their content. Consequently, we accept no liability for the content of these linked websites.
      3. By using the Website, you acknowledge your understanding of the Internet's characteristics and limitations, including technical performance, response times and risks to communication security.
      4. You confirm that your computer system is virus-free and in optimal working condition. You agree not to use automated systems or software to extract data from the Website, especially for commercial purposes, as screen-scraping is prohibited.
    2. Concerning the Services
      1. We rely on assurances from our Partners and Operators regarding the proper execution of services as outlined in your transport contract. However, we cannot be held liable for failures or poor performance of these services. We are not liable for any failure to execute or poor execution of all or part of the Services specified in these Terms & Conditions, which would be attributable either to your actions, to unforeseeable and insurmountable actions of a third-party foreign to the service or to a case of force majeure.
      2. Unless an obvious error is demonstrated on our part, it is explicitly agreed that data stored in our information system and/or those of the Operators, particularly in the electronic messaging tools utilized by us, or in the control systems of Printed Tickets, shall be deemed as legal evidence concerning Orders placed and the fulfillment of obligations by the parties.
      3. Data stored electronically by us are considered as evidence and, when presented as such by us in any legal dispute, shall be admissible, valid and enforceable between the parties to the same extent, under the same conditions, and with the same evidentiary weight as any document established, received or stored in writing.
  14. Your Rights as a Passenger
    1. The Rail Passenger Rights Regulation is a set of rules issued by European Parliament to govern European journeys by train. It's a public document that is part of EU law. You can read the document HERE.
    2. You are protected under Rail Passenger Rights if your train journey involves international and domestic trains operated within the European Union.
    3. For more information, please see our dedicated page: HERE.
  15. Your Liability
    1. It is Your responsibility to be informed of the administrative and/or health procedures necessary for your travel, in particular before making your Order, by contacting the relevant authorities in your country of origin as well as those of the countries of destination and/or transit.
    2. You are responsible for conducting and paying for the procedures required by the police, customs and health authorities required for your travel, such as your passport, national identity card, residency card, parental authorization, visa, medical certificate, vaccination certificate, etc.
    3. In addition, it should be noted that regulations in certain countries require that your passport be valid for more than six months following your return date.
    4. Minors must be in possession of identity papers in their name.
    5. If You are unable to depart on the date indicated due to failure to adhere to these administrative and health procedures, no reimbursement will be provided for the price paid.
  16. Personal Data

    Details on how we use your personal data can be found in our Privacy Policy HERE.

  17. Claims
    1. For information or inquiries about Orders, please contact Rail Europe's Customer Service by visiting the Contact page HERE .
    2. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you may, within one year of the date of your written complaint, submit a request for amicable resolution through the European Commission platform for dispute resolution HERE .
  18. Intellectual Property
    1. We, along with our Partners and Operators, hold all intellectual property rights related to the Website or associated usage rights. Access to the Website does not grant you any intellectual property rights to the Website, which remain exclusively ours or those of our Partners or Operators.
    2. All elements accessible on the Website—in particular texts, photographs, images, icons, maps, sounds, videos, software, databases and data —are protected by intellectual and industrial property rights and other exclusive rights held by Us or Our Partners or Operators. You may not copy, represent, modify, transmit, publish, adapt or use any part of the Website without prior written authorization from Us.
    3. You are hereby informed that this prohibition targets in particular, but not exclusively, such practices as scraping or the use of robots for extraction, or the reproduction of any part of the Website, including offers for Services presented therein, in particular for commercial purposes.
    4. Any unauthorized use of all or part of the Website will result in appropriate action, including infringement proceedings.
    5. The insertion of hyperlinks to any part of the Website is prohibited without Our prior written authorisation.
  19. Final Provisions
    1. These General Terms and Conditions, and more generally the agreement that you have entered into with Us, are subject to French laws.
    2. All disputes relating to their interpretation and/or execution fall under the jurisdiction of French courts. However, in accordance with Consumer Protection Law, you are entitled to bring an action before a court given your place of residence.
    3. Should We not assert, at any given time, any one of the provisions in these General Terms and Conditions, this cannot be interpreted as a waiver of its right to assert the provision at a later time.
    4. Should any one of the provisions of these General Terms and Conditions be declared null and void, it will be considered as invalid. This will not affect the validity of the other provisions, unless the provision that is declared null and void is essential and determining.
    5. In case of force majeure preventing the execution of a service, including an interruption of the means of telecommunication or a transporters' strike, our obligations affected by such events will be suspended.

Appendix

Rail Passes

  • What is a Rail Pass?

    Rail passes allow travel on national rail networks in one or more European countries, or even in dozens of European countries (under the Eurail Global Pass, for example), depending on the countries covered by the pass.

    A rail pass is a non-transferable ticket. When tickets are inspected on trains, the traveller to whom the ticket was issued must present a current valid photo identification (either an identification card or a passport).

    Some rail passes are only available to specific residents.

    Some trains may pass through countries not covered by a rail pass, requiring an additional train ticket. It is strongly advised to verify Your itinerary in advance.

  • Activation and Use of Your Rail Pass

    Rail passes must be activated within the timeframe indicated at purchase.

    To activate your pass, present it along with your passport to rail company agents at the departure station. Only these agents are authorized to activate passes. At activation, the first and last day of validity will be set, and the pass holder must sign the pass.

    Moreover, if there is reason to believe that a pass has been modified, falsified or used by a person other than its rightful holder, or used beyond its period of validity, rail company conductors are authorised to confiscate the pass and require payment of a full price ticket as well as the payment of a fine for the journey in progress.

    A passport must be shown to rail company agents when requested.

    In most cases, a pass is valid from midnight to midnight for the period indicated on the pass. The pass cannot be used on hotel trains, private trains or special trains unless otherwise indicated.

  • Reserving seats

    A rail pass does not guarantee a reserved seat.

    Seat reservations are optional on some trains but required on high-speed trains (TGV, AVE, Eurostar, Le Frecce, etc.), international trains (for example Lyria), night trains ( for example Thello, City Night Line) and scenic trains (Glacier Express, GoldenPass, Bernina Express, Wilhelm Tell Express and Chocolate Train etc.). The ICE (Intercity Express) requires a reservation on all Sprinter trains. Additional reservations are necessary on SJ High Speed trains in Scandinavia and on most trains in Spain (Renfe).

    Some trains require payment of a surcharge that includes a mandatory seat reservation. On some trains, the number of seats available to pass holders may be limited. You are thus strongly advised to make reservations in advance. If all reservations allocated to pass holders are already booked on the train that you wish to take, you must either choose another train that still has seat reservations available. The cost of seat reservations varies depending on the type of train and the country.

  • Applicable Rules:

    All modes of transportation covered by a rail pass used across multiple countries are subject to the Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Rail (CIV). National passes or single-country passes are subject to the rules and regulations of their respective country.

  • More information can be found on Our website: HERE