Inter Rail

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An Inter Rail (or Inter-Rail) pass is a train ticket that allows unlimited 2nd class passage throughout the "Inter Rail Community" (IRC) for a defined period of time; as of April 2005, the IRC includes 30 countries, organized into eight zones:

The cost of the pass is based on the zones included and the traveler's age. 16-day passes include one zone, 22-day passes cover any two zones, and month-long passes cover all zones.

The passes are available to those who have been legal residents (not travelling on a visa or military personnel living on a base) for at least six months in any of the 30 countries of the IRC, or in any of certain neighboring countries:

The pass does not cover travel within the purchaser's country of residence (or for those living in the neighboring countries, the country of purchase).

[edit] History

  • 1972: The program was begun, limited to travelers 21 or younger. It covered 21 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, West Germany , Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia.
  • 1976: the age limit for the pass was raised to 23; it was raised again to 26 in 1979.
  • 1982: the six-month residency requirement was introduced.
  • 1985: Certain ferry services was included.
  • 1991: the end of the Soviet Union led to expansion of the IRC.
  • 1994: 29 of the 30 present-day countries are included (all but Bosnia-Herzegovina); the IRC has seven zones (A-C, E-G as in present-day), with Zone D including Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yugoslavia.
  • 1998: Inter Rail passes became available to all ages, with fares based on age. The present-day eight zone system is established, minus Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • 2005: Bosnia-Herzegovina joins the IRC.
  • 2007: Beginning on April 1, the Eurail Group takes over management of all Inter Rail pass products

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  • InterRail.net, the in-depth personal website of an Inter Rail traveler named Peter Freisberg, online since 1996
  • info website
  • WorldonRails The biggest Dutch site about InterRail.
  • info website, provider of a vast number of different railpasses covering Europe, USA, Japan and Australasia.
  • Inter-Rail.it, the Italian inter-rail community.
  • Rail Passes Rail pass quotes and information around the World
  • Inter-Rail.co.uk, Rail Europe (formally British Rail International Ltd) the official distributor and trade mark owner of Inter-Rail in the UK.
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