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I’m don’t quite understand the map shown in https://www.eurail.com/en/plan-your-trip/railway-map : It only shows the biggest European cities but it doesn’t show all the routes the Eurail covers, right?

For example: in the link provided I don’t see the route between Paris and Zurich, but I know there is a way to do it as shown in the “Eurail-Map-2021.pdf”. Does the Eurail-Map-2021.pdf show the real and all possible routes that I will be able to make with the Eurail global pass? Or the PDF shows all routes possible, but not all of them are in the global pass?

I’m trying to understand what the limitations of the global pass are when traveling western Europe.

Thanks in advance.

The map only gives an overview of main routes and destinations, and is no way comprehensive. If you'd like more specific info, we have dedicated info page on traveling by train in each country. We have also have information most high-speed, night and scenic trains. You can also find a full overview of included trains in our pass network over here. Lastly, there is a ton of information available on the community :) 


What do you mean with "X trip”?

Let’s say i need to go from london to paris, so I head to the eurostar webpage, pick a train, pay for the ticket and I’m done, I know exactly at what time i have to be in the station and which train to take.

Now let’s suppose i have to do the same trip but i have the eurail global pass, now what? the day of the trip I go to the station and go inside any eurostar train that I want? anytime? how does it work?

Thanks for the other answer btw.

For some trains you will need to buy a reservation with eurail. E.g. Eurostar.

Eurail pays off the most in Central Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, …) because you need no reservations (except for nighttrains) 


What do you mean with "X trip”?

Let’s say i need to go from london to paris, so I head to the eurostar webpage, pick a train, pay for the ticket and I’m done, I know exactly at what time i have to be in the station and which train to take.

Now let’s suppose i have to do the same trip but i have the eurail global pass, now what? the day of the trip I go to the station and go inside any eurostar train that I want? anytime? how does it work?

Thanks for the other answer btw.


Is there any way to know if the trip that i want to do is included in the global pass?

Basically all trains that are operated by the participating railway companies.

TBH i still don’t understand how does this work, opposed to buying a regular ticket and knowing I’ll be able to do X trip.

What do you mean with "X trip”?


That map indeed only shows some of the main routes. It surely does not define where Eurail is valid. I never use it.

Is there any way to know if the trip that i want to do is included in the global pass?

TBH i still don’t understand how does this work, opposed to buying a regular ticket and knowing I’ll be able to do X trip.


Also check country-info : this may have more detailed maps. BUT in some countries this is also very much overdone and looks like all main roads are in-where no trains run (Macedonia).

In the past, when it was all paper, one would get a brochure with better maps to give this information.

But how about a decent map of the current running Argentino ferrocarriles? is also never ever found


That map indeed only shows some of the main routes. It surely does not define where Eurail is valid. I never use it.


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