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your pass isn’t valid in some of these countries

  • 17 October 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 199 views
R

Hi there

I have booked a Eurail pass for just France for myself and my nephew leaving Thursday (3 days in a month).  I have activated the pass and tonight tried to add my journey (the different legs of the outward journey) but each time I try to add, it states ‘your pass isn’t valid in some of these countries’.

I am not sure if I am doing something wrong - I have all the tickets and reservations held on the SNCF + LNER app and whilst the Eurail app says it requires seat reservation, I can’t see anywhere to add that information?

similarly I don’t know if it is because I haven’t added a travel date?

any help very gratefully received.

 

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Best answer by ralderton 17 October 2023, 11:39

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T
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Do you have a Global Pass ? In order to travel from/to any country you need one. A one-country pass is only valid within a country. With a Global Pass you can travel on 2 of your pass days (not extra days) in your own country, this includes Eurostar. More : https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pass.htm

If that's not the case exchange passes by following the procedure on interrail.eu : buy a new Global pass and then get the other one (not activated/used) refunded minus 15€ fee.

What do you mean by tickets/reservations on SNCF app ? Where have you bought them ? Could you please share a screenshot (without personal info) ?

Have you got the mandatory reservations for the Eurostar ? This train is very popular and has a passholder quota so trains can sell out days or weeks in advance. 30€ reservation.

EDIT : there are only 2 trains left to France on Thursday :

- 06:01 Eurostar to Paris (you'd have to pay for a ticket from York to London the day before and a night accommodation though)

- the 15:04 train to Lille available in 1st class only (38€ reservation). You'll need a 1st class pass for that one.

There's also a third train going to Brussels at 08:16 (30€ 2nd class reservation). You could leave York early at 04:40 on 19th October. From Brussels it should be possible to reach your destination too.

Book ASAP through interrail.eu or https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish

In Lille you can easily connect to Paris. What's your final destination that day ? There are also TGVs to the south avoiding Paris (station transfer).

As last alternatives : there are Flixbuses and ferries crossing the Channel but they obviously take longer.

Seat reservations are mandatory on fast/high-speed trains in France too. More info : https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

School holidays are starting this weekend so trains will be busier than usual.

Feel free to ask further questions, I'll answer in the morning. I'll gladly help all I can !

A
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Userlevel 7
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You can't use a One Country France Pass for LNER and the Eurostar. The OCP France is only valid for travels within France. 

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
ralderton
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Userlevel 7
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Yes, it sounds like you’ve bought a One Country Pass for France. This won’t work in the UK or on Eurostar.

You can deactivate the pass and get a refund or exchange, as long as you have deactivated it before 11pm on Wednesday (midnight CET). It’s very important that you deactivate your pass before then, or it will become non refundable.

It’s 15% fee to refund, or €15 fee to exchange for a different pass. You would want a Global Pass for your journeys.

Refund/ exchange policy https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/ordering-info/refund-exchange-policy

R

Thanks 😊 

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