A rail pass is a special type of train ticket that allows unlimited travel within a certain time period. Passes are available in different durations (e.g., 4 flexible days, 15 consecutive days) and can cover multiple countries or a single country, depending on the type. Within the validity period, you can take as many trains as you want within the covered area. Some trains may require an additional seat reservation and fee.

Examples of popular passes include the Swiss Travel Pass and the Eurail Pass, both of which allow unlimited travel on eligible national trains, some buses and boats, and often include extra perks like museum admissions or city transport.

Types of Rail Passes & How They Work

| Eurail Pass / Interrail Pass

Valid across multiple European countries or single-country options. This is a digital pass managed through the Rail Planner App. To use it, you must activate your pass and manually add each travel day and train ride you take. If you purchase your pass through GoByTrain, we’ll provide step-by-step tutorials, video guides, and a free in-person workshop to help you get started.

| Swiss Travel Pass

There are two types:

Consecutive Days Pass: Just activate it once, and use the same QR code throughout your validity period. You can print it out or store it on your phone — it’s the most convenient option.

Flexible Days Pass: For example, “4 days within 1 month.”
On each travel day, you need to go online and generate a QR code valid for that specific day.

| BritRail Pass (UK Rail Pass)

Works similarly to the Swiss Travel Pass. Whether you have a consecutive or flexible pass, you’ll need to activate it on the official website and download the daily QR code. For consecutive passes, you’ll receive one QR code for the whole period. 

When you purchase your pass from GoByTrain:

• We provide a detailed user guide with your ticket
• You get access to live support during Taiwan business hours
• You can attend a free in-person training session on how to use the pass app

! Important Notes:

Not all trains can be boarded directly with a pass.
Some countries (like France or Spain) require a paid seat reservation in addition to the pass.
In Europe, train travel is often divided into: The ticket (your rail pass covers this), and the seat reservation (may or may not be required depending on the train and route)

There are three levels of seat reservation:

• Seat reservation required – mandatory to board
• Seat reservation optional – depends on season or route
• Seat reservation recommended – not required, but advisable on busy routes