Railjet - Austria and beyond

• Q. Can I request preferences for assigning my seat, such as a forward facing seat, a window, or an aisle?

  A. You can make a request for seat locations on the train for some trains, the option will be presented to you when you select a specific train ticket fare. Seat selections cannot be guaranteed, but will be taken into consideration when the reservation is completed. If confirming a seat preference is essential, please contact us prior to booking using the Contact Us page.

• Q. What’s the difference between a seat reservation and a train ticket?

  A. A train ticket is a travel document that allows you to board a train for a journey, but does not necessarily guarantee an accommodation (seat/sleeper) assigned to you on board. A reservation guarantees you a specific accommodation on a specific train.

  In many cases, train tickets are issued as combined ticket and reservation: you receive one travel document that indicates the specific train and seat assignment. This is the case for most high speed trains such as Eurostar, Thalys and TGV, as well as for night trains.

  In some other cases, you may receive a train ticket and a separate travel document for your reservation.

  By itself, a reservation can never be used to board a train. It must be used in conjunction with an open train ticket, as we’ve just described, or with a rail pass.

• Q. Why should I purchase my train tickets before I leave for Europe instead of while there?

  A. While you can purchase train tickets locally, it has been our experience that the earlier you book the more likely you are to get the best fares. The longer you wait, the more likely the cheaper fares will be sold out. By booking early, you can avoid a higher ticket price.

  Buying in advance also can save you a lot of time. You won’t have to wait in line at the train station. And considering how precious your vacation time is, why not spend it relaxing instead of worrying about your next train ticket?

• Q. Can my family sit together if I have a First class rail pass and my child has a Second class youth pass?

  A. Yes, of course! However, everyone will need to sit in Second class. The rule is with a First class pass you can sit in either First or Second class, with a Second class pass you can only sit in Second class. If you wish to travel in First class and the rail pass you are interested in does not offer a First class youth option, you will need to purchase an adult pass for your youth traveller.

  Be mindful if you intend to book seat reservations that you book in the class of service you intend to sit in. Once a reservation has been issued, you must sit in the seat that has been assigned to you.

• Q. What is the questionnaire that comes with my rail pass? Do I have to fill it out?

  A. The questionnaire (or travel report) on the ticket jacket containing your Eurail pass is a required survey used by the European railways to better understand how Eurail passes are used throughout Europe. A gift is offered by Eurail for completing and returning the questionnaire to the supplied address. Upon receiving the travel report, Eurail should send the free gift within 4-6 weeks.

• Q. My print at station e-ticket was lost or stolen after I printed it. Can I print it again?

  A. Unfortunately, print at station e-tickets may only be printed once from the kiosk. In the event of a lost ticket, go to a ticket counter and ask if they can reprint it. If they are unable to, a new train ticket will have to be purchased.

  If you purchased the Rail Protection Plan™, you may be eligible for compensation.

• Q. If I bought my rail pass from another company, can I still book my seat reservations through Rail Europe?

  A. Yes. You can book your reservation with Rail Europe regardless of where you purchased your rail pass.

• Q. What if I have a group of 10 or more purchasing rail passes?

  A. Please contact our Groups Department who can arrange customized travel solutions perfect for your travellers.

• Q. Who should I contact with questions about my exchange or refund?

  A. You can visit our Contact Us page to send us a message about exchanges and refunds.

  In your message, please be sure to include the original booking number, your contact information, and which item(s) you’re requesting a refund for. If you’re requesting an exchange under the Rail Protection Plan™, note this in your email as well.

• Q. I understand that some of the train platforms in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy now have gates. How do I get to my train?

  A. Many train stations in the Netherlands and the Brussels Airport Station in Belgium now have platforms with entry/exit gates. To enter or exit from the train’s platform, you will need to pass through these gates that are controlled with a bar code reader.

  Most paper tickets and e-tickets and all Eurail Pass covers have a square barcode which can be scanned at the entry/exit point of the platform. Just hold the bar code on your travel document to the scanner on the illuminated area on the gate and pass through the gate.

  Some of the high traffic train stations in Italy, such as Milan Centrale, Roma Termini and Firenze Santa Maria Novella stations now have entry/exit gates. Access through these gates are exclusively reserved for traveller’s holding a ticket. It is suggested that you have your paper or electronic tickets ready to present upon arriving at these security gates.

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