The FAQs

---

In this section you can find all the answers to some of the most frequently asked My Interrail questions.

 

Your Interrail Pass

What is an Interrail Pass?

If you want to discover what Europe has to offer in a cost effective way then an Interrail Pass is the perfect way to do so! Giving you the freedom to explore the continent it your own way at at your own pace. An Interrail Pass is most definitely a budget friendly way to see Europe.
Please Note: Many High-Speed trains (like the TGV or AVE trains) and Overnight Sleeper trains can be used, but you will have to pay additional ‘pass holder supplements’ for seat / sleeper berth reservations on them.

 

Am I eligible for an Interrail Pass?

To qualify for an Interrail Pass, you must normally be a citizen in one of the following participating European countries:

 

Non-European citizens non residing in Europe can purchase a Eurail Pass, the same travel area as the Interrail Pass but for non-European residents. Further information on the Eurail pass can be found here.

 

What are the benefits in purchasing an Interrail Pass?

The Interrail Pass provides incredible value for money and a great level of freedom and choice to explore Europe how you want. You can just hop on and off trains as you please (but please bear in mind the need for additional seat / berth reservation supplements on certain high-speed and overnight trains) and if you decide to stay in one place longer than you anticipated then that is no problem. Simply ensure you record all of your Interrail journeys in the "Journey details" section of your travel report which is printed on the ticket cover of your Pass.

Other pass benefits include discounts on certain ferries, entitlement to pass-holder fares on the Eurostar services, discounts in some European hotels and hostels, museums and other local transportation.

 

Am I entitled to a discount if I am a Youth or a Senior?

Yes, if you are a Youth (aged between 12 and 27 years on the date that your Pass starts) or a Senior (aged 60 years or older on the date that your Pass starts) then you can benefit from either the Youth Interrail Pass or the Senior Interrail Global Pass.

 

Can children travel with an Interrail Pass?

Children aged  4 -11 years are entitled to a Free Interrail Pass with each Adult Interrail Pass. One Adult can receive up to two Child Passes free of charge when you purchase a "Family Pass" in our pricing options. Any further children will be at the Youth rate.

Children under the age of 4 years are entitled to free travel. But please note that they will not be automatically entitled to a seat, especially on busy trains, so be prepared that children under 4 years without a Pass may have to travel on an Adult’s lap in some cases.

 

Is the Eurostar included in my Interrail Pass?

Yes, Eurostar are now part of the Interrail community with their High-Speed services from London to Calais, Lille, Brussels and, of course, Paris now included in the Interrail Global Pass.

As Eurostar trains require a compulsory seat reservation, all you simply need to do is make a Passholder Reservation in advance of your departure date. This can be done online or through the Eurostar call centre 03432 186 186 up to 3 months in advance (...and when booking, remember to tell them you have an Interrail Pass so you are given the Passholder rate!)

 

Placing Your order

Why should I buy an Interrail Pass?

My Interrail offers you Interrail Passes which are very competitively priced and great value for your money! Interrail Passes also give you a great level of flexibility, so you can choose when and where you want to travel to by train.

Other pass benefits include discounts on certain ferries, entitlement to pass-holder fares on the Eurostar services, European hotels, transport and attractions.

 

Are there any additional costs?

On special trains, such as many high-speed trains and overnight services, you will have to pay a supplement for a seat or sleeping berth reservation. Some normal Inter-City trains in Italy are also considered high speed trains, and you may have to pay a supplement.

High-Speed trains that always require an additional supplement include;

TGV (France), Italian Eurostar and Inter City (Italy), Thalys (Belgium, Netherlands), Rail Jet (Central & Eastern Europe), Inter City (IC) and Euro City (EC) trains (everywhere, except within Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), AVE (Spain).
Inter City (IC) and Inter City Express (ICE) trains involving a German Station do not require a seat reservation as mandatory, but it is always recommended, as these routes do get very busy, and you could end up travelling standing for long journeys.

Overnight trains always require an additional supplement for Seats and Sleeping accommodations;

The principle cross-Europe overnight trains are the City Night Line (CNL) and Euro Night (EN) services; they usually have a combination of 2nd Class Seats, 4 / 6 Berth Couchettes and Double / Single Sleepers (note: not all trains have all levels of accommodation).
Other overnight trains of note include the Trenhotel from Paris to Madrid / Barcelona / Lisbon; these have Seats, 4 Berth Couchettes and Double / Single Sleepers. There are also many domestic overnight trains, with varying levels of accommodation in places like France, Italy and Scandinavia.

 

How far in advance can I buy my Pass?

Your Pass can be purchased up to 11 months before your first intended travel date.

 

Can I add another person to my booking at a later date?

Unfortunately our booking system does not allow additional passengers to be added once a booking has been completed. As a result we recommend that the new additional passenger places a separate booking for their Pass. We will ensure that their Pass is processed and shipped out to them as soon as possible.

 

Can Disabled Passengers get a Free Carer Pass?

Yes. If you are a Disabled Person's Railcard holder you will be entitled to a free Interrail Carer Pass. A Disabled Person purchasing an Interrail Pass on MyInterrail.co.uk can contact support@myinterrail.co.uk to request the accompanying free Carer Pass.

 

What is the difference between 1st class and 2nd class travel?

The level of comfort amongst other things is the main difference between 1^st and 2^nd class travel when Interrailing. Have a look at our enjoy 1st class travel section for more information about the benefits of 1^st class travel.

 

Are railway staff discounts available when purchasing my Interrail Pass?

As Interrail Passes are not part of the range of international travel facilities for railway staff and their dependants we are unable to offer staff discounts on our Passes.

 

What payment methods do you accept on your website?

We accept the following debit and credit card payment methods on our website:

Debit cards:

• Visa debit
• Maestro debit

Credit Cards:

• Visa
• MasterCard​

 

What are your help desk opening hours?

• Opening hours for the MyInterrail.co.uk help desk are listed on the Booking Help Desk page

 

Your Delivery

How will my order be delivered?

If your order is being delivered do any other European country, then your Pass will be shipped via DHL Courier services. Delivery times for Europe are 2-3 working days.

The shipping methods used by us are highly secure, as a result a signature will be required when delivering your tickets. Please ensure you specify a delivery address where someone will be available to sign for your parcel. It is then your responsibility to ensure someone is available to accept the delivery.

Please note that Interrail Passes purchased from our site can not be collected from a station.

 

What are the delivery costs?

We offer two delivery options, these are:

UK-Next day special delivery: 

Our Royal Mail Special Delivery charges are £12.

Benefits of next day special delivery:

• online tracking and signature on delivery

• online proof of delivery

• Your Pass will be with you the next working day*

*If your order is placed before 3pm from Monday to Thursday. 

Exceptions: Highlands and Islands are covered but may be an exception, please see a list of delivery exceptions here, or call our customer services to enquire before placing your order.

DHLCourier:

We offer DHL Courier service to all our European customers outside of the United Kingdom.

We charge a flat fee of £40 for a DHL Express delivery.

 

What are the delivery times?

We offer deliveries to both the United Kingdom as well as the rest of Europe. Please see details of delivery times for each area below:

United Kingdom:

Next day Special delivery:

All orders which are placed by 3 pm on weekdays will be dispatched the same day.

Orders received after the cut off times will be dispatched the next working day*.  

The standard delivery times are:

• between 9 am & 1 pm the next working day
• there are no deliveries on weekends
• Highlands and Islands are covered but may be an exception, please see a list of delivery exceptions here, or call our customer services to enquire before placing your order.

*Note: If you place your order on a bank holiday weekend it will not be processed until the first working day after the bank holiday. 

Europe:

DHL Courier: 

For delivery within Europe via DHL Courier express the estimated delivery times are 2-3 working days dependent on location.

If no one is available at the address to sign for the parcel, a card will be left by crossflight to indicate that they were unable to deliver your parcel. It is then your responsibility to contact the appropriate delivery office and arrange a re-delivery or collection in person.

All deliveries will have to be signed for, thus please ensure that someone will be at your specified delivery address to sign for your delivery.

 

I have not received my delivery, what can I do?

Please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

 

How can I track my delivery?

In order to track your order you will need to contact our customer service team. Please refer to our contact us section for details of how to get in touch. Please note that you will have to have your my Interrail order number to hand to enable us to locate your order.

 

Your Trip

How do I make a reservations & much will I have to pay?

Seat reservations can be made on the Rail Planner App, when you purchase your Interrail mPass this will be the App you travel with. Seat reservations can be made here.

 

How often can I travel?

The number of days on which you can travel depends on whether it is a Flexi Pass or a Continuous Pass. Interrail Global Passes valid for 15 days, 22 days or 1 month are Continuous Passes. Continuous Passes can be used on unlimited valid services (every day) during the period in which the Pass is valid.

Interrail Global Passes valid for 5 or 10 days within a longer period of time are Flexi Passes. The 5 days do not need to be specified in advance and can be at any time within the 10 day period but must be filled in on the travel calendar.

Interrail One Country Passes are also Flexi Passes which are valid for 3,4,6 or 8 days within 1 month. Again the days do not need to specified in advance and can be at any time within the 1 month.

 

Can I use my Interrail Global Pass in my country of residence?

Interrail Global Passes can be used for one outbound and one inbound journey to your exit border point (port / airport / station) from your country of residence. This will count as part of a normal day's use of your pass. All other travel in your country of residence is not permitted. For further details please see here.

 

How much luggage can I take?

As a general rule you can take two items and one piece of hand luggage free of charge. You can also take skis, snowboards, golf bags and other bulky items free of charge and even take your bike as one of your two items if it can be folded down into a carry bag.

For Eurostar trains, the following information applies:
Adults are permitted two items and one piece of hand luggage free of charge, and children are permitted one item and one piece of hand luggage.

Sports equipment: Items under 85cm at their longest would count as part of your luggage allowance. Items over this length would need to travel as registered baggage, excluding skis and snowboards, which can be counted towards your luggage allowance.

Bike Bags: A bike bag with a maximum length greater than 85cm would need to travel as registered baggage. Bags under this length can travel as part of your luggage allowance.

 

Can I take a wheelchair or mobility scooter on board?

Most modern European trains have dedicated areas on board for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. These will need to be booked with the railway company directly well in advance of travel. If you know the countries you are visiting please download this Passenger Assistance document to find out how to book directly with each railway company. If you require any further information please contact our Contact Centre at support@myinterrail.co.uk who will be happy to help you further.

 

Do all trains and stations within Europe offer disabled facilities?

The standard of disabled facilities on trains and at stations around Europe can vary. In general, most major city stations do offer full wheelchair access. If notified in advance the train company and station staff can assist with helping you on and off of the trains. Please see this Passenger Assistance docment for further details.
Most modern, high speed trains do usually have allocated spaces for wheelchair users (plus a companion) close to accessible restroom facilities. These spaces are limited per train, seat reservations open up 3 months in advance, so it is recommended that you book these well in advance of your travel.

 

Can I take my bicycle with me?

Yes, most train services will allow you to take you bike with you, however limitations are in place for some train connections in certain. Please check the Country specific railway information for the country of your choice to confirm the rules surrounding bicycle carriage on trains in that particular country.  

Please also note that some trains including Thalys, FYRA, some TGV’s, Thello and Tilting trains from Switzerland to Milan will not take bikes unless they are in bike bags.

Please take the following points into consideration if you chose to take your bicycle with you:

There is no charge for taking a folding bike that fits into a bag on Eurostar.

If your bike can be folded down and fits into a bag you can take it on all French trains and most high speed and local services in Europe.

Alternatively you can book a space for it or have it sent to your destination as registered baggage.

If you're taking your bike as part of your luggage allowance, the bike bag must be no larger than 85cm at its longest. Bags over this length will need to be checked-in  as registered baggage.

Please refer to the Eurostar website for details of taking your bike from Great Britain to France. 

 

Can I take my pet on the train?

With the exception of guide dogs and hearing dogs, Eurostar does not allow pets on board, so you’ll need to find an alternative route into Europe. Once you’re there pets are able to be taken but various restrictions will apply.

Each rail company is slightly different, but the general rule is that your pet will need to be kept in a carrying cage. Larger dogs should be kept on a lead with a muzzle. There will also be a charge for carriage of a pet, anything from a small supplement up to the cost of a full priced ticket for your pet. Please enquire with the rail company before you travel.

If you want to take your pet on an overnight train, you’ll need to reserve a whole compartment for yourself and your pet.

Please give our reservations team a call on 0871231079 to find out more.

 

What is the Travel Report?

The Travel Report is the section of your pass cover where you need to enter the following information:

• Your personal details: Your personal information has to be entered in this section. The required details include your name, your age and your contact information.
• Your ticket details: the information about the Interrail Pass you are using on your adventure has to be entered in this section. The required details include Pass type, Pass Category and Pass class.
• Your journey details: the information about each train, free bus or ferry you use on your travels has to be entered in this section

Your pass cover and Interrail pass must be kept together at all times. If you travel without your pass cover your Interrail pass will not be valid for use. 

 

How do I fill out the travel calendar in my travel report?

When travelling with the Global Pass it is important that you record the date of each day on which you use your Pass. Each travel date has to be entered in the "Journey details" section which is part of the travel report that you receive with your Global Pass. Prior to each new journey you make with your Interrail Pass you must ensure that you enter the travel date and time into the "Journey details" section of your travel report before boarding the train. As not doing so is considered the same as travelling without a ticket, which could result in you getting fined by train staff if your travel report is incorrect or incomplete.

The report is simple to fill in as each column is marked with a heading indicating what the required information is.

The required journey details include day and month of travel, your departure time, the city you are travelling from and the city you are travelling to. If you have travelled the specified leg of your journey by bus or boat this will also have to be entered in the last section of the "Journey details" log.

Please be careful when filling in the journey details section of your travel report and ensure that all the information is accurate and avoid making any mistakes in order to avoid any issues when train staff check your travel details.

 

Refunds & Cancellations

I can no longer use my Pass, am I entitled to a refund?

We can offer a refund on your Pass as long as its start date has not passed and your Pass has been stamped as unused. Refunds before the start date can be issued minus a 15% cancellation and a £10 administration fee per pass, please contact us for further details. Your Pass must be physically returned to us before its start date so that we can process your refund for you.

Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds on any Promotional Passes as they are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Nor can we offer refunds or regular Passes on or after the start date.

 

I have received my Pass but some of the details are incorrect, what should I do?

Once you have received your Pass please ensure that you check all the details carefully. If you spot any errors please contact us within 24 hours of receiving your documents, so that we can resolve any problems before you depart for your Interrail trip.

Please Note: if details (such as the spelling of your name, the date of birth, country of residence or your passport number) on the issued Pass are incorrect because you entered them incorrectly when booking, there will be a charge levied by Interrail/Eurail, and a small administration fee from us, to cancel and re-issue the Pass correctly.

 

I would like a refund for my Pass, what do I need to do?

We can offer refunds on passes as long as the start date has not passed. Refunds before the start date can be issued minus a cancellation and administration fee of 15%, please contact us for further details. Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds on passes after the start date or any Promotional Passes as they are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Therefore passes must be stamped as unused and returned to us before the start date has passed.

 

How long will it take for my refund to be processed?

Your refund will be processed as soon as your Pass has been returned to us. Once the Pass has been received standard refund processing times are approximately 3 working days. Refunds will not be processed unless we have physically received your returned Pass at our office.

We highly recommend that any returned Passes are sent back to us via recorded / special delivery, as we will not be held liable for any returns which do not reach us in time or are lost in the post.

Please also ensure that you do not write on your Pass/es. As Passes that have been defaced in any way will not be accepted for a refund by our suppliers.