Heathrow Express

• Q. How can I ensure that my traveling party is seated together?

  A. In general, when you request fares and schedules for multiple travellers at once, we’ll always attempt to request that they be seated together. The best way to ensure this is to correctly indicate the number of travellers when you request your fares and schedules for your itinerary.

  Occasionally, it might not be possible to seat everyone together based on availability at the time of booking, in which case the travellers will be seated in the closest available seats.

  If the train you’ll be taking is non-reservable, all you have to do is board the train and sit in any available seat with the rest of your party.

• Q. Do I need to purchase a reservation and if I do, how do I book it?

  A. To find out if the train you plan on taking requires travellers with a pass to purchase a seat reservation, use our reservation booking tool.

  You can book most reservations from our website or mobile site, prior to your departure to Europe. In some countries, Greece and Portugal as an example, seat reservations are mandatory for some trains and can only be purchased locally.

  If you’re already in Europe, you can still purchase your reservation from us as long as e-tickets are offered for the train you wish to travel on.

• Q. I have my train ticket. Do I also need to buy a reservation?

  A. Rail Europe train tickets usually include a reservation whenever possible. In other words, if you’re taking a train that requires a reservation, one will already be included with your train ticket from us. If you’re boarding a train that offers reservations but doesn’t require them, tickets sold on our website will include one, if available, at the time of booking.

  For certain trains that offer reservations but don’t require them, it is possible that we do not include a seat reservation with your train ticket. This may happen when we don’t have access to those reservations, which can only be purchased locally. Rest assured that even if this is the case, your Rail Europe train ticket will still allow you to board and sit at any unoccupied seat.

• 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. What is the Rail Protection Plan™?

  A. We offer an exclusive Rail Protection Plan™ that gives you the flexibility to change your train ticket, rail pass, reservation, and select activities with no questions asked. You’ll also be protected in the event of a railroad strike for train tickets, and in the case of loss or theft of paper tickets, rail passes, city passes or tours.

  The Rail Protection Plan™ may be added to your booking on the delivery page after adding the products to your itinerary or any time prior to final payment being applied to your booking. (Select city passes and tours are excluded from coverage). The Rail Protection Plan™ fee is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. View the detailed terms and conditions of the Rail Protection Plan™ coverage.

• Q. I have a question about my Rail Europe Gift Card. Who should I contact?

  A. Just send us a message on our Contact Us page and we will respond to you via email within 24 to 48 hours.

• Q. What should I do if my train ticket is lost or stolen?

  A. If your paper ticket is lost or stolen, you’ll need to purchase a new one in order to travel.

  If you purchased the Rail Protection Plan™ and your ticket is covered, you may be eligible for reimbursement if you meet the requirements of this plan, this includes filing a police report within 24 hours of the loss or theft and purchasing replacement train ticket.

• Q. What does “Activate my rail pass mean and how do I do it?

  A. Activating your rail pass officially begins the clock on its travel period. This is done by having a railway official stamp and date your rail pass. Simply visit the ticket window at the train station before boarding your first train to have your pass activated. Most rail passes must be activated within 11 months of the purchase date. Boarding a train without activating your rail pass you risk being fined by the conductor.

• Q. How do I read my RENFE print at home e-ticket?

  A. If you are traveling to Spain and have purchased a RENFE train ticket please be advised that RENFE train tickets are available in Spanish only. We offer a guide to assist you in reading your ticket.

• 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.

Browse our FAQ

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 ...