Easy day trip to Paris

• Q. Are there smoking and non smoking sections on trains ?

  A. Smoking is not permitted on any trains in Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), France, Hungary, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, or Poland.

  Smoking is restricted on trains in Finland and the Czech Republic.

  Smoking is also prohibited in lavatories and dining cars. And you must observe special regulations at stations where you usually find dedicated smoking areas or rooms.

• Q. Do I need to buy a reservation if I already have a rail pass ? How do I book one ?

  A. If you plan to travel on a high speed, scenic, or overnight train, you will need a reservation as many of these types of trains require them - even if you have a rail pass. Seat reservations guarantee you a seat on the train you wish to travel on. While additional fees apply, many trains offer reduced fares to passholders. When you reserve your train, be sure to check the box that states "I have a rail pass", this will allow our system to find the best fare possible for your journey.
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• Q. Who should I contact to book travel for a group of 10 or more people ?

  A. For groups of 10 or more traveling together please fill out our Group Department form for assistance. If you know what you’re looking for, you can also request a quote online from our Group Department.

• Q. How far in advance can I purchase a train ticket ?

  A. Train tickets can be purchased in a booking horizon of 30 to 180 days in advance of a journey. This booking horizon depends on the route and each rail carrier’s policy.

  In order to take advantage of the best prices and availability, always book as far in advance as possible. It’s particularly important to book early during peak travel seasons to ensure you can travel on the date you wish.

  Please note – when planning a journey you can always enter a date within 30 days of today to view general travel times and ticket fares.

  Booking horizon by country (in advance of the date of travel) :*

  Austria - 90 days
  Balkans - 60 days
  Benelux (International) - 90 days
  Croatia/Slovenia (International) - 90 days
  Czech Republic (International) - 60 days
  Denmark - 60 days
  Finland - 60 days
  France - 90 days
  Germany - 180 days
  Great Britain - 75 days
  Hungary (International) - 90 days
  Italy - 120 days
  Montenegro/Serbia - 90 days
  Norway - 90 days
  Spain - 60 days
  Sweden - 180 days
  Switzerland - 90 days
  Poland (Domestic) - 30 days
  Poland (International) - 60 days
  Romania (Domestic) - 30 days
  Romania (International) - 90 days
  Russia - 45 days

  Booking horizons for the major train lines or carriers (in advance of the date of travel) :*

  Allegro - 60 days
  ATOC Britain - 90 days
  Berlin-Warsaw Express - 60 days
  DB - 180 days
  Eurostar - 180 days
  France-Freiburg (Breisgau)TGV - 90 days
  France-Germany High Speed - 90 days
  France-Italy TGV - 90 days
  France - Russia - 60 days
  France-Spain High Speed - 119 days
  Germany-Italy Day - 120 days
  Hungarian Trains - 90 days
  ICE - 180 days
  Lusitania - 60 days
  Lyria - 90 days
  NTV Italo - 120 days
  RENFE - 60 days
  Romanian Night Trains - 90 days
  Thalys - 90 days
  Thello Night - 120 days
  Tolstoy - 60 days
  Trenitalia (Domestic) - 120 days
  Trenitalia (International) - 120 days

  *Subject to change.

• Q. My plans have changed and I won’t be able to use my rail pass. Can I get a refund ?

  A. You can submit your rail pass for a refund. Please be advised that there is a 15% penalty. Only unused and unvalidated (non-activated) rail passes can be refunded. The pass must be returned to Rail Europe, along with a brief letter mentioning the original reference number of the booking. It’s strongly recommended that you send these documents by some type of traceable mail for proof of delivery.

  If you purchased the Rail Protection Plan™ and your rail pass is covered, you’re eligible to receive a credit for its entire value. No fee or penalty will be applied, and you can use this credit towards any future Rail Europe purchase within 2 years. Please read more about the Rail Protection Plan™ and for instructions on how to file a claim.

  Please visit our Cancellation and Refunds page for more information.

• Q. Do I need to show my passport to board the train ?

  A. If you’re traveling with a rail pass and this is your very first train trip, you’ll need to present your passport to the railway official at the ticket window to activate your pass, before you board the train.

  Please note that there will be no passport control (day or night) when traveling between countries that signed the Schengen Treaty. Not all countries belonging to the EU are part of the Schengen Treaty (e.g. Great Britain, Ireland). On the flip side, some countries that are not part of the EU are part of the Schengen Treaty (e.g. Switzerland, Norway).

• Q. I have a business idea or partnership opportunity for you. Whom should I get in touch with ?

  A. Marketing Opportunities ! Do you think you have products or services that could enrich the experience of our customers ? Are you interested in exploring joint marketing initiatives ? Do you have compelling content for our website ?

  We’re always looking to hear from potential partners and put our creative energies together for the benefit of our travellers. If you have any thoughts, feel free to drop us an email at opportunities@raileurope.com .

• Q. What is a travel day on a rail pass ?

  A. A travel day on a rail pass is a 24-hour period, from midnight to midnight, during which you can take as many train journeys as you desire. Since rail passes use calendar days, journeys within 24-hours of each other but on different days will count as two travel days.

• Q. Can I purchase a rail pass when I'm in Europe ?

  A. In general, rail passes can only be purchased prior to your arrival in Europe and cannot be purchased locally. If you’re already in Europe and would like to purchase a rail pass, we may be able to assist you, please call us at 1-800-622-8600.

  With international shipping, we can send your rail pass to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland. The fee for orders sent to Europe is $40 USD or $45 CAD and delivery takes 3 to 7 Business days.

• Q. What should I do if my train ticket is lost or stolen ?

  A. If your paper ticket is lost or stolen, you’ll need to purchase a new one in order to travel.

  If you purchased the Rail Protection Plan™ and your ticket is covered, you may be eligible for reimbursement if you meet the requirements of this plan, this includes filing a police report within 24 hours of the loss or theft and purchasing replacement train ticket.

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