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Experience with ticket gates in different countries

  • February 28, 2026
  • 6 replies
  • 87 views
M
Railly clever
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Just wanted to share my personal experience with ticket gates on my interrail trips so far.

This post is inspired by the earlier question regarding the gates in spain for trains without reservations (Cercanias)

 

Italy open with the QR-Code from your Interrail Pass but only once a day at the same station? (maybe it is also a shorter time frame, just personal experience and not official info) 

Switzerland The only gates i encountered were at the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and to my surprise the interrail Pass QR code worked. (Surprising because i dont think any other routes that accept interrail in switzerland have ticket gates)

Netherlands Turning off NFC can be required for regular PDF-Tickets (The interrail app automaticly turns it off while the QR Code is displayed so you dont get that problem with Interrail) (In my case the NFC Ticket from Paris subway was most likly interfering)

But i dont remember having problem on my way back from the netherlands where i used interrail.

France I think i encountered gates at the station in Nice ville but everything worked with the ticket from the  Interrail app. I also encountered gates at other stations but there i had a reservation (mandatory on all TGVs) to open them.

I speak german 🇩🇪, english 🇬🇧, and i understand a bit of french

    6 replies

    Schelte
    Full steam ahead
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    • Schelte
    • Full steam ahead
    • February 28, 2026

    I took the Lauterbrunnen-Grütschalp cable car two weeks ago and the Interrail code did not open the gates. Staff was nearby and they did let me through.

    Spain: Cercanías ticket gates don't read the codes, but if you have a reservation you can use your reservations to open them (unless you've booked your passholder reservation through DB). Otherwise, you'll need staff to help you, and if they're not available use the interphone.

    UK: the Interrail pass doesn't open the gates, but there's always either staff somewhere or through a call (I recall I had to show my pass to a camera on one occasion).

    Belgium: Currently only has ticket gates at Brussels airport, where you need to pay the supplement to leave the station. 

     

    Interrailing seems difficult at first sight, but it's pretty amazing.
      M
      Railly clever
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      • Marvin Heer
      • Author
      • Railly clever
      • February 28, 2026

      ​@Schelte Interesting regarding your experience at the cable car in Grütschalp (i travelled with it at the end of september 2025). 

       

      I speak german 🇩🇪, english 🇬🇧, and i understand a bit of french
      E
      Railly clever
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      • eurocity101
      • Railly clever
      • March 1, 2026

       

      Spain: Cercanías ticket gates don't read the codes, but if you have a reservation you can use your reservations to open them (unless you've booked your passholder reservation through DB). Otherwise, you'll need staff to help you, and if they're not available use the interphone.

       

      I was travelling from Cordoba to Cerbere last winter with a change in Barcelona Sants. Neither my reservation QR code nor the one from Interrail worked at the gates where my (Rodalies?) train to Cerbere departed. In the end, I was let through by a staff member after showing him my reservation from the AVE I took before.

      I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
      Schelte
      Full steam ahead
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      • Schelte
      • Full steam ahead
      • March 1, 2026

      I was travelling from Cordoba to Cerbere last winter with a change in Barcelona Sants. Neither my reservation QR code nor the one from Interrail worked at the gates where my (Rodalies?) train to Cerbere departed. In the end, I was let through by a staff member after showing him my reservation from the AVE I took before.

      Was this with a reservation booked through DB? Those feature a small barcode but it doesn't work. For those by Renfe (including those booked through Interrail/Raileurope/Happyrail) they should work and alternatively feature a Combinado Cercanías/Rodalies code which can be exchanged for a ticket at ticket machines.

      Interrailing seems difficult at first sight, but it's pretty amazing.
      E
      Railly clever
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      • eurocity101
      • Railly clever
      • March 2, 2026

      It was a Renfe reservation which I bought through Happyrail and loaded it into the Renfe app later. The ticket had two barcodes. Maybe I just tried with the wrong one.

      I noticed the CombinadoCercanias code though but I wasn’t aware of how to use that one.

      I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
      ralderton
      Railmaster
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      • ralderton
      • Railmaster
      • March 2, 2026

      Seat61 suggests the main reservation should work on its own in Madrid, Barcelona & Malaga. But in other cities, you need to use the Combinado Cercanias barcode at a ticket machine or window to print a Cercanias ticket.

      https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-spain.htm#CombinadoCercanias

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