Travel advice and booking info 

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to France and the UK.

Essential travel info for TGV INOUI (domestic & international), Intercités SNCF

As of Monday 9th August 2021, possessing a health pass (certificate of vaccination, negative PCR-test or antigenic test) will be compulsory onboard TGV INOUI (domestic and international) and Intercités trains operated by SNCF, both on the outbound and inbound leg.

Travel instructions

Please consult the official guidelines of each government before planning your trips.

Wearing a mask remains compulsory upon entering the station, on the platform and on board all SNCF trains throughout the journey.

Refunds and exchanges

Tickets are exchangeable and refundable free of charge up to three days before departure, for TGV INOUI in France and international trains (excluding Lyria, Renfe SNCF in cooperation, Eurostar, Thalys), as well as for INTERCITES.

For OUIGO, these conditions are only valid until 29 August, inclusive. In all cases, within three days of your departure, the normal fare conditions for your ticket apply.

Travellers from a European Union country, with the exception of cross-border workers, must show proof of non-contamination from COVID.

Travelling on TERs

Check the TER SNCF website the day before departure to confirm your train is running.

Exchanges and refunds are available for TER journeys, but exceptional refund rules and dates vary according to the region. Please complete our exceptional refund form. 

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Germany.

Essential travel info

• Since 25th January, it is mandatory to wear a medical mask (surgical or FFP2 mask) on trains, buses and stations. You will not be allowed to travel without one.

ICE Trains entering Belgium and France - commencing from Germany.

As of 9th August 2021, all travellers entering France on a long-distance train will have to carry a certificate (either a paper or digital copy) confirming they do not represent a risk in terms of COVID-19 transmission.

In Germany, these certificates meet what is known as the "3G" rule that requires someone to present one of the following in order to travel:

• The results of a negative PCR/antigen test that is no more than 48 hours old.
• Proof of vaccination.
• Proof of recovery from infection in the form of a positive PCR test that is more than 11 days old but no more than 6 months old.

Refunds and exchanges

Since November 1, 2020, the tariff cancellation conditions of the booked offer apply again.

Cancelled connections

For cancelled train connections, customers can ask for refund of their tickets.

Source

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling around Europe.

Refunds

You can cancel your booking up to 15 minutes before your departure time.

Am I charged a fee for cancelling?

If you cancel your trip up to 30 days before your departure date, it is free. After that, a cancellation fee may be charged. After cancelling your booking, a voucher will be generated. The voucher is valid for 12 months and is worth the price of your booking minus a cancellation fee, if applicable.

Source

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Italy.

Important travel information

From 1st September 2021, possessing a Green Pass will be mandatory to travel on all Italo trains, except for those who have been excluded from the vaccination campaign due to their age and those who cannot be vaccinated. You'll be asked to show your QR code on board.

Refunds

You are entitled to a refund only if you have purchased a flexible ticket which includes a refund as one of its conditions. 

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to the Netherlands.

Essential travel info

• From Sunday 8th August 2021, anyone travelling to the Netherlands from the age of 12 years will have to show a COVID-19 certificate (vaccination, test or recovery certificate). Please check the Dutch government's COVID-19 guidance (in Dutch) for more information about containment measures applicable in the Netherlands.
• The wearing of a mask is compulsory on trains for all passengers over the age of 13 and NS asks all travellers to travel only when necessary.

Refunds

NS tickets valid for journeys up to and including 31st May are fully refundable. Please email us to request your refund and avoid requesting a refund online through My Bookings as cancellation charges will be applied online.

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Austria.

Essential travel info

• Since 25 January, it is mandatory to wear a medical mask (surgical or FFP2 mask) on trains, buses and at stations. You will not be allowed to travel without one.

Services

On 5th July 2021, the ÖBB have returned to their normal timetable after the emergency award on the western route has expired and increased their train service.

Refunds

ÖBB currently grant far-reaching goodwill regulations for tickets to and from risk areas beyond the regular reimbursement conditions.

International ÖBB tickets with validity until 31 May 2021 to and from risk areas can be converted into ÖBB vouchers.

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Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Spain.

Essential travel info

• You must wear a mask on all public transport in Spain, including all Renfe services or you will not be allowed to travel.

Refunds and exchanges

If your ticket admits changes and cancellations, you can make them up to 15 minutes before the train's departure. Renfe's change and cancellation policy depends on the type of ticket you have purchased.

Travel restrictions

Travel restrictions do not affect any ticket with a changeover in a train station with restrictions if coming from and going to a train station that doesn’t have any restrictions.

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Spain and France.

Essential travel info

• You must wear a mask on all public transport in Spain, including all Renfe services or you will not be allowed to travel. 

Refunds, Exchanges and cancellations

For tickets with travel date from 9th​ May​ to 29th August:
​
⦁ If cancellation is requested up to three days before the departure of the train, the cancellation can be made free of charge in the sales channel where the ticket was issued. After this period, the costs of the ticket fare will be charged.

​​⦁​ For requests to change trains or dates: you must cancel the original ticket and book a new ticket on the desired train.​

For journeys with travel dates from 4th May​ to 29th August​ 2021, with Renfe-SNCF in Coopération, changes and cancellations will be free up to three days before the departure of the train.

​For an exchange, if the price of the new ticket is higher, you are responsible for the fare difference.

If your request is made after your train's departure or if you were unable to cancel your ticket, you can request a reimbursement from Customer Service alone within 60 days by using the SNCF clai​m form.

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Switzerland.

Essential travel info

• Effective Monday 6th July 2020, masks are compulsory on all trains, buses and public transport in Switzerland including cross-border services.

Refunds

• Tickets for travel within Switzerland:
  From 11 May 2020, refunds will once again be made according to the fare regulations, and a fee will apply.
• Tickets for cross-border travel:
  Single tickets purchased in Switzerland up to 14 March 2020 with a departure on 14 March 2020 up to and including 15 June 2020 will be refunded in full and free of charge, irrespective of the fare purchased (normal fare/savings tickets). For tickets purchased in Switzerland after 14 March 2020, refund conditions apply according to the tariff. Please use our online form to request a refund.

Interrail/Eurail passports purchased before 14 March 2020 can be refunded as a gesture of goodwill for travel dates up to 31 July 2020 (last initial validity date).

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to France, Germany and the Netherlands.

It is now mandatory to be in possession of both a mask and a valid EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate to access Thalys trains. This rule applies to every journey, regardless of the destination, but also according to the rules of the country of return.

This applies from:

• Sunday 1st August 2021 in Germany
• Sunday 8th August 2021 in the Netherlands 
• Monday 9th August 2021 in France

Essential travel info

• You must wear a mask onboard trains and in stations. You will not be allowed to travel without this.

Tickets
All tickets will now be exchangeable until the departure time, for all bookings that were made between 9th March 2021 until 31st December 2021.

The fares Standard mini, Comfort mini, Premium mini, Youth mini, Mini group, Comfort deal and weekend Comfort, that were at first not exchangeable, will now become exchangeable until the departure time, however, a 5 euro fee per ticket will be charged, as well as the price difference between the old and the new ticket. These tickets will still remain non-refundable.

For the other Standard fares (including Youth, Kid and Senior) and Comfort fares, the ticket can be exchanged without a fee until the departure time. The price difference between the old and the new ticket will be charged.

Cancellation

If your train has been cancelled, you will receive or have already received a personalized notification containing the various proposed measures.

Ticket modification due to travel restrictions

If you would like to modify your reservation because your trip has been affected by the travel restrictions put in place by the government, Thalys has adopted the following commercial measures (these are the only measures that will be applied) :

Exchange
If the fare conditions of your ticket allow for an exchange, it can be exchanged free of charge before departure. You may have to pay the difference in price between your original and your new ticket, if applicable. In any case, an exchange must be carried out before the departure time indicated on the initial ticket.

Refund:
If the fare conditions of your ticket allow a refund, you can request the refund of your ticket via the original point of sale.

Source

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Italy.

Important travel information

• From 6th December 2021, possessing a Green Pass will be mandatory to travel with Frecce, InterCity, Eurocity, Euronight and regional trains, as well as FrecciaLink buses, except for those who have been excluded from the vaccination campaign due to their age and those who cannot be vaccinated. You'll be asked to show your QR code on board.
• You must wear a face mask covering your nose and mouth to gain access on board. 

Trenitalia recently became the first railway operator in the world to obtain Rina's Biosafety Trust Certification, which recognises the extremely high standard of health and safety protocols in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus on board their trains.

Frecce, Freccialink, InterCity, Eurocity and Euronight
How to request a refund

For tickets purchased from 9th June 2021 onwards, it will no longer be possible to ask for a full refund for personal reasons anymore, but only according to the fare conditions of the ticket.

The full reimbursement of travel tickets for Frecce and Intercity, regardless of the fare purchased, is granted only in the following cases:

1. People in respect of whom quarantine with active surveillance has been ordered;
2. People resident, domiciled or subject to a removal order in the areas affected by the COVID-19;
3. People who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and have therefore been obliged to undergo quarantine with active surveillance;
4. People who have planned stays or trips with departure or arrival in the areas affected by the virus;
5. People who have planned to participate in competitive state exams or public selection procedures, demonstrations or initiatives of any kind, events and any form of meeting in public or private places, including those of a cultural, recreational, sporting and religious nature, even if carried out indoors and open to the public, which has been cancelled, suspended or postponed by the competent authorities;
6. People who are named ticket holders or who have purchased tourist packages, which have been purchased in Italy, with destinations in foreign countries, where disembarkation, landing or arrival is prevented or prohibited due to the COVID-19.

Refunds can be requested within 30 days from:

• The end of the situations referred to the points 1,2,3,4;
• The cancellation, suspension or postponement of the events referred to the point 5;
• From the scheduled date of departure, in the case referred to the point 6.

You can request a full refund in the form of a voucher valid for 18 months, via this online form or at the ticket office. It will be necessary to present or attach the travel document and documentation to certify the reason for the refund request.

It is also possible to request a refund on the same payment method used during the purchase by contacting the Trenitalia ticket offices. In the event that a voucher has already been issued but it has not yet been used, in part or in whole, it is possible to request a refund of the remaining value within 30 days of its expiry by submitting a claim at the ticket office or using the online form.

Regional transport
How to request a refund

It is possible to request a full refund in the form of a voucher valid for 18 months, using this online form to be sent by post or by e-mail to the Regional / Provincial Directions of the destination of the trip, or at the ticket offices. Refunds can be requested in the following cases:

• quarantine, for tickets purchased to travel during the period of quarantine or home stay;
  domicile in one of the areas affected by the contagion established by a specific decree or recipient of a ban on removal from these areas, for tickets purchased to travel during the period of effectiveness of the decree or prohibition;
• positivity to COVID-19, for tickets purchased to travel during the period of quarantine or hospitalization;
• stays or trips with departure or arrival in the areas affected by the infection established by a specific decree, for tickets purchased to travel during the period of effectiveness of the decree;
• travel for school trips, public competitions or public selection procedures, demonstrations or other events cancelled, suspended or postponed by the competent authorities, for tickets purchased to travel within the effective period established by the authorities;
• purchase in Italy of tickets for travel to foreign countries, where arrival is prevented or prohibited due to the emergency situation.

Depending on the case, the refund can be requested within 30 days from the end of the quarantine or the ban on removal in certain areas, from the cancellation or postponement of the event in question or from the date scheduled for departure to the relevant foreign country.

It will be necessary to present or attach the travel document and documentation to certify the reason for the refund request.

For more information, please visit this page.

Information on traffic and services

Eurocity and Euronight
It is advisable to buy the ticket before taking the train, given the limited availability of seats due to social distancing measures on board.

High-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca)

Given the evolution of the Coronavirus emergency and the new government provisions, Trenitalia has decided to reduce the Frecce offer. On this page you can check all the changes to the circulation.

Travellers who have already booked a train affected by the changes will receive a proposal for a travel alternative or a full refund of the ticket.

Regional transport
For information on regional trains, please visit the dedicated pages on the Trenitalia website.

Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Belgium.

Refunds

Tickets purchased after 17 September 2020 are subject to the refund conditions of the selected fare.