I agree. The system works well as it is, using a certain amount of trust and I hope it doesn't get abused too often. I plan to make similar trips in the future and I'd hate for it to become more complicated. I suppose Interrail could introduce a system where they verify your ID/residency themselves before activating the ticket, but that would add extra cost and cause delays.As things stand, if I suddenly needed to make a really expensive journey while abroad, I could theoretically buy a pass, activate it, set up a trip and be on a train within 3 or 4 minutes! For example, an open off-peak return London-Glasgow (any off peak train) is GBP185, yet I could get a 3-day pass and take ANY train for GBP157 and still have a day to spare!
For what it’s worth, I’m a Brit living in Greece (with Greek residency ID to prove it) and I just did an 8-day tour of the UK. I took a total of 92 trains and even though I have a ‘local’ accent, not one person questioned my residency for the whole trip. Of course, I’m not suggesting you should just buy a UK pass and lie about your residency...
Also, for what it is worth, NOBODY will check or question you about your country of residence!I just returned from an 8 day UK-only Interrail jaunt where I tried to cover as much of the rail network, different operators and various train types as possible (geeky former train-spotter here). I took 92 trains in total and was not asked about my residency by a single member of station or train staff. This is despite being obviously a “local” (British ex-pat living abroad now) and having a good chat about the railways etc. to many of the guards and other crew.
Talking of ‘mis-use’ - well, not really but certainly not great for the environment… On one particular day I’ll have to check out of my hotel in London by about 10:00 and I’m visiting my daughter near York who doesn’t get home from work until around 18:30 so… I’ll check out early and it’ll be lunch in Edinburgh or Glasgow I think - only a SLIGHT detour! The LNER Breakfast looks quite nice, so if I can get that in the morning an then some kind of dinner and wine on the way back down… that justifies for 1st class for that day.
First class indeed! I just found this out because I went to check again on the mobile app. and that one DOES default to second class! Ah well, lesson learned - thanks!Actually - at 18 Euro per day extra, that might be a better deal. For sure at least two or three of the long distance trains I’ll take offer a complimentary meal/snack/drinks service in First. Any experience of that? Complimentary stuff is still offered on InterRail ticket in First without questions?
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