How the InterRail pass works is a common or most frequently asked question on the mind of every resident belonging to country situated within Europe who intends to see Europe through rail service. So first thing is know that euro rail pass can not be used by any resident of europe. For them i.e Europian residents, the train journey
can be through InterRail pass. Here is selected FAQs as per the website of InterRail for the benefit of european residents travellers.
1. What’s a travel day?
A travel day lasts 24 hours from midnight to midnight. On each travel day you have access to the train networks where your InterRail pass is valid.
There are 2 types of InterRail passes with a different number of travel days. The right pass for you depends on how much time you expect to spend travelling by train during your European trip.
Travel days with a flexi pass
If you have a flexi pass, e.g. a Global Pass choose 5 days within 10 days, you can hop on and off trains on any 5 travel days within a period of 10 days. For example, if your pass is valid from 1 June to 10 June, you can choose any 5 days during this period to travel by train. Travel days do not have to be consecutive and you decide during your trip when you use them.
You must enter the date of each travel day in the Travel Calendar on your pass before boarding the first train, free bus or free ferry of each day.
Travel days with a continuous pass
If you have a continuous pass, e.g. Global Pass every day within 22 days, you have 22 travel days and can take advantage of unlimited train travel during each of these days. For example, if your pass is valid from 1 September to 22 September, you can travel by train on each of these days.With the continuous pass you don’t need to fill in the dates on which you travel.
7 p.m. rule
When travelling on a direct night train that departs after 7 p.m. (19:00) and arrives after 4 a.m. (04:00), you only need to enter the arrival date in the travel calendar. More about the 7 p.m. rule.
2. What’s a “continuous” pass?
The InterRail pass is available with different numbers of travel days. With a continuous pass every day is a potential travel day and with a flexi pass you have a fixed number of travel days which you can use whenever you want during the overall validity of your pass.
A continuous pass lets you travel by train on every single day that your pass is valid. This pass gives you the freedom of train travel whenever you want and is the best way to see the most of Europe. For example, if your pass is valid from 1 September to 22 September, you can travel by train on each of these days, if you want to.
The InterRail Global Pass is available as a continuous pass with 15 days, 22 days or 1 month of train travel.
3. What’s a “flexi” pass?
There are 2 types of InterRail passes available depending on how much of your trip you want to spend travelling by train. The flexi pass lets you travel by train on a specific number of days that you choose to travel on during the validity of the pass. The continuous pass lets you travel on as many trains as you want during the whole period that your pass is valid. A flexi pass is cheaper than a continuous pass.
With a flexi pass you have a fixed number of travel days and the decision of when to use them is all yours. For example, if you have a Global Pass – choose 5 days within 10 days and your pass is valid from 1 June to 10 June, you can choose any 5 days during this period to travel by train. Travel days do not have to be consecutive and you decide during your trip when you use them.
The following flexi passes are available:
InterRail One Country Passes with 3, 4, 6 or 8 days within 1 month.
InterRail Global Passes with 5 days within 10 days or 10 days within 22 days.
InterRail One Country Passes are available only as a flexi pass.
Fill in the Travel Calendar
When travelling with a flexi pass it’s important that you write the date of each travel day on the Travel Calendar on your pass, before boarding the first train (or free ferry or free bus).
Good to know
When travelling on a direct night train that departs after 7 p.m. (19:00) and arrives after 4 a.m. (04:00), you only need to enter the arrival date in the travel calendar. More about the 7 p.m. rule.
4. How do I fill in the Travel Calendar?
Fill in the Travel Calendar before boarding
When you have a flexi pass with a specific number of travel days e.g. a Global Pass – choose 10 days within 22 days, you’ll need to fill in the date on the Travel Calendar on your InterRail pass before boarding the first train, free bus or free ferry of each day. Decide on-the-go when you use each travel day.
Fill in the Travel Calendar before boarding
The Travel Calendar can be found on your pass. It is the large rectangular box with a number of spaces where you can fill in each travel day. It’s very important that you remember to fill in the travel day before boarding. If you forget, it is the same as travelling without a ticket and could result in a fine.
How to fill in the Travel Calendar
Fill in the date so that the day appears above the month. Take care when writing the date as if you make a mistake, you must enter the correct date in the next box and consequently lose a travel day!
See the image below to help you fill in the Travel Calendar correctly.
7 p.m. rule
When travelling on a direct night train that departs after 7 p.m. (19:00) and arrives after 4 a.m. (04:00), you only need to enter the arrival date in the Travel Calendar. More about the 7 p.m. rule.
5. What is the Travel Report?
Holders of an InterRail Global Pass receive a Travel Report along with their pass. The Travel Report is the section of your pass cover where you need to enter your personal details and ticket details, as well as the journey details of each train and free bus or ferry you take. Remember to fill in the journey details section before boarding each train or free bus or ferry. Train staff will check the details are correct during your journey. If you forget to fill in the information before boarding the train, you could get a fine!
- Keep the pass cover and pass together at all times, ready to present to train staff at their request.
- Personal details and ticket details
- Fill in the personal details and ticket details sections before you start travelling with your InterRail pass. You can choose to receive a free gift from InterRail by crossing the relevant box and sending your completed Travel Report to the address on the cover once you’ve finished interrailing.
Journey details
Fill in the details of each train, free ferry and free bus journey you make into the journey details section, including all the connections you make. The train no. (number) is optional and can be found on train timetables. Write clearly so it’s easy for train staff to read. By failing to correctly fill in this section before getting on each train, you risk getting a fine!
6. How does the 7 p.m. rule work?
Save travels days when you travel by night
It’s very useful to know about the 7 p.m. rule if you have a flexi pass (e.g. Global Pass – choose 10 days within 22 days) as it can save you precious travel days! The rule means that you only need to use 1 travel day when travelling on a direct night train that departs after 7 p.m. (19:00) and arrives after 4 a.m. (04:00).
Travel with an InterRail pass can only begin from 00:01 on the first day that your pass is valid. For instance, if your InterRail pass is valid from 6 August, you cannot use the 7 p.m. rule on the evening of 5 August.
Trains
If you board a direct night train that departs after 7 p.m. (19:00) and arrives after 4 a.m. (04:00), then only the day of arrival needs to be entered into the travel calendar.
Ferries
The 7 p.m. rule applies to all free night ferry crossings, regardless of the departure and arrival times. You choose whether you fill in the departure date or the arrival date in the Travel Calendar. You do not need to use any travel days for discounted ferry trips, just show your pass to get the discount.
7. How long is a month pass valid?
A Global Pass – Every day within 1 month is valid for train travel on each day during 1 month. The number of travel days you have, depends on the length of the month in which you start using your pass.
July has 31 days, so the pass is also valid for 31 days. February has 28 days and a pass is therefore valid for 28 days.
Example
- First travel day 1 July: pass is valid from 1 July up to and including 31 July.
- First travel day 12 July: pass is valid from 12 July up to and including 11 August.
- First travel day 1 February: pass is valid from 1 February up to and including 28 February (or 29 February in a leap year).
- First travel day is 15 February: pass is valid from 15 February, up to and including 14 March.
8. Can I use 2 One Country Passes?
es, simply order 2 One Country Passes, 1 for each country.
Travelling from one country to the next
When you want to travel from one country to the next, you’ll have to use 1 travel day on each of your One Country Passes.
To save a travel day, you could use 1 pass to travel the longest distance and buy a separate ticket for the shorter leg of the trip in the other country.
3 or more countries
If you want to visit 3 or more countries the Global Pass usually works out the most economical and let’s you see as many as 30 European countries!
9. What should I do if I lose my pass?
Loss or theft of an InterRail pass
If you lose your InterRail pass or if it is stolen, you cannot get a new copy. This means you need to buy replacement train tickets to continue traveling. If you buy Pass Loss & Theft Cover at the time of ordering your pass with InterRailNet.Com, these extra travel costs are covered up to the remaining value of your pass.
If you have Pass Loss & Theft Cover and you lose your pass, follow these simple steps.
Replacement pass or tickets
To continue your trip, you can order a new InterRail pass at InterRailNet.Com and have it delivered to your hotel or hostel address in the European country in which you’re staying. You could also purchase point-to-point tickets at a train station or buy a new pass from a train station.
source : http://www.interrailnet.com/support/using-pass
