Interrail Passes

[Paul AC]

Please always get request a refund of such tickets so Eurail get to know the extent of the problem in Spain (and also Portugal):

https://eurail.zendesk.com/hc/en-001/requests/new

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Nov 2025 ==


The Rodalies gates are supposed to accept the mobile pass barcode. For us that worked for a few days, until they responded with "server error" or something similar.
Cercanías gates are also supposed to have a staff member close by, or a button with which you can ask for the gate to be opened remotely. That only worked 1.5 times for us. It's not guaranteed someone will answer, nor that they'll understand what you want or know what Interrail is.

I did message Interrail/Eurail about the Cercanías gate problem, with full details, but the reply was very unhelpful so I gave up. I didn't think about asking for a refund as I bought the cheapest possible ticket! I have minimal Spanish so can't easily communicate with the person on the other end of the Help button, it sometimes works but not always.

I admit I haven't tried the Rodalies gates. If travelling around Barcelona for example there are easily available day tickets that cover all the rail/metro/etc services so are much better and easier. I've never found a day ticket valid on Cercanías networks, most recently tried in Asturias.

A good tip is to make full use of the CombinadoCercanías validity available with seat reservations on RENFE services; but you need to use the ticket gates with the "red" code reader, often only one per station.

I could go into an endless rant about unhelpful Cercanías ticketing, but that's very much 'off thread'!

 

[Daniel_P]

I travel only with WiFi on my phone.

I love paper Eurailpasses: it's easy to keep in a travel folder, simple to write each trip down and to carry extra pages when the space provided in the pass cover is all used, it makes an excellent souvenir and most of all it avoids dead spots with mobile phones.

Between 2022 and 2025 I've had four Global 2 month first class passes, all reliably delivered by Royal Mail and Australia Post to my residence.

Hmm, this sounds like much more of a faff compared with using the mobile version!

 

[rvdborgt]

I did message Interrail/Eurail about the Cercanías gate problem, with full details, but the reply was very unhelpful so I gave up. I didn't think about asking for a refund as I bought the cheapest possible ticket! I have minimal Spanish so can't easily communicate with the person on the other end of the Help button, it sometimes works but not always.

We just said "Tenemos Interrail" ("We have Interrail"), which actually worked only once. An hour later, at the same gate, nobody replied and we followed other people through the gate since no staff was visibl and we wanted to catch our train...

I admit I haven't tried the Rodalies gates. If travelling around Barcelona for example there are easily available day tickets that cover all the rail/metro/etc services so are much better and easier. I've never found a day ticket valid on Cercanías networks, most recently tried in Asturias.

We stayed in Castelldefels, and used Interrail arriving/leaving there and on a larger tour from there. It was the friendly Castelldefels station staff that asked us to try the barcode scanner. I was amazed it actually worked...

 

[AY1975]

Does Interrail give any discount on European Sleeper? If so, does it give a discount on sleepers or couchettes or only on seats?

If it does, there doesn't seem to be any obvious way of applying the Interrail discount when booking via the European Sleeper site.

 

[rvdborgt]

Does Interrail give any discount on European Sleeper? If so, does it give a discount on sleepers or couchettes or only on seats?

Yes it does.

If it does, there doesn't seem to be any obvious way of applying the Interrail discount when booking via the European Sleeper site.

You choose "reservation only", as Seat61 also says.

 

[canary fan]

@1. also had several-and agree that the mobile versions (but now that I read about this shortened period from 72 to 24hrs I hesitate a little more) are easy to use and main advantage is that one can activate the pass when wished-the paper passes MUST be ordered with dates fixed
@2.Also the UK and my country, NL=Nederland have many stations gated. In the UK then there are most often still staff around-and you always have to contact them to get through.
In my country-this is a little secret for most- there are kind of SOS-Buttons to contact a central post and they can then open a gate for you to pass. Just mumble like ´Eurail pass´ and its done. I gather there is even some thing where they might ask for scan- its hardly ever done. The major aim for these gates is after all to reduce expensive staff........
To get IN now one can also check IN with any bank/credit card and then OUT right after passing through-this will simply cancel it all-assumed you made a mistake.
So now I wonder- but have never ever seen a note about it- IF those RENFE/ESpanol Cerc/Rod stops also have such a function hidden somewhere?

I always buy the paper pass and prefer them, even though I do all reservations etc. online. I have also encountered that problem in Spain. If there are staff available, I’ve always been let through, but there often aren’t any staff available.
This is never a problem in the Netherlands, as scanning the code on the back of the pass always opens the gates.

 

[FlyingPotato]

Regarding first class interrail passes, do they give you first class or standard premium for Avanti west coast

 

[Tester]

Regarding first class interrail passes, do they give you first class or standard premium for Avanti west coast

The full first class offer

 

[FlyingPotato]

The full first class offer

Really, I'd have thought AWC would only allow SP as that's what other European operators do

 

[Tester]

Really, I'd have thought AWC would only allow SP as that's what other European operators do

You asked - I answered!

 

[Watershed]

Really, I'd have thought AWC would only allow SP as that's what other European operators do

Eurostar and ÖBB are the only two operators I know of that play silly games like that - both effectively claiming that their "business class" is higher than first class so the pass isn't valid. I'd like to see them argue that at an airport check-in desk

 

[zero]

But OeBB lets you in their 1st class lounges, while DB doesn't, AFAIK.

 

[Tester]

But OeBB lets you in their 1st class lounges, while DB doesn't, AFAIK.

That is correct

 

[danshrimp]

Another tick in the box for the UK being - against all the odds - really quite good at Interrail. If I use the Avanti lounges before and after my journey down to London, and get a full meal on the train in between, I feel like I've almost got my money's worth before I've even left the country!

 

[FlyingPotato]

Another tick in the box for the UK being - against all the odds - really quite good at Interrail. If I use the Avanti lounges before and after my journey down to London, and get a full meal on the train in between, I feel like I've almost got my money's worth before I've even left the country!

So you get Avanti lounges with the first class pass
Interesting

 

[30907]

Eurostar and ÖBB are the only two operators I know of that play silly games like that - both effectively claiming that their "business class" is higher than first class so the pass isn't valid. I'd like to see them argue that at an airport check-in desk

OeBB business class carries a supplement for all passengers not just Interrail.

 

[Watershed]

OeBB business class carries a supplement for all passengers not just Interrail.

My point is that first class is universally accepted as being a higher class of travel than business class. Yet ÖBB try to claim that black is white, so that they can justify charging first class ticket holders extra to use their "business class".

 

[dutchflyer]

NO, that only holds for those high up in the sky, the airlines with their planes. On the ground-or rather on the steel rails, thats different. But indeed- you are right that it does confuse and they would have thought about it in the distant past when they started some ++ class- to give it another fancy name- as above- in most cases it means that ANYone has also to pay for a supplmt beside the normal ticketing.
Just try to re-think (what I quite often see on this british forum) that it is all based on how railways worked as just 1 state railway in 1 country with 2 classes and NO REServation in general and NO lounges or other fancy faff to please those in ´beezneez´ and eager to pay more for that etc-long before there was even a www. That trains by magic and without even getting a new livery transform from state ´company´ in country A to another ditto in B when they cross over the border. And that by now some 30+ countries with at least some 100 ´companies´ running trains in whatever form accept the passes but all have their own perception on how to organise it. With also quite more different ways to do as high up in the sky.
And yes-confirm-when I treated myself once to 1st (probably in the 50% discount @ 50 years jubilee) I did just spent a few days enjoying the good service in (formerBR) ATOC IC-trains.

 

[43096]

Eurostar and ÖBB are the only two operators I know of that play silly games like that - both effectively claiming that their "business class" is higher than first class so the pass isn't valid. I'd like to see them argue that at an airport check-in desk

ÖBB have set business class as a higher standard than first for all ticket types AFAIAA. A first class interrail is valid in ÖBB first class and first class lounges, which all seems fair and reasonable to me - they treat all first class passengers the same. So no "silly games" as you put it.

 

[danshrimp]

So you get Avanti lounges with the first class pass
Interesting

Absolutely. I've never had the slightest problem with acceptance (with responses ranging from indifference to positive enthusiasm) and have always received excellent service, which is better than can be said even for other "interrail-friendly" countries.

And as an addendum: the Man in Seat 61 found this morning that his Interrail pass worked at the gates at King's Cross for the first time. I hope we start to see this throughout the network.

 

[FlyingPotato]

Absolutely. I've never had the slightest problem with acceptance (with responses ranging from indifference to positive enthusiasm) and have always received excellent service, which is better than can be said even for other "interrail-friendly" countries.

And as an addendum: the Man in Seat 61 found this morning that his Interrail pass worked at the gates at King's Cross for the first time. I hope we start to see this throughout the network.

Hopefully, I hated having to sometimes explain the pass before gateline staff understood what I had

 

[railfan99]

Hopefully, I hated having to sometimes explain the pass before gateline staff understood what I had

Using a Eurailpass for four consecutive years (and, from years ago, on four separate occasions prior to 2022), I have never had to explain what it is to be ushered through a gate. Most staff instantly let me through: sometimes, of course, they are occupied with other passengers so I have to wait. On other occasions I've had to hunt for a staff member as some barriers may be 9Temporarily) unmanned.

The only 'sort of' exception has been from a female station assistant at Ashford International in September 2025 who claimed she'd never seen a paper Eurailpass before, so she peered at it and asked me questions after I'd been ushered by her through the ticket barrier. She was extremely pleasant and very pleased with my explanation and how much I enjoyed using one to travel in UK (as well as Europe).

 

[zero]

In two weeks of travelling round GB, every member of rail staff accepted my mobile Eurail pass instantly once they read the words on my phone. The only guy who hesitated slightly was a guard on the Ashington line, who appeared to be newly qualified, but he didn't ask me any questions. I also suspect Ashington isn't a popular destination for visitors to the UK unless they are specifically seeking out new rail infrastructure.

 

[Segedunum]

The only place I've had a bit of a battle on my hands with Interrail is Northern Ireland as their handheld scanners state that passes are totally invalid. Granted, you'd never use a travel day solely for pottering about there.

Thankfully Translink NI conductors are reasonable people and the pass was always accepted with a bit of an indifferent grunt or, in one instance, boundless enthusiasm and a handshake

 

[mad_rich]

Eurostar and ÖBB are the only two operators I know of that play silly games like that - both effectively claiming that their "business class" is higher than first class so the pass isn't valid. I'd like to see them argue that at an airport check-in desk

Westbahn is another one. They don't accommodate first class passholders in first. You can 'upgrade' (at an astounding €65 for an international journey such as Munich-Vienna) or sit in second class for free. I honestly think Eurail should do better at negotiating with carriers, and not accept this.

Leonardo Express, to Rome Airport, pretends it's a first class only train. So second class passes aren't valid.

Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Iryo, and I think TGV-Lyria all have 'beyond first class', inaccessible to passholders.

 

[superalbs]

Westbahn is another one. They don't accommodate first class passholders in first. You can 'upgrade' (at an astounding €65 for an international journey such as Munich-Vienna) or sit in second class for free. I honestly think Eurail should do better at negotiating with carriers, and not accept this.

Leonardo Express, to Rome Airport, pretends it's a first class only train. So second class passes aren't valid.

Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Iryo, and I think TGV-Lyria all have 'beyond first class', inaccessible to passholders.

Only allowing passholders in Second Class is a really weird quirk to be honest, I've fallen foul of this before. Not like they're anything special either, it's just a Stadler KISS but with wider seats in one section.

 

[nwales58]

Leonardo Express, to Rome Airport, pretends it's a first class only train. So second class passes aren't valid.

Pricing airport stations as 1st only seems italian, similar at Malpensa. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new Venice Marco Polo will be the same.

Trenitalia Frecciarossa, Iryo, and I think TGV-Lyria all have 'beyond first class', inaccessible to passholders.

And Frecciarossa Executive is so ‘far beyond first’ (seats, menu, … have a look if you don’t already own know) that none of us would expect it to be on a pass. Italo (not Interrail) and Iryo (maybe) have a 2+1 class and a ‘plus extras’ with lounges and maybe food included. It’s a commercial decision. If it was mine, on the kind of revenue they probably get from an Interrail 1st pass, I would not include the extras. Renfe is Renfe, everything is a supplement. Premium (lounges, meal) is a fixed supplement on any Elige Confort fare, if you want it on Interrail you can pay the extra. Premium is per-seat, not a separate coach.

At the end of the day, long distance rail is supposed to be commercial in europe nowadays so it’s up to the operator. Let’s be grateful Avanti give us 1st and not Standard Premium and ÖBB let us use their lounge, it might not last.

 

[DeverseSam]

There’s also Business Première on TGV INOUI.

 

[D6130]

I've just been having a look at the Interrail website, with a view to buying first class passes for me and my wife for a trip from Yorkshire to Italy, stopping off in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria next April. It clearly states that Interrail passes are only available to citizens of EU countries and that citizens of non-EU countries must purchase Eurail passes instead. Does this apply to UK citizens....or do we still have some kind of exemption?

 

[signed]

I've just been having a look at the Interrail website, with a view to buying first class passes for me and my wife for a trip from Yorkshire to Italy, stopping off in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria next April. It clearly states that Interrail passes are only available to citizens of EU countries and that citizens of non-EU countries must purchase Eurail passes instead. Does this apply to UK citizens....or do we still have some kind of exemption?

Interrail works on residency not on citizenship, and the UK is still considered as a Interrail country (which is logical as using a Eurail pass would allow you unlimited days in the UK)

https://www.interrail.eu/content/dam/_new-structure/doc/terms/Pass%20Conditions%20of%20Use%20(updated%2030%20October%202025).pdf

5.1. Do you need a Eurail or an Interrail Pass?
5.1.1. If your Country of Residence is one of the following countries, you must travel with
an Interrail Pass:
• one of the countries of the European Union;
or
• Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar,
Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North
Macedonia, Norway, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland,
Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vatican City.
5.1.2. If your Country of Residence is not one of the countries listed directly above in
clause 5.1.1., you must travel with a Eurail Pass.
5.1.3. If you must travel with an Interrail Pass, there are restrictions on using your Pass
within your Country of Residence. See clauses 4.3. and 4.4. for more details.