Italian trains: Frecciabianca

• Q. How do I have my train ticket endorsed to indicate it was not used?

  A. If you will not be taking the train and have a train ticket that includes a reservation, contact us by phone or go to the ticket window before the train departure and have your reserved seat released, as a courtesy to other travellers. Request that the cancelled train ticket also be stamped “Not Used".

  If a train is canceled by the railroads due to a strike, weather, or other issues, and alternate transportation has not been offered or if you decline the alternate transportation, then a railway official at the origin station must cancel your seat and they must stamp the back of your ticket/reservation “Not Used” before the original train departure time.

  Our partners at the European Railroads will not allow us to process a refund unless this step has been taken.

• Q. I’ve already booked my rail pass, but think I’d like a different one. Can I exchange it? It’s totally unused.

  A. Unused and unvalidated rail passes can be exchanged for an alternate rail pass of equal or greater value. A 7% administration fee, any price difference, and additional shipping fees would apply. Some promotional rail passes are non-exchangeable; please read the terms and conditions for these passes for more details.

  Please send us a message through the Contact Us page to begin the exchange process. To exchange a rail pass, we must receive your original unused and unvalidated rail pass no later than 3 days prior to your departure to Europe, issue a new rail pass, and ship it to you.

  If you bought the Rail Protection Plan™ when you placed your rail pass order, you are eligible to receive the full value of your original pass as a credit and use it towards any future Rail Europe purchase within 2 years, with no fee or penalty incurred.

• Q. Are lockers and luggage storage services available at the train station?

  A. Most major train stations have a left luggage facility offering either self-serve luggage lockers or staffed luggage facilities.

  Keep in mind that there is a fee to store your luggage at a train station. Typically, stations will charge a flat rate to rent a luggage locker that you’re free to fill. For staffed luggage facilities, you may incur a “per bag” fee. In either case, the fee is usually under 10 Euros. If you do leave your bags, be sure to keep some money in your pockets for the luggage lockers.

• Q. How can I book an itinerary with multiple cities?

  A. Our website makes booking multi-city journeys very easy!

  Simply enter the cities you plan to depart from, arrive to, and your travel dates. Our system will then search the database to provide the best matching schedules.

• Q. Do I need to buy a train ticket for children or infants?

  A. In general, any traveller that will occupy a seat will need to have a train ticket. Children under the age of 4 may travel on your lap, though the exact age can vary by rail company. If you want them to have a reserved seat on a train, that offers or requires a reservation, you would need to pay the same price as an older child on most trains.

• Q. I selected a train ticket, but when I placed my booking the price changed. Why? Can the previously quoted price be honored?

  A. For most trains, the price quoted is based on live availability from current seat inventories. However, for some trains, we cannot check fare availability at the time of quote due to technical limitations of the international rail distribution system. Therefore, we use a cached price to build your quote, based on generally available fares for the trip you requested.

  While rare, sometimes, we find out that the fare used for quoting your trip is no longer available as we’re trying to confirm your reservation. This is when the system gives us the new price based on that very moment’s availability. This explains why you may receive a message advising you that the price has changed from the original quote.

  Unfortunately, we are unable to honor the original fare that was displayed online. As mentioned in our terms of use, schedules listed in our booking tool are subject to change depending on availability, and final fares will be confirmed upon purchase.

• Q. Is dinner and/or breakfast included with my reservation on an overnight train?

  A. When you travel on an overnight train meal inclusions vary depending on the train you are on, as well as what type of train ticket you have purchased. With the purchase of a Premier class ticket, you will generally get a meal on board the train. This meal is typically breakfast in the morning. Some trains will bring the meal to you in your compartment, while other trains will serve you breakfast in the restaurant car on board the train.

  If you are not traveling in a First Class sleeping compartment, don’t worry, you won’t starve on board! Overnight trains all include a restaurant car, bar car or vending machine services containing hot/cold drinks and snacks. Most restaurant/bar cars are open until at least 1:00am. Additionally, you can purchase food before hopping on board the train and eat as you wish. Though not included with the price of your ticket, you can certainly find something to eat during the ride.

• Q. I bought a print at home e ticket but now don’t have access to a printer to print it. What should I do?

  A. French print at home e-tickets can be re-issued from a self-service kiosk at the station. You will need the e-ticket # located on your booking confirmation email.

  Eurostar print at home e-tickets can be re-issued at the Eurostar desk in the departure station, but there is a 15£ fee per ticket. You will need the e-ticket # located on your booking confirmation email.

  No other print at home e-tickets can be re-issued at the station. Your best option is to find an internet cafe or self-service print shop where you can go online and print your e-ticket.

• Q. Are there discounts available for rail passes?

  A. Yes, many rail passes offer discounted options. The most common discounts are:
  Child discount: Children between 4 -11 years of age usually travel for half the price of the regular adult rate. Most Eurail passes offer free travel for up to two children per adult pass holder.
  Youth Discount: If you or anyone in your party is a traveller aged 12 to under 28 years of age on the first date of travel, discounted rates are available for certain rail passes.
  Senior Discount: Seniors over the age of 60 are eligible for a discounted rate on certain rail passes.
  Saver Discount: Small groups of 2 to 5 people traveling together are eligible for savings of about 15% on certain rail passes.
  Group Discount: If you travel in a party of 10 or more, see our special group offers for a more customized travel solution.

• Q. How far in advance can I purchase a train ticket?

  A. Train tickets can be purchased in a booking horizon of 30 to 180 days in advance of a journey. This booking horizon depends on the route and each rail carrier’s policy.

  In order to take advantage of the best prices and availability, always book as far in advance as possible. It’s particularly important to book early during peak travel seasons to ensure you can travel on the date you wish.

  Please note – when planning a journey you can always enter a date within 30 days of today to view general travel times and ticket fares.

  Booking horizon by country (in advance of the date of travel):*

  Austria - 90 days
  Balkans - 60 days
  Benelux (International) - 90 days
  Croatia/Slovenia (International) - 90 days
  Czech Republic (International) - 60 days
  Denmark - 60 days
  Finland - 60 days
  France - 90 days
  Germany - 180 days
  Great Britain - 75 days
  Hungary (International) - 90 days
  Italy - 120 days
  Montenegro/Serbia - 90 days
  Norway - 90 days
  Spain - 60 days
  Sweden - 180 days
  Switzerland - 90 days
  Poland (Domestic) - 30 days
  Poland (International) - 60 days
  Romania (Domestic) - 30 days
  Romania (International) - 90 days
  Russia - 45 days

  Booking horizons for the major train lines or carriers (in advance of the date of travel):*

  Allegro - 60 days
  ATOC Britain - 90 days
  Berlin-Warsaw Express - 60 days
  DB - 180 days
  Eurostar - 180 days
  France-Freiburg (Breisgau)TGV - 90 days
  France-Germany High Speed - 90 days
  France-Italy TGV - 90 days
  France - Russia - 60 days
  France-Spain High Speed - 119 days
  Germany-Italy Day - 120 days
  Hungarian Trains - 90 days
  ICE - 180 days
  Lusitania - 60 days
  Lyria - 90 days
  NTV Italo - 120 days
  RENFE - 60 days
  Romanian Night Trains - 90 days
  Thalys - 90 days
  Thello Night - 120 days
  Tolstoy - 60 days
  Trenitalia (Domestic) - 120 days
  Trenitalia (International) - 120 days

  *Subject to change.

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