Skip to main content

Hi everyone. I just joined the community as I have few questions to understand how and importantly when to buy EU rail pass. I have summarised my trip below:

 

travelling dates: April 2025

requirements: 15 days continuous travel global pass

travelling adults : 2 adults

citizen: non EU citizens 

 

question 1 - does EU rail pass prices change? How soon we need to buy if we have a travel booked in April 2025?

soon we buy is better? Please suggest?

 

question 2 - not able to see all trains in rail planner app but I can see few trains for April 2025 on EU rail website, why is that so and how soon in advance we can see trains on app?

 

question 3 - not able to see all trains on EU rail website as well but I can see more trains on direct train website , why is that so as these trains are not matching my timings when I need to go as per my plans.

 

question 4 - pass needs to be activated on day of travel as far as I know. To book the journeys, do we need to add all journeys in the app before activating the pass on day 1? How does that work? 

question 5 - if there are seat reservations to be done on that route, pass is not activated and how can we book reservations in advance?

 

question 6 - any tips for first time users?

 

question 7 - 

frankfurt airport to Amsterdam central - is DB fine? 
Amsterdan to Brussels central - no trains come up, it starts from midi station. Which train line and company is good?

Brussels central to Paris nord - which train line and company is good? 
Paris nord to Bern - which train line and company is good? 

 

Welcome!

  1. Yes, you can expect prices to rise annually with inflation. I’m not sure exactly when the price rises will be, but quite probably before April. So if you buy now, you can avoid the price rise. There’s often a sale during the end of November, so keep an eye open for that discount.
  2. Don’t use the Eurail app or website for planning, the timetables are often out of date. Try searching on bahn.com/en which is much more up to date
  3. As above, the Eurail timetable isn’t always up to date
  4. You can make reservations without activating the pass. You have to add all trains to your app before you travel, but it doesn’t need to be done far in advance.
  5. Really good info here: https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm
  6. Yes, read that page on Seat61, and this one, which explains the pass really well. Post your itinerary here, and other travellers can help you with any specific questions/ problems  https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-a-eurail-pass.htm

Frankfurt - Amsterdam
Yes, DB is good. Avoid Eurostar if possible, because they charge expensive reservation costs.

Amsterdam - Brussels
Again, avoid Eurostar. There’s a good Intercity service, which is slightly slower

Brussels - Paris
You probably need to use Eurostar on this route. The alternative (if you’re travelling with a Eurail pass) is much slower and indirect.

Paris - Bern
Option 1: Direct TGV to Basel, then Swiss trains to Bern. Quite an expensive reservation cost, but fastest.

Option 2: TGV to Strasbourg or Mulhouse then TER to Basel then Swiss trains. Cheaper, because you only have to pay for the domestic TGV reservation, but slower.

 

You should be able to find all these routes by searching on bahn.com/en. Let us know if you have any problems.

Paris - Bern also has a few options via Frasne. Also with the cheaper domestic TGV reservation.

Reply


Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy