Eurail Pass Guide 2014

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Dear Eurail Traveler You’ve chosen the perfect way to travel through Europe – by train! With the Eurail Pass you’ll be able to travel in the most relaxed way imaginable, offering you the chance to fully appreciate Europe’s diverse and spectacular landscapes. This booklet is designed to explain how to use the Eurail Pass so that you can get the most out of it when you explore Europe. For information about the Eurail Group and its products or services, visit www.eurailgroup.org. You can also download the Eurail Rail Planner App to help you plan your European rail journey. There you can find European timetables, additional benefits for Eurail Pass holders, and much more. Thank you for choosing Eurail, and enjoy your journey!

Contents How to Use your Eurail Pass in 3 Steps

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How the Eurail Pass Works

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Discover Europe’s Trains

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Practical Information

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Pass Benefits

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Conditions of Use

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Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this guide is correct and up to date. This information, however, can be subject to change without notice, and no guarantee can be made regarding its accuracy or completeness.

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How to Use your Eurail Pass in 3 Steps

How to Use your Eurail Pass in 3 Steps

 efore making your first journey, B activate your ticket at your travel agent or a train station ticket window.

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Before boarding a new train, bus or boat you must fill in the Travel Report details. If you have a Flexi Pass, enter the date in the Travel Calendar on your Eurail Pass ticket.

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Once you have finished traveling, please send us your Pass Cover and in return we will send you a gift in a few weeks!

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How the Eurail Pass Works Please read the following carefully to ensure a smooth and pleasant Eurail Pass experience. What travel documents will I need? The Eurail Pass itself consists of the Pass Cover with the Travel Report, together with an attached ticket, which should not be detached under any circumstances. Aside from the ticket and Pass Cover, you will of course need a valid passport. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a visa to visit certain countries (check out http://europa.eu/travel for more information). Travel insurance is also strongly recommended – this is not included in your pass! What Eurail materials do I get? Besides this Pass Guide, you will receive a Pass Cover with your ticket attached and also a Eurail Map to help you plan your trip. How do I start using my Eurail Pass? First, you must activate the ticket. This can be done by the travel agent you purchased your pass from, but also at a ticket window in any European train station.

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Once the ticket is activated, guard your Eurail Pass as carefully as your wallet – there are no refunds if it is lost or stolen – and keep it clean and unmarked. Do not laminate your ticket.

How the Eurail Pass Works

You must activate your pass within six months after buying it. The person activating your ticket will stamp the date in the activation box and will fill out your passport number and the first and last valid days of travel. The first travel day can be the one on which the ticket is activated, or a later date – the choice is yours. The last day will always correspond to the complete length of time for which your pass is valid.

What is the Eurail Pass Cover for? The Pass Cover protects your activated Eurail Pass ticket, which is stapled inside. It also includes the Travel Report form that you must present, together with the ticket, to ticket inspectors. Fill out your personal and ticket details before you start using your pass, and complete the journey details before you board any new train, ferry, or bus when using your pass for transportation or a discount. Is my Eurail Pass valid for all trains and boats in Europe? Your pass entitles you to transportation on all national railways and shipping lines listed on your Eurail Pass Cover, and on other private railways listed in the Eurail Rail Planner App.

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For free passage on international ferry routes, your Eurail Pass must be valid for the country of departure AND the country of arrival. For discounted passage, the pass must be valid for the country of departure OR the country of arrival.

Please note that reservation costs and surcharges required for overnight beds and seats on certain international and high-speed trains are not included. See “How do I make seat and bed reservations?” section on page 11.

What if I need to travel through a country not covered by my Eurail Pass? If any portion of your journey passes through a country not covered by your pass, you will need to buy a ticket for that leg of your journey. Do this at a ticket counter in advance, since tickets on the train will be more expensive. For example, if you have a Eurail Global Pass and plan to travel in Poland, you will need to purchase a separate ticket for this part of the journey, as this country does not participate in the Eurail Global Pass offer. How often can I use my Eurail Pass? It depends on the type you have. Eurail Global Passes, valid for 24 countries, come in two sorts:

• The Continuous Pass can be used as often as you want during the period it is valid for

• The Flexi Pass can only be used for a specific number of travel days 8

during the period of validity. Eurail Passes that only cover specific geographical areas (Eurail Select, Eurail Regional, and Eurail One Country Passes) are all considered Flexi Passes.

Using the Eurail Flexi Pass If you have a Flexi Pass, please read the following carefully to make sure you use it properly.

• What’s the Travel Calendar on the Flexi Pass ticket for? Your Flexi Pass entitles you to a set number of travel days within a specific period. On any travel day, you can hop on and off as many trains as you like, but please check in advance if a reservation is recommended or compulsory. Before you board your first train of the day, it is extremely important that you write the date in the Travel Calendar on your ticket. Not doing so is considered the same as traveling without a ticket, which means you will have to pay for a full-fare ticket and may also risk having to cough up a fine.

How the Eurail Pass Works

Please note that you can take your first trip with anytime after 00.00 hours on the first day that your pass is valid and you must finish your last trip by midnight (24.00 hours) on the last day of validity

• How do I fill in the Travel Calendar on the ticket? Your Travel Calendar will have a day and month box for each of the travel days you are entitled to. Even if you already have a carefully planned schedule worked out, don’t fill in the whole calendar at once – you’ll lose all flexibility as to when you can travel! As you start each travel day, write the day and month in the proper boxes under “1,” for the first travel day, “2” for the second, etc. Do not do this in pencil – you must use blue or black ink! Example of activation

Travel Calendar

• What if I make a mistake filling out the Travel Calendar? Be very careful. Mistakes cannot be corrected, since an altered travel date might be interpreted as an attempt at cheating the railway system. You will have to enter the correct day in the next box, which means you “lose” one travel day. If you do make a mistake, you can have your pass replaced for €30 (or the equivalent in local currency) at the nearest Eurail Aid Office (check the Eurail Rail Planner App in the Pass benefits section to locate the nearest Aid Office).

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• How do I enter an overnight journey in my Travel Calendar and save a travel day? A travel day lasts from midnight to midnight. For all overnight trips, your Eurail Pass must be valid on the dates of departure and arrival. However, depending on the departure time of the overnight train, there is a special Eurail offer that could save you a travel day. If you board a direct overnight train (with no connections) after 19.00h (7pm), which arrives at its final destination after 04.00h (4 am), you only need to use one travel day – the date of arrival. For instance, if you take the direct overnight train from Budapest to Munich, which departs on August 2nd at 21.10h (9:10 pm) and arrives the following morning at 06.15h (6:15 am), you only have to write August 3rd in the Travel Calendar on your pass. If you board an overnight train before 19.00h (7 pm), you need to use two travel days. Fill in the date of departure in one set of boxes and the date of arrival in the next. When traveling by night ferry, you only have to use one travel day. You may fill in either the date of departure or arrival on your Travel Calendar. The choice is yours.

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How do I make seat and bed reservations? Certain trains – such as high-speed, international, and overnight trains – usually require you to reserve a seat or a bed for an extra fee. Seats on these trains in popular countries like France, Italy, and Spain can be in great demand during July and August (the high-season months in Europe). Furthermore, the number of seats allocated to Eurail Pass holders on these trains can be limited. However, Austrian and German high-speed trains usually do not require reservations.

How the Eurail Pass Works

Does my Eurail Pass entitle me to extra benefits? Indeed it does – to a great range of special benefits, including free or discounted transportation on European buses and ferries. For the complete list of extra benefits, check the Pass Benefits section of the Eurail Rail Planner App. For more information, see also page 19.

Because of this demand, booking in advance is strongly recommended – preferably before you arrive in Europe (most trains can be booked up to three months in advance). Should seats for pass holders be sold out for a train you want, you’ll have to purchase a full-fare ticket. However, you can also try a different day or time, or even consider taking an alternative route. To find out if a train requires reservation, consult your travel agent, a railway company or the Eurail Rail Planner App, which is free and available for iPhone and Android. Before your trip, you can make reservations through most travel agents selling Eurail Passes and with several European railway companies, online and/or via call center. Once in Europe, you can make reservations at a railway station ticket counter, or at Eurail Aid Offices managed by the national railway companies. These are usually located at the international ticket counters at the major train stations and at select airports. See the Pass Benefits section, listed by country, on the Eurail Rail Planner App. For more information about reservations, please visit www.eurailgroup.org/reservations

Tip: On the Rail Planner App, it is possible to use the filter “Trains without compulsory reservations” to plan your trip. Please note that you might spend more time travelling and will need to make more changes of trains.

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The Eurail Rail Planner App was selected as one of the best apps for rail passengers by Railway-technology.com. It works offline. Once downloaded, you don’t even need an internet connection*. It has everything you need to plan your Eurail adventure: • Trip Planner • European Timetables • City maps • Augmented reality to find stations nearby

Download your Eurail Rail Planner App for iPhone or Android at: www.eurailgroup.org/railplanner

Download now the Eurail Rail Planner App It’s free and you also save on roaming costs!

Plus a complete list of extra benefits and special offers for Eurail Pass holders. Free travel and discounts for: • Ferries and boats • Hotels, hostels • Buses, scenic trains, rack railways and more * Internet connection is only required for online maps and access to external links

Discover Europe’s Trains European trains have their own individuality; they are different in style, use different technology, and the onboard experience differs the moment you cross a border. They come in all models, and comfort levels, and their speed is dependent on the train type. What do they have in common? They will all immerse you in the diverse landscapes of Europe. Local trains Easy, relaxed, and intimate – that sums up the atmosphere of the countless local trains you will find as you explore Europe. Some of them only have 2nd class cars. Nowhere else will you get a better chance to meet the local people and get a feel for European life than on these trains that weave their way from town to town, taking the locals to work, market, or play. Express trains Domestic and international express trains make fewer stops, speeding you to your destination much more quickly than local trains. These are commonly called InterCity (IC) or EuroCity (EC) trains. These trains sometimes require a seat reservation. High-speed trains Want to cover a long distance really fast, or as luxuriously as possible? There are many high-speed services (sometimes traveling at speeds of up to 200 mph) that criss-cross Europe – with comfortable 1st and 2nd class cars and catering services. Seat reservations are usually required at an additional cost. For more information about reservations, please visit www.eurailgroup.org/reservations Epic scenic rail routes Of course Europe is bursting with picturesque scenery that can be enjoyed from any type of train. But there are numerous train routes that are celebrated for the magnificent landscapes they pass through. Eurail Passes are valid for many of them, or entitle you to a discount. Reservations are sometimes required – they are always highly recommended.

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Overnight/Night trains Overnight trains run between many of Europe’s major cities and offer a variety of sleeping accommodations to suit different budgets. A night train can also save you money, since the supplement you pay might cost less than a hotel room, depending on the accommodation you choose. Some overnight trains offer reclining seats (generally only in 2nd class), which have the least expensive surcharge. The majority offer standard couchettes as well as more luxurious sleepers, with the required supplement rising accordingly in price. Couchettes are compartments with four open bunks in 1st class and four or six open

Discover Europe’s Trains

bunks in 2nd class. These are shared with other passengers of both sexes. Washbasins and toilet facilities can be found at the end of each train car corridor, and a sheet, blanket, and pillow are provided. Sleepers offer more comfort and privacy, accommodating one or two passengers in 1st class, and two or three in 2nd class. They usually have a private washbasin and are allocated exclusively for either men or women, unless your party occupies all the beds in the compartment. Some night trains even offer deluxe sleeper compartments with a private toilet and shower. Reservations are always required. To ensure that you have the best onboard experience, take a few sensible precautions: safely store your belongings and remember to lock the door of your cabin when you are inside. Travel document collection Border crossings and passport checks often take place on these trains in the middle of the night. It is therefore quite common before you go to sleep for the car attendant to collect your Eurail Pass and passport for border formalities, so you won’t be disturbed. Don’t worry – this is standard procedure, and your documents will be returned to you in the morning. Be sure to double-check that the returned documents are indeed yours, and that they are all there.

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Practical Information Assistance while traveling in Europe In many major train stations, you’ll find Eurail Aid Offices where you can get information and assistance with reservations, among other things. They are usually located at the international ticket counters. If your pass has been issued or activated incorrectly, do not use it! Instead, exchange it for a new one at a Eurail Aid Office in a country for which your pass is valid. You will find information on the location of the Eurail Aid listed in the Eurail Rail Planner App. 1st or 2nd class Your class of travel depends on the type of Eurail Pass you have bought and is indicated on your pass ticket. If you have a 2nd class pass and wish to travel 1st class on

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a particular journey, you will need to pay the price difference in advance at a ticket window. If you have a 1st class pass, you are not entitled to a refund if you travel in 2nd class. Some domestic trains do not have 1st class cars, and boat services do not generally offer a class distinction. At some major stations, there are special railway lounges that may be available to 1st class pass holders: These are listed in the “Pass benefits section in the Eurail Rail Planner App. Please note that railways have the right to change their policy on pass holder access to these lounges without notice. When and where’s my train? The Rail Planner App provides you with offline European Timetables. Remember that European time is given using the 24-hour clock:after 12:00 (noon) comes 13:00 (1 pm), 14:00 (2 pm) etc., up to 24:00 (midnight).

Larger stations almost always have a staffed information counter as well. On the train platforms, you’ll usually find displays confirming the next train’s departure time and destination. Big city, many stations! Most larger cities have multiple railway stations, and trains generally don’t stop at all of them. If you want to arrive at a specific station in a particular city, be sure to check that the train you want to take does indeed stop there. And when heading on to a new destination, be sure to double check exactly which station you need to depart from.

Are we there yet? Station stops are not always announced or may be announced in a foreign language that you do not understand. Take note of your scheduled arrival time and the names of the stations before your stop, so you will be prepared to disembark when the train arrives at your destination. Station names are usually clearly visible on their platforms, but you can always ask the conductor or a fellow passenger if you are not sure.

Practical Information

You’ll find departure schedules and platform information in all train stations, ranging from posters (departures on yellow paper, arrivals on white) to boards providing up-to-the-minute information.

Getting on the right train – and staying on it! All aboard? If you’ve made a reservation, you’ll find the car and seat number printed on the ticket. Some platforms feature a poster indicating exactly where specific cars stop on the platform.

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Be ready to board the train the minute it arrives – station stops are often very brief. You can see if a car is 1st or 2nd class by the numbers posted near the train door or window (some trains have both classes in one car). Also keep in mind that trains are sometimes split in the middle of a journey, so that they can continue on to different destinations. Pay close attention to the destination displays, where this will be indicated, and to any car numbers you see near the doors. Before splitting, the conductor will announce which cars are going where.

as larger bills aren’t always accepted in certain outlets and trains.

Food on board Many long-distance and high-speed trains have full-service restaurant cars offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On express trains, there are sometimes buffet and bar cars that sell light meals throughout the trip and vendors who pass through the carriages selling snacks and beverages. Food service is not very common on local domestic trains. If you want to know if your train has a buffet or restaurant car, ask at the station. And, of course, you can always pack your own picnic meal beforehand!

Safety Train stations can be busy, exciting – and sometimes overwhelming places. In Europe, they are generally quite safe, but unfortunately those with a lot of tourist traffic will occasionally attract thieves and pickpockets. Use common sense and be especially alert in stations and on trains going to or from an airport. And always keep a close eye on your valuables!

Money In most stations, you’ll find many ATMs affiliated with Plus (Visa) and Cirrus (MasterCard), where you can regularly get cash for daily expenses. Bring a credit and/ or debit card and enough cash in the currency of the country you’re arriving in for a day or so as an emergency backup. Make sure this is mostly in small denomination bills ($50 equivalent or less)

Luggage Since you’ll be carrying or wheeling this around for most of your trip, we recommend that you travel light! Depending on the type of train, you’ll find luggage racks above the seats and/or at the end of the car. Keep an eye on your luggage, since railways cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen bags. Most major train stations offer storage facilities or coin-operated lockers for luggage.

Pass Benefits

Pass Benefits You, as a Eurail Pass holder, can take advantage of many other extra benefits such as discounted boat tours, hotel rooms, museum tickets and much more. These benefits can usually be arranged on the spot. For some benefits, mainly with international shipping lines, advance booking is needed.

On the Eurail Rail Planner App, in the Pass Benefits Section, you will find the necessary contact details for making reservations with the benefit partner concerned (phone number, email addresses or website). Also a list of participating companies, airport links, and Eurail Aid Offices.

When making use of the benefits, keep the following points in mind: 1) For Flexi Pass holders: • You may only use free transportation on a travel day that you have written on your ticket. • Discounted travel does not require use of a travel day. You can take advantage of this at any time (even if you have used all your travel days) as long as your journey takes place before that last day of your pass’s validity. 2) For Continuous Pass holders: • You can take advantage of the benefits until the last day of your pass’s validity. This information is also available on the Eurail Group website, www.eurailgroup.org/benefits-eurail. Please note that benefits are subject to change: before booking or buying a ticket, confirm that the company honors the discount.

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Conditions of Use 1. Eurail Pass definition A Eurail Pass consists of a ticket and a Pass Cover that includes the Travel Report. Neither the ticket nor the Pass Cover is valid on its own. Those who travel using one without the other risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine, subject to the rules of the national railway company.

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ticket window. An activated pass will show the first and last day of validity of the pass. Activation must take place within six months of the issuing date stamp in the upper right hand corner of the ticket. Those who travel using a ticket without an activation date stamp risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine.

2. A Eurail Pass is strictly personal A Eurail Pass is strictly personal, non-transferable, and valid only upon presentation of a passport or other recognized travel identification document. Those who travel without a passport or the legal equivalent to be presented together with the pass risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine.

4. Countries and companies for which the Eurail Pass is valid The Eurail Global Pass is valid for travel with the participating railway companies in the countries listed on the Pass Cover (excluding Montenegro, Poland, and Serbia). All participating railways, private transport companies, and shipping companies are listed in the Eurail Rail Planner App. Eurail Select, Eurail Regional, and Eurail One Country Passes are only valid for the country or countries that are printed on the ticket itself.

3. A Eurail Pass must be activated A Eurail Pass must be activated before it can be used for your journey. It can be done at your travel agent or a train station

5. Recording personal, ticket, and journey details in the Travel Report All Eurail Pass holders must fill out the personal and ticket details on the Pass Cover Travel Report

6. Flexi Pass: Filling in the Travel Calendar box Flexi Pass holders may choose the days on which they travel within a longer period of overall validity. Before boarding the first train, bus, or boat on a travel day, the date must be correctly entered by pen in blue or black ink in the corresponding Travel Calendar boxes on the ticket. Those who travel on a date that has not been entered on the ticket can be subject to payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine. Once entered, a travel day may not be corrected, as that can be considered as an attempt of fraud. If a mistake is made, the correct date must be entered in the next travel day box, which means that you lose a (non-refundable) travel day. 7. Flexi Pass: Overnight journeys If you board a direct overnight train after 19.00h (7 pm), and the train arrives at its final destination after 04.00h (4 am), it is only necessary to enter the date of arrival in the Travel Calendar boxes on the ticket. This also covers travel between 19.00h (7 pm) and 24.00h (midnight) on the date of departure, so long as the dates of departure and arrival both fall within the overall period of the pass’s validity. When using

an overnight ferry covered by the pass, either the date of departure or arrival may be entered in the Travel Calendar boxes on the ticket. 8. Seat availability A Eurail Pass does not guarantee a seat on a train or boat. Reservations are required for certain trains and ships, and surcharges may apply. Fees for seat reservations, sleeping accommodation, port taxes, meals, and other services while on board trains and boats are not included in the pass.

Conditions of Use

before using the pass (including the travelers passport number and signature). Before boarding a train, bus, or boat, each journey must be recorded in block capitals on the Journey Details section of the Travel Report in blue or black ink. Those who travel without having recorded these details risk payment of a full-fare ticket and a fine.

9. Misuse of a Eurail Pass Aside from the payments and fines detailed above in connection with improper use of a Eurail Pass by the legal pass holder, railway staff are authorized to confiscate a pass that appears to be forged, that is being used by anyone other than the person to whom it was issued, or on which personal details have been altered. Anyone using a fake pass is considered to be attempting to perpetrate fraud against both Eurail Group and the national railway company they are traveling on. This will be reported to legal authorities, who will determinate the proper penalties. 10. Eurail Pass validity A Eurail Pass is valid within the overall time period indicated on the pass. Travel can begin after 00.00 hours on the first date printed on the pass, and the last trip must be finished by midnight (24.00 hours) on the last date of validity. 11. 1st and 2nd class A Eurail Pass is valid for travel in

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the class indicated on the pass ticket. 1st class passes are also valid in 2nd class cars. Those wishing to travel 1st class with a 2nd class pass must pay the full difference between 1st and 2nd class fare on the respective route. There is no refund for 1st class pass holders traveling in 2nd class. 12. Eligibility The Eurail Pass can only be used by those who reside outside of Europe, the Russian Federation, and Turkey. 13. Duplicate Eurail Pass A duplicate Eurail Pass cannot be issued for those that are lost, stolen, or damaged in such a way that they are unusable.

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14. Eurail Pass categories Restrictions apply to using Eurail Passes in different categories: • A Child Pass can only be used by travelers who are younger than 12 years of age on the first day that the pass is valid. In some countries, different age restrictions may apply for

children traveling on a Eurail One Country Pass. • A Youth Pass can only be used by travelers who are younger than 26 years of age on the first day that the pass is valid. • A Senior Pass can only be used by travelers who are above 60 years of age on the first day that the pass is valid. • A Saver Pass is valid for everyone in the party (maximum five) listed on the control voucher, but only when they are traveling with the Saver Pass in their possession. If people in the party split up and travel separately, those who are not carrying the Saver Pass will need to buy a separate train ticket. Refunds cannot be applied in this instance. 15. Refund policy You can submit an application for a refund up to a year after the date of issue. You will be refunded for the cost of the pass minus a 15% cancelation fee, if your pass is returned to the place of purchase either before the first day of

Conditions of Use

validity or certified as “UNUSED” by a railway official in Europe before the first day of validity. Once activated, passes are considered “used.” Passes that are (partially) used, lost, damaged, or stolen will not be refunded or replaced. 16. Liability Issuing offices and the Eurail Group G.I.E. act only as the intermediary of European carriers, and are not liable for operation of national rail services. 17. Responsibility Eurail Group G.I.E. cannot be held responsible for damages or extra costs incurred due to loss of baggage, theft, force majeure, strikes, or canceled trains. 18. Compensation policy In the event that you experience three or more train delays that are longer than 60 minutes each, you can request compensation from the Eurail Group. However, in some of these cases, the Conditions of Carriage from the

specific carrier may be favorable to claims. For further information, please refer to www.eurailgroup. org/compensation. In the event you experience fewer than three delays that are longer than 60 minutes, you can request compensation from the respective carrier. 19. Legal provisions For Eurail Passes that are valid in more than one country, transportation is subject to the “Uniform Rules concerning the contract for GCC-CIV/PRR.” For Eurail Passes valid in one country only, the legal provisions of that country apply. For journeys by sea, the legal provisions of the individual sea carrier apply. In the event of a conflict between English and other translated texts, the English text (see www. eurailgroup.org/eurailcou ) shall prevail.

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English version Produced by Eurail Group GIE

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