Last update: Thursday 7 April
To encourage customers to book with confidence, the rail industry has introduced Advance ticket easements for the UK. This means if your plans change, you can request a fee-free exchange for tickets booked and due to travel before 30th September 2022. You can make multiple changes all fee-free but you must change the new date/time by 18:00 the day before travel.
The quickest and easiest way to request a change or refund for your train tickets is by doing it online in three easy steps.
Alternatively, see the refund and change conditions for Eurostar and other European operators.
You can change all ticket types online, regardless of booking or travel date.
The simplest way is to amend your tickets online via My Booking.
Book with confidence with Advance tickets
To encourage customers to book with confidence, the rail industry has introduced Advance ticket easements. This means if your plans change, you can request a fee-free exchange on tickets booked for travel up to 30th September 2022. You can make multiple changes all fee-free but you must change the new date/time by 18:00 the day before travel.
Since Monday 7th September 2020 pre-COVID ticket conditions and fees have been reintroduced.
You can refund the following tickets online:
If you have an account:
If you don’t have an account:
If you apply for a refund from Monday 7th September 2020 onwards, your refund will be from the date of request.
You can get a refund on the remaining portion of your unused Season Ticket if:
How to request a refund for your Season Ticket:
Alternatively, if you don’t have access to email, we’re happy to accept handwritten versions of the form by post to:
Seasons Department
PO Box 23971
Edinburgh
EH3 5DA
Please make sure you include all necessary details for us to process your refund:
Please note:
If you have a flexible ticket and would like to move your seat reservation to another train you can do so in 'My Bookings'. This option will only be available if your train offers reservations.
If you have an account:
If you don’t have an account:
1
Sign in to your Trainline account. If you don't have one yet you can sign up by following the link in your confirmation email. Search your inbox for auto-confirm@info.thetrainline.com.
2
Find your booking in 'My Bookings' if you're on the web or 'My Tickets' if you're in the app. Click 'Manage my bookings'.
3
Now select ‘Change date/time’ to choose your new travel date. And that’s it! You’ve successfully updated your ticket.
England, Scotland, and Wales are operating under different COVID-19 rules and measures. Please check your relevant government's website to find out what travel restrictions apply to you.
If your journey is affected, please visit our FAQ to find out how to manage your UK booking.
Last updated: Wednesday 5th January 2021
There are currently no travel restrictions in place in England. You are free to travel with the UK but please adhere to the mask policy across trains.
Please check the government website for full details on what you can and cannot do.
There are five COVID-19 protection levels (0-4) in Scotland. Since Monday 9th August 2021 Scotland has moved beyond Level 0. This means there are currently no travel restrictions in place in Scotland. You are free to travel with the UK but please adhere to the mask policy across trains.
A four-level alert system of local coronavirus restrictions exists in Wales. Since Saturday 7th August 2021 Wales has been at Level 0. This means there are currently no travel restrictions in place in Wales. You are free to travel with the UK but please adhere to the mask policy across trains.
Please check the government website for full details on what you can and cannot do at level 0.
1. Book in advance on our app or website to save time
Avoid buying tickets at the station on the day.
2. Go contactless with digital tickets on your phone
Bypass ticket machines or queuing. Digital tickets are available on most UK routes.
3. Seat reservations are always available with us when needed
Some train operators won't allow you to travel without a seat reservation.
4. Download our app for up to date journey info
Check times before you travel and on the go. Timetables may change as services return to normal.
5. Avoid travel during peak hours
Busy times may vary.
6. Protect yourself and others
Wear a face covering to travel and download the NHS App.
England:
From Tuesday 30th November 2021, face coverings are mandatory on public transport in England.
Scotland:
Face coverings continue to be mandatory on public transport in Scotland.
Wales:
Face coverings continue to be mandatory on public transport in Wales.
To help with social distancing onboard, you now need a seat reservation to travel with some train operators, including:
LNER – mandatory on all services. From 22nd May, if you book as a group, you'll be seated together. If you have booked together but need to sit apart please contact customer service
Avanti West Coast – highly recommended on all services
GWR – highly recommended on long-distance services
CrossCountry – highly recommended on all services
We’ll automatically include a seat reservation with any new bookings you make for journeys with these operators where required. And we’ll email you if you have an upcoming booking that’s affected by this new rule.
Crowd Alerts is our clever app feature that helps you, and your fellow passengers, see if certain parts of a train (front, middle and back) are busy. Crowd Alerts uses real-time reports from UK passengers to help you choose which section to get on.
Find out more about Crowd Alerts.
Find the latest exchange and refund info from European train and coach operators below.
Important travel information
Eurostar are keeping some seats free in every coach to give you more space. If you were given a yellow ticket as you passed through the ticket gates, please make sure you sit in your new seat.
Cancellations and refunds
If you booked your Eurostar trip with us and your Eurostar train is cancelled, please fill out Eurostar's eVoucher claim form.
Please note e-voucher requests must be submitted at least seven days before your departure time. You will not be able to claim a voucher after this cut off point.
Standard & Standard Premier Tickets
From 1st March 2021:
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
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:
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Spain.
Essential travel info
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
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 claim form.
Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Switzerland.
Essential travel info
Refunds
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).
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:
Essential travel info
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.
Please see our travel restrictions section for information about travelling to Italy.
Important travel information
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:
Refunds can be requested within 30 days from:
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:
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.
Each country is operating under different COVID-19 rules and measures.
Please regularly check the latest official government information for your country of origin and destination prior to travelling as quarantine rules may change at short notice.
Last updated: Friday 3rd December
Please read the official guidelines for travelling to England on the UK government website.
If you're booking on behalf of someone else, you are responsible for ensuring all members of the party have completed the mandatory travel documents.
Tuesday 28th December update
As of 28th December 2021, fully vaccinated passengers entering the UK are required to:
The list of approved test providers is available on GOV.UK. NHS tests are not permitted to travel. Passengers are still required to complete a Passenger Locator Form up to 48 hours before arrival.
Essential travel information for all Eurostar services
You must follow specific rules and complete mandatory forms in order to travel. Eurostar teams are legally required to check COVID-19 documents and may refuse travel to anyone without the correct forms. You must comply with all the travel rules in place in our destination countries. Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you must comply with all travel rules and keep wearing a mask at the station and on board in all destination countries.
Travelling to France?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to France.
EU nationals (including EU expats living in the UK) are allowed to travel to France but will need to quarantine unless fully vaccinated. They must also have a negative COVID-19 test and fill in mandatory forms.
Non-EU nationals (including UK citizens) whose main residence is not in France will either need:
Visit the French Consulate website for more details and the latest information about restrictions in France.
Thursday 16th December update
From midnight on Saturday 18th December 2021 (2300 GMT Friday), there will be a requirement to have an essential reason to travel between France and the UK, both for the unvaccinated and vaccinated. This is irrespective of nationality (e.g. the same rule applies for non-EU passport holders and EU passport holders).
To support passengers, Eurostar has decided to extend fee-free exchange until 10th January 2022. This means that if your journey is affected by the new restrictions, exchange fees will automatically be waived and only the fare difference will apply. Where tickets are exchanged for a higher-priced ticket, customers will need to pay the difference. Where tickets are exchanged for a lower-priced ticket, the difference in price will not be refunded.
Required documents
All passengers travelling from the UK – regardless of their nationality or if they’ve been fully vaccinated must carry a printed and completed Statement of honour.
If you haven't been fully vaccinated you must carry a printed and completed version of these two forms:
When entering France: Travel certificate to Metropolitan France
When leaving France: Certificate to leave Metropolitan France
Quarantine rules
Passengers travelling from the UK must self-isolate for seven days unless fully vaccinated, then take another PCR test following this period of self-isolation.
Returning to the UK?
Travelling to Germany?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to Germany.
From 7 July, the UK is designated as a ‘high-incidence area’, which means that you may only enter Germany from the UK if you are fully vaccinated (for any travel purpose), a German citizen, resident, or their spouse/partner/child under 18, serve in an important role or have an urgent need to travel.
Every person entering Germany from a risk area is obliged to be tested for COVID-19 infection immediately upon arrival or to present a negative COVID-19 test. The COVID-19 test result must not be more than 48 hours old when presented. If the result is negative, no further steps are necessary. Otherwise, a 10-day domestic quarantine applies. Please visit Federal Foreign Office of Germany for further info.
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
Travelling to Italy?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to Italy.
Thursday 16th December update
As of 16th December 2021 till the 31st of January 2022, fully vaccinated UE passengers entering Italy are required to:
Un-vaccinated passengers are required to:
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
Travelling to Spain?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to Spain.
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
Travelling to the Netherlands?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to the Netherlands.
From 22nd September 2021, rules are changing for passengers travelling to the Netherlands from the UK. Fully vaccinated passengers are no longer required to self-quarantine on arrival. Passengers who are not fully vaccinated still need to self-isolate for 10 days upon arrival. This isolation period can be shortened by taking a test on day five. There are some exemptions to the quarantine rule.
Essential documents
All customers travelling to the Netherlands will need to carry:
COVID-19 tests
All customers aged 12 years and above need to have proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before your arrival or an antigen test taken less than 48 hours before your arrival in the Netherlands.
Quarantine rules
If you are travelling to the Netherlands from the UK and are not fully vaccinated, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival. There are some exemptions to the quarantine rule. You can also finish your quarantine early by taking a test on day five.
Passengers travelling to the Netherlands are required to have a negative PCR COVID test taken within 72 hours of travel and self-isolate on arrival for 10 days.
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
Travelling to Austria?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to Austria.
Since 25th 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.
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
Travelling to Switzerland?
Please check the UK government’s latest advice for travelling to Switzerland.
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
Travelling to Belgium?
Please check the UK government's latest advice for travelling to Belgium.
Required documentation for travel to and from Belgium
All passengers aged 12 years and over (regardless of citizenship or residency) are legally required to complete a Passenger Locator Form online. The form must be completed online up to 48 hours before departure. As the UK is outside the Schengen area, all customers are required to complete the form regardless of their length of stay. Passengers must ensure that they complete the form online before arriving at London St Pancras as they will be required to present the form, along with other required documents, in order to travel.
All passengers travelling to Belgium – including those who’ve been fully vaccinated – must fill in mandatory forms and comply with the government’s testing and self-isolation requirements.
As of Friday 9th July, classification for the UK has moved from ‘very high risk’ to ‘red’ and the following rules now apply when travelling from the UK to Belgium.
You’re not allowed to travel to Belgium unless you are:
If you do not meet any of the above criteria, you may not travel to Belgium unless you meet the exemptions.
If you qualify for one of the listed exemptions, you must carry either an official document linked to your profession (e.g a Diplomatic passport) or request an Essential Travel Certificate from the Belgian Embassy in London at least five days before departure.
IMPORTANT: You will be refused entry if you fail to comply with these restrictions. You will be responsible for any associated costs.
Please consult the Belgian government's official coronavirus information website for the latest guidelines and information regarding lockdown and local restrictions.
Please note: If you’re travelling to Germany or the Netherlands via Brussels and changing trains, you must comply with Belgium's travel rules. With Eurostar, you must meet the entry requirements of the country where you make your connection. This is different to flying, where a stopover effectively counts as part of the flight.
Get more information about travelling to Belgium.
Returning to the UK?
Please check UK entry requirements.
If you have an account:
If you don’t have an account:
From Monday 19th July, different COVID-19 rules apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
Face coverings continue to be mandatory on public transport in Scotland and Wales.
Government guidance recommends face coverings are worn in crowded areas such as public transport in England.
Remember to regularly use hand sanitiser and wash your hands when you can.
If you must travel, please follow social distancing, one-way systems, and queuing guidance from staff at stations and onboard. You need to reserve a seat for some train operators. Please keep a two-metre distance from others where possible.
From Monday 19th July, different COVID-19 rules apply in England, Scotland and Wales. Please check your relevant government's website to find out what travel restrictions apply to you.
UK government guidance recommends face coverings are worn in crowded areas such as public transport.
Where available, we’d recommend using digital tickets for contactless travel, instead of using ticket machines or buying at the station. We’d also advise carrying hand sanitiser and using it regularly.
Check if parts of your train are busy before boarding with Crowd Alerts, our clever app feature. It uses real-time reports from fellow passengers to help you choose which section to get on.
You can exchange all UK ticket types online, regardless of booking or travel date. You can refund most tickets online too, but please check our information on ticket types and how to manage your UK booking online in three easy steps.
You should continue to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes if possible. Check the latest info for your route on our app.