Italian trains: Frecciabianca

• Q. What happens if my train crosses an international border during the night?

  A. If you travel in a sleeper compartment, you provide the train attendant with your reservation voucher, rail pass or train ticket, and passport as you board. They can then take care of everything with conductors and customs officials so you can sleep uninterrupted.

  If you travel in a regular train that just happens to cross the border at night, customs and border control officers may come directly to you and ask for your passport.

  Please note that there will be no passport control (day or night) when traveling between countries that signed the Schengen Agreement. Not all countries belonging to the EU are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. Britain). On the flip side, some countries that are not part of the EU are part of the Schengen Agreement (e.g. Switzerland).

• Q. It looks like my train ticket does not include a reservation. How can I add one?

  A. Whenever possible, train tickets sold by Rail Europe include a reservation. If you received a ticket without a reservation, it typically means that the train you’ll be traveling on doesn’t require a reservation, and in most cases is non-reservable.

• Q. What information do I need to provide in a booking to purchase with Rail Europe?

  A. We require your name as it appears on your passport (first and last name only), gender, and (in some cases) date of birth. Please note that this same information will be necessary for all travellers in your travel party.

  Depending on the type of train ticket you are booking, we may also need a physical mailing address where we can send your travel documents. We send documents using traceable shipping methods, and the package will need to be signed for. In addition, we’ll need a valid email address so we can send you an invoice, and a phone number in case we need to contact you regarding your booking.

• Q. Can I choose a specific seat on a train when making my reservation?

  A. At this time, it’s not possible to choose a specific seat on our website when booking a reservation.

• Q. Do restaurant cars cater to specific dietary needs like vegetarian, diabetic or kosher?

  A. Some European trains do offer special menu items. You can check the menu card found on board the train when you get on. Please keep in mind that you are also permitted to bring food on to the train, so if you have a specific dietary condition that requires special food, you can purchase before getting on the train and avoid any disappointment if the train you are on does not cater to your specific needs.

  On Eurostar a wide variety of meals can be arranged prior to your departure to Europe. They include vegetarian, kosher, halal, vegan, diabetic, low fat, low salt and gluten-free meals. For vegetarian meals, we require 24-hours notice in advance of travel. For all other meals we require 48-hours advance notice. If you need to arrange a special meal for your Eurostar journey, please contact us via our Contact Us page.

• 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. How fast can I receive my travel documents?

  A. After your booking has been invoiced, you should receive your tickets and/or rail passes within 2-7 business days. In some locations, express overnight delivery may be available for an additional cost.

  If you booked e-tickets, you should receive an email and ticket instructions shortly after your booking is confirmed.

• Q. Where do I my send train tickets and/or rail passes for refund?

  A. We recommend that any documents being returned for refund be sent via traceable mail for proof of delivery.

  Please visit our Cancellation and Refunds page for information regarding refunds. If you need further assistance we invite you to send us a message using our Contact Us page.

• Q. Do I need to do anything with my rail pass before boarding the train?

  A. Yes. You will need to visit the ticket window at the train station before boarding your first train to activate your rail pass. A railroad official will enter the first and last day of validity on your rail pass and stamp your rail pass. You will have to show your passport, and the name on your rail pass will need to match it. Then, in case of a flexi-pass, for each day you use your rail pass you will need to enter the date in the designated travel calendar box on your rail pass. If you board a train and have not entered the date, when the conductor comes around to check your travel documents you may be subject to a fine and the payment of full fare ticket that will need to be paid in local currency directly to the conductor. Be sure to read all documentation that accompanies your rail pass prior to departure. The more you know about your rail pass, the more likely you are to avoid issues onboard the train.

• Q. How do I create a Rail Europe account?

  A. You can simply click the ’Login’ button found on the top right-hand side of our homepage and select ’create an account’ to register on our site. If you are booking with us, you will also be presented with the option to register during checkout.

Browse our FAQ

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