A Eurail Pass consists of a ticket and a Pass Cover that includes the Travel Report. Neither the ticket nor the Pass Cover is valid on its own. Those who travel using one without the other risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine, subject to the rules of the national railway company.

A Eurail Pass is strictly personal, non-transferable and valid only upon presentation of a passport or other recognized travel identification document. Those who travel without a passport or a legal equivalent to be presented together with the Pass risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine.

A Eurail Pass must be activated before it can be used for a journey. It can be done at your travel agent or a train station ticket window. An activated Pass will show the first and last day of validity of the Pass. Activation must take place within 6 months of the issuing date stamp in the upper right hand corner of the ticket. Those who travel using a ticket without an activation date stamp risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine

The Eurail Global Pass is valid for travel with the participating railway companies in the 23 countries listed on the Pass Cover (excluding Montenegro, Poland and Serbia). Eurail Select, Regional and One Country Passes are only valid for the country or countries which are printed on the ticket itself.

All Eurail Pass holders must fill out the personal and ticket details on the Pass Cover Travel Report before using the Pass. Before boarding a train, bus or boat, each journey must be recorded in block capitals on the Journey Details section of the Travel Report in blue or black ink. Those who travel without having recorded these details risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine.

A Eurail Pass does not guarantee a seat in a train or boat. Reservations are required for certain trains and ships, and surcharges may apply. Fees for seat reservations, sleeping accommodation, port taxes, meals, and other services while on board trains and boats are not included in the Pass.

Flexi Pass holders may choose the days on which they travel within a longer period of overall validity. Before boarding the first train, bus or boat on a travel day, the date must be correctly entered in blue or black ink in the corresponding Travel Calendar boxes on the ticket. Those who travel on a date that has not been entered on the ticket risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine. Once entered, a travelday may not be corrected, as it can be considered as an attempt of fraud. If a mistake is made, the correct date must be entered in the next travel day box which means that you lose a non-refundable travel day.

If a trip on a direct overnight train departs after 19.00h (7pm) and arrives after 04.00h (4am), it is only necessary to enter the date of arrival in the Travel Calendar boxes on the ticket. This also covers travel between 19.00h (7pm) and 24.00h (12 midnight) on the day of departure, as long as the day of departure and arrival both fall within the overall period of the Pass’s validity. When using an overnight ferry covered by the Pass, either the date of departure or arrival may be entered in the Travel Calendar boxes on the ticket.

Aside from the payments and fines detailed above in connection with improper use of a Eurail Pass by the legal Pass holder, railway staff are authorized to confiscate a Pass which appears to be forged, which is being used by anyone other than the person to whom it was issued, or on which personal details have been altered. Anyone using a fake pass is considered to be attempting to perpetrate fraud against both Eurail Group and the national railway company they are traveling on. This will be reported to legal authorities, who will determinate the proper penalties.

A duplicate Eurail Pass unfortunately cannot be issued for those that are lost, stolen, or damaged in such a way that it they are unusable.

A Eurail Pass is valid within the overall time period indicated on the Pass. Travel can begin after 00.00 hours on the first day printed on the Pass, and the last trip must be finished by midnight (24.00 hours) on the last day of validity.

A Eurail Pass is valid for travel in the class indicated on the Pass ticket. 1st class passes are also valid in 2nd class cars. Those wishing to travel 1st class with a 2nd class pass must pay the full difference between 1st and 2nd class fare on the respective route. There is no refund for 1st class Pass holders traveling in 2nd class.

The Eurail Pass can only be used by those who reside outside of Europe, the Russian Federation and Turkey.

• Eligibility

Restrictions apply to using Eurail Passes in different categories.

• A Child Pass can only be used by travelers who are younger than 12 years of age on the first day that the Pass is valid. In some countries, different age restrictions may apply for children traveling on a Eurail One Country Pass.
• A Youth Pass can only be used by travelers who are younger than 26 years of age on the first day that the Pass is valid.
• A Senior Pass can only be used by travelers who are above 60 years of age on the first day that the Pass is valid.
• A Saver Pass is valid for everyone in the party (maximum 5) listed on the control voucher, but only when they are traveling with the Saver Pass in their possession. If people in the party split up and travel separately, those who are not carrying the Saver Pass will need to buy a separate train ticket. Refunds do not apply in this instance.

You can submit an application for refund up to a year after the date of issue. You will be refunded for the cost of the Pass minus a 15% cancellation fee, if your Pass is returned to the place of purchase either before the first day of validity or certified as “UNUSED” by a railway official in Europe before the first day of validity. Once activated, Passes are considered “used”. Passes that are (partially) used, lost, damaged or stolen will not be refunded or replaced.

Issuing offices and the Eurail Group G.I.E. act only as the intermediary of European carriers, and are not liable for operation of national rail services.

Eurail Group G.I.E. cannot be held responsible for damages or extra costs incurred due to loss of baggage, theft, force majeure, strikes, or canceled trains. However, in some of these cases, the Conditions of Carriage from the specific carrier may be favorable to claims. In the event that you experience three or more train delays that are longer than 60 minutes each, you can request compensation from the Eurail Group. For further information, please refer to www.eurailgroup.org/compensation.aspx

For Eurail Passes that are valid in more than one country, transportation is subject to the “Uniform Rules concerning the contract for GCC-CIV/PRR”. For Eurail Passes valid in one country only, the legal provisions of that country apply. For journeys by sea, the legal provisions of the individual sea carrier apply. In the event of a conflict between English and other translated texts, the English text (see www.eurailgroup.org/eurailcou.aspx) shall prevail.

The Eurail Group will make every effort to return original Travel Reports to Pass holders who submit them for registration after their trip. However, in the event of loss of or damage to the document, the Eurail Group cannot be held responsible.