Travelling with an Interrail ticket and the mobile pass
How to use your mobile Interrail Pass
How do you set up a mobile pass?
The mobile pass is a paperless ticket that you load onto your phone. This way, you no longer have to worry about damaging or losing the pass. Another advantage of the mobile pass is that when you buy it, you do not yet have to indicate exactly when you will be travelling. As soon as your plans are concrete, activate your pass in the app. Follow the steps below to set up your mobile pass.
Step 1: Download the Interrail Rail Planner app
Step 1: Download the Interrail Rail Planner app
Once you have bought your Interrail ticket and received the confirmation email, you can retrieve the mobile pass directly in the Interrail app. First, you should download the Interrail Rail Planner app or make sure you have the latest version of the app. This app is essential for managing your Interrail pass and planning your trips.
Once you have bought your Interrail ticket and received the confirmation email, you can retrieve the mobile pass directly in the Interrail app. First, you should download the Interrail Rail Planner app or make sure you have the latest version of the app. This app is essential for managing your Interrail pass and planning your trips.
Step 2: Adding your Interrail Pass to the app
Step 2: Adding your Interrail Pass to the app
Click on the link in your confirmation email or go directly in the Rail Planner app to:
- 'My Pass'
- Select 'Add your Pass' or '+' in the top right.
- Enter your Surname, as used when booking, and your Pass number (see the confirmation email). These fields are cap-sensitive. Make sure not to add extra spaces when copying and pasting from the email address .
After adding your Pass to your app, you can always find it in 'My Pass'.
Travelling in a group
When travelling in a group, you can add as many passes to one device as you want. You can also move your pass to another device after it has been activated for travel. If you travel with several passes on one device, the group must travel together on every trip.
Travelling with children
A child pass must be activated in the same way as a regular pass and may be on a different device. A child pass must always have its own trip and ticket for ticket control on board. Children under the age of 4 can travel for free and do not need their own pass.
Click on the link in your confirmation email or go directly in the Rail Planner app to:
- 'My Pass'
- Select 'Add your Pass' or '+' in the top right.
- Enter your Surname, as used when booking, and your Pass number (see the confirmation email). These fields are cap-sensitive. Make sure not to add extra spaces when copying and pasting from the email address .
After adding your Pass to your app, you can always find it in 'My Pass'.
Travelling in a group
When travelling in a group, you can add as many passes to one device as you want. You can also move your pass to another device after it has been activated for travel. If you travel with several passes on one device, the group must travel together on every trip.
Travelling with children
A child pass must be activated in the same way as a regular pass and may be on a different device. A child pass must always have its own trip and ticket for ticket control on board. Children under the age of 4 can travel for free and do not need their own pass.
Step 3: Connecting a trip
Step 3: Connecting a trip
After adding your Interrail Pass in the app, you can connect a trip. You do this as follows:
- Go to 'My Trip'
- Create a new journey by selecting '+' and giving the trip a name
- Or choose an existing trip you have created previously
- And select ‘Connect a pass to this trip’
Do you have multiple passes on your device? If so, create separate trips for each pass. You can copy existing trips and link them to other passes and add trips from the planner to multiple trips.
After adding your Interrail Pass in the app, you can connect a trip. You do this as follows:
- Go to 'My Trip'
- Create a new journey by selecting '+' and giving the trip a name
- Or choose an existing trip you have created previously
- And select ‘Connect a pass to this trip’
Do you have multiple passes on your device? If so, create separate trips for each pass. You can copy existing trips and link them to other passes and add trips from the planner to multiple trips.
Step 4: Activate your Pass
Step 4: Activate your Pass
Before you can travel, you need to activate your pass. To do this, you need to:
- Have an internet connection
- Enter the number of the passport or identity card you are travelling with. Make sure the number you enter exactly matches your travel document. This can be verified on the train.
- Choose your start date. Your pass is valid from this date until it expires.
Please noteYou may not board the train until your pass is activated. Are you travelling at a later date? There is no rush: you can activate your pass up to 11 months after purchase.
Are you not yet sure when you will be travelling? No need to worry, you can change this information later. You can activate your pass on the day of travel at the latest.
Change of plans?
If your start date changes, you need to deactivate your mobile Pass. You do this as follows:
- Go to 'My Pass'
- Click on the three dots (...) top right
- Select 'Deactivate Pass'
- You can deactivate your Pass until the day before you start travelling.
Before you can travel, you need to activate your pass. To do this, you need to:
- Have an internet connection
- Enter the number of the passport or identity card you are travelling with. Make sure the number you enter exactly matches your travel document. This can be verified on the train.
- Choose your start date. Your pass is valid from this date until it expires.
You may not board the train until your pass is activated. Are you travelling at a later date? There is no rush: you can activate your pass up to 11 months after purchase.
Are you not yet sure when you will be travelling? No need to worry, you can change this information later. You can activate your pass on the day of travel at the latest.
Change of plans?
If your start date changes, you need to deactivate your mobile Pass. You do this as follows:
- Go to 'My Pass'
- Click on the three dots (...) top right
- Select 'Deactivate Pass'
- You can deactivate your Pass until the day before you start travelling.
Step 5: Get ready to board the train
Step 5: Get ready to board the train
To board the train, you need to create a day ticket to show when asked by the conductor. How do you create a day ticket? Follow these steps to plan and add your trips:
- Find train times in the app using the planner. Tap a journey to see full details and use the search filters to refine the results.
- When you have finished planning your trip, tap to save the trip. You can save a particular trip into multiple trips, which is useful if you are travelling as a group.
- When you are ready to go on a trip, go to your planned trip in 'My Trip' and tap to add it to your pass.
Do you have a pass for consecutive days or months of travel? Then you need to create a ticket for each day of travel.
To board the train, you need to create a day ticket to show when asked by the conductor. How do you create a day ticket? Follow these steps to plan and add your trips:
- Find train times in the app using the planner. Tap a journey to see full details and use the search filters to refine the results.
- When you have finished planning your trip, tap to save the trip. You can save a particular trip into multiple trips, which is useful if you are travelling as a group.
- When you are ready to go on a trip, go to your planned trip in 'My Trip' and tap to add it to your pass.
Do you have a pass for consecutive days or months of travel? Then you need to create a ticket for each day of travel.
Step 6: Show your ticket
Step 6: Show your ticket
This is the part of your Pass that the conductor checks. You can show your ticket in two steps:
- Go to 'My Pass'
- Select 'Show ticket'
The conductor scans the barcode to check that the train you are on is part of your ticket. They also check your personal details and may ask for your passport or identity card.
Each travel day on your pass has its own ticket. Each ticket lists all the journeys you have added to your pass for that travel day. Do you have more than one pass on your device? Everyone travelling with a pass must show their own ticket. In 'My Pass', select another pass from the list and tap 'Show ticket'.
This is the part of your Pass that the conductor checks. You can show your ticket in two steps:
- Go to 'My Pass'
- Select 'Show ticket'
The conductor scans the barcode to check that the train you are on is part of your ticket. They also check your personal details and may ask for your passport or identity card.
Each travel day on your pass has its own ticket. Each ticket lists all the journeys you have added to your pass for that travel day. Do you have more than one pass on your device? Everyone travelling with a pass must show their own ticket. In 'My Pass', select another pass from the list and tap 'Show ticket'.
Extra tip: Watch the instruction video
Extra tip: Watch the instruction video
To further understand how the app works, we recommend watching this Interrail video. The video clearly explains the app's features and how to use it to its full potential.
To further understand how the app works, we recommend watching this Interrail video. The video clearly explains the app's features and how to use it to its full potential.
Additional costs for reservations
For some trains, seat reservations are mandatory and may be subject to additional charges, even if you have an Interrail Pass. Once you log onto a train in the app, you will immediately see whether a reservation is required and what the possible extra costs are.
Reservations not visible in app
Please note that reservations do not appear in the app. Digital reservations are made via the train operators' own websites and are not included in the Interrail app. For some routes, you will receive a paper ticket by post which will be your reservation. So, book in advance. Remember to take this paper ticket, together with your passport and the app, with you on your trip.
Reserving seats for each train operator
Reservation requirement varies per train operator:
- You are obligated to make a reservation for TGV and Eurostar trains.
- You can travel to Belgium with Intercity Brussels, and you do not need to make a reservation.
- Reservations for ICE International and Intercity Berlin are mandatory in the summer of 2024 (1 juni to 1 september'. Other than summer, reservations are not mandatory, but we do recommend it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have more questions about the mobile pass? You can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on the Interrail website.
Find answers to frequently asked questions
Dennis and Mariëtte go Interrailing
Want to discover Europe at your own pace and create beautiful memories? Mariëtte and Dennis from Roermond preceded you and share their unique journey with us.
Koen visited 30 countries in 30 days
Koen travelled with an Interrail Pass and visited 30 countries in 30 days.
Europe is at your feet
Freedom and joy with Interrail: travel across Europe with an Interrail Global Pass.