All About Train Travel - Guide - Tripmasters Travel

All About Train Travel

In Europe, trains aren’t considered a secondary form of transportation; it’s how most Europeans travel. So they’re modern, dependable and in some cases state-of-the-art. At the heart of European rail is an extensive network of high speed trains, with travel times that can occasionally rival the airlines. But unlike flying, there’s no long security check, no baggage limitation and no hidden fees and very little stress.

More importantly, the wonder of the train is that it instantly surrounds you with the very landscape you came to visit. You’re immediately immersed in European life, while traveling amongst friendly locals and fellow adventurers. Plus, unlike the out of the way location of most airports, the train takes you from the center of one fabulous city to the center of another. Even the most basic second class train accommodation is roomier and more comfortable than any coach seat on a plane. And most trains are air-conditioned and non-smoking, with plenty of space to store your luggage (and no baggage fees).

All About Train Tickets

This section will give you a comprehensive understanding of train tickets including the different types of train tickets, choosing and booking a train ticket and the issuing methods of train tickets (paper and electronic). We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about train tickets and traveling with tickets.

Train Tickets Explained

A train ticket is a travel document valid for a single journey between two cities.
There are essentially two types of train tickets in Europe: tickets that come with a reservation and tickets that do not include a reservation, also known as open tickets. It’s important for you to understand their specifics, so let’s take a look.
In most cases and based on the route you’ll be taking, you will either get a ticket with a reservation included, an open ticket and a reservation, or an open ticket only. You do not have a choice in most instances, but it will help that you understand which kind of train ticket you’re getting since their condition of use is slightly different. Keep in mind that these different types of train tickets are usually not offered at the same time on the same route.

Tickets with Reservations

They come two ways: as a single combined document or as a ticket issued with a separate reservation.

A single document that is both the train ticket and the reservation is identifiable by the fact that it specifically indicates the train number, train time, car number and seat number that you have been assigned. These are generally issued for high-speed trains such as the TGV, Eurostar, Thalys, etc. These tickets are only valid for the train indicated on it, on that specific travel date and time of travel, and you must occupy the seat that was assigned to you. You cannot use these train tickets to board another train even on the same route, and you cannot get off and on the train along the way.

In the case of separate train tickets and reservations, you will receive two distinct travel documents: the open ticket and a stand-alone reservation. The reservation portion works just like the previous case: it is valid for a specific train only, and you have a specific seat assigned for you. The reservation portion of your train ticket can only be used in conjunction with a valid open ticket for the same route. The reverse, on the other hand, is not true. If for some reason you cannot use the reservation portion of your train ticket (if you miss your train, lost the reservation or simply change your plans), the open ticket portion of your train ticket remains valid. You may either purchase a new stand-alone reservation to board a train that requires one, or use just the open ticket portion you already have to board a train on the same route that does not require reservations. For more information about reservations make sure to read the All About Seat Reservations section.

Open Tickets

Tickets that don’t include a reservation are also known as open tickets.

These train tickets are valid for a specific route and can be used to board any train that runs on this route that does not require a reservation. It’s quite flexible because you can decide which train to take after you’ve bought the train tickets. With open tickets, you do not have a pre-assigned seat. You can sit in any available seat in the class of service your train ticket was issued for.
Open tickets are valid for one month from the date of issue. The validity dates will be printed on the tickets. You can travel with an open ticket on any date within the validity period (however, remember: separate reservations may be necessary, depending on the route).

Issuing Methods

Unlike airline tickets, not all train tickets can be issued electronically. Train tickets bought from Rail Europe can be issued in one of three ways:
Paper ticket: the train ticket is physically printed and shipped to you before your departure to Europe.
Print at home e-ticket: the train ticket is issued as a PDF, which you must print from any computer printer prior to boarding the train.
Print at the station e-ticket: an e-ticket number is created and communicated to you via email after the time of purchase. Then all you need to do is print the actual paper ticket from a self service kiosk at the rail station prior to your train’s departure. (Not offered at all locations at this time).

Please note that all three methods are not always offered for a given train ticket. In fact, many tickets only support one of these issuance methods. Whichever issuance method is used, you will need to physically show your train ticket to the conductor on board at the time of ticket control or upon check in for certain trains like the Eurostar. In any case, the TripMasters voucher and/or Rail Europe invoice is never acceptable as a form of train ticket. Make sure to review our section on delivery methods for all the details and possible options for your travel documents.

Understanding Train Tickets

How long are train tickets valid for?
It depends if you have a ticket with a reservation or an open ticket.

Open tickets are valid for one month from the date of issue. The validity dates will be printed on the tickets. You can travel with an open ticket on any date within the validity period (however, remember: separate reservations may be necessary, depending on the route).

How can I tell whether or not I have a reserved seat onboard?
To tell if you have a reservation, first see if you received one or two travel documents for your trip. If you received two travel documents, you probably received an open train ticket and a reservation. The reservation portion will show a train number, car number and seat number assigned to you personally.

If you received only one document, see if it also indicates a seat number and car number. If so, your train ticket includes a reservation.

Tickets with reservations are only valid for the train for which the reservation was issued, on that specific travel date and time of travel.

Does my train ticket include a seat reservation?
It depends. Some tickets include a reservation, some tickets come with a separate, stand-alone reservation, and some tickets do not have reservations.

Please refer to the section Seat Reservations Explained for more information.

Choosing and Booking a Train Ticket

Answers to frequently asked questions about choosing and booking your train ticket.

Do I need to buy a train ticket for children or infants?

In general, any traveler that will occupy a seat needs to purchase a train ticket. Children under the age of 4 may travel on your lap, though the exact age can vary by rail company. If you want them to have a reserved seat on a train that offers or requires a reservation, you would need to pay the same price as an older child on most trains.

Are there discounts on train tickets?

Yes. There are discounts available for certain train tickets.

The first type of discount is for advanced booking. This applies mostly to high speed trains and night trains that require reservations. For these trains, within the same category of service, rail carriers set aside different groups of seats at different prices. The cheaper seats have a limited availability or are reserved for sale within a certain time period before the train departure. Once this group of cheaper seats has sold out, or the booking window for those seats has passed, the next group of seats goes on sale, at a higher price, and so on. The closer to the departure date you book, the more expensive you will find the seats. This is why we always encourage you to book your seat in advance to get the best price.

In addition, certain trains offer discounts for youth, child or senior travelers. We always attempt to find the cheapest fares for your traveling party and get you the discounts you’re eligible for. This is why it’s important to accurately indicate the composition of your traveling party when requesting fares and schedules from our website. You may also have to enter the age of certain travelers, so we can determine whether they’re eligible for certain age-related discounts.

I selected a ticket, but when I went to place my order, the price changed. I went back to search for rail tickets and saw the same price listed again in the results. Why did this happen?

For most trains, the price quoted is based on ‘live’ availability from current train seat inventories. However, for certain trains, we cannot check fare availability at the time of quotation due to the technical limitations of the international rail distribution system. Therefore, we use a stored price to build your quote, based on previously confirmed fares for the trip you requested.

Sometimes we find out that the fare used for quoting your trip is no longer available upon confirming your reservation. At that time, we receive a new price from the system based on that very moment’s availability. Unfortunately, due to those same technical limitations, we are unable to update the stored price for a specific train, even if we find out at the time of confirmation that a fare is no longer available.

Rest assured that we’re working actively to ensure that all prices quoted to you are based on live availability and limit the usage of stored prices for quotation purposes.

I selected a train ticket, but when I placed my order the price changed. Why? Can the previously quoted price be honored?

For most trains, the price quoted is based on live availability from current seat inventories. However, for some trains, we cannot check fare availability at the time of quote due to technical limitations of the international rail distribution system. Therefore, we use a cached price to build your quote, based on generally available fares for the trip you requested.

Sometimes, we find out that the fare used for quoting your trip is no longer available as we’re trying to confirm your reservation. This is when the system gives us the new price based on that very moment’s availability. This explains why you may receive a message advising you that the price has changed from the original quote.

Unfortunately, we are unable to honor the original fare that was displayed online. As mentioned in our terms of use, schedules listed in our booking tool are subject to change depending on availability, and final fares will be confirmed upon purchase.

Are the fares offered on your website based on live availability?

Yes, in most cases. The fares displayed on our website are based on current seat availability at the time you requested the fares and schedules for your itinerary. Our booking engine has a direct link to the inventory of many European rail carriers including SNCF, Eurostar, Thalys, RENFE, the UK’s Association Of Train Operating Companies and many more.

However, for some routes, we can only display a cached price at the time of quotation, based on generally available fares for those trains. Actual confirmation of space and fare takes place upon completion of your order. If there are any issues, you’ll be contacted.

Do the prices quoted on the website include all fees and taxes?

Fares quoted in our booking engine include all fees. We do not collect sales tax on rail products.

Do you offer e-tickets?

Yes, on certain rail lines. There are two types of e-tickets: Print at Home e-tickets (PAH) and Print at the Station e-tickets (TOD). Please see our dedicated sections on PAH and TOD tickets for more information.

What ways can a train ticket be issued? Paper? E-tickets?

There are three ways to issue European train tickets. Please see the section on Issuing Methods for specific information.

It is possible to have different issuance methods within the same booking. Please pay attention to the issuance method for each train in your itinerary and verify that you have all necessary documents, or that you know how to retrieve any print at station e-tickets if required.

Are the train tickets you send me the actual tickets, or do I need to exchange them at the station?

If your train tickets are paper tickets, then yes – the travel document you receive from us in the mail are your actual train tickets. Do not lose them because we cannot replace them. Only the original paper ticket will be accepted onboard the train. No other document such as a voucher or invoice can be used in lieu of the original paper train ticket.

Why are e-tickets not available for certain trips?

Availability of e-tickets depends on two factors: whether the rail company operating the train offers e-ticketing, and if it does, whether Rail Europe was granted technical access to their inventory to enable e-ticketing on their behalf.

Not all European rail companies offer e-tickets. But when they do, we work with them to make this option available in North America. And we’ll continue to do so in order to provide more e-ticket options for your convenience.

Can I choose a specific seat when booking a train ticket?

At this time, we are unable to offer this service. Unlike airlines, most rail carriers do not offer the possibility to select your specific seat. Please see the section on Seat Reservations for additional information.

About Print at Home E-Tickets (PAH)

The train ticket is issued as a PDF document, which must be printed from any computer printer prior to boarding the train. The ticket will be emailed to the passenger directly for printing.
The train ticket is issued as a PDF document, which must be printed from any computer printer prior to boarding the train. In most cases you will be able to print your tickets along with your travel vouchers; however there are some tickets that will be emailed to the passenger directly for printing.

I’ve bought a print at home e-ticket. What do I need to do before getting on board the train?

You’ll just need to print your actual ticket from a printer. The ticket is contained in a PDF document that will be sent to you via email after booking or will be available to print along with your travel vouchers.

I accidentally deleted the email with the link/attachment to print my print at home e-ticket, what should I do?

No worries. You can send us an email at contact@tripmasters.com, include your booking number and we will resend the PDF document to print your e-ticket.

I received my e-ticket as a PDF but wasn’t able to print it. Can I print it at the station?

French print at home e-tickets can be reissued from a self-service kiosk at the station. You will need the e-ticket number (PNR) as found on your invoice.

Eurostar print at home e-tickets can be reissued at the station, but there is a 15£ fee per ticket. You will need the e-ticket number (PNR) as found on your invoice.

All other print at home e-tickets cannot be re-issued at the station.

How do I read my RENFE print at home e-ticket?

If you are traveling to Spain and have purchased a RENFE train ticket please be advised that RENFE train tickets are available in Spanish only.

You can click here to view a quick guide that will assist you in reading your RENFE ticket.

Please note Renfe requires children under the age of four (who are traveling for free and who are considered lap children) be issued a ticket in the amount of $0. This special ticket must be retrieved directly from the Renfe ticket counter. This specially-priced ticket is not available through TripMasters.

I misplaced the printout of my print at home e-ticket. What now?

No problem. You can simply reprint your train ticket from any printer, as long as you can still access the PDF provided to you via email or through our website.

If you request to have your train ticket reprinted at a station ticket window, there may be a local service fee.

I bought a print at home e-ticket, but now don’t have access to a printer to print it. What should I do?

If you’re traveling on Eurostar your ticket may be printed at the station, but a fee may be charged.

Other types of print at home e-tickets cannot be printed at the station. Your best bet is to find an internet cafe or self-service print shop where you can go online and print your e-ticket.

About Print at Home E – Tickets (PAH)

I’ve bought a print at home e-ticket. What do I need to do before getting on board the train?

I accidentally deleted the email with the link/attachment to print my print at home e-ticket, what should I do?

No worries. You can send us an email at contact@tripmasters.com, include your booking number and we will resend the PDF document to print your e-ticket.

I received my e-ticket as a PDF but wasn’t able to print it. Can I print it at the station?

French print at home e-tickets can be reissued from a self-service kiosk at the station. You will need the e-ticket number (PNR) as found on your invoice.
Eurostar print at home e-tickets can be reissued at the station, but there is a 15£ fee per ticket. You will need the e-ticket number (PNR) as found on your invoice.
All other print at home e-tickets cannot be re-issued at the station.

How do I read my RENFE print at home e-ticket?

If you are traveling to Spain and have purchased a RENFE train ticket please be advised that RENFE train tickets are available in Spanish only.
You can click here to view a quick guide that will assist you in reading your RENFE ticket.
Please note Renfe requires children under the age of four (who are traveling for free and who are considered lap children) be issued a ticket in the amount of $0. This special ticket must be retrieved directly from the Renfe ticket counter. This specially-priced ticket is not available through TripMasters.

I misplaced the printout of my print at home e-ticket. What now?

No problem. You can simply reprint your train ticket from any printer, as long as you can still access the PDF provided to you via email or through our website.
If you request to have your train ticket reprinted at a station ticket window, there may be a local service fee.

I bought a print at home e-ticket, but now don’t have access to a printer to print it. What should I do?

Only French e-tickets for a trip originating from France can be printed at the train station using a self-service kiosk. You would then use the e-ticket confirmation number (PNR) indicated on your Rail Europe invoice to retrieve your ticket.
If you’re traveling on Eurostar your ticket may be printed at the station, but a fee may be charged.
Other types of print at home e-tickets cannot be printed at the station. Your best bet is to find an internet cafe or self-service print shop where you can go online and print your e-ticket.

About Print at The Station E – Tickets

These e-tickets are also called TOD or Ticket On Departure. An e-ticket number (also known as PNR or Passenger Name Record) is created and communicated to you via email after the time of purchase. Then all you need to do is print the actual paper ticket from a self service kiosk at the rail station prior to your train’s departure. (Not offered in all locations at this time).

How do I travel with a print at the station e-ticket?

All you need to do is print your actual ticket at the station using a self-service kiosk prior to boarding the train. You can do this on the day of your travel, or anytime prior, but you can only do this at a train station.
The actual steps to print your e-ticket vary slightly from one country to another, but the general approach is the same: proceed to the self-service kiosk, enter your e-ticket number (also known as PNR) which is a letter code (or in the UK, a letter and number combination code) that is unique to your trip, and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
Please note we will send the Rail Europe train itinerary details to passengers via email.

Where can I find my e-ticket number?

Your e-ticket number is a string of 6 letters (or an 8-letter and number combination for British e-tickets) that will be emailed to you along with your Rail Europe train itinerary details.

How do I use a Eurostar self-service kiosk?

Proceed to the self-service kiosk. Enter your e-ticket number (PNR), which is a 6 digit letter combination unique to your trip.
E-tickets can be retrieved up to 45 minutes before departure from the self-service kiosk at the following Eurostar stations: St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Ashford, Paris Nord, Calais Frethun and Brussels Midi. E-ticketing from the Marne La Valee and Lille Europe stations can be done from the French kiosks at these stations.
Click here for more detailed instructions on how to utilize the Eurostar self-service kiosks.

How do I use a British self-service kiosk to retrieve my print at the station e-ticket?

Arrive at the station at least 20 minutes prior to your departure time to print your ticket(s) and board your train. Proceed to the self-service kiosk. Insert any card with a magnetic strip, allow kiosk to ‘wake-up’ and then remove the card. (Note: this simply activates the kiosk. You do not need to use a credit card).
Enter your e-ticket number or PNR, which is an 8 digit number and letter combination unique to your trip, and is included in the email you receive. Then follow the simple instructions.
Please note: there may be multiple e-ticket numbers for your itinerary. If you have a roundtrip ticket, issue both the outbound and return trip at the same time.
British print at station e-ticket numbers may be referred to as ‘FastTicket’ numbers at the self-service kiosks. Most British train stations have self-service kiosks; please view the complete list of stations that offer these ‘FastTicket’ kiosks. If your departure station is not listed, visit an alternate station to print your ticket before your travel date.
If you have any difficulty retrieving your train tickets please try another self-service kiosk. If you are still having difficulty, please call 0871 521 9843 (Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 8:00pm British time and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays (excluding Christmas Day) 8:00am -6:00pm British time) for local assistance.
Click here for more detailed instructions on how to utilize the British self-service kiosks.

How do I use a French self-service kiosk to access my print at the station e-tickets?

To begin, touch the Welcome Screen on the yellow self-service kiosks. For English, select the British flag. Select ‘File and Electronic Ticket withdrawal’. Next, select ‘Withdrawal with a file reference number’. You will also see 2 other options, however the only option available to you is ‘Withdrawal with a file reference number’.
Enter your e-ticket number (PNR) at the prompt for ‘ticket file number’ and select ‘confirm’. Your e-ticket number (PNR) is a 6 digit letter combination unique to your trip, and is in the Rail Europe train itinerary details you received.
Enter the traveler’s name at the prompt and select ‘confirm’.
Review displayed trip and select ‘Collect the chosen journey’. Wait for tickets to be printed and retrieve them from the kiosk. Please note: there may be multiple e-ticket numbers for your itinerary.
Click here for more detailed instruction on how to utilize the French self-service kiosks.
Please note: Prior to boarding your train, you must validate (composter) your ticket. ‘Machine a Composter’ are located in the station near the tracks.

Important: Arrive at the train station at least 45 minutes prior to your departure time to print your tickets and board your train. Print at the station e-tickets for French trains need to be issued from a train station in France. If you have a roundtrip ticket, issue both the outbound and return trip at the same time from your station of origin. If you fail to do so and are traveling outside of France, you will find yourself unable to print your return train ticket.

How do I use an Italian self-service kiosk to access my print at the station e-tickets?

Please arrive at the train station at least 20 minutes prior to your departure time to allow ample time to print your tickets and board your train. You will need your e-ticket confirmation code or PNR, which is a 6 digit alphanumeric combination unique to your trip, and is included in the email confirmation you receive.
Click here for more detailed instructions on how to utilize the Italian self-service kiosks.

How do I use a German self-service kiosk to retrieve my DB print at the station e-ticket?

Proceed to the self-service kiosks available in the German train stations.
If retrieving from a kiosk at a Regional-Station (S-Bahn) (example: Frankfurt Airport) please click on the ‘DB’ button and then select ‘long distance’ from the following menu in order to get to the correct prompts to retrieve your ticket.
In the selection menu on the screen, please press ‘Pre-booked tickets’.
On the next screen, select ‘Collection of Pre-booked tickets’.
On the following screen, select ‘Identification with Order Number’.
Enter your e-ticket number (PNR), which is a 9 digit number combination unique to your trip, and is included in the Rail Europe train itinerary details you received.
On the next screen, select ‘Confirm’. This screen shows all the information related to the order you have selected.
Finally, select ‘Print Now’ and retrieve the ticket(s).
Important: Arrive at the train station at least 20 minutes prior to your departure time to allow ample time to print your tickets and board your train.

What should I do if I’m unable to print my e-ticket at the station?

First, make sure you’re entering the correct information in the self-service kiosk. You need to provide your e-ticket number, also known as PNR, which is a 6 letter code (or an 8-letter and number combination code for British e-tickets) that was emailed to you. Any other form of order reference (like the TripMasters booking number) will not work to retrieve your print at the station e-ticket.
Don’t attempt to retrieve your ticket using a different method of identification such as swiping a credit card. This will not work.
Although highly unusual, if you’re still unable to retrieve your ticket, go to the ticket counter and seek the assistance of a railway official. Make sure you know your e-ticket number.
If you’re still unable to retrieve your ticket, you may have to purchase a new train ticket. If possible, document the circumstances that prevented you from retrieving your e-ticket. If you purchase new tickets, make sure to keep a copy of the new tickets and the receipt.
Upon your return to North America, contact our customer relations department and write us a letter indicating what happened. Make sure to provide the new tickets you purchased and the receipt. We’ll review the matter and work things out with you.

My print at the station e-ticket was lost or stolen after I printed it. Can I print it again?

No. Print at the station e-tickets may only be printed once from the kiosk. In the event of a lost ticket, go to a ticket counter and ask if they can reprint it. If they are unable to, a new train ticket will have to be purchased.

Traveling with Train Tickets

Why does my train ticket say ‘coach’ if I bought a ticket in the Comfort or Premier Category?

Don’t worry – the word ‘coach’ on the ticket is another word for train car. It doesn’t mean you’ll be traveling in ‘coach’ class. Does my train ticket include a seat reservation?
It depends. Some tickets include a reservation, some tickets come with a separate, stand-alone reservation, and some tickets do not have reservations.
Please refer to the sections Train Tickets Explained and Seat Reservations Explained for more information.

Why does my train ticket say ‘coach’ if I bought a ticket in the Comfort or Premier Category?

How can I tell whether or not I have a reserved seat onboard?

To tell if you have a reservation, first see if you received one or two travel documents for your trip. If you received two travel documents, you probably received an open train ticket and a reservation. The reservation portion will show a train number, car number and seat number assigned to you personally.
If you received only one document, see if it also indicates a seat number and car number. If so, your train ticket includes a reservation.

My train tickets were not accepted by the conductor. What do I do?

Your Rail Europe ticket should be accepted by the train conductor. If for any reason the conductor is unable to accept it, don’t worry – we will work things out with you to understand why it happened and do everything we can for you to be compensated, as appropriate, upon your return to North America.
However, it is important that you ask the conductor to stamp your Rail Europe ticket ‘Not Used’ with a written note explaining why this ticket could not be accepted by a railway official.
If you had to purchase a new ticket, keep the new ticket along with its receipt. As soon as you return to North America, contact our customer relations team at contact@tripmasters.com or 1-877-267-2247. You will then need to send us a letter at the address below, explaining what happened, along with the unused tickets and receipt with all supporting information allowing us to promptly review your claim.

TripMasters
5361 Partner’s Court
Frederick, MD 21703

Can I take any train that travels between the two cities for which I bought my train ticket, or do I have to take a specific train?

It depends what kind of tickets were issued to you for your itinerary. In most cases, we issue tickets that include a reservation whenever required or possible.
If your tickets include a reservation, then you can only board the train for which the reservation was issued.
If you were issued open tickets along with a stand-alone reservation you may board a different train and forfeit your reservation, using only the open ticket portion of your travel documents. If you do so, make sure the train you’re planning to take doesn’t offer or require reservations.
If you were issued a plain open ticket, then yes – you are indeed allowed to board any train traveling between the cities for which your open ticket was issued.
The only exception to this last point is certain trains that require reservations, but that we are unable to issue. This may happen in Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Romania and some other Balkan nations. In this case, we can only sell you an open ticket and you will need to buy your reservation locally at the station. If this is the case, a warning message will appear when you book your fare on our website advising that reservations are required but not included.

Please review the section Train Tickets Explained for more information.

What language is spoken at the train station and on the train?

You can expect the train station and staff onboard the train to speak the local dialect. The station and onboard announcements will also be in the language of the departure station. If you are traveling on an international train, the dialect onboard may change to the native language of the country you are traveling in.
Can I get off the train and get back on later using my train ticket?
In most cases, this is not possible. Train tickets that include a reservation are only valid for a single ride on the train for which the reservation was issued. While stepping off the train is possible if the train makes intermediary stops, you wouldn’t be allowed to resume your trip by boarding another train with the same ticket. Your train ticket is only valid on the train printed on it.
Open train tickets may be the exception. They can allow you to hop off and back on another train on a given route to continue your itinerary, as long as that new train doesn’t require or offer reservations. Special conditions do apply for breaks on regional trains, so it’s a good idea to confirm locally.
If you’re traveling with an open ticket and a reservation for your original train, you forfeit that reservation for the remaining part of your journey when you hop off. You may hop back on another train that doesn’t require a reservation, but you’d essentially be traveling with an open train ticket only and not have a reserved seat. Again, special conditions do apply for breaks on regional trains, so it is a good idea to confirm locally.

Why doesn’t my train ticket show my date or time of travel?

This is because your train ticket is an open ticket. It may be used on any train that doesn’t require a reservation, operating between the cities listed on your train ticket, and on any date within the validity period printed on the ticket.

What should I do if the train is late?

It depends if you’re traveling with train tickets that include a reservation or with open tickets. If your train ticket includes a reservation, then it’s only valid for travel on the train for which it was issued. If the train is late, you’ll need to wait until it arrives.
If you’re traveling with open tickets you can decide to take another train, as long as it doesn’t require a reservation and travels the same route as the one for which your open ticket was issued.

What should I do if I missed my scheduled train? Can I take the next one?

It depends on what kind of train ticket you have.
If you’re traveling with open tickets, you can take any train that doesn’t require a reservation, traveling on the route for which your open ticket was issued.
If you have an open train ticket and a reservation, you can forfeit your reservation and still use your open ticket on a train running on the same route that doesn’t require a reservation. If you prefer to have assigned seats then you will need to purchase a new stand-alone reservation for the next available train that is ‘reservation required’ or ‘reservation recommended’.
If your train ticket is a combined ticket and reservation, then you cannot simply board the next train. You may need to purchase a new train ticket for that train or exchange your current ticket for a new one. And this is where it gets a little tricky.
First, read the exchange conditions for your train ticket. This can be found printed with your actual ticket if you have a paper ticket. This will allow you to determine whether your train ticket is exchangeable or not. Typically, there are three types of train tickets: non-flexible, semi-flexible and fully flexible.
If you have a non-flexible ticket (i.e.: your ticket is not exchangeable or refundable at all), then you’re out of luck and will have to purchase a new train ticket.
If you have a semi-flexible or fully flexible ticket (i.e.: your train ticket can be exchanged for a fee and/or under certain conditions), then you may be able to exchange your current ticket for a new one. In general, these exchanges must take place prior to the train’s departure. Seek the assistance of a station agent. Never board a train with a train ticket that includes a reservation for a different train, unless specifically authorized to do so by a railway official.
Certain fully flexible tickets allow you to exchange it after the train departure (from within one hour to a few weeks from the time of departure.)

Please see our section on Refunds and Exchanges for additional information.

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

If your paper ticket is lost or stolen, you’ll need to purchase a new one in order to travel.
Can I give or resell my train ticket to someone else? Or can I travel with someone else’s ticket?
It depends if the train ticket has your name printed on it or not. In general, most tickets that include a reservation are name-specific and should only be used by the traveler whose name is printed on the ticket.
Open tickets, on the other hand, are not name-specific. Different travelers can use them as long as the new traveler is eligible for the fare issued. (i.e. an adult cannot travel with a ticket issued with a child or senior fare).

Back to Europe – Travel Guide