We know plans can change and errors can happen. When they do, we want to make it simple for you to understand your options and request an exchange or a refund, if your tickets/passes are eligible.
Flexible Tickets
These types of tickets can be exchanged prior to departure and are generally fully refundable with no penalty. Exchanges are only permitted for the same city pair or route originally booked.
Semi-flexible tickets
These tickets can be exchanged and refunded under certain conditions (up to a certain number of days before departure, or with a certain percentage of penalty or additional fee). Exchanges are only permitted for the same city pair or route originally booked. Fare differences may apply.
Non-flexible tickets
These fares are non-exchangeable and non-refundable and usually the most affordable option.
Refundable up to 85%
Most rail passes are refundable if they haven’t been used or activated. A 15% penalty applies. Some promotional passes are not refundable.
Seat Reservations
Seat reservations are not exchangeable nor refundable.
Activities
Activities are generally refundable before they’re confirmed or a voucher is exchanged, but it varies by product.
Rail & Hotel Packages
Exchanges and Refunds, when applicable, are subject to an administrative fee of up to 7%.
These exchange and refund rules apply to customers who booked on this website. Did you book on another Rail Europe site?
Click here to select your Rail Europe web site.
Exchanges and refunds are possible for certain types of tickets, depending on its fare and method of delivery. Please select your ticket’s method of delivery below.
Refund
Paper tickets must be returned to the issuing office for a refund. Some tickets may allow the refund process to be initiated online. Use our Quick Refund Check tool to verify.
Otherwise, all paper tickets must be returned prior to train departure to the issuing office or stamped "not used" by a railway official in the departure station before train departure. If stamped unused, paper tickets must be sent to the issuing office, via traceable method, within 30 days of train departure date.
Exchange
Paper tickets must be returned to the issuing office to be exchanged.
Please call our Customer Care center prior to departing to Europe.
Refund
Fully and semi flexible fares can be refunded online.
Fully and semi flexible fares can be refunded according to their fare rules. Please have your train ticket stamped "not used" by a railway official at the departure station before train departure and return it to our Customer Care Center within 30 days of the train departure date. In addition, please notify us here.
Exchange
Exchanges must be requested from our Customer Care Center at minimum 3 business days prior to the actual travel date of the original ticket.
Please contact our Customer Care Center during regular business hours:
Or contact us by clicking this link.
Please contact our Customer Care Center during regular business hours or check with a railway official at the departure station.
You can request a refund for a Print at Home ticket online. Exchanges must be requested from our Customer Care Center at minimum 3 business days prior to the actual travel date of the original ticket.
Fully and semi flexible fares can be refunded online.
Please contact our Customer Care Center during regular business hours:
Or contact us by clicking this link.
If you have an account with us, sign in and click on "Refund Request" in your user account. Otherwise, please complete the Quick Refund Form
Important Information
Most rail passes have a method of delivery of paper, however there are a few exceptions. Please select the method of delivery for your rail pass, below.
Rail Passes must be returned to the issuing office within the time frame allowed by their Terms and Conditions.
Please send via traceable method as passes lost in the mail are not refundable.
Refunds for Print At Home Rail Passes must be requested 5 business days before the 1st day of rail pass validity.
Please submit your refund request by contacting us here.
Important information
Most seat reservations are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
Activities, Rail & Hotel Packages and Extras are refundable depending on their terms and conditions, as well as delivery method. Please select method of delivery below.
Les activités sur papier doivent être retournées au bureau émetteur dans les délais prévus par leurs modalités.
Veuillez envoyer par la méthode traçable car les passes perdues par la poste ne sont pas remboursables.
Refunds for Print At Home Activities when possible must be requested at least 7 business days prior to the travel date.
Please submit your refund request by contacting us here.
Overview: the Rail Protection Plan
With a Rail Protection Plan, enjoy the flexibility to cancel or refund your train ticket, rail pass, and reservations with no questions asked. You’ll also be protected in the event of a missed train connection, railroad strike for train tickets, and in the case of loss or theft of paper tickets and rail passes.
How does the Rail Protection Plan protect me?
NOTE - The following terms and conditions are valid from February 6, 2017. This version cancels and replaces previous versions.
Please read the terms and conditions for each benefit tab in their entirety.
To print a full copy of the RPP Terms and Conditions to keep on hand while traveling, please click here.
Exchange
The Rail Protection Plan Exchange benefit is currently not available in this market.
Cancellation request for paper rail passes/paper tickets/paper reservations being returned for a cancellation must be received by Rail Europe no later than five (5) business days BEFORE the scheduled departure date for Europe given at the time of booking.
Once the cancellation request has been reviewed, travellers will be notified by email where the original paper passes, tickets & reservations need to be sent to complete the Rail Protection Plan Coupon Code request.
NOTE – the Rail Protection Plan Coupon code is only released for accepted claims once the paper original documents have been received by Rail Europe.
Request must be received 3 BUSINESS DAYS before departure
Rail Protection Plan exchanges must be requested at least 3 business days prior to the train departure date for electronic tickets.
To request an exchange, please call 800-438-RAIL (7245) or (847) 916-1028
Cancellation
Travellers will be issued an instore credit in the form of a future Rail Europe coupon code at no penalty, equal to the value of the cancelled products containing the Rail Protection Plan, no questions asked.
Coupon codes are issued in the name of the traveller(s) given at the time of the original booking and are non-transferable.
Coupon codes must be redeemed on a new booking no later than two (2) years from the issue date on the coupon code. No instore credit will be issued in cases where the value of the coupon code is not used within two (2) years of issue.
Coupon codes cannot be applied toward shipping and handling fees or Gift Cards.
Coupon codes will be processed in 6-12 weeks from receiving the returned tickets / passes / reservations.
No explanation is required for cancellation requests on product(s), no questions asked.
Please follow below instructions according to your type of ticket.
Cancellation request for paper rail passes and paper tickets need to returned and must be received by Rail Europe no later than five (5) business days BEFORE the scheduled departure date or first date of travel given at the time of booking.
NOTE – rail passes that are not pre-validated with a first date of travel, must be received by Rail Europe no later thirty (30) days from the original issuing date that is stamped on the rail pass provided by Rail Europe
Once the cancellation request has been reviewed, travellers will be notified by email where the original paper passes, tickets & reservations need to be sent to complete the Rail Protection Plan Coupon Code request.
NOTE – the Rail Protection Plan Coupon code is only released for accepted claims once the paper original documents have been received by Rail Europe.
Start a Strike request for a refund
Requests for reimbursement due to strikes must begin by filing out the contact us form below.
Cancellation requests must be received by Rail Europe no later than five (5) business days BEFORE the regularly scheduled train departure date or first date of travel.
Request received less than (5) business days noted above for paper / electronic products will not be eligible for the RPP Cancellation Benefit and will be processed under the normal cancellation penalties listed with the traveller’s tickets / passes / reservations.
Travellers not planning to return to Europe within two years / not interested in receiving a Rail Europe instore credit, can request a refund back to the original form of payment but are subject to the normal cancellation penalties included with their product.
Start a request for your RPP Cancellation Credit
Requests for your Rail Europe instore credit in the case of cancellation must begin by filling out the contact us form below.
Strike
If while traveling in Europe, your trip is interrupted or stopped due to a rail strike, you will be reimbursed for the value of the unused train ticket, reservation or travel day.
If impacted by a strike during your trip, please follow below instructions according to your type of ticket.
Train tickets
Train ticket/reservations, not used due to a strike must be stamped at the European train station by a railway official indicating the train ticket/reservation.
Rail Passes
In the case the traveller is holding a rail pass, this provision only applies in the event the entire travel day could not be used due to the strike and the traveller has a corresponding seat reservation stamped unused by a railway official to support that the rail pass travel day could not be used. In the event the rail pass travel day was partially used, no refund is offered on the Rail Pass travel day.
Once the strike request has been reviewed, travellers will be notified by email where the original paper passes, tickets & reservations need to be sent to complete the strike refund request.
NOTE – the refund in the case of strike is only released for accepted claims once the original paper documents have been received by Rail Europe.
Notice: Refund requests due to strikes while traveling in Europe must be received within thirty (30) days of your return from Europe for paper tickets/reservations/rail passes.
Start a Strike request for a refund
Requests for reimbursement due to strikes must begin by filing out the contact us form below.
E-tickets / E-Passes (Print at the Station)
Tickets / Passes already printed at the station must follow the same procedure as mentioned above for paper products.
If the ticket / pass has not been printed at the station, travellers requesting reimbursement due to strikes must submit their request by filling out this form. BEFORE the train departure date.
E-tickets / E-Passes (Print at Home / Mobile)
Travellers requesting reimbursement due to strikes must submit a request by filling out this form BEFORE the train departure date.
Start a Strike request for a refund
Requests for reimbursement due to strikes must begin by filling out the contact us form below.
Sometimes, vacations don’t go according to plan. Get reimbursed the value of the train tickets or rail pass travel days interrupted due to a delay on a connecting flight or train.
If while traveling in Europe, you miss your connecting train trip due to a flight or train delay caused by a mechanical failure or weather, you will be reimbursed the value of the unused connecting train ticket/reservation/travel day.
In the case of a rail pass, this provision only applies in the event the entire travel day could not be used due to the missed connection and does not apply if the missed connection only partially interrupts the use of a travel day.
Missed Connection Caused due to a Flight Delay
Missed Connection Caused due to a Train Delay
Coverage does not apply for missed connections caused due to the traveller arriving late for his or her flight / train or any other reasons other than mechanical / weather delay of the flight / train.
Travellers will either be refunded the value of the unused ticket, travel day, reservation due to the missed connection or the cost of a replacement product(s), whichever is less.
Travellers must purchase a replacement product(s) in order to continue with his/her travel plans.
Request for reimbursement due to missed connection, must be requested within thirty (30) days upon return from Europe. Travellers must submit a statement to RE including the proof from the airline / train conductor of the missed connection, original product(s) purchased, replacement product(s) purchased due to the missed connection, and a brief explanation of the situation.
Paper Products Rail Pass / Train ticket / reservations, not used due to a missed connection must be emailed to Rail Europe including scanned copies of the original ticket, rail pass and or reservation not used, receipt of the replacement product purchased to continue travel, statement from the airline / railroad documenting the weather / mechanical delay. Requests for reimbursement due to a missed connection must be started by filling out this form.
Once the missed connection request has been reviewed, travellers will be notified by email where the original paper passes, tickets, & supporting documents need to be sent to complete the missed connection request. NOTE – the refund in the case of missed connections is only released for accepted claims once the original paper documents have been received by Rail Europe.
E-tickets / E-Passes (Print at Station/Print at Home/Mobile)
To request a refund for an E-ticket / E-Passes due to missed connection, travellers must email the receipt of the replacement product purchased to continue travel, statement from the airline / railroad documenting the weather / mechanical delay.
Start a Missed Connection request for a refund
Requests for reimbursement due a missed connection must begin by filling out the contact us form below.
Lost & Stolen
Receive reimbursement for your train ticket or rail pass if it’s lost or stolen while travelling in Europe.
Travellers’ product(s) must have been lost or stolen while traveling in Europe.
Travellers will either be refunded the value of the unused portion of the lost or stolen paper product(s) or the cost of a replacement product(s), whichever is less.
Travellers must file a police report within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident.
Travellers must purchase a replacement product(s) in order to continue with his/her travel plans.
Coverage does not apply for product(s) lost or stolen BEFORE departing to Europe.
Within thirty (30) days upon return from Europe, travellers must email Rail Europe a scanned copy of the police report, replacement product(s) purchased abroad, airline tickets from into Europe and returning and a brief explanation of the situation.
Once the loss or theft request has been reviewed, travellers will be notified by email where the scanned copies of their supporting documents need to be sent to complete the Lost or Theft request.
Tickets / Passes already printed at the station must follow the same procedure as mentioned above for paper products.
Loss or theft coverage does not apply to travellers with Print at Home / Mobile e-tickets / e-passes.
Start a Lost or Stolen request for a refund
Requests for reimbursement due a lost or stolen ticket or pass must begin by filling out the contact us form below.
More details for submitting a request:
All original paper tickets/rail passes/reservations, supporting documents and the completed Contact Us request involving request for Cancellations, Strikes or Missed Connections must be sent to the local RE branch or customer service office to complete their credit or re-imbursement request once the initial Contact Us request has been submitted and reviewed.
Once the initial email claim has been reviewed and accepted, travellers will receive an email from Rail Europe advising where the address of the local RE branch or customer service office. NOTE – the credit or re-imbursement request is only released for accepted claims once the original paper documents have been received by Rail Europe
It is recommended that product(s) being returned for a claim under this program be sent by a traceable mail / post service.
This plan is administered by RE and can be revised or terminated at our sole discretion at anytime with or without notice. In the case that Rail Protection Plan is terminated, only tickets/rail passes/reservations/ orders issued BEFORE the date of termination will be covered.
Description of Rail Protection Plan:
Rail Protection Plan is non-refundable and non-exchangeable except as noted below.
If travellers can prove, with supporting documentation that they previously purchased an insurance policy covering same benefits as the RPP, travellers are entitled to cancel and receive a full refund on the cost of the RPP purchased with Rail Europe. Written notification along with supporting insurance documentation must be received within 14 days from original purchase date and none of the RPP benefits may have been used to receive an instore credit or refund.
If you make any claim knowing it to be false or fraudulent in any respect, no benefit shall exist for such claim and your benefits may be cancelled. Each claimant agrees that representations regarding claims will be accurate and complete. Any and all relevant provisions shall be void in case of fraud, intentional concealment, or misrepresentation of material fact.
Exclusions: This program does not apply to any loss caused by:
*Only one coupon code can be used in an online booking.
*In order to combine the value of the RPP Coupon Code with a Rail Europe Promotional code, enter the Rail Europe promotional coupon code to booking online and pay for the booking before RPP Coupon Code discount has been applied.
*Once the booking is completed, email the RPP coupon code and new booking number containing the promotional discount to Rail_Protection@raileurope.com
*Provided the RPP coupon code has not been used on a previous booking, travellers will be issued a refund equal to the value of the RPP Coupon Code back to the original form of payment used in the online booking.
More details
Rail Protection Plan Terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of France. If no amicable settlement is reached, all disputes concerning the RPP will come under the jurisdiction of France.
For additional terms and conditions complete details please visit the Rail Protection Plan terms and conditions available on the Rail Europe website.
Questions on the RPP or to start a request for a refund
Start your RPP reimbursement request by filling out the contact us form below.
