Frequently Asked Questions: Your First Holiday By Rail

If you’ve just booked – or are thinking of booking – your first holiday by rail, congratulations! You are one of us now! Soon you’ll be chugging along the tracks to pastures new, snapping photos of mountain peaks, rolling meadows and tiny towns that you’d otherwise never have glimpsed.

It's the beginning of a beautiful adventure, though not without its confusing parts! If you’re used to airports, luggage restrictions, check in times and coach transfers at your destination, this is a whole new world of relaxation and easy travelling to get to grips with. We hope this guide answers some of your most frequently asked questions. If you ever have any further queries about your holiday, please get in touch with your Travel Consultant or give us a call on 020 3327 3560.

What do I need to bring with me?

• PASSPORT: If you’re travelling outside of the UK on Eurostar, you’ll need to take your passport. You’ll need it to get home again, too. Please also check to ensure you meet all visa requirements for the countries you'll be visiting.
• TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. We’ll send you out all of your train tickets, hotel vouchers and sightseeing vouchers. These will be organised in the order that you’ll need them and presented in a high-quality wallet. (It goes without saying but)don’t forget this, it’s everything you need for your trip! Remember not to throw any tickets away until you get home again - some may cover more than one journey or day of travel.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: It’s rare, but delays and accidents happen. Make sure you’re properly covered, just like you would with any other sort of holiday.
• We always like to take a bottle of water on long journeys, and don't forget your camera! You'll be stretching its legs with all the wonderful scenery from the train window.

How long do I need to be at the station beforehand?

• If you’re travelling on Eurostar, you’ll need to arrive at the station at least 45-minutes before departure.
• With other trains in Europe there is no formal check-in, but please make sure you leave plenty of time. You can always relax with a coffee at the station.
• On some trains – many in Spain, for example – you will need to scan your luggage before you board. Your Travel Consultant will be able to let you know if this is the case so you can leave an extra ten minutes.

How much luggage can I bring?

• The classic question. Luggage policies on trains are nothing like those on airplanes - they're much more lenient.
• We wrote a whole handy blog about luggage on your train holiday that should answer your questions. You can check that out here.
• Remember: whatever you take, you'll need to carry!

Will there be food and drink on the train?

• Short answer: yes, probably. Most high speed or long distance trains will have a buffet car, and sometimes even a restaurant car where you can sit and order a full meal.
• What will be available on your train depends on service, country, time of day and distance. We know it can get a bit confusing, but your Travel Consultant has all the answers and will be able to advise.
• If you’re travelling in first class, you may get a little something included in your fare. Your Travel Consultant will let you know if this is the case.
• You are always welcome to take your own food and drink onto the train. We’ve enjoyed many a train picnic over the years!

What happens if my train is delayed and I miss a connection?

• First of all, don’t panic! Take your ticket to a member of staff on board the train so they can validate it. Take this to the ticket office at your onward connecting station and explain that your previous train was delayed. They should put you on the next available service.
• Call us if you need to! If you’re travelling during our extended opening hours (which is more than likely!) we’ll be able to look up the next train for you and offer you advice and assistance.

What’s this I’ve heard about validating my train ticket?

• If this is your first rail holiday, this is probably brand new to you – but don’t worry, it’s simple!
• You will have a reserved seat on the majority of trains in France and Italy (indicated on your ticket). If there is no seat number it’s likely because the journey is open and cannot be reserved.
• If your ticket is open, you simply need to validate it using the small machines at the entrance to every platform. It couldn’t be easier.

Railbookers' Top Tips!

• Don’t throw way any tickets until you’re back at home! Sometimes tickets cover multiple journeys, or you might need to get one validated if there’s a delay.