Private companies in Europe- Interrail validity

rg177 · 6 Jan 2020

I'm currently in the Czech Republic and have noticed that Arriva have taken over operation of a fair few services- irritatingly including the likes of the slow diesel hauled Rychlik services between Prague and Ceske Budejovice through Beroun and Protivin.

Obviously while I wouldn't have expected the Interrail pass to be valid on their own commercial express service to Nitra, where does it stand on the likes of the fast trains to Tanvald and Rakovnik?

I'd have hoped it would continue to be valid else it starts denting holes in the rail network for passholders.

I know that GWTR don't accept passes on their Rychlik trains between Plzen and Most- a large annoyance.

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Mag_seven · 6 Jan 2020

According to the Interrail website these are the only operators that accept Interrrail in the Czech Republic:

Czech Republic ČD, and private train companies: LEO Express and RegioJet

https://www.interrail.eu/en/plan-your-trip/trains-europe/railway-companies

rg177 · 6 Jan 2020

Indeed- but I don't expect them to have caught up with matters as these contracts for Arriva are fairly new.

If the validity for only CD, LE and RJ remains then that will be disappointing.

blackfive460 · 7 Jan 2020

rg177 said:
Indeed- but I don't expect them to have caught up with matters as these contracts for Arriva are fairly new.

If the validity for only CD, LE and RJ remains then that will be disappointing.

Prepare to be disappointed...
Having had a similar situation in Germany where Interrail imply no validity on Start-Unterelbe while Start-Unterelbe confirmed by email that Interrail was valid I thought it worthwhile contacting Arriva cz who confirm that Interrail isn't valid.

superalbs · 7 Jan 2020

blackfive460 said:
Prepare to be disappointed...
Having had a similar situation in Germany where Interrail imply no validity on Start-Unterelbe while Start-Unterelbe confirmed by email that Interrail was valid I thought it worthwhile contacting Arriva cz who confirm that Interrail isn't valid.

Not good...

Especially bad, as these are government appointed contracts if I remember correctly!

rg177 · 7 Jan 2020

Very disappointing indeed. This isn't how you encourage visitors, though thankfully I've already been up to Tanvald, and Rakovnik has the alternative of an Osobní vlak (stopper).

At least Regiojet accept them- I'm about to try them for the first time in about an hour!

I actually used Start-Unterelbe a week and a half ago- indeed no problems at all despite having similar doubts about validity. Conductor was very pleasant indeed.

87015 · 7 Jan 2020

Regiojet acceptance may only be on their commercial intercity services and not the Brno-Bohumin R trains which are state contracted. Various CD trains are also now local ticket only from the various regions with CD fares available. Another country destroying a once proud system through Balkanisation in the name of breaking a state company I’m afraid. Hopefully they don’t make as much of a mess as the Germans have.

Generally find buying individual tickets cheaper in CZ and easy enough to do as you go with the operators apps.

superalbs · 7 Jan 2020

Luckily, Leo Express will continue to accept Interrail on all of their trains. Free reservations from their website.

rg177 · 7 Jan 2020

Its valid on the Rychlik trains from Brno to Bohumin- says so on their Interrail page on the website.

Just had a very odd experience on the Regiojet from Břeclav to Vienna. Approached a host on the platform and asked what I needed to do, and she yelled "no no no we are a private company, go ask someone else" at me like a child.

The second "team leader" told me she'd "deal with me" later, the third threw me in low cost class when I hold a First Class pass.

Various lights and fixtures broken inside the train, staff seemingly a law unto themselves. I get the impression that they really don't want me on board :lol:

87015 · 7 Jan 2020

The low cost wagons are on the Bohumin-Brno with backfill of any old junk on the commercial trains. There are some bizarre 2+1 seated ex DB FOs with alternating seats through to superb ex SNCB FKs going off the weekend just gone.

there is no first class on the commercials it’s run as all 2nd with various upgrades and compulsory res so you were lucky to get anything! The Bohumins are 1 FC Compo (ex standard from the commercial), 2 low cost and 2 ex CNL couchettes with one of the low costs as unreserved/pay on train.

rg177 · 8 Jan 2020

87015 said:
The low cost wagons are on the Bohumin-Brno with backfill of any old junk on the commercial trains. There are some bizarre 2+1 seated ex DB FOs with alternating seats through to superb ex SNCB FKs going off the weekend just gone.

there is no first class on the commercials it’s run as all 2nd with various upgrades and compulsory res so you were lucky to get anything! The Bohumins are 1 FC Compo (ex standard from the commercial), 2 low cost and 2 ex CNL couchettes with one of the low costs as unreserved/pay on train.

Ended up complaining to RJ as the staff attitude really was bad, seating choice aside. Doing what I did is actually allowed so they should have been at least vaguely aware of Interrail passes.

My "low cost" carriage was an Astra one with the screens turned off so it was at least fairly comfortable if a bit battered.

Business and Relax carriages actually have "1" on the outside with Standard/Low Cost having "2", but your guess is as good as mine as to how it is officially. The whole thing seems to smack of winging it.

shredder1 · 9 Jan 2020

rg177 said:
Its valid on the Rychlik trains from Brno to Bohumin- says so on their Interrail page on the website.

Just had a very odd experience on the Regiojet from Břeclav to Vienna. Approached a host on the platform and asked what I needed to do, and she yelled "no no no we are a private company, go ask someone else" at me like a child.

The second "team leader" told me she'd "deal with me" later, the third threw me in low cost class when I hold a First Class pass.

Various lights and fixtures broken inside the train, staff seemingly a law unto themselves. I get the impression that they really don't want me on board

I`ve had similar experiences, I think they liked you really, but just hid it well

dutchflyer · 10 Jan 2020

back to Q1: NO, its not valid, Same-same applies f.e. since many yrs in PL where many local lines have been hived off PR to regional companies. In CZ this also applies strictly to ALL tickets (one will undertsand the fraction of IR-holder is tiny to near nil on most local lines) and this is a major source of complaint to the ministry. A new, but higher-all companies CZ domestic fare system is in the making, and its understood part of the reason why they could offer lower contract prices is exactly that they would not need to honour all those funny and improbable foreign tickets etc, just the very ones they sell themselves. Its even worse on the summer-weekend-only lines to PL where GW-trains is responsible for the CZ-part and KD in PL-pay extra in CZ. Be glad you dont have to cough up extra for that. And be even more glad to show ID if >65, as you then get the 75% discount too.
And perhaps you brits may be aware that even speaking passable english/anglicky is not a prerequisite for any trainstaff over there. Be glad they could even speak a little of that. RJ and LEO staff are mostly part-time students working just a few weeks and then finding other jobs. CZ also has a fairly big lack of workers for such jobs since years. Though RJ was named studentagency and became big just doing that: teaching english and sending out au-pairs to well-off British families.

Richard Scott · 10 Jan 2020

dutchflyer said:
back to Q1: NO, its not valid, Same-same applies f.e. since many yrs in PL where many local lines have been hived off PR to regional companies. In CZ this also applies strictly to ALL tickets (one will undertsand the fraction of IR-holder is tiny to near nil on most local lines) and this is a major source of complaint to the ministry. A new, but higher-all companies CZ domestic fare system is in the making, and its understood part of the reason why they could offer lower contract prices is exactly that they would not need to honour all those funny and improbable foreign tickets etc, just the very ones they sell themselves. Its even worse on the summer-weekend-only lines to PL where GW-trains is responsible for the CZ-part and KD in PL-pay extra in CZ. Be glad you dont have to cough up extra for that. And be even more glad to show ID if >65, as you then get the 75% discount too.
And perhaps you brits may be aware that even speaking passable english/anglicky is not a prerequisite for any trainstaff over there. Be glad they could even speak a little of that. RJ and LEO staff are mostly part-time students working just a few weeks and then finding other jobs. CZ also has a fairly big lack of workers for such jobs since years. Though RJ was named studentagency and became big just doing that: teaching english and sending out au-pairs to well-off British families.

This can be an annoyance in Poland - don't forget those of us on IR tickets are spending money in said country and inconvenient travel may mean we spend our money elsewhere. Don't forget enthusiasts often go off the beaten track and spend money in places that see few if any tourists. It may not sustain the local economy but expect the recipients of that money are glad of the small additional revenue? Just accepting IR passes may give a little boost to local economy - seem to remember ATOC trying to get rid of acceptance of Interrail, that didn't last long, wonder why? May be a bit off topic but if trend continues in places like Czech/Poland and make travel difficult I for one won't go there. The good thing about Interrail is that we don't have to buy tickets and overcome language barrier - I accept not everyone speaks English and that's why Interrail is so good.

U-Bahnfreund · 10 Jan 2020

blackfive460 said:
Prepare to be disappointed...
Having had a similar situation in Germany where Interrail imply no validity on Start-Unterelbe while Start-Unterelbe confirmed by email that Interrail was valid I thought it worthwhile contacting Arriva cz who confirm that Interrail isn't valid.

Start Unterelbe is a DB company, so I guess Interrail validity is implied through that.

30907 · 11 Jan 2020

U-Bahnfreund said:
Start Unterelbe is a DB company, so I guess Interrail validity is implied through that.

AFAIK the rule for Germany is that tendered services on DB Netze track are treated the same as DB. A handful of German lines are not DB Netze.

rg177 · 11 Jan 2020

30907 said:
AFAIK the rule for Germany is that tendered services on DB Netze track are treated the same as DB. A handful of German lines are not DB Netze.

Yes, for example on the Hanseatische Eisenbahn, an Interrail is valid on everything they run except Meyenburg to Neustadt (Dosse)- as it is presumably, owned by them rather than DB Netze. Funny operation that one is.

ODEG has similar weird restrictions where the pass isn't valid from something like Cottbus to Zittau along with some lines radiating out of Neustrelitz but perfectly valid on everything else.

blackfive460 · 11 Jan 2020

rg177 said:
Yes, for example on the Hanseatische Eisenbahn, an Interrail is valid on everything they run except Meyenburg to Neustadt (Dosse)- as it is presumably, owned by them rather than DB Netze. Funny operation that one is.

ODEG has similar weird restrictions where the pass isn't valid from something like Cottbus to Zittau along with some lines radiating out of Neustrelitz but perfectly valid on everything else.

The difficulty is getting accurate information...

For Germany for example, all Interrail themselves provide is a link to a pdf dated 2016 which appears to simply be a list of private railway companies. It's on this page.
The best thing I've found from DB is a list intended for the German Rail Pass on this page but even that is dated 2017 which, although out of date, does give some useful information.

radamfi · 11 Jan 2020

dutchflyer said:
And perhaps you brits may be aware that even speaking passable english/anglicky is not a prerequisite for any trainstaff over there. Be glad they could even speak a little of that. RJ and LEO staff are mostly part-time students working just a few weeks and then finding other jobs. CZ also has a fairly big lack of workers for such jobs since years. Though RJ was named studentagency and became big just doing that: teaching english and sending out au-pairs to well-off British families.

Surely most people are in the same situation, not just Brits? Polish and Czech are not spoken by most Europeans.

30907 · 11 Jan 2020

radamfi said:
Surely most people are in the same situation, not just Brits? Polish and Czech are not spoken by most Europeans.

In some parts of CZ German is a better bet, certainly in touristy parts near the Austrian border. SC/EC/Ex trains will have staff with decent language skills, local trains less likely (at least with older staff).

30907 · 11 Jan 2020

blackfive460 said:
The difficulty is getting accurate information...

For Germany for example, all Interrail themselves provide is a link to a pdf dated 2016 which appears to simply be a list of private railway companies. It's on this page.
The best thing I've found from DB is a list intended for the German Rail Pass on this page but even that is dated 2017 which, although out of date, does give some useful information.

I've not found a reliable online list of the non-DB-owned lines. If you have access to the Schweers and Wall atlas, they are shown distinctively, and I think they are the ones where railpasses are not accepted and through tickets to DB have a special tariff. One of our German members might be able to clarify.

U-Bahnfreund · 14 Jan 2020

I’ve now found this website listing all passenger train companies, that international passes (I guess that includes Interrail) are valid on: https://www.diebefoerderer.de/tarife/angebot/internationale-passangebote/

It’s by the TBNE, which is an organisation coordinating different fares and the website as a whole seems quite uptodate, however HANS for example is not listed at all. I wrote them an e-mail, maybe they’ll explain why.

30907 · 14 Jan 2020

U-Bahnfreund said:
I’ve now found this website listing all passenger train companies, that international passes (I guess that includes Interrail) are valid on: https://www.diebefoerderer.de/tarife/angebot/internationale-passangebote/

It’s by the TBNE, which is an organisation coordinating different fares and the website as a whole seems quite uptodate, however HANS for example is not listed at all. I wrote them an e-mail, maybe they’ll explain why.

Thanks for this. In some cases it is important to look at the detail, as rg177 said earlier.

blackfive460 · 15 Jan 2020

U-Bahnfreund said:
I’ve now found this website listing all passenger train companies, that international passes (I guess that includes Interrail) are valid on: https://www.diebefoerderer.de/tarife/angebot/internationale-passangebote/

It’s by the TBNE, which is an organisation coordinating different fares and the website as a whole seems quite uptodate, however HANS for example is not listed at all. I wrote them an e-mail, maybe they’ll explain why.

Another one missing is Start-Unterelbe (Hamburg - Cuxhaven) on which Interrail is valid.
It seems the best thing to do, if in doubt, is to email the companies themselves...

Flying Snail · 15 Jan 2020

blackfive460 said:
Another one missing is Start-Unterelbe (Hamburg - Cuxhaven) on which Interrail is valid.
It seems the best thing to do, if in doubt, is to email the companies themselves...

It may be just about possible for us on here to hunt down this information but the average customer who doesn't have insider knowledge and contacts is left completely unaware they may find themselves confronted by a rail employee demanding money in a less than friendly manner as their pass isn't as universally valid as Interrail make out. It is just unacceptable that they make so little effort to define the true validity of their tickets.

rg177 · 6 Feb 2020

I received a very, very frank response to my complaint to RJ earlier. I don't think we'd get this in the UK!

thank you for your patience while veryfing your complaint.

I have carefully examined the matter in collaboration with competent people and I would like to sincerely apologize for absolutely incompetent and inappropriate
behavior from our train crew of the connection RJ 1035 from 7th of January. We are deeply sorry that our employees have treated you with such disrespect and
and apparently did not know the terms of travel with the INTERRAIL pass.

Although you did not have the seat reservation purchased in advance, the train crew still could have sold you seat reservation in Business class for 10 €; the
given train had more than enough vacancies in this class, so we are extremely disappointed with how you were treated.

I would like to assure you that we certainly do not take the situation lightly. I have already forwarded your email to the direct superiors of the train crew for an
internal resolution and the stewards concerned will bear the consequences corresponding to their misconduct.

To be sure, we also let all our train crews remind the rules for traveling with INTERRAIL passes.

jopsuk · 6 Feb 2020

Ones to watch out for- Interrail isn't valid on Thalys Izy and TGV Ouigo, and probably won't be on the Renfe Avlo.

Mag_seven · 8 Feb 2020

Flying Snail said:
It is just unacceptable that they make so little effort to define the true validity of their tickets.

I agree with this and I wonder if Interrail are potentially in breach of consumer law in selling a product where its validity is poorly defined?

30907 · 8 Feb 2020

Mag_seven said:
I agree with this and I wonder if Interrail are potentially in breach of consumer law in selling a product where its validity is poorly defined?

On a quick check, the standard interrail sites understate the validity (most particularly in Germany, where the timetable planner seems to exclude non-DB regional trains). I doubt if you can break the law by failing to declare all the benefits! It's unhelpful, certainly, and the websites need updating, but that's a different matter.

Private companies in Europe- Interrail validity

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