Interrail question

[jthjth]

I’m about to use a Switzerland Interrail ticket, using the phone app. The way you are supposed to use the app is to find the journey on tne timetable planner and then create a QR code from the desired itinerary. Is the generated code like an Advance, ie you have to stick to the exact trains, or is it flexible in as much as you can take earlier/later trains as long as you stick to the route?

 

[dutchflyer]

There is also the very informative special forum as community.eurail
You get a QR code that stays the same the whole day. You are supposed to add all trains used as they appear locally on screens/tables etc-this may or may not be checked. In general it is advised to only generate the code-in case of a pass with X days in 1 month, untill you are 123% sure you will use that train. THis is mostly for the X in 1-2 Month type, as on that day the code-and thus the passday used, cannot be extinguished anymore (think of strikes, falling sick etc)
I have used dozens of Interrails-always paper, till last year and used a 2 MO continuous ending mid may, my very first on mobile fone and was quite happy with using it and found no specific problems. It all worked fine and all inspectors also knew about it-and even in most cases staff at counters when needing to make REServations-in some 6 countries where it did not prove possible or easy to do that online.
For Swiss one has to note that the pass is NOT valid as extensive as the Swiss Pass or other local fares-some of the major touristy going up high in the sky/snowy mountains are not taking this cheap pass.
It is very easy indeed to change train used to other as planned before-once you get the hang of it, so dot not worry too much about that.

 

[Flying Snail]

The barcode does not change for every train you add, it stays the same for any active day.

However the text under the code lists every train for that day and some checkers will want to read that and check that you have added their train correctly as this is very much the rule for interrail passes.

You can alter the pass as much as you like, even after a journey. Simplest thing if you are unsure of which train you will be taking is add several to the trip and activate the correct one just before you board.

 

[jthjth]

The barcode does not change for every train you add, it stays the same for any active day.

However the text under the code lists every train for that day and some checkers will want to read that and check that you have added their train correctly as this is very much the rule for interrail passes.

You can alter the pass as much as you like, even after a journey. Simplest thing if you are unsure of which train you will be taking is add several to the trip and activate the correct one just before you board.

Ah, I hadn’t appreciated that the barcode was essentially a per day code. Thanks.

As a supplemental question, can anyone confirm that Interrail on the RhB Bernina Express can be used without a reservation if you sit in the non panoramic unit at the front? I know man in seat61 states this, but there’s no definitive information on the RhB site.

 

[m4tt]

As a supplemental question, can anyone confirm that Interrail on the RhB Bernina Express can be used without a reservation if you sit in the non panoramic unit at the front? I know man in seat61 states this, but there’s no definitive information on the RhB site.

Yeah it was a few months ago when I travelled from Le Presse to St Moritz. Large drop down windows are a big plus of the standard cars

 

[Flying Snail]

Ah, I hadn’t appreciated that the QR code was essentially a per day code. Thanks.

As a supplemental question, can anyone confirm that Interrail on the RhB Bernina Express can be used without a reservation if you sit in the non panoramic unit at the front? I know man in seat61 states this, but there’s no definitive information on the RhB site.

Yes. Only the panorama coaches have compulsory reservations and table service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2023 ==


Also to add; Switzerland is one of the countries where you are more likely to be asked for your ID (Passport) as well as the interrail pass so don't forget to bring that.

 

[jthjth]

Yeah it was a few months ago when I travelled from Le Presse to St Moritz. Large drop down windows are a big plus of the standard cars

Thanks. First travelled that line on a child ticket. Now doing it on a senior ticket for the first time…..

 

[DanielB]

Also to add; Switzerland is one of the countries where you are more likely to be asked for your ID (Passport) as well as the interrail pass so don't forget to bring that.

I'd even say its extremely likely. Hardly any ticket inspector didn't ask for it last year.

 

[30907]

Small supplementary point: the IR planner defaults to a 5-min minimum connection time, whereas the national planner allows tighter connections (the same applies in other countries, eg CZ/SK and I think NL).

 

[rvdborgt]

Small supplementary point: the IR planner defaults to a 5-min minimum connection time, whereas the national planner allows tighter connections (the same applies in other countries, eg CZ/SK and I think NL).

Correct. You can set the Interrail planner to 1 minute (it will still respect the minimum times defined for any station) but it will always go back to the default, which is annoying.

 

[peteb]

The advantage of the paper planner is you can still put in a single journey eg: Kidderminster to Amsterdam and 99% of grippers don't care as long as they can see the pass is in date and an all countries pass. This is so handy when trains cancelled or route choices available. That's why I'm on a paper and not a mobile pass! But in all fairness Swiss grippers seem fairly relaxed... .

 

[Richard Scott]

I'd even say its extremely likely. Hardly any ticket inspector didn't ask for it last year.

In my experience the opposite is true. Went two weeks with an Interrail and not one conductor asked for my passport in any country including Switzerland!!! Obviously you still need to have your passport as ticket not valid without it and chances are someone will ask for it.

 

[43096]

The advantage of the paper planner is you can still put in a single journey eg: Kidderminster to Amsterdam and 99% of grippers don't care as long as they can see the pass is in date and an all countries pass. This is so handy when trains cancelled or route choices available. That's why I'm on a paper and not a mobile pass! But in all fairness Swiss grippers seem fairly relaxed... .

Ah yes, the utterly pointless paper log where you go through the charade of filling it in, even though it is of zero consequence.

 

[Alfonso]

Ah yes, the utterly pointless paper log where you go through the charade of filling it in, even though it is of zero consequence.

I can think of two consequences: 1. If you dont fill it in you are breaching the rules and could land yourself in trouble. 2. Those returned to whoever runs internal can be used for statistical purposes, including deciding how the revenue from inter rail is shared out.

 

[rvdborgt]

I can think of two consequences: 1. If you dont fill it in you are breaching the rules and could land yourself in trouble. 2. Those returned to whoever runs internal can be used for statistical purposes, including deciding how the revenue from inter rail is shared out.

#2 doesn't apply anymore. 90% of passes are now the mobile variety and they get usage statistics from them. I suppose the sample size is big enough so they don't need the paper covers anymore.

 

[Segedunum]

A Belgian conductor once saw me halfway through filling in the pass diary on-board (I'd dashed out of my hotel in the lashing rain which was basically at the station buffers), snatched it off me and gleefully charged me the full fare to where I was going, plus a surcharge. So sometimes, it does matter...

 

[43096]

I can think of two consequences: 1. If you dont fill it in you are breaching the rules and could land yourself in trouble.

I’m well aware of that and you’ve missed my point that it shouldn’t be required in the first place.

2. Those returned to whoever runs internal can be used for statistical purposes, including deciding how the revenue from inter rail is shared out.

Yes, but who bothers? It just goes in the bin when it’s finished.

 

[Tester]

There is no longer any provision to return the travel log even if you wanted to, which rather gives the game away. It is nothing more than a jobsworth's delight.

My guess is that the entire farce is because if it wasn't required it would give an advantage over the mobile pass, and that wouldn't do at all

 

[railfan99]

A Belgian conductor once saw me halfway through filling in the pass diary on-board (I'd dashed out of my hotel in the lashing rain which was basically at the station buffers), snatched it off me and gleefully charged me the full fare to where I was going, plus a surcharge. So sometimes, it does matter...

Thank you for the warning.

Using a two month 1st class global pass for six weeks last year, the only conductors who applied the stamp to my paper pass were from Switzerland, but they were pleasant.

I won't switch to a mobile pass as I don't like the drama if there are smartphone problems. I do not find filling out travel details burdensome: it's a good future record if I can't read something from my notebook.

If changing trains quickly, it isn't always practical to write the connecting train details before one boards. I have never had a problem with doing it on board, but will change that when I travel from Brussels Midi. later this year.