Berlin Pass

• Q. Can I bring food and drinks on board?

  A. Of course you can! Eating and drinking are permitted on all European trains.

  You will also have the option to purchase food and drinks if the train you’re traveling on offers food services.

• Q. Can I sit in First class if I have a Second class rail pass?

  A. In general, you cannot travel in first class with a second class rail pass.

  In certain cases it may be possible to purchase an upgrade for your trip, you can visit the ticket window at your departure train station prior to boarding your train.

• Q. Do you offer student, family and/or senior discounts?

  A. Yes. Rail Europe offers a wide range of train tickets and rail passes that provide discounts to children, youths, seniors or groups of people that travel together.

  Discounted rates vary depending on the type of train ticket or rail pass you are purchasing, and are not always offered.

  We do our best to provide you with the cheapest fares for your traveling party and get you the discounts you’re eligible for. This is why it’s important to accurately indicate the composition of your traveling party when requesting fares and schedules or rail pass prices from our website. You may also have to enter the age of certain travellers, so we can determine whether they’re eligible for certain age-related discounts.

• Q. Is the price for a reservation the same whether I purchase it from you or locally at the station?

  A. It depends. The first factor to consider is that if you purchase your reservation from Rail Europe, you will be charged in your local currency, whereas if you buy your reservation locally, you will be charged in local currency. Thus, by buying with us, you’re avoiding bank or credit card fees for foreign currency transactions.

  You may find a less expensive reservation offered by the local rail carrier, but those are limited in availability.

  Lastly, keep in mind that by purchasing your reservation from us in advance, you’re saving time, avoiding waiting in line at a foreign ticket counter and dealing with a local railway agent for a reservation right before boarding your train.

• Q. What should I do if I missed my scheduled train? Can I take the next one?

  A. If you’re traveling with open tickets, you can take any train that doesn’t require a reservation, traveling on the route for which your open ticket was issued.

  If you have an open train ticket and a reservation, you can forfeit your reservation and still use your open ticket on a train running on the same route that doesn’t require a reservation.

  If your train ticket is a combined ticket and reservation, then you cannot simply board the next train. You may need to purchase a new train ticket for that train or exchange your current ticket for a new one.

  First, read the exchange conditions for your train ticket. This can be found printed with your actual ticket if you have a paper ticket, or on your Rail Europe email invoice. This will allow you to determine whether your train ticket is exchangeable or not.

  If you have a non-exchangeable ticket you will have to purchase a new train ticket, regardless of the delivery method of your ticket.

  If you have a semi-flexible or flexible ticket (i.e. your train ticket can be exchanged for a fee and/or under certain conditions), then you may be able to exchange your current ticket for a new one. In general, these exchanges must take place prior to the train’s departure.

  Contact us as soon as possible to initiate the exchange process, before the train’s departure. If you are unable to reach us by phone, seek the assistance of a station agent. Never board a train with a train ticket that includes a reservation for a different train, unless specifically authorized to do so by a railway official.

• Q. How early should I arrive at the train station?

  A. We advise travellers to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure. This allows you time to clear any security checks and locate the platform where your train will be departing. If you are departing from a larger train station (typically a city’s main station) and need to activate your rail pass prior to boarding, you will want to arrive even earlier to make sure you have enough time to get your rail pass activated and avoid doing a luggage-hauling sprint through the station.

  Please note: For Eurostar trains, follow the "check-in and Ticket Gate Time Limit" instructions which can be found on your ticket under "Additional Information".

• Q. What fees does Rail Europe charge?

  A. Rail Europe charges different types of fees for the services we provide. These fees are waived under certain circumstances. Below is a list of the fees we charge.

  Delivery Fee: this fee covers the cost of delivering your travel documents to you, allowing you to relax, knowing that you have everything you need prior to your departure.

  Customer Care Centre Fee: this fee is charged only when bookings are made over the phone through one of our Customer Care Centres.

  Rail Europe Processing Fee: this fee allows us to continue to provide travellers with a wide range of European rail products to choose from, in addition to offering quality customer support before, during, and after your trip.

  Administrative Fee: this fee is charged only for refunds and exchanges. It is 7% of the original train ticket or rail pass price.

• Q. Seat Reservations are sold out for the train I want to take. What should I do?

  A. If the train you’re planning to take requires a reservation and reservations are sold out, there are only two things you can do. Purchase a regular, full-fare ticket if those are still available, or try to travel on another train (later or earlier) that has reservations available.

• Q. How can I check to see if food is served on a particular train?

  A. When you search for a train schedule, the results page will give you the opportunity to click and view the onboard services for each class of service offered.

• Q. Will my luggage be safe, accessible, and in my line of sight throughout the duration of my trip?

  A. Your luggage will either be safely above you in a luggage rack, or at the end of your train car. These are the designated locations for luggage storage. You will be able to access your bags as needed.

  You are responsible for your luggage. The railways will assume no responsibility in case of loss or theft of baggage carried on board.

  Be sure to have luggage tags with your name and contact information securely attached in case you leave anything behind.

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