Frequently asked questions about "International Rail Companies"

Tickets for long-distance trains (FR, FA, FB, IC, ICN) include seat reservations. On these trains, the ticket is only valid for the booked journey.

Up to six months before the planned journey. This depends on when the rail company issuing the tickets begins sales.

After completing the booking, you will receive a PDF document on which is printed "Not valid for travel", as well as an e-mail containing a booking confirmation from Trenitalia in addition to that issued by DB. The PDF alone does not entitle you to travel.

In the e-mail you receive from Trenitalia, you will find a link to retrieve the barcode for the ticket inspection on the train.

Tickets for the "ORDINARIA" fare are automatically validated at the scheduled departure time of the train you have booked. You can change the date and departure time before the booked day of travel. On the booked day of travel, you can change the departure time before the ticket is automatically validated. Once the ticket has been validated, no more changes can be made. You can also exchange your ticket via the link in the Trenitalia booking confirmation.

You can book any journey on Trenitalia trains within Italy. Simply search for your desired connection in the travel information.

Travelling on long-distance trains (FRECCE):

• Frecciarossa (FR) - e.g. from Milan to Rome in around 3:15 hours or from Rome to Naples in around 1:10 hours
• Frecciargento (FA) - e.g. from Rome to Apulia in around 4:30 hours
• Frecciabianca (FB) - e.g. from Milan to Genoa in around 1:30 hours
• In addition to the Frecce high-speed trains, you can also book many connections with InterCity and regional trains to over 1,700 destinations throughout Italy. In future, connections with the InterCity Notte (ICN) night trains will also be bookable in sleeper and couchette coaches.

You can also book Trenitalia tickets for the following cross-border trains:

• EuroCity trains between Switzerland and Italy - e.g. from Zurich to Milan in around 3:20 hours
• Frecciarossa (FR) between France and Italy - e.g. from Paris to Milan in around 6:45 hours

Reservations are generally unusual in Switzerland, as there are usually enough seats available. A small contingent of reservable seats is available on most long-distance trains. These can also be booked via DB. If no reservation is available, this does not necessarily mean that you will not get a seat.

An exception to this are journeys in special panoramic carriages, such as those on the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express. Reservations are compulsory on these trains.

Reservations are also compulsory for cross-border journeys on EC trains between Switzerland and Italy. You can book journeys on these trains as a Trenitalia ticket.

Up to six months before the planned journey. This depends on when the rail company issuing the tickets begins sales.

You can book almost any connection in Switzerland with any mode of transport. Some services cross borders into neighbouring countries such as Italy, France or Liechtenstein.

Long-distance trains:

• InterCity – e.g. from Zurich to Lugano in around 1:55 hours, or from Berne to Geneva in around 1:50 hours
• InterRegio (IR) – e.g. from St. Gallen to Chur in around 1:20 hours

Other public transport services:

• Regional trains (RE/R) – e.g. from St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy in around 2:35 hours
• S-Bahn trains – e.g. in the greater Zurich area
• Cable cars – e.g. to the Stanserhorn
• Rack railways – e.g. to the Rigi
• Boats – e.g. ferries between Friedrichshafen and Romanshorn, or liners on Lake Lucerne
• Trams – e.g. in Basel, Bern or Zurich
• Postbus coaches
• Buses

Note: You can also purchase Trenitalia tickets for EuroCity trains travelling between Switzerland and Italy.

If you are planning several journeys within a travel period, for example as part of an itinerary, it may be worthwhile to purchase an Interrail Pass or Swiss Travel Pass.

With an Interrail One Country Pass, you travel on 3 to 8 days within a month at a fixed price throughout the country. The Interrail Global Pass also includes the outbound and return journey from your country of residence and is valid in many other countries. Further information on Interrail can be found here.

The Swiss Travel Pass is valid not only on trains but also on many buses, ships and public transport in over 90 Swiss cities. More information, including the area of validity of the Swiss Travel Pass, can be found here.

Various offers and service classes are available depending on the route. Search for your connection in the travel information. The service class and upgrade options available for your journey are displayed there.

This depends on when SNCF begins sales, but is usually up to four months before the planned journey. SNCF sets specific dates for the Christmas, winter, spring and summer holidays in France.

You can book any journey with SNCF long-distance trains within France. Simply search for your desired connection in the travel information.

• TGV – e.g. from Paris to Nice in around six hours or from Paris to Bordeaux in around two hours
• Intercités – e.g. from Marseille to Narbonne in around 2:30 hours

In addition to long-distance trains, you can book connections with TER regional trains in many regions of France. In future, connections with the Intercités night trains will also be bookable in the couchette coach.

Tickets for many cross-border trains can also be booked as SNCF tickets. These include:

• TGV between Spain and France – e.g. from Barcelona to Paris in around 6:50 hours
• TGV between Switzerland and France – e.g. from Basel to Paris in around three hours
• TGV between Italy and France – e.g. from Milan to Paris in around seven hours

Up to six months before the planned journey. This depends on when the rail company issuing the tickets begins sales.

You can book any journey with ÖBB trains within Austria. Simply search for your desired connection in the travel information.

Journeys on long-distance trains:

• Railjet (RJ/RJX) – e.g. from Salzburg to Vienna in around 2:30 hours, or from Vienna to Graz also in around 2:30 hours
• Intercity – e.g. from Salzburg to Villach in around 2:20 hours
• In addition to connections with long-distance trains, you can book tickets for regional trains to almost all destinations in Austria's attractive tourist regions.

You can also book tickets for many cross-border trains as ÖBB tickets. These include:

• Railjet between the Czech Republic and Austria – e.g. from Prague to Vienna in around 4:15 hours
• Railjet between Hungary and Austria – e.g. from Budapest to Vienna in around 2:40 hours
• Eurocity between Austria and Slovenia/Croatia – e.g. from Villach to Ljubljana in around two hours, or from Villach to Zagreb in around 4:30 hours

Would you like to travel in comfort overnight? Book any connection with ÖBB Nightjet trains (NJ) and many EuroNight connections (EN). Here you can find more information about night trains and overnight connections.

• Travel classes: Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus, Eurostar Premier
• Exchange possible free of charge up to one hour before departure, or up to two days after departure with Premier
• Boarding guarantee and exclusive access to refurbished lounges for Eurostar Premier
• Upgraded on-board catering in all travel classes
• Further information at Eurostar.com

If you bought your Eurostar ticket online from DB and are informed before departure that the train you booked has been cancelled, you can cancel your ticket yourself free of charge up to 3 months after the scheduled departure time via ‘My Journeys’ on bahn.de.

If you purchased your Eurostar ticket at a DB Travel Center, please contact the Travel Center directly. Online refunds are not available in this case.

If you would like to rebook your ticket instead, you can do so free of charge on the Eurostar website under “Manage Booking” up to 3 months after the scheduled departure date.

• Travelling to or from London requires additional passenger data ("Advance Passenger Information"). The ticket will only be issued after this additional data has been entered. Further information is available on the Eurostar website.
• When travelling by Eurostar to or from London, you must check in at the station. Check-in times vary depending on the station. You will find these on your ticket.
• Please observe the current entry requirements for Great Britain and for the countries you are travelling through.

• Boarding: if travelling on TGV and ICE trains in France, please board at least two minutes before departure. This is the only way the trains can depart on time. It is also the only way you are guaranteed to get on and travel.
• Luggage tags: you must label your luggage with a luggage tag bearing your name. This is compulsory on all trains to and in France. Luggage tags are required for all items of luggage that you store in luggage racks at the end of the carriage, or above and between the seats. This regulation does not apply to your personal items, such as your hand luggage

Assistance dogs can travel free of charge. However, you must book a ticket directly via Eurostar at least 24 hours before departure.

Cancellation: if you purchased your ticket at a DB Travel Centre, please contact them. If you booked online and have a 12-digit order number, you can cancel your ticket directly on bahn.de via "My Trips".
Exchange: visit eurostar.com "Manage your booking" and have the 6-digit PNR ready.

You can book almost all routes with SJ trains within Sweden. Some cross-border connections are also available, such as to Norway. Simply search for your desired connection in the travel information.

Journeys on long-distance trains:

• X2 high-speed train – e.g. from Stockholm to Gothenburg in around 3:30 hours
• InterCity – e.g. from Oslo to Stockholm in around 5:50 hours

As well as connections with long-distance trains, you can also book tickets to attractive destinations with SJ regional trains.

Would you like to travel in comfort overnight? Night trains with comfortable couchette and sleeping compartments are also bookable, such as from Stockholm to Luleå or Narvik (from mid-April 2026 with a transfer in Boden).

Up to six months before the planned journey. This depends on when the rail company issuing the tickets begins sales.

Tickets for long-distance trains (X2, IC, D), as well as for some regional trains, include a reservation. On these trains, the ticket is only valid for the selected journey.

First class

• Coffee, tea and water are available free of charge in the carriage
• More legroom and wider seats
• Free access to the SJ Lounge in Malmö, Gothenburg, and Stockholm
• A breakfast is served free of charge at your seat for departures before 9:00 am

Second class Calm

• Quiet zone
• Coffee and tea are available free of charge from the train's bistro
• A small breakfast from the train's bistro is included for departures before 9:00 am

Second class

• Standard seat in second class

When traveling on SJ night trains, you generally book a private compartment in the couchette and sleeping cars. This means that you will only share your compartment with other people from your booking. First-class compartments are not available on all connections.

First class sleeping car private compartment

• Bookable for one to two people
• Breakfast included
• WC, shower and washbasin in your own compartment

Second class sleeping car private compartment

• Bookable for one to three people
• Washbasin in your own compartment

Second class couchette private compartment

• Bookable for one to six people

In D trains, breakfast is included in the first class sleeping car. This can be picked up from the train's bistro until 9:00 am. On some trains, breakfast is offered after arrival at the destination near the station. For more information, please ask the train crew.

You can generally book almost all journeys by train within Great Britain. Simply search for your desired journey in the journey planner. For example, travel from London

• to Edinburgh in around 4 hours 10 minutes
• to Manchester in around 2 hours 10 minutes
• to Cornwall (Newquay) in around 5 hours

In addition to these long-distance journeys, you can also book tickets for shorter journeys throughout Great Britain. 

Please note: Tickets for the Caledonian Sleeper and Night Riviera (GWR) sleeper trains cannot currently be booked through us.

In Great Britain, train travel generally works in a similar way to Germany. However, there are a few things to bear in mind.

• At major stations, the departure platform is often not announced until shortly before the train departs. Check the large departure boards at the station. Announcements will also be made. Please do not rely on the platform information in DB Navigator or on bahn.de, as real-time information is not available there.
• Train numbers are not published in the timetable. In Great Britain, trains are identified by the operator, departure time and destination.
• Please allow enough time to reach the platform and pass through the ticket barriers. Scan your ticket at the ticket barrier and the gate will open. If you experience any problems, staff are available on site and will be happy to help.
• Transport for transfers between stations is generally not included in the ticket. For example, if you arrive from Brussels on Eurostar at London St Pancras International and your next train departs from London Waterloo, you will need an additional ticket for the London Underground. You can simply use your credit card at the ticket barriers and pay for your journey using the contactless tap-in and tap-out system. 

 National Rail fares are broadly divided into Advance, Off-Peak/Super Off-Peak and Anytime:

• Advance is generally cheaper, but only valid on the booked trains
• Off-Peak tickets are only valid outside certain peak travel times
• Anytime tickets offer the most flexibility but are usually more expensive. You can use any train on the booked route

Please note: Check the conditions of your ticket, as flexibility and refund conditions vary depending on the fare. 

DB can currently only sell separate tickets for the outward and return journeys. Unfortunately, it is not possible to sell the outward and return journeys on one ticket (“Return Ticket”).

Tickets for long-distance trains run by some train operating companies automatically include a free seat reservation, subject to availability. This is not shown during the booking process. The reservation is automatically displayed on the ticket.

If you need a seat reservation for other trains, please contact a National Rail ticket office in Great Britain. You can also contact the relevant train operating company online. Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to make a reservation through DB unless it is automatically included when the ticket is booked.

As a rule, you can book National Rail tickets up to 12 weeks before your planned journey. Some train operating companies offer longer advance purchase periods.

Please contact only the operator of the delayed/cancelled train. You can find an overview with the relevant contact details at www.nationalrail.co.uk. 

Please also contact the train operator directly for all other service enquiries relating to your train journey (complaints, praise, criticism, etc.). 

Please note: Please do not submit your National Rail ticket to the Passenger Rights Service Centre using the DB passenger rights claim form to request compensation/a refund. As DB has no corresponding agreements with the operators in Great Britain, the Service Centre cannot process these claims, and submitting one would delay the process.

For some routes, the ticket cannot be issued as an online ticket. This may be because the ticket barriers for entering or leaving the platform do not have barcode readers. In such cases, you will receive a booking reference that you can use to collect a physical ticket.

In Great Britain, go to a National Rail ticket machine or ticket office and enter your booking reference. Then use a valid debit or credit card to confirm collection. This is only required to confirm collection. Your debit or credit card will not be charged again. Take your printed ticket from the machine. Please make sure you collect your ticket in good time before your journey.

Please note: National Rail paper tickets that have already been collected cannot simply be reissued. If you lose your physical ticket, you will need to purchase a new one.

Discount cards from Great Britain currently cannot be used for National Rail journeys booked through DB.

An Interrail Pass can be worthwhile for multiple trips. With the Interrail One Country Pass, you can flexibly use trains in a selected country during your chosen travel period.

Will you be traveling in several countries? In this case, the Interrail Global Pass is often a good choice, as it can be used in a total of 33 European countries. Within 2 days of validity you may also use the pass in your country of residence.

Please note: For some trains that require reservations, you need to pay an additional fee. More information about this can be found here.